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Biomedical subjects

P Morrison

Publications and source records attributed to P Morrison.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Counselling attitudes in health visiting students.

All health visitors have a counselling function as part of their jobs. When visiting people in their homes they are frequently asked to discuss personal problems and emotional difficulties. It would be helpful if all health visitors developed specific counselling skills say Philip Burnard and Paul Morrison who here describe the results of a piece of research into counselling skills among a group of health visiting students.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1989

Heparin induces changes in the synthesis of porcine aortic endothelial cell heparan sulfate proteoglycans.

Heparin is known to bind to cultured endothelial cells. This report documents that addition of heparin to endothelial cells results in an alteration of the heparan sulfate proteoglycan synthetic pattern. Specifically, the addition of saturating amounts of heparin to confluent cultures of porcine aortic endothelial cells results in an increase in the amount of radiolabeled heparan sulfate proteoglycan secreted into the growth medium. The increase is apparent as early as 8 h after heparin administration. Although there is often a decrease in the amount of cell surface heparan sulfate proteoglycan produced, it is not sufficient to account for the increase in the secreted form. Of the other glycosaminoglycans tested, only dextran sulfate and commercial heparan sulfate induce changes in heparan sulfate proteoglycan synthesis and secretion. Chondroitin sulfate glycosaminoglycans do not elicit this synthetic change. These data indicate that endothelial cells can alter the synthesis of heparan sulfate proteoglycans in response to extracellular signals including heparin and related glycosaminoglycans.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

What is an interpersonally skilled person?: a repertory grid account of professional nurse's views.

This study sought to identify how a group of professional nurses viewed the notion of an 'interpersonally skilled person'. Using a modified repertory grid approach, we asked 21 professional nurses to elicit eight bi-polar constructs relating to an 'interpersonally skilled person'. A total of 168 constructs was produced and these were analysed into different content areas. In addition, respondents were asked to rate themselves against the set of constructs that they, themselves, had elicited. Three levels of findings are offered in this study: 1) the content of the constructs that were elicited 2) the distribution of the constructs within these content areas 3) the discrepancies that were found between self and ideal self elements The findings indicated that the nurses in this study tended to view the interpersonally skilled person more in terms of personal qualities than in terms of identifiable skills. They also tended to identify themselves as deficient in many of the qualities that they elicited. The study has implications for teaching interpersonal skills and these are discussed in this report.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1989

Some ambiguities of the student's role in undergraduate nurse training.

Proposed changes in the way in which nurses are educated and trained will lead to stronger links between the academic and practical worlds of nursing. However, little or no attention has been focused on the potential difficulties associated with such a move for the student in this new and changing role. Important ambiguities of the student's role need to be addressed if the degree nursing student is to make the most of available opportunities for learning. In this paper we draw a distinction between two kinds of ambiguity in the role of nursing degree student during clinical placements. The first type is essential to the very nature of degree education in nursing, since the ambiguities here all entail problems in bridging the gap between the world of practical nursing and that of education. They include whether he or she is to regard the role as one of learner or producer of work; whether to become unreflectively acculturated to the organization or to reflect on its norms and values; and the student function within the organization. A second kind of ambiguity is not essential to nurse education, but is an unintended consequence of placement arrangements. The student is thrust into the clinical field as a short-term member of an organization; their position is anomalous and the motive for their involvement is largely different from that of permanent employees. These ambiguities of the role are also the source of important learning opportunities.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1989

Nursing and caring: a personal construct theory study of some nurses' self-perceptions.

This report outlines the results of a survey of trained nurses' perceptions about themselves as professional carers. Twenty-five nurses of charge nurse grade were interviewed using Kelly's personal construct theory and repertory grid technique. Nurses were asked to elicit eight bipolar constructs and to rate eight elements, including a 'myself as a carer' element and an 'ideal self as a carer' element, on a seven-point rating scale. A simple difference score was calculated to measure the degree of discrepancy between these two elements. Observed differences were assumed to be indicative of the need for personal change. Differences emerged for each of the 25 informants. Some possible explanations for these findings are provided, in particular the personal cost of caring for the carer is emphasized. Further research in this area must take account of this new finding.

