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Biomedical subjects

M Josephson

Publications and source records attributed to M Josephson.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Predictors of leaving nursing care: a longitudinal study among Swedish nursing personnel.

OBJECTIVES: Despite extensive research on turnover among nursing personnel very little is known about the impact of physical workload and health on leaving. The aim of this study was to find predictors for leaving nursing care with special reference to physical working conditions and musculoskeletal problems. METHODS: This study is based on longitudinal data from a survey of nursing personnel who were employed at various county hospitals in Sweden from 1992-95. A self administrated follow up questionnaire was used to identify their present position in the labour market. The response rate was 73% (n = 1095). RESULTS: The results showed that nursing personnel reporting musculoskeletal problems of the neck/shoulder or knees and those who had limited use of transfer devices were more likely to leave nursing care. CONCLUSIONS: The study highlights the importance of taking musculoskeletal problems and use of transfer devices into consideration in order to retain nursing personnel.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Promoting excellent work ability and preventing poor work ability: the same determinants? Results from the Swedish HAKuL study.

AIM: Health has been described as a continuum between the two poles of excellent health and ill health. Research has so far focused on the negative pole, leaving knowledge about the positive pole vague. With a main focus on working life, the authors aim was to identify determinants promoting excellent work ability and determinants preventing poor work ability. METHODS: 5638 (73% answering rate) employees in the public sector in Sweden answered a questionnaire both at baseline and at follow up 18 months later. The employees were divided into three groups based on sick leave at follow up: excellent work ability (13%), poor work ability (15%), and a middle group (72%). Self reported sociodemographic data, lifestyle data, and working life exposures at baseline were fitted into logistic regression models to determine which factors, if any, promoted excellent work ability or protected against poor work ability. RESULTS: Some determinants were mutual, but more than half of the determinants in the final model were associated solely with promoting excellent work ability or preventing poor work ability, thus creating different patterns of associations. Promotion of excellent work ability seemed more dependent on physical factors, clear work tasks, and positive feedback, while prevention of poor work ability seemed more dependent on job security and psychosocial factors. CONCLUSIONS: This explorative longitudinal study showed slightly different patterns of determinants promoting excellent work ability and preventing poor work ability. As most of the identified determinants are amenable to influence, our results open up the possibility of interventions for promoting excellent work ability and preventing poor work ability.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

[Characteristic electrocardiographic procedures of isthmic-dependent atrial flutter; influence of clinical and echocardiographic procedures].

The appearance of the F waves on the ECG is considered to be related to the type of circuit of the anti-clockwise flutters and the clockwise isthmic-dependant flutters. In the authors' experience, the usual ECG description of these two types of flutter is not always observed. This study was undertaken to analyse the different appearances of anti-clockwise and clockwise flutters and to try and explain the reasons for these differences. Over a 4 year period, 139 patients with an ECG of atrial flutter required electro-physiological studies and echocardiography of the 156 flutters analysed: 130 were anti-clockwise and 26 clockwise. Three types of anti-clockwise flutter were observed: type 1 with exclusively negative F waves in the inferior leads: type 2 and 3 with negative F waves in the inferior leads and a small (type 2) or large (type 3) positive terminal components. The types 2 and 3 were associated with a higher incidence of left atrial dilatation, cardiac disease and atrial fibrillation than type 1. Two types of clockwise flutter were observed: type 1 with positive notched F waves in the inferior leads with a return to the iso-electric line and type 2 with wide F waves in the inferior leads with two components, predominantly positive and negative, without return to the iso-electric line. There are different ECG appearances of anti-clockwise and clockwise flutter which seem to be correlated with structural cardiac abnormalities. The anti-clockwise flutters with a positive terminal component of the F waves in the inferior leads corresponds to a subgroup with a high probability of cardiac disease and left atrial dilatation.

Atrial Flutter↗
PubMed2002

Work environment and neck and shoulder pain: the influence of exposure time. Results from a population based case-control study.

