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Biomedical subjects

M Reidy

Publications and source records attributed to M Reidy.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Telephone support group intervention for persons with hemophilia and HIV/AIDS and family caregivers.

The purpose of this pilot project was to test the feasibility of a telephone support group intervention for persons with hemophilia and HIV/AIDS and for their family caregivers. Their support needs were unique because they did not identify with predominant groups of persons with AIDS and were geographically dispersed from peers. The 12 week intervention involved separate telephone support groups for hemophiliacs and for family caregivers. The two groups, comprised of a predetermined maximum of six people, were co-led by a professional and a peer. The support group for family caregivers involved six people and the group for men with hemophilia included five people, including one peer facilitator and one professional facilitator in each group. The telephone support group discussions were taped, transcribed, and analyzed for prevalent themes. The peer and professional facilitators maintained weekly field notes. All participants reported that the telephone groups had a positive impact on meeting their support needs. They believed that they had benefitted from sharing information and that the support groups had decreased their feelings of isolation and loneliness. Participants, however, contended that the intervention should be longer than 12 weeks.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2000

Smooth muscle cell matrix metalloproteinase production is stimulated via alpha(v)beta(3) integrin.

This study tests the hypothesis that alpha(v)beta(3) integrin receptors play a critical role in smooth muscle cell (SMC) migration after arterial injury and facilitate migration through the upregulation of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity. We showed that beta(3) integrin mRNA was upregulated by SMCs in the balloon-injured rat carotid artery in coincidence with MMP-1 expression and early SMC migration. Treatment with the beta(3) integrin-blocking antibody F11 significantly decreased SMC migration into the intima at 4 days after injury, from 110.8+/-30.8 cells/mm(2) in control rats to 10.29+/-7.03 cells/mm(2) in F11-treated rats (P=0.008). By contrast, there was no effect on medial SMC proliferation or on medial SMC number in the carotid artery at 4 days. In vitro, we found that human newborn SMCs produced MMP-1 but that adult SMCs did not. This was possibly due to the fact that newborn SMCs expressed alpha(v)beta(3) integrin receptors, whereas adult SMCs did not. Stimulation of newborn (alpha(v)beta(3)+) SMCs with osteopontin, a matrix ligand for alpha(v)beta(3), increased MMP-1 production from 114.4+/-35.8 ng/mL at 0 nmol/L osteopontin to 232.5+/-57.5 ng/mL at 100 nmol/L osteopontin. Finally, we showed that stimulation of newborn SMCs with platelet-derived growth factor-BB and osteopontin together increased the SMC production of MMP-9. Thus, our results support the hypothesis that SMC alpha(v)beta(3) integrin receptors play an important role in regulating migration by stimulating SMC MMP production.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

[Uncertainty and hope in seropositive women].

This qualitative research study uses a phenomenological approach to understand the significant of uncertainty and hope in seropositive women and to determine the link between the two. Four seropositive women with children make up the sample. The findings illustrate that uncertainty can be divided into nine themes; reactions on learning or seropositivity; the unknowns of seropositive; the feeling that time and the future are limited; the law of silence; concerns about children; concerns about people withdrawing; concerns about intimate relationships; the image of people living with HIV, and the difficulty experiencing loss--especially loss of control over one's life. The findings also illustrate that hope can be divided into seven themes: seeking assistance through self-help groups; coherence with children; the changing perception of seropositivity; developing relationships with others living with HIV; the fight against HIV; a personal commitment to wellness; and new life experiences and spiritual growth. These findings could be used to determine measures to improve the well-being and health of seropositive women. The authors make recommendations for nursing practice.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1998

Endogenous fibroblast growth factor-2 mediates cytotoxicity in experimental mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis.

Fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) is released from mesangial cells in experimental mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis induced with anti-Thy 1.1 antibody. To investigate the functional role of released FGF-2, rats received either neutralizing anti-FGF-2 IgG or a functional peptide antagonist of FGF-2 (FGF119-126) before or shortly after induction of anti-Thy 1.1 nephritis. In additional experiments, rats were treated with bolus injections of FGF-2 from 2 to 6 h after disease induction. The data showed that anti-FGF-2 therapy led to significant reductions of early mesangial cell injury (mesangiolysis, microaneurysm formation) and the subsequent mesangioproliferative changes (glomerular de novo expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin, mesangial cell proliferation, matrix accumulation, and platelet influx). Conversely, injections of FGF-2 augmented both mesangial injury and the subsequent mesangioproliferative changes. Studies on the mechanisms underlying the amplification of mesangial cell injury by FGF-2 showed that anti-FGF-2 therapy reduced cell death at 2 and 8 h after disease induction by 58 and 54%, respectively. This was associated with significant reductions in the number of glomerular H2O2- and OH -producing cells, as well as reduced glomerular production of nitric oxide. These data suggest that release of constitutively expressed FGF-2 after immune-mediated cell injury contributes to glomerular cell damage and thus identify FGF-2 as a novel mediator of cytotoxicity.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

[Caregivers of persons infected with HIV].

