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Biomedical subjects

M Mitchell

Publications and source records attributed to M Mitchell.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

The views of students and teachers on the use of portfolios as a learning and assessment tool in midwifery education.

As the introduction of devolved continuous assessment in midwifery education has led to the introduction of new and varied learning and assessment strategies, there is a need to evaluate their use. The focus of this study is on the views of students and teachers and on portfolios as a learning and assessment tool in midwifery education. In a small exploratory study questionnaires were used to obtain both quantitative and qualitative data from 24 student midwives. Eight tutors were also interviewed. Data was analysed using an adapted version of grounded theory. Many students had negative feelings about the use of portfolios. In particular problems related to lack of motivation, uncertainty about what was expected of them, difficulty in expressing personal thoughts and feelings and the subsequent anxiety that this created. Tutors showed some awareness of the relative merits associated with the use of portfolios for learning and assessment. Although some of the students problems in keeping the portfolio were appreciated by the tutors, the students perceived there were few attempts made to rectify or minimise these difficulties.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1994

On the other side.

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Critical Care↗
PubMed1993

Which primary care patients with dizziness will develop persistent impairment?

OBJECTIVE: To determine which factors identifiable during an office visit for dizziness predict chronic impairment from dizziness 3 months later. DESIGN: A prospective cohort study with 3-month telephone follow-up. SETTING: Nine primary care office practices in North Carolina. SUBJECTS: 117 adults who presented to primary care practices because of dizziness. OUTCOME MEASURES: Our outcome of interest, restriction of daily activities due to dizziness 3 months after the enrollment visit, was characterized using three different but correlated self-reported measures. Independent analytic models tested the relationship between demographic variables, health status, psychological state, and dizziness characteristics at baseline and our three measures of activity restriction due to dizziness. RESULTS: A two-stage logistic regression analysis identified the following baseline characteristics to be independent predictors in one or more models of activity-limiting dizziness at 3 months: dependency in instrumental activities of daily living (odds ratio [OR] = 11.1, P = .002); a high anxiety score (OR = 5.7, P = .003); self-rating of health as fair or poor (OR = 3.2, P = .042); the presence of three or more chronic conditions (OR = 1.9, P = .022); interference from chronic conditions (OR = 1.7, P = .012); dizziness duration of greater than 1 year (OR = 20.9, P < .001); frequent dizziness (OR = 4.3, P = .016); subjective imbalance (OR = 4.7, P = .012); and activity limitation due to dizziness (OR = 11.7, P < .001). CONCLUSION: To estimate the prognosis and clinical significance of dizziness complaints, primary care physicians should take into account not only the characteristics of the patient's dizziness but also the patient's baseline health status and psychological state.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1993

The revelation.

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Career Choice↗
PubMed1993

Study of dietetic knowledge among members of the primary health care team.

There is growing emphasis on health promotion in primary care. The success of this endeavour depends in part on the ability of members of the primary health care team to provide appropriate and practical advice and support, relating to lifestyle. A study of 58 primary health care professionals was carried out in the Grampian region of Scotland to assess their nutritional knowledge and their ability to provide practical dietary advice, particularly in relation to the prevention of coronary heart disease. Overall, the primary health care workers had a broad understanding of recommendations for healthy eating, but there was some confusion over specific aspects of these recommendations. Health professionals also found it difficult to translate knowledge into practical dietary advice tailored to an individual case. If health promotion in primary care is to work effectively, the infrastructure necessary for effective training and continuing education has to be addressed.

Coronary Disease↗
PubMed1992

Appropriateness of the Draw-A-Person test with Alaskan Native populations.

The appropriateness of the Draw-A-Person test with Alaskan Native populations was assessed by matching 33 White subjects to 33 Alaskan Native subjects, asking them to perform the DAP, and rating their performance according to eight criteria chosen for their clinical relevancy. Results indicated that neither level of commitment to Native culture nor ethnicity per se affected drawing ratings. It is hypothesized that the DAP is a useful clinical tool appropriate for use with Alaskan Native populations.

Acculturation↗
PubMed1992

Case report 713. Chondromyxoid fibroma of the third metatarsal.

In the case presented, the imaging features are those of an aggressive benign or less aggressive malignant lesion. The differential diagnosis radiographically included aneurysmal bone cyst with or without an accompanying lesion, giant cell tumor synovial sarcoma, and other mesenchymal sarcomas. Indeed, at times it is difficult to be certain whether the process originated in the bone or soft tissue. Pathological examination of the resected specimen showed the typical features of chondromyxoid fibroma. Grossly, the tumor was well demarcated and firm and composed of tan, translucent tissue that destroyed cortex but was confirmed by periosteum. Histologically, the tumor consisted of myxoid, chondroid, and fibrous elements. The tumor lobules were composed of predominately myxoid matrix containing stellate cells. Variable chondroid elements were present with immature appearing chondrocytes, containing eosinophilic cytoplasm and irregularly shaped nuclei.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Evolution of DNA sequence homologies between the sex chromosomes in primate species.

