Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M V Graham

Publications and source records attributed to M V Graham.

54 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Health perceptions and behaviors of school-age boys and girls.

This study described and compared the health perceptions and behaviors of 83 school-age boys and girls. An age-appropriate interview schedule was designed to collect data related to demographic characteristics, health perceptions, safety, life-style practices, nutrition, dental health, and care of minor injuries. Findings indicated that most boys and girls viewed themselves as healthy and managed their own care fairly well in the areas of seat belt use, exercise, and dental health. Nutrition was identified as an area of concern, with 10% of the children skipping breakfast, and over half eating snacks with empty calories. Generally, children were found to be knowledgeable in the management of simple injuries and how to respond in the event of an emergency. Boys and girls were similar in all areas of health perceptions and behaviors except for dental health, with boys reporting more regular visits to the dentist than did girls. Further research is needed to learn more about the process by which school-age children acquire positive health behaviors to assist nurses to design and implement intervention programs that appropriately address the needs of this age group.

Child↗
PubMed1991

Locally advanced (noninflammatory) carcinoma of the breast: results and comparison of various treatment modalities.

From 1968-1987 237 women with Stage III, noninflammatory breast cancer were treated with various modalities. Ninety-three (39%) had Stage IIIA tumors, and 144 (61%) had Stage IIIB, noninflammatory tumors (AJC, 1983 staging). Median follow-up was 5.4 years (range 2 to 22 years). No patients were lost to follow-up. Thirty-five patients (15%) were treated with irradiation alone, 27 (11%) with irradiation and adjuvant systemic therapy, 80 (34%) with mastectomy and irradiation, and 95 (40%) with combined mastectomy, irradiation, and systemic therapy. Local/regional control by treatment at 5 and 10 years, respectively, was 31% and 31% for irradiation alone, 47% and 47% for irradiation and systemic therapy, 80% and 80% for irradiation and mastectomy, and 93% and 78% for irradiation, mastectomy, and systemic therapy (p less than .0001). Actuarial disease-free survival by treatment was 19% and 12% for irradiation alone, 25% and 18% for irradiation and systemic therapy, 34% and 20% for irradiation and mastectomy, and 41% and 31% for irradiation, mastectomy, and systemic therapy, at 5 and 10 years, respectively (p = .0001). Patients given systemic therapy and/or irradiation prior to mastectomy had a better local/regional control and DFS and actuarial survival, although not achieving statistical significance (p = 0.10). Of the triple modality group of patients, there were no chest wall failures with chest wall doses greater than 5040 cGy (p = 0.3). There were 40/237 (17%) grade 2 or greater treatment sequelae. The administration of chemotherapy significantly increased complications.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Safe intraocular medication and irrigation.

Present day intraocular surgery may involve drug insertion into the globe in volumes from 1 drop to several litres. The effects of a few common drugs and solutions on the corneal endothelium are discussed.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1980

Intraocular irrigating and replacement fluid.

The transparency of the rabbit cornea is regulated by an toward directed bicarbonate ion pump located in the corneal endothelium. The activity of the pump may be measured directly by measuring the electrical phenomena associated with it (current, potential, tissue resistance) or indirectly with a pachymeter or specular microscope with which one may measure fluid flows into or out of the stroma. Both methods give the same results. In human corneas we find that specular microscopy can give unreliable results (the scleral clamping phenomenon) but electrical investigations of endothelial inability are reliable and very similar in magnitude to those found in the rabbit. We have investigated the effects ov various aqeuous media on the human corneal endothelium, measuring viability with our experimental set-up, and have developed one which seems to cause no trauma to these clinically important cells.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Assessing the need for family nurse practitioners--the Florida experience.

This article presents results of a descriptive study designed to assess the need for Family Nurse Practitioners (FNPs) in Florida. The need for FNPs was examined within the context of the current crisis in access to health care in the United States and in Florida, where unique features of the state's population and economy combined to create inequities in the health care system. Data were also collected related to the number of primary care agencies already employing nurse practitioners, the educational preparation of these nurses, and the likelihood of agency nurses enrolling in an FNP program if such a program were available. A ten-item questionnaire was mailed to nursing service administrators at 330 health care agencies involved in the delivery of primary care. Ninety-seven questionnaires were returned. Results from the study indicated that the agencies will require increased numbers of primary care providers in the next 5 years. Further, a minority of nurse practitioners are prepared at the Master's level in the surveyed agencies, suggesting a need for increased educational opportunities for nurses if they are to enter advanced practice. The study represents one approach to establishing needs for FNPs that might be used in other states both to develop educational programs and to influence legislators regarding health and nurse practitioner issues affecting access to care.

Florida↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cost effectiveness of linear accelerators.

Cost analysis of radiation therapy and cost benefit analysis of Co60 versus linear accelerator therapy are useful exercises for radiation therapy departments. Such analysis will show that the costs of radiation therapy are significant. However, the cost benefit is most likely to be seen where survival is increased and morbidity is decreased. In centers where there is a high population of patients treated for palliation, the cost benefit is unlikely to be realized.

Cobalt Radioisotopes↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Hypofractionated radiation therapy in the modern era.

Choice of the appropriate fractionation schedule in a modern radiation therapy department requires clear understanding of the radiobiologic principles that govern the tumor or normal tissue responses to radiation therapy as well as the goals and expected outcomes for the individual patient. Although the majority of patients will be most appropriately treated with conventional fractionated radiation therapy (dose per fraction less than 225 cGy), there may still be a role hypofractionated treatment for selected patients. Currently it is not feasible to taylor the fractionation regiment to the patient's individual and specific tumor cell survival characteristics. Thus, in malignant melanoma, despite the demonstration of "wide shoulders" on the cell survival curve, it has not been demonstrated clinically that large doses per fraction are clearly advantageous. Many patients may be well palliated with hypofractionated regimens. However, this requires the physicians to carefully select their patients and where resources allow, many patients will be better palliated with higher total doses and lower doses per fraction. This is especially true if they survive for longer than one year. Lastly, new technology that allows for the delivery of highly conformal radiation therapy needs further study relative to the optimal fractionation in its application.

Dose Fractionation, Radiation↗