This study describes the extent of caregivers' knowledge about Quebec men infected with HIV/AIDS, highlights some of the caregivers' own health behaviors, assesses their perceptions of their own quality of life, and verifies links between these three variables. The findings are part of a master's thesis, written in 1995 at the Université de Montréal. The respondents' overall perceptions of their quality of life was fair. However, they were not as satisfied with their work outside the home and their recreation. Respondents also felt that their quality of life was least affected in the area of their relationships as part of a couple. In general the variables-knowledge about AIDS and health behaviors-best explain the perceptions of the quality of life of these caregivers. The study concludes that health care providers of this population should learn more about: AIDS among natural caregivers; their own health behaviors; and their perceptions of their own quality of life. By doing so, they can take an active role in their own well-being while performing their duties.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Many roads lead to atheroma.

For many years cholesterol was seen as the worst enemy of coronary arteries. Recent advances show that interactions between lipoproteins, coagulation and growth factors are important in atherosclerosis.

Arteriosclerosis↗
PubMed1995

Paths and impacts in the progressive independence model: a homelessness and substance abuse intervention in Chicago.

In an attempt to reduce homelessness and substance abuse, Chicago graduates of short-term inpatient substance abuse programs who lacked domiciles were placed into one of three conditions: (1) a case management only intervention (n = 96), (2) a case management with supported housing intervention (n = 136), or (3) a control condition (n = 187) that allowed access to normal aftercare in the community. The two treatment interventions used a "progressive independence" approach, which focuses on simultaneously ameliorating tangible needs and clinical problems. Multivariate analyses suggest that subjects in both treatment interventions experienced lower levels of substance abuse and higher levels of residential stability than subjects in the control condition, as measured over the course of a year. Further analysis suggests that retention was improved by the focus on immediate tangible resources, substance abuse was reduced by both the support of outpatient substance abuse treatment and the promulgation of changes in coping styles, and residential stability was increased by both the focus on access to income maintenance benefits and help with location of housing.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1992

[Attitude of french speaking nurses towards AIDS].

This study describes the beliefs, the attitudes and the intentions to act toward persons infected with AIDS, of a group of nurses of the greater Montreal area (n = 427). A questionnaire (71 items) was mailed to 1000 randomly selected Montreal nurses and was completed by 427 of them. The majority of these nurses were female (82.5%) and did not possess a university diploma (64.8%). Most of them had at least 15 years of experience and more than half of them had already taken care of a patient with AIDS. It was found that the nurses' knowledge of AIDS was limited: they do not understand the signification of seropositivity and they had little knowledge of the epidemiological dimensions of the illness. The younger nurses tend to adopt the prejudices and beliefs already endorsed by society: isolation, obligatory testing and homophobia. A factor analysis of the beliefs, attitudes and intent to act sub-scales permits the identification of nine factors (fears, prejudices, emotional support, mistrust, avoidance, quality of care, false security, AIDS equals sex and more experience equals less fear). These factors tend to be associated with certain sociodemographic characteristics. The nurses who are less knowledgeable, who are most prejudiced, and who least intend to care for the client with AIDS are: 1) the younger nurses (21-34 years old); 2) those who see the media as their primary source of information and 3) those who have never cared for seropositive clients. This study allows us to render judgement on the values of a specific group of francophone nurses within a fixed time-place framework.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1991

Psychosocial needs expressed by the natural caregivers of HIV infected children.

The presence in a family of a young child with AIDS, with the exception of a small number of transfusion-infected children, implies almost necessarily the presence of an infected adult, usually the mother. The problem in such a situation is not that of a child with a fatal illness but that of an entire family. Our study included a sample of thirty natural caregivers. These were mostly mothers but others responsible for the care of a seropositive child, such as fathers, aunts and grandmothers, were also included. The aim of the project was to describe their perceptions of their own psycho-social needs. Our results reveal that these caregivers are economically disadvantaged. They need help in coping with stress and their life situation. Their need to confide in others is frequently not met. However, the need to learn how to protect themselves and other members of the family against both HIV and other infections and to know the course and the treatments associated with this disease are seen by them, both as being very important and as being well met, particularly by the health professionals who care for them.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1991

[A measure of professors' attitudes towards the creativity of student nurses].

Creativity and problem solving are closely related in the learning and practice of nursing. The problem underlying this study concerns the attitudes of professors of nursing in 321 French language community colleges in Quebec toward the creative characteristics of their students. However, given the absence of a valid and reliable French instrument, this study focused on the validation of a French version of Torrance's Ideal Pupil Checklist. Content, construct and criteria validity were all verified, as well as the stability and homogeneity aspects of reliability.

Attitude↗
PubMed1990

Long-acting propranolol in the prophylaxis of migraine: a comparative study of two doses.

