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Biomedical subjects

N Bell

Publications and source records attributed to N Bell.

49 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Plasma manganese, selenium and glutathione peroxidase levels in the mother and newborn infant.

Manganese (Mn), selenium (Se) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) levels were determined in 56 paired samples of maternal and cord blood plasma at birth in both term and preterm pregnancies. Correlations existed between maternal and newborn plasma levels for Se, but not for Mn or GPX. Values of Mn, Se and GPX were all greater in the term than the preterm infant. Levels of Mn were greater in the pregnant than the non-pregnant woman, but levels of Se and GPX were lower during pregnancy.

Female↗

Resting energy expenditure in chronic cardiac failure.

1. Resting energy expenditure has previously been shown to be elevated in the acute phase of heart failure, but the situation in the compensated state of chronic cardiac failure is unclear. Resting energy expenditure was assessed in 14 patients with stable chronic cardiac failure and 14 matched control subjects by using indirect calorimetry. 2. Resting energy expenditure was significantly elevated in the patients with chronic cardiac failure (112.6 +/- 18.1 versus 87.1 +/- 12.2 kJ day-1 kg-1 total body weight, P less than 0.0002; mean +/- SD) as were resting O2 consumption (3.88 +/- 0.64 versus 3.00 +/- 0.43 ml min-1 kg-1, P less than 0.0002), ventilation (164 +/- 40.3 versus 104 +/- 16.2 ml min-1 kg-1, P less than 0.0001) and heart rate (85.8 +/- 16.9 versus 66.6 +/- 6.9 beats/min, P less than 0.001). Both the resting plasma concentration of noradrenaline (4.48 +/- 1.52 versus 2.28 +/- 0.96 nmol/l, P less than 0.0001) and the serum concentration of free fatty acids (0.78 +/- 0.21 versus 0.57 +/- 0.27 mmol/l, P less than 0.03) were greater in the patients with chronic cardiac failure. Analysis of covariance indicated that most of the difference in resting energy expenditure could be accounted for by the elevated ventilation in the patients with chronic cardiac failure. Arm muscle area, an index of wasting, was lower in the patients with chronic cardiac failure (39.1 +/- 13.1 versus 50.5 +/- 9.4 cm2, P less than 0.02) and resting energy expenditure was found to account for some of this difference. 3. We conclude that an elevated basal metabolism occurs in chronic cardiac failure.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗

Effect of blood transfusion on plasma selenium, glutathione peroxidase and manganese levels in very low birth weight infants.

Very low birth weight infants often receive multiple blood transfusions. We measured the plasma levels of the trace elements selenium, manganese, and glutathione peroxidase in 20 very low birth weight infants prior to blood transfusion and then at 24, 48 and 72 h after transfusion. There was no detectable change in mean selenium or glutathione peroxidase concentrations after transfusion, but the mean (SD) plasma manganese increased from 3.8 (1.5) to 6.0 (2.3) micrograms/l at 72 h.

Blood Transfusion↗

Substrate utilization during exercise in chronic cardiac failure.

1. Skeletal muscle metabolism in chronic cardiac failure may be influenced by the many circulatory and neurohumoral adaptations in the condition. We investigated aerobic metabolism during exercise using indirect calorimetry in 15 patients with chronic cardiac failure and in 14 control subjects. Subjects exercised on a treadmill for 20 min at a steady-state submaximal workload. 2. Venous lactate levels were relatively constant throughout the exercise, although they were slightly greater in the patients with chronic cardiac failure than in the control subjects. The respiratory exchange ratio was lower in patients with chronic cardiac failure (0.777 +/- 0.021 vs 0.833 +/- 0.037, means +/- SD; P less than 0.0002, Mann-Whitney U-test). Relative fat utilization, expressed as a percentage of total energy expenditure, was therefore greater in patients with chronic cardiac failure (71.8 +/- 7.0 vs 54.1 +/- 12.3%, P less than 0.0005) and this was mirrored in a lower carbohydrate utilization (24.7 +/- 6.5 vs 43.3 +/- 12.1%, P less than 0.0002). Levels of free fatty acids, glycerol and noradrenaline were greater in patients with chronic cardiac failure. 3. We conclude that there is an increased reliance on fat, as opposed to carbohydrate, metabolism during exercise in chronic cardiac failure, and that this may relate to the elevated catecholamine and free fatty acid levels present. This may be a compensatory mechanism to preserve muscle glycogen stores, but as fat utilization is less efficient in terms of oxygen consumed, this shift may further impair exercise capacity.

3-Hydroxybutyric Acid↗

Automated measurement of two indicators of human selenium status, and applicability to population studies.

We developed an automated system consisting of a centrifugal analyzer and an atomic absorption spectrophotometer with Zeeman background correction to produce a profile of the concentrations of selenium and the selenium-dependent enzyme glutathione peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.9) in serum and whole blood, for use in epidemiological surveys in Northern Ireland. No pretreatment of samples other than dilution is required, and at least 35 subjects can be screened within 24 h of venesection. For selenium in serum the between-run CV was 5.7% and 4.4% within run. For selenium in whole blood the CV was 5.9% between runs, 5.7% within run. The within-run CV for glutathione peroxidase was 0.92% for serum, 1.18% for blood; the between-run CV was 8.3% for serum. To illustrate the use of the system, we present the profile of selenium and glutathione peroxidase in serum and whole blood from 100 adults 25 to 64 years old.

Adult↗

Ice skating accidents and injuries.

A total of 169 consecutive injuries to ice skaters is reviewed. The majority resulted from falls and occurred in young people with little or no previous skating experience. Speed and crowding on the ice may be contributory. Injuries occur because of a casual attitude to the sport and because of a lack of awareness of the potentially serious injuries that can result. It would be beneficial for beginners to undergo specific instruction and, if possible, at separate times or in separate areas.

Accidental Falls↗

A system for organizational planning.

If your hospital is like most other organizations, the channels of communication are often blocked. To open the lines from bottom to top, here's a proven planning process that could work in your hospital and provide you with an important part in determining the direction the hospital takes.

Communication↗

Who counts in news coverage of health care?

In a study of the sources of health care news, nurses appeared to be virtually silent: Journalists do not seek out nurses as sources of information on health care. Even female journalists adhere to the same definition of expertise held by their male colleagues and virtually never use nurses as a source of news.

Data Collection↗