Cloned DNA sequences from 18 X-Y homologous loci have been used to examine the evolution of regions of homology between the human X and Y chromosomes. The pattern of X-Y linkage in different primate species has enabled the charting of the chronology of their appearance and removal from the sex chromosomes during evolution. Examination of the pattern of differences in restriction enzyme sites at different loci has been used to estimate the degree of divergence in three different regions of homology. These studies have indicated that (1) blocks of homology have arisen at different points in evolution, (2) different regions of homology are heterogeneous in composition in that they contain X-Y homologous sequences of different age, and (3) the combination of X and Y locations together with the point of evolutionary origin has defined five new patterns of homology.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Preimplantation diagnosis of a human beta-globin transgene in biopsied trophectoderm cells and blastomeres of the mouse embryo.

The preimplantation diagnosis of a HbSA-globin transgene in biopsied trophectoderm cells and blastomeres in embryos using a transgenic mouse model for the trait of human sickle-cell anaemia has been undertaken. A sensitive procedure was developed for the amplification of the human beta-globin gene sequence flanking the sickle mutation. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays were undertaken on one to five biopsied trophectoderm cells and isolated blastomeres of the preimplantation mouse embryo. After biopsy the blastocysts were cultured whilst the cells were analysed for the presence of the transgene, and a high proportion (82-91%) were viable as assessed by the presence of a blastocoele cavity within a 5-h period. The majority of the biopsied cultured blastocysts were frozen and used to confirm the diagnosis; 90 biopsied cultured blastocysts were transferred to pseudopregnant recipients and 34% established pregnancy. Material from day 13.5 post-coitum fetuses was also used to confirm the original diagnosis. The time (4-5 h) required to carry out the analysis obviates a need for extended culture or cryopreservation of the biopsied embryo. In individual experiments under optimal conditions, the presence of the transgene in biopsied cells was detected with 100% accuracy, and the PCR analysis was sensitive at the 1-cell level. The overall success rate of diagnosis and confirmation of the presence or absence of the human beta-globin sequence in the biopsied embryo was 70%. Over the entire experimental period (14 months) DNA contamination from a variety of sources did occasionally occur; the methods used to overcome this problem are discussed.

Anemia, Sickle Cell↗
PubMed1992

Effect of 48-hour infusion of the synthetic oxytocin antagonist, [1-beta-mercapto(beta-(CH2)5)1(OMe)Tyr2,Orn8]-oxytocin, on myometrial activity of pregnant sheep at 139-140 days of gestation.

Currently there is considerable interest in the actions of oxytocin antagonists on the pregnant myometrium. Few studies have been conducted involving long-term infusions of oxytocin antagonists to late-pregnant experimental animals. We set out to determine whether continuous infusion of an oxytocin antagonist ([1-beta-mercapto(beta-(CH2)5)1(OMe)Tyr2,Orn8]-oxytocin) would influence basal levels of myometrial activity of the contracture type and maternal prostaglandins in pregnant sheep. The antagonist was infused into a uterine vein at 80 micrograms.h-1 for 48 h starting at 139 days of gestational age. The antagonist significantly reduced total myometrial electromyogram activity and the frequency of contractures but did not change contracture duration. Antagonist infusion did not produce any significant alterations in maternal carotid or uterine vein 13,14-dihydro-15 keto prostaglandin F2 alpha concentrations. Contractures probably represent an intrinsic instability of the resting membrane potential of uterine muscle and these results suggest that oxytocin may play a role in regulating their frequency in sheep during the last third of gestation.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Knee effusion: normal distribution of fluid.

Although visualization of articular fluid on MR images of the knee is common, no specific MR criteria that enable assessment of the quantity of the effusion have been established. We performed MR of three cadaveric knee specimens after the instillation of increasingly large volumes of fluid and studied the distribution of the fluid. When 4 ml of fluid was injected, the anteroposterior diameter of the suprapatellar recess was 4 mm on midline sagittal MR images and 10.0-12.5 mm on lateral sagittal MR images, corresponding to the usual routine radiographic criteria for a knee effusion.

Humans↗
PubMed1992

Prostaglandin production in the umbilical and uterine circulations in pregnant sheep at 129-136 days gestation.

Prostaglandins circulating in the maternal and foetal blood have been implicated in important physiological systems. These functions include foetal adrenal function, maintenance of patency of the ductus arteriosus, regulation of uterine and umbilical circulations, and labor and delivery type myometrial contractions. The placenta is a major site of prostaglandin production in pregnancy. Limited data are available which combine measurements of veno-arterial differences across the uterine and umbilical circulations with blood flow in these circulations to enable calculation of umbilical-placental and utero-placental production rates for the prostaglandins. In chronically instrumented pregnant ewes, between 129 and 136 days of gestation, prostaglandin F2 alpha(PGF2 alpha), 13, 14 dihydro-15-keto prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGFM), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) were measured in the maternal carotid artery and uterine vein. Foetal PGE2, and 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha (6-keto-PGF1 alpha) (the major metabolite of prostacyclin) were measured in umbilical venous and foetal descending aorta arterial plasma. Umbilical and uterine blood flow were measured using the diffusion-equilibrium technique. Uterine blood flow was 1693 +/- 137 ml.min-1 (mean +/- SEM); uterine production rates were 480 +/- 88 ng.min-1 for PGF2 alpha, 517 +/- 144 ng.min-1 for PGFM, and 165 +/- 27 ng.min-1 for PGE2. Umbilical blood flow was 147 +/- 17 ml.min-1.kg-1 foetal body weight. Umbilical production rates into the foetal circulation were 11 +/- 2 ng.min-1.kg-1 for PGE2 and 6 +/- 2 ng. ng.min-1.kg-1 foetal body weight for PGI2.

6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha↗