OBJECTIVES: To study associations between long term and short term exposure to different work environmental conditions and the incidence of neck or shoulder pain. The results were obtained as part of the MUSIC-Norrtälje study, which is a population based case-control study conducted in Sweden in 1993-7. METHODS: The cases were people from the study base who sought medical care or treatment for neck or shoulder pain. Information on physical and psychosocial conditions in the work environment, currently and 5 years ago, and lifestyle factors, was obtained by self administered questionnaires from 310 cases and 1277 randomly selected referents. RESULTS: Associations between both physical and psychosocial exposures in the work environment and seeking care for neck or shoulder pain were found. The risk patterns differed for the sexes, and risk ratios exceeding 1.5 were more often found among women than among men. Generally, subjects who had experienced a recent increase of exposure were more likely (relative risk (RR) 2.1-3.7) to seek care than those who had been exposed long term (RR 1.5-1.8). Among women, an increased amount of visual display terminal (VDT) work, work above shoulder level, and reduced opportunities to acquire new knowledge, and among men, an increased amount of seated work were associated with neck or shoulder pain. This might indicate short induction periods for neck or shoulder pain for these exposures. However, for repetitive work with the hands and hindrance at work among women, and possibly also local vibrations among men, the induction periods seem to be longer. Interactive effects between factors, both at work and in the family, were found, but only among women. CONCLUSIONS: Associations between some exposures in the work environment and seeking care for neck or shoulder pain were found. The high RRs for short term exposure might indicate that for many factors the induction period for neck or shoulder pain is short.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

The clinical and pathologic implications of plasmacytic infiltrates in percutaneous renal allograft biopsies.

Plasmacytic infiltrates in renal allograft biopsies are uncommon and morphologically distinctive lesions that may represent variants of acute rejection. This study sought significant clinical and pathologic determinants that might have influenced development of these lesions and assessed their prognostic significance. Renal allograft biopsies (n = 19), from 19 patients, with tubulointerstitial inflammatory infiltrates containing abundant plasma cells, composing 32 +/- 8% of the infiltrating mononuclear cells, were classified using Banff '97 criteria. Clonality of the infiltrates was determined by immunoperoxidase staining for kappa and lambda light chains and polymerase chain reaction for immunoglobulin heavy-chain gene rearrangements, using V(H) gene framework 3 and JH consensus primers. In situ hybridization for Epstein-Barr virus encoded RNA (EBER) was performed in 17 cases. The clinical features, histology, and outcome of these cases were compared with kidney allograft biopsies (n = 17) matched for time posttransplantation and type of rejection by Banff '97 criteria, with few plasma cells (7 +/- 5%). Sixteen of 19 biopsies (84%) with plasmacytic infiltrates had EBER-negative (in 14 cases tested) polyclonal plasma cell infiltrates that were classifiable as acute rejection (types 1A [4], 1B [10], and 2A [2]). These biopsies were obtained between 10 and 112 months posttransplantation. Graft loss from acute and/or chronic rejection was 50% at 1 year and 63% at 3 years, and the median time to graft failure was 4.5 months after biopsy. There was no significant difference in overall survival or time to graft failure compared with the controls. Three of 19 biopsies (16%) had EBER-negative polyclonal plasmacytic hyperplasia, mixed monoclonal and polyclonal polymorphous B cell hyperplasia, and monoclonal plasmacytoma-like posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) and were obtained at 17 months, 12 weeks, and 7 years after transplantation, respectively. Graft nephrectomies were performed at 1, 19, and 5 months after biopsy, respectively. Plasmacytic infiltrates in renal allografts comprise a spectrum of lesions from acute rejection to PTLD, with a generally poor prognosis for long-term graft survival.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Improving adequacy of hemodialysis in Northern California ESRD patients: a final project report. Provider Participants and Medical Review Board of the TransPacific Renal Network.

