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Biomedical subjects

N Gray

Publications and source records attributed to N Gray.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Weather conditions and fatal self-harm in North Cheshire 1989-1993.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to study the effect of weather conditions on the rate of all deaths due to fatal self-harm (FSH) reported in a population of 350,000. In this study the term FSH refers to all coroners' verdicts which were recorded in a specified period and included suicide, misadventure and open verdict. METHOD: Five-year data of FSH in North Cheshire was analysed in relation to meteorological data, which were measured at the nearest meteorological office to the study population. RESULTS: Small but significant positive correlations were demonstrated between occurrence of FSH and hours of sunshine (P < 0.01) and diurnal variations in daily temperature (P < 0.05). These effects were independent of gender and psychiatric history. CONCLUSIONS: Weather may influence the occurrence of FSH, probably interacting with biological and social variables. The rate of FSH death appears to be positively related to fine weather conditions, during early summer, and not to extreme weather conditions as previously reported.

Autopsy↗
PubMed1996

A patient dose survey for femoral arteriogram diagnostic radiographic examinations using a dose-area product meter.

We present a method for dealing with a complex radiographic procedure (which involves multiple radiographs and fluoroscopy) in an attempt to provide a simple way of calculating effective dose from which a general risk factor can be determined. A useful index of harm can be obtained by recording the number of radiographs in each region, and the fluoroscopy time, from which the effective dose may be easily calculated. A patient dose survey was carried out using a PTW diamentor for femoral arteriogram procedures in a large teaching hospital. The procedure involves fluoroscopy to the pelvic region to locate a guide wire and catheter, followed by a series of radiographs extending from the pelvic area to the feet to form a collage image of the entire arterial system. Radiographs are taken whilst a bolus of contrast media is injected into the arterial system. These measurements extend a continuing survey of doses for common diagnostic radiographic examinations which have previously included the simple examinations of lumbar spine, abdomen and pelvis.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Traffic and noise in children's wards.

OBJECTIVE: To measure pedestrian traffic volumes and noise levels in paediatric open bay areas and discuss their impact on the care of sick children. METHODS: Between August and October 1992, we recorded the number and duration of entrances to two open bay areas comprising eight and ten beds respectively in a ward for infants and a ward for older children. Eight 24-hour periods (1200 to 1200) Friday to Saturday were assessed. Noise levels in decibels dB(A) were measured at 15-minute intervals. RESULTS: In an average 24-hour period, 5.5 (SD +/- 1.3) patients in the infants' ward and 9.5 (SD +/- 0.6) patients in the children's ward received 617 (SD +/- 85) and 683 (SD +/- 64) visits by 104 (SD +/- 20) and 110 (SD +/- 2) individuals respectively. The maximum numbers of visits per hour were 57 (SD +/- 14) and 54 (SD +/- 8) visits between 1500 and 1600 hours on Friday for each ward. Visits tended to be brief; 225 (SD +/- 23) and 217 (SD +/- 34) visits were of less than one minute's duration. The maximum noise levels of 57.3 dB(A) (SD +/- 6.3) and 64.6 dB(A) (SD +/- 3.5) occurred at 1000 Saturday and 1900 Friday and coincided with peak traffic volumes. CONCLUSIONS: Open bay areas generate high traffic volumes and coincident noise. Consideration should be given to either modifying or abolishing open bay areas and to general noise control measures.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Distributed current analyses of bi-hemispheric magnetic N1m responses to ipsi/contralateral monaural stimuli from a single subject.

Magnetoencephalographic (MEG) responses of both auditory cortices to simple auditory stimuli presented monaurally to either ear were recorded from a single subject. A distributed current model and a current dipole model were used to analyse the responses at the latency of the dominant N1m complex. At the N1m the current density was localised to a single area and was consequently well modelled by a single current dipole close to the peak current density. In the left hemisphere, the contralateral response (as identified by the peak current density) preceded the ipsilateral response by 3 msec. This value was 7 msec for the right hemisphere. Evidence was found in the right hemisphere of a posterior-anterior movement along the sylvian fissure. Also, the left hemisphere N1m sources were all represented more posterior than the right hemisphere N1m sources.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMed1994

A patient dose survey for three common diagnostic radiographic examinations using a dose-area product meter.