Empathy↗
PubMed1989

Students' and trained nurses' perceptions of their own interpersonal skills: a report and comparison.

The theoretical framework known as Six Category Intervention Analysis is described. This framework has been used in the teaching of interpersonal skills in various settings but there appears to be little or no empirical work to test out the theory. In the present study, an instrument was devised for assessing student nurses' perceptions of their interpersonal skills based on the category analysis. The findings of the study are presented and a quantitative comparison is made with the results of an earlier study of trained nurses' perceptions. Marked similarities were noted between the two sets of findings. The key trend to emerge was that both groups of nurses tended to perceive themselves as being more authoritative and less facilitative in their interpersonal relationships, in terms of the category analysis. This trend and others are discussed and suggestions made for future directions in research and training in the field of interpersonal skills in nursing. Implications for the theory of six category intervention analysis are also discussed.

Clinical Competence↗
PubMed1988

Roux-Y stasis syndrome after gastrectomy.

The aim of the present study was to determine which factors lead to upper gastrointestinal stasis after Roux-Y reconstruction. Among the 214 patients with Roux-Y reconstructions performed between 1961 and 1983, follow-up data were obtained for 187 (87 percent) after a mean of 6.2 years. Patients with vomiting of food but not bile, postprandial pain, and nausea were considered to have the Roux-Y stasis syndrome. The syndrome was found in 49 patients with gastrojejunostomy (30 percent of those at risk) but in only 2 patients with esophagojejunostomy (8 percent, p less than 0.05). The condition was more common in women than men (p less than 0.05), but it was equally common in patients with and without vagotomy. The mean length of the Roux-Y limb in patients with stasis was 41 cm, which was longer than the 36 cm in patients without stasis (p less than 0.001). When multiple logistic regression was used, the length of the Roux-Y limb emerged as the major risk factor (p less than 0.01). In conclusion, construction of Roux-Y limbs greater than about 40 cm in length may increase the incidence of the Roux-Y stasis syndrome.

Abdomen↗
PubMed1988

Consumer satisfaction on a psychiatric ward.

A survey of consumer satisfaction was carried out on one ward of the psychiatric unit of a district general hospital. Data were collected by questionnaire, the content of the questionnaire being guided by a number of semi-structured interviews. The information collected suggested many ways in which the patients' time in hospital could be made more comfortable and relaxed. Areas attracting particular concern were the food, noise, the provision of information and boredom. The various methods which can be used to elicit consumer views are described, and we have discussed the value and possible obstacles to users having more influence in the planning and running of mental health services.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

A comparison of hospital admissions data and official government statistics of serious traffic accident injuries.

Two sources of New Zealand statistics on serious traffic accident injuries were compared for the period 1973-82. The official statistics based on Ministry of Transport reports showed consistently lower figures than the supposedly comparable hospital admission statistics from the Department of Health. The reporting ratio in the official statistics had decreased from 66% of the first admissions to hospital in 1973 to 43% in 1982. The highest reporting ratios were observed for drivers and passengers (66% in 1982). For pedestrians it was 48%, for motor cyclists 45% and for bicyclists 15%. A detailed analysis of reporting ratios for specific types of accidents among children showed that for certain accidents almost none of the injured children were recorded in the Ministry of Transport statistics. It is concluded that these statistics present a distorted picture of the nonfatal road toll and that a new statistical reporting system combining information from several sources is needed.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1987

Removal of a giant ovarian cyst. Anaesthetic and intensive care management.

Excision of a giant ovarian cyst may be associated with considerable mortality. Problems stem from the size of the cyst and the emaciated state of the patient. We describe a case in which the patient's pre-operative nutritional and psychological state required attention. Gradual pre-operative drainage of a cyst weighing 113 kg was carried out successfully. The main problems intra-operatively stemmed from copious blood loss and the duration of surgery. Postoperatively, ventilatory inadequacy occurred and was probably caused by altered mechanics of ventilation, postoperative pain and pulmonary oedema. We suggest ways in which the management of such cases might be improved.

Anesthesia, General↗
PubMed1986

Constant flow ventilation in anesthetized patients: efficacy and safety.