The National Core Indicators Project, initiated in 1994, has brought progressive changes in adequacy of dialysis for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients in the TransPacific Renal Network and across the United States. The 1998 Core Indicator Project showed each Network's standing for percentage of patients with urea reduction ratio (URR) > or = 0.65 and average URR. The TransPacific Renal Network ranked 12(th) among the 18 Networks for this adequacy measure. The goals of this project were to improve the Network standing in the United States for the percent of patients with URR > or = 0.65, eliminate or reduce the barriers to achieving adequate dialysis, and evaluate URR versus KT/V data and the variances occurring with these measures. In January 1999, data were collected from all 113 Northern California hemodialysis facilities for quarter 4, 1998, to evaluate adequacy. Each facility provided patient population (N) for KT/V and URR samples, facility averages for KT/V and URR, number of patients with KT/V > or = 1.2 and URR > or = 0.65, and data on post-blood-urea-nitrogen (BUN) sampling methods. A random selection of 10% (12) providers with data below the US and Network standards was selected for an intensive assessment. Using baseline measurements, on-site data were collected from a random selection of the patient population. Chart data were reviewed, analyzed, and discussed in an exit interview with the facility management. On-site visits were performed in July/June 1999. The primary focus included adequacy data and process of care that affect adequacy outcomes, concurrent review of patients receiving treatment at the time of the site visit, and general medical record review. In Phase I, only 12 facilities showed an average URR below 0.65. All facilities reported an average KT/V greater than the DOQI target of 1.2. Forty-two facilities had their percentage of patients with a URR below the national benchmark; only 18 facilities had their percentage of patients with a KT/V below the national benchmark. Only 9% (n = 8) of the 113 providers had a variance in post-BUN sampling methodologies that could be related to the clinical measure of adequacy. In Phase II, a random selection of 12 providers with data below US and Network standards was made for an intensive assessment. A total of 217 patient records were reviewed from a population of 1,027. In addition to comparison of baseline data, each facility was assessed for barriers to achieving adequacy outcomes. The number of problems was extensive and specific to each facility; however, a common reoccurring theme in the majority of events was the lack of supporting documentation for changes to the plan of care when variances occur. The most common occurrences were incorrect blood flow and dialysate flow with no supporting documentation on record for the prescription not being met. In Phase III, Network interventions for facilities not meeting US and Network standards for adequacy as measured by URR and KT/V included required quarterly reporting on their facility-specific quality improvement programs for adequacy. In addition the 12 facilities that participated in the intensive assessment had additional interventions that included an educational "tool box" focused on documentation, legal implications of charting, and general medical records management, and an educational program to review information to be shared with facility staff. All on-site facilities reported ongoing quality improvement programs. In some facilities they did provide a focus on processes and not only a measurement of an indicator. All facilities reported a team concept of some type used in their program. Although there were similarities in the facilities, each facility presented with a unique combination of barriers. In addition to a large patient-to-RN ratio, the lack of technical education for the unlicensed assistive personnel on processes and outcomes appears to play a significant role in the achievement of

Ambulatory Care Facilities↗
PubMed1998

Interview reliability for assessing mental work demands.

This study presented and evaluated an interview method for the analysis of tasks included in a work situation. What mental demands and possibilities do the work tasks give rise to? When was the work more or less automatic? When was use of active knowledge required? When were problem solving and planning needed? The study included an assessment of the interobserver reliability of the interviews with employees from 5 different careers: bus drivers (n = 10), home service workers (n = 32), carpenters (n = 11), farmers (n = 14), and teachers (n = 26). The extent to which this method can be reproduced in studies of different occupations is discussed. The interobserver reliability was good (.75-.82). There is support for the stability and usefulness of the interview for most types of work concerning the 3 categories of mental demands: routine, active knowledge, and problem solving/creativity.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Incessant fascicular tachycardia: a cause of arrhythmia induced cardiomyopathy.

An incessant ventricular tachycardia arising from the posterior fascicle is reported in a 29-year-old woman. This fascicular tachycardia was due to triggered activity and was clinically induced by an underlying paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. The initial echocardiographic evaluation revealed biventricular dysfunction with an ejection fraction of 30%. On propranolol, the patient has remained asymptomatic and the ventricular function has become normal after 3 months free of arrhythmia.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Workplace factors and care seeking for low-back pain among female nursing personnel. MUSIC-Norrtälje Study Group.

OBJECTIVES: Low-back pain is common among nursing personnel, and its origin is multifactorial. The present study focused on physical and psychosocial work load. The objectives of the study were to estimate the relative risk for nursing personnel, compared with other occupational groups, to seek health care for low-back pain, and to identify risk factors. METHODS: This study is a part of a population-based case-referent study in the municipality of Norrtälje, situated north of Stockholm. Altogether 333 women served as cases and 733 served as referents. Eighty-one cases and 188 referents were employed in nursing work. The cases had sought health care for low-back pain during the study period, November 1993 to November 1996. The referents were randomly selected from the same population. The subjects filled out 2 questionnaires and participated in interviews about physical exposures and psychosocial factors. RESULTS: When the female nursing personnel were compared with other employed women, no increased risk of consultation for low-back pain was found. According to a multivariate logistic regression, nursing personnel exposed to forward-bending working positions, high energetic work load, perceived physical exertion, or insufficient social support had the highest risk estimates. In univariate analyses, the combination of physical and psychosocial risk factors was associated with a particularly high risk. CONCLUSIONS: In nursing work, physical load seems to be more significant than psychosocial factors when a worker seeks health care for low-back pain. The results of did not support the hypothesis that nursing work is a risk occupation for seeking care for low-back pain when compared with other occupations.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Inadequacy of qualitative implantable cardioverter defibrillator electrogram analysis to distinguish supraventricular from ventricular tachycardia due to electrogram changes during normally conducted complexes.