A randomized double-blind, cross-over study using treatment periods of 12 weeks with a 2-week washout, comparing two long-acting formulations of propranolol ('Inderal' LA 160 mg daily and Half-'Inderal' LA 80 mg daily) was performed after a placebo run-in of 4 weeks on 51 patients. The study indicated that both long-acting formulations were significantly better than placebo in reducing the frequency of migraine attacks (p less than 0.01). After 12 weeks there was a significantly lower (p = 0.03) frequency of migraine attacks in patients on the higher dose formulation than in those on the lower dose formulation. There was no significant difference in the frequency of side effects produced by the two formulations.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Vascular effects of cyclosporine A in vivo and in vitro.

The authors have evaluated the in vivo effects of cyclosporine A on the de-endothelialized rabbit carotid artery. Vascular endothelium was gently removed from the common carotid artery of 10 New Zealand White rabbits that then were treated with therapeutic doses of cyclosporine A (15 mg/kg/day), or its vehicle (Cremophor-EL). Significant intimal proliferation was observed in all cases 2 weeks after de-endothelialization. Concomitant cyclosporine A therapy had no significant effect on intimal smooth muscle proliferation, but was associated with 1) intimal smooth muscle vacuolation, 2) an increase in total intimal thickening, because of the presence of numerous macrophage-derived foam cells, and 3) incorporation of 3H-thymidine by neo-intimal monocyte/macrophages. Mean plasma cholesterol levels were moderately increased in both groups. Although this may have contributed to foam cell formation in the cyclosporine-A-treated animals, it was not the sole determinant, as foam-cell-rich lesions were not observed in control animals. In vitro, cyclosporine A reduced the rate of proliferation of rabbit aortic smooth muscle and endothelial cells in a dose-dependent fashion, and induced smooth muscle cell vacuolation. These data suggest that cyclosporine A may contribute to the formation of graft-related atherosclerosis.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Disclosure of psychosocial concerns of young adults with advanced cystic fibrosis (CF) by a nurse home visiting program.

Twelve patients with advanced cystic fibrosis were enrolled over a 36 month interval in a trial to assess the effect of nocturnal home oxygen therapy. As part of this study, there were repeated home visits by the nurse. Immediately following a visit, the nurse encoded all spontaneous expressions of concern into three general categories: CF management, growth and development and family relations. During the first 6 months, the concerns focused on CF management and over the subsequent year were followed by concerns related to growth and development and, finally to family interactions. This pattern suggests a sequence to the types of interventions accepted by this population.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Chronic contained rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm presenting as a lower extremity neuropathy.

Rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm often presents with a pulsatile abdominal mass, abdominal pain, and hypotension. Recent clinical reports describe patients with less apparent clinical signs and symptoms who were found later in their evaluation to have a contained rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Even more unusual is a chronic contained rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Our patient had a chronic contained rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm that presented with erosion into the lumbar vertebral bodies and subsequent lumbar neuropathy. CT scan confirmed the contained rupture of the aortic aneurysm and the patient underwent successful repair of his aortic aneurysm. Our report discusses the significance of atypical presentations of abdominal aortic aneurysm rupture and the importance of prompt diagnosis and definitive repair.

Aged↗
PubMed1987

The effects of suctioning techniques on the distal tracheal mucosa in intubated low birth weight infants.

Microscopic pathology of the distal trachea at autopsy was retrospectively reviewed in 51 low birth weight infants (less than 1250 g). Twenty-six patients from 1977 who had nasal and/or orotracheal intubation and who underwent suctioning with uncontrolled deep suctioning technique were compared to 25 patients from 1980 who had orotracheal intubation with suctioning to the tube tip only. Clinical diagnoses, duration of intubation and number of intubations were correlated to degree of distal tracheal injury: absent (normal epithelium), mild (focal epithelial loss), moderate (diffuse epithelial loss/some inflammation), or severe (submucosal ulceration/squamous metaplasia). From 1977 to 1980 the mortality rate, mean gestational age and mean birth weight all decreased by 20% (P less than 0.05), 1.1 week (P less than 0.05) and 118 g (P less than 0.01) in both autopsied and non-autopsied infants. In 1977, 15 of 26 autopsies (58%) revealed mild (6), moderate (5) or severe (4) pathology. The mean duration of intubation was 71.3, 11.8, and 265 h. respectively. No history of intubation was obtained in two patients with mild injury. No significant tracheal pathology was seen in 11 patients (42%) in 1977. In 1980, fewer patients, 10 of 24 autopsies (42%), revealed mild (3), moderate (4) or severe (3) pathology. The mean duration of intubation was 19.3, 318.3 and 1391.3 h, respectively. One patient with no history of intubation had mild tracheal injury. No significant tracheal pathology was seen in 15 patients (58%) in 1980. The diagnoses of hyaline membrane disease, anemia, hyperbilirubinemia and coagulation disorder were seen more frequently in patients with moderate and severe tracheal pathology both in 1977 and 1980. Despite factors which should lead to greater tracheal injury--longer duration of intubation, lower birth weights and younger gestational age--less tracheal injury was seen in infants undergoing careful suctioning techniques. Clinical implications for the low birth weight neonate are discussed.

Bronchi↗