Constant flow ventilation (CFV) maintains normal gas exchange in apneic dogs and has potential clinical application during thoracic surgery or pulmonary edema. We compared CFV and intermittent positive pressure ventilation (IPPV) in five healthy, anesthetized, (fentanyl, diazepam, and nitrous oxide) and paralyzed patients undergoing nonthoracic operations. Constant flow ventilation was delivered at a total flow of 0.9-1.6 L . kg-1 . min-1 (nitrous oxide-oxygen at 1:1) into two tubes of 2.5-3.5 mm inner diameter attached to each side of an 8-9 mm inner diameter orotracheal tube (OTT). Under bronchoscopic guidance, the CFV-OTT was advanced to position each ventilating tube at a mainstem bronchial orifice. Gas exhausted through the OTT lumen. If intrathoracic pressure exceeded a preset limit, a solenoid valve automatically interrupted gas flow to the patient to prevent barotrauma. Compared to IPPV, during CFV for up to 30 min average PaCO2 increased to 69.2 +/- 14.5 from 35.9 +/- 2.9 mm Hg, reflecting a calculated alveolar ventilation (VA) of 46 +/- 22% of the eucapnic level. We suggest that a technique combining CFV at lower flow rates with IPPV may prove clinically useful by allowing decreased tidal volume and inspiratory pressure while maintaining normal VA.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Intramolecular recombination of linear DNA catalyzed by the Escherichia coli RecE recombination system.

Transformation of different Escherichia coli strains by linear dimers of pBR322 containing different tet alleles was investigated. Linear dimers transformed wild-type strains 0.1 to 1% as efficiently as circular dimers. In contrast, linear dimers transformed recBrecCsbcA strains, where the RecE recombination system is functional, as efficiently as circular dimers. The transformants contained plasmids that had a single recombinant monomer genotype, indicating that transformation was mediated by a recombination-dependent cyclization reaction. Altering the position of the double-strand break changed the frequency of recovering different recombination products, but had no effect on the frequency of transformation. Both the frequency of transformation and the production of Tcr recombinants were decreased by recE mutations, while recA and recF mutations were slightly stimulatory (twofold). Several recombination models consistent with these results are presented.

DNA Restriction Enzymes↗
PubMed1985

Observations on the pharmacokinetics of low dose aminoglutethimide in patients with advanced breast cancer.

Serum aminoglutethimide (AG) and N-acetylaminoglutethimide (NAG) concentrations were measured by high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) in 24 postmenopausal women with advanced breast cancer receiving increasing doses of oral AG. Patients received 62.5 mg b.d., 125 mg b.d., 250 mg b.d., and 500 mg b.d. of AG alone, and 500 mg b.d. of AG combined with hydrocortisone (HC) 20 mg b.d. Dose was increased at monthly intervals. Each dose increment was accompanied by a significant rise in serum AG and NAG levels (P less than 0.05). The addition of HC to the dose of 500 mg b.d. of AG did not alter serum AG or NAG concentrations significantly. Although serum AG and NAG levels appeared to increase linearly with dose, serum NAG increased significantly more slowly, leading to a fall in the NAG:AG ratio during therapy. The NAG:AG ratio appeared to stabilise only after about 6 months of treatment.

Aged↗
PubMed1985

Plasmid recombination intermediates generated in a Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell-free recombination system.

We have developed an assay utilizing Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell extracts to catalyze recombination in vitro between homologous plasmids containing different mutant alleles of the tet gene. Electrophoretic analysis of product DNA indicated that a number of novel DNA species were formed during the reaction. These species migrated through agarose gels as distinct bands with decreased electrophoretic mobility compared with the substrate DNA. The DNA from each individual band was purified and shown to be enriched 5- to 100-fold for tetracycline-resistant recombinants by using a transformation assay. The structure of the DNA molecules present in these bands was determined by electron microscopy. Recombination between circular substrates appeared to involve the formation and processing of figure-eight molecules, while recombination between circular and linear substrates involved the formation of molecules in which a circular monomer had a monomer-length linear tail attached at a region of homology.

Alleles↗