Stored electrograms (EGMs) recorded from ICD leads are used to evaluate the appropriateness of ICD therapies. Stored EGMs different from sinus have been interpreted as ventricular in origin. We present a patient with an ICD for VT who received multiple shocks for a tachycardia with a stored EGM different than sinus, suggesting VT. An electrophysiological study demonstrated EGMs different than sinus during atrial pacing and induced supraventricular arrhythmias. This case points out the limitations of stored EGMs and suggests complete electrophysiological study with analysis of EGMs during induced arrhythmias should be performed prior to discharge.

Cardiac Pacing, Artificial↗
PubMed1997

Musculoskeletal symptoms and job strain among nursing personnel: a study over a three year period.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the variation of symptoms from the neck, shoulders, and back over a three year period among female nursing personnel and the relation between job strain and musculoskeletal symptoms. METHODS: At a county hospital the female nursing personnel answered a questionnaire at baseline and then once a year over a period of three years. There were 565, 553, 562, and 419 subjects who answered the questionnaire at the first, second, third, and fourth survey, respectively. Of the study group, 285 nursing personnel answered the questionnaire on four occasions. Ongoing symptoms of the neck, shoulders, and back were assessed by means of a 10 point (0-9) scale with the verbal end points "no symptoms" and "very intense symptoms." Cases were defined as nursing personnel reporting ongoing symptoms, score > 6, from at least one of the body regions. For assessments of job strain, a Swedish version of Karasek and Theorell's model was used. RESULTS: Of the 285 subjects, 13% were defined as cases at all four assessments, and 46% varied between cases and not cases during the study period. In the repeated cross sectional surveys the estimated rate ratio (RR) for being a case was between 1.1 and 1.5 when comparing the group with job strain and the group without job strain. For the combination of job strain and perceived high physical exertion the estimated RR was between 1.5 and 2.1. When the potential risk factors were assessed one, two, or three years before the assessment of symptoms the estimated RR for becoming a case was between 1.4 and 2.2 when comparing the group with job strain and the group without job strain. CONCLUSION: Almost half of the healthcare workers varied between being a case and not, over a three year period. The analysis indicated that job strain is a risk factor for musculoskeletal symptoms and that the risk is higher when it is combined with perceived high physical exertion.

Back↗
PubMed1996

Self-reported physical exertion in geriatric care. A risk indicator for low back symptoms?

STUDY DESIGN: The study group consisted of 131 female nursing aides who took part in an intervention program with physical training or education. Assessments were performed before the intervention program and after 6 months. At follow-up evaluation, 91 nursing aides remained in the study. OBJECTIVES: To examine if perceived physical exertion was a risk indicator for low back symptoms, and to examine the relationship between perceived physical exertion, aerobic capacity, back endurance, psychological demands, and job control. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Perceived physical exertion frequently is assessed in epidemiologic studies concerning low back symptoms. More information about the relationship between perceived exertion, other potential risk indicators, and symptoms may provide opportunities for effective prevention of symptoms. METHODS: Assessments were obtained by questionnaires and physical capacity tests. RESULTS: The nursing aides who reported high physical exertion and were 45 years of age or older were at greater risk in the follow-up period for reporting new symptoms, continued symptoms with the same intensity, or more intense symptoms from the low back (rate ratio, 3.01; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-8.2). The exposure variable correlated most strongly (r = 0.4) with perceived physical exertion was psychological demands. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicated being aged 45 years or older, combined with high perceived physical exertion, was a risk indicator for low back symptoms. A relationship between perceived physical exertion and psychological demands was observed, but there was no influence of physical capacity on perceived physical exertion.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

FK 506 therapy for refractory renal allograft rejection: lessons from liver transplantation.