A patient dose survey was carried out for three common diagnostic radiographic examinations: lumbar spine, abdomen and pelvis. A dose-area product meter was used to determine the dose-area product delivered to the patient. The patient dose results reported in this study are lower than the results of the dose survey for United Kingdom hospitals which was recently published by the National Radiological Protection Board. Our data were also used to calculate the mean energy imparted and the mean effective dose from the examinations.

Calibration↗
PubMed1992

Evidence and overview of global tobacco problem.

Tobacco use, both smoking and chewing, is a very old habit. Machine-made cigarettes appeared early in this century. As a consequence, lung cancer increased substantially. The evidence relating cancer to smoking and chewing is summarized. Various forms of tobacco use are briefly described. Tobacco exports are an important source of hard currency for some developing countries. In the Western world, seven major international companies control major market shares. In contrast, tobacco monopolies exist in eastern Europe, Japan, and China. The public health interests are represented by the relevant national and international associations and some governments. Smoking is the largest cause of avoidable death in developing countries after infectious disease and malnutrition.

Humans↗
PubMed1991

Prevalence of obesity in American Indians and Alaska Natives.

Obesity is an important risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and non-insulin-dependent diabetes, which are chronic diseases that afflict American Indians and Alaska Natives today. Because American Indians are not represented in most national health and nutrition surveys, there is a paucity of data on actual prevalence of obesity in American Indians. We estimated prevalence of overweight and obesity for American Indian adults, school-age children, and preschool children from existing data. The prevalence of obesity in adults was estimated from self-reported weights and heights obtained from a special survey of American Indians performed as part of the 1987 National Medical Expenditure Survey. Prevalence of obesity in American Indians was 13.7% for men and 16.5% for women, which was higher than the US rates of 9.1% and 8.2%, respectively. Obesity rates in American Indian adolescents and preschool children were higher than the respective rates for US all-races combined.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

A program to find regions of similarity between homologous protein sequences using dot-matrix analysis.

MATRIX is a program designed primarily to enable the user to visualize all regions of similarity between two proteins at a glance. The program helps the user to see where they are similar--at what relative positions in the amino acid sequences of the two proteins in question does the similarity exist; how they are similar--what functional characteristics the two similar sequences have in common; and to what extent they are similar--is the similarity significant, if so how significant relative to other similar sequences in the protein. This is achieved by constructing a diagram in which quantitative parameters of amino acids are used to compare every amino acid residue of the first protein with every amino acid residue of the second. Another function of the program is, given two sets of atomic coordinates--either of different proteins or for the same protein (for self-comparison)--to demonstrate which residues of the two proteins, when the two proteins are superimposed upon each other, appear in the same space (or are close to each other).

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1987

Low-tar cigarettes: bane or benefit.

Modern cigarettes are generally low in tar (which includes many toxic products) and nicotine although not always in carbon monoxide delivery. The natural experiments available to epidemiologists, however, have not shown a very positive reduction in mortality that can be attributed to the lowering of tar. Campaigns by public health bodies have sometimes appeared to be effective in persuading the tobacco industry to lower tar generally (for example, Australia), but such low tar campaigns have been used by the tobacco industry to promote smoking itself and to sell the view that the habit is not as dangerous as it was (for example, U.K.). Outside the U.S., there has been very little advertising that features tar content. Comparisons made in sophisticated countries may not be relevant to developing countries. The matter of tar delivery by Third World smoking products needs attention. There is little argument that cigarettes should be lower in tar. There is, however, argument as to whether an optimal dose of nicotine reward is needed in order to prevent the development of compensatory smoking habits. There is also argument as to how the levels of tar and other toxic constituents in cigarettes should be lowered. Legislation and taxation are probably better weapons than public health advertising campaigns.

Advertising↗