FK 506 has proven to be an effective immunosuppressive agent in liver transplantation, but its role in renal transplantation remains to be defined. Since the initial availability of FK 506 for treatment of refractory renal allograft rejection, we have applied an aggressive approach consisting of institution of rescue therapy at an early point in the rejection process combined with assiduous monitoring of FK 506 blood levels and the histologic response to therapy. A total of 17 adult patients were treated for refractory renal allograft rejection with this approach. Median follow-up was 9 months post-initiation of FK 506 therapy. Median time to first rejection was 26 d post-transplant, and median time to FK 506 rescue therapy was 113 d post-transplant. Sixteen of 17 patients received either ATGAM or OKT3 induction therapy. Prior to FK 506 rescue therapy, patients received the following antirejection therapy: corticosteroids 40 + 21 mg/kg (prednisone or Solumedrol), OKT3 (median 14 d), ATGAM (3 patients, 14 d each). FK 506 rescue therapy was successful in reversing the rejection process in all 17 patients. Fifteen patients (88%) demonstrated rapid reversal of rejection (i.e. reversal within 14 d), whereas three patients demonstrated delayed reversal. Nine month actuarial patient and graft survivals were 92% and 84%. When censored for documented noncompliance, nine month actuarial graft survival was 92%. Good long-term renal function was observed (pre-FK 506 baseline creatinine 2.1 +/- 0.5 mg/dl, current serum creatinine 2.1 +/- 0.6 mg/dl. Six recurrent rejection episodes occurred in 5 patients (29%) with a median time to recurrent rejection of 59 d post-initiation of FK 506 rescue therapy. Each recurrent rejection episode was successfully treated by corticosteroids and/or increased FK 506 dose. CMV disease and lymphoma were not observed. Histologic evidence of FK 506 nephrotoxicity (hyaline necrosis in preglomerular arterioles) was observed in 6 patients 30% (median time to diagnosis 49 d). FK 506 blood levels (whole blood TDX) between 10 and 20 ng/ml provided effective reversal in most patients. Current FK 506 dose and blood levels are 0.18 +/- 0.09 mg/kg/d and 7 +/- 2 ng/dl). FK 506 rescue therapy also allowed aggressive reductions in prednisone dose: (mean current prednisone dose 0.08 +/- 0.05 mg/kg/d). In conclusion, an aggressive approach toward FK 506 rescue: 1) provides prompt, effective reversal of refractory renal allograft rejection, 2) good long-term renal allograft function, 3) balanced immunosuppression with respect to recurrent rejection, opportunistic infection and PTLD, 4) acceptable toxicity, and 5) aggressive reduction in corticosteroid dosing. Based on these findings, FK 506 rescue therapy is now the treatment of choice in our program for renal allograft rejection episodes that occur following antilymphocyte antibody therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

OKT3 escalating dose regimens provide effective therapy for renal allograft rejection.

Dose-response relationships for anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapy remain undefined, particularly with respect to higher dose ranges. The clinical efficacy and safety of an OKT3 dosing regimen that incorporates higher doses (escalating dose regimens) was examined in a pilot trial. Patients undergoing acute rejection were treated with a 7-d course of OKT3 in which the daily OKT3 dose was escalated during treatment course (daily doses 5, 5, 5, 5, 10, 15, 25 mg). The total amount of OKT3 given was equal to a standard 14-d course (70 mg). A total of 10 primary cadaveric renal transplant recipients were treated, and data analyzed from a median follow up of 5 months (range 3-13 months). Pre-OKT3 immunosuppressive therapy consisted of ATGAM induction therapy (n = 8), and corticosteroid rejection therapy (n = 6, 18.6 +/- 11.4 mg/kg). Median time of first rejection was 32 d (12-48 d) and median time to OKT3 was 33 d (range 15-42 d). Pre-OKT3 histology (by Banff criteria) included: mild ACR (n = 6), moderate ACR (n = 2), AVR (n = 1), ACR and acute transplant glomerulopathy (n = 1). Rejection reversal rate with escalating dose OKT3 was 100%, and each patient experienced a rapid reversal of rejection (i.e. reversal within 14 d initiation of OKT3 therapy). Six recurrent rejection episodes were diagnosed in 5 patients with a median time to recurrent rejection of 30 d following cessation of OKT3 therapy. All recurrent rejection episodes were successfully treated (FK 506 n = 4, corticosteroids n = 1, and OKT3 n = 1). CMV disease was limited to a single episode of CMV viremia in one patient. PTLD was observed in one patient who had coexisting vascular rejection at the time of PTLD diagnosis. Short- and long-term graft function is excellent (pre-rejection baseline creatinine 1.8 +/- 0.4 mg/dl, current creatinine 1.75 +/- 0.4 mg/dl). Monitoring of OKT3 serum levels revealed that patients maintained therapeutic serum levels for an average of 4 d following the last OKT3 dose. Circulating CD3+ and CD5+ cells were maintained below baseline levels for at least 10 d following the last OKT3 dose. Anti-OKT3 antibody formation occurred in 22% of patients, however, anti-idiotypic responses were of low titer. Adverse reactions experienced during dose escalation were minimal compared to first dose reactions, and consisted primarily of mild headaches and arthralgias in a minority of patients. OKT3 EDR, by obviating monitoring and administration costs, are cost effective [OKT3 EDR $8088, OKT3 SDR (10 d) $9684, OKT3 SDR (14 d) $13,224]. In conclusion, escalating dose regimens of OKT3: 1) provide rejection reversal rates similar to standard dose regimens, 2) provide high OKT3 serum levels and reliable CD3+ cell depletion, 3) induce minimal adverse reactions during dose escalation, and 4) may decrease costs by obviating the need for monitoring peripheral blood T cells and by decreasing administration costs and outpatient visits.

Costs and Cost Analysis↗