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Biomedical subjects

R E Pearson

Publications and source records attributed to R E Pearson.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

Impact of interruptions and distractions on dispensing errors in an ambulatory care pharmacy.

A possible association between interruptions and distractions and the occurrence of dispensing errors was investigated. Fourteen pharmacists and 10 technicians in an ambulatory care pharmacy at a general medical-surgical hospital were tested for distractibility by using the group embedded figures test (GEFT) as well as for visual acuity and hearing. They were videotaped as they filled prescriptions during a 23-day period in 1992. A study investigator compared each filled prescription with the physician's written order, noted details of deviations, verified with the pharmacist any errors that occurred, and asked the pharmacist to correct the error if necessary. Interruptions and distractions were detected and characterized by reviewing the videotapes. None of the study participants had significant hearing or visual impairment. There was a significant association between GEFT scores and error rates. A total of 5072 prescriptions were analyzed, and 164 errors were detected, for an overall error rate of 3.23%. Wrong label information was the most common type of error (80% of errors detected). A total of 2022 interruptions (mean +/- S.D. per half hour per subject, 2.99 +/- 2.70) and 2457 distractions (mean +/- S.D. per half hour per subject, 3.80 +/-3.17) were detected. The error rate for sets of prescriptions with one or more interruptions was 6.65% and for sets during which there were one or more distractions, 6.55%. Interruptions and distractions per half hour were both significantly associated with errors. In an ambulatory care pharmacy, interruptions and distractions over a half-hour period were associated with dispensing errors, a majority of which involved incorrect label information.

Ambulatory Care Facilities↗
PubMed1999

Comparisons of cows and herds in two progeny testing programs and two corresponding states.

Data were USDA genetic evaluations of cows and DHI herd profiles from 4154 Holstein progeny-test herds from two artificial insemination organizations. 21st Century Genetics (Shawano, WI) and Genex (Ithaca, NY), and from 6361 additional herds from Minnesota and New York. We grouped herds into four categories: 21st Century Genetics herds, other Minnesota herds, Genex herds, and other New York herds. Herds were eliminated if they contributed fewer than 10 cows with genetic evaluations and birth dates from January 1989 to March 1995. Data included 83 and 74%, respectively, of first-crop daughters of 21st Century Genetics and Genex progeny-test bulls with genetic evaluations from January 1995 to February 1997. Herds were characterized by DHI profile and cow evaluation data. Daughters of progeny-test bulls with extreme production records (outside of 3 SD) relative to herd mean and variance did not appear in disproportionate numbers among the progeny of bulls likely culled or considered for further use. The two organizations appear to have selected larger, genetically superior, and better managed herds from within their respective regions for progeny-testing purposes. We were not able to predict whether a bull in the progeny-testing programs of these two organizations was going to exceed or fail to meet the pedigree prediction from characteristics of herds in which his daughters performed. Differences between parent average and daughter yield deviations for typical young sires appear to result from Mendelian segregation of genes.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Effects of energy balance of hormones, ovarian activity, and recovered oocytes in lactating Holstein cows using transvaginal follicular aspiration.

The effects of energy balance on hormonal secretion patterns and the structure of recovered oocytes were evaluated in 20 lactating Holstein cows during two trial periods. Cows were randomly assigned to one of two dietary treatments formulated so that dry matter consumption was 3.6% of body weight (high energy; 1.78 Mcal/kg) or 3.2% of body weight (low energy; 1.52 Mcal/kg). Ovum recovery procedures were conducted twice weekly between d 30 and 100 of lactation. Follicle size and number were recorded. Follicular fluid aspirated from the largest follicle and serum samples were collected for hormone assay. Milk yield averaged 41.6 +/- 0.3 kg/d (mean +/- SE) for high energy fed cows and 32.8 +/- 0.3 kg/d for low energy fed cows. Oocyte numbers increased linearly from d 30 to 100 postpartum. Cows fed high energy diets produced more good (+) oocytes than did cows fed low energy diets.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Effect of naloxone on serum luteinizing hormone concentration in anovulatory Holstein cows during the early postpartum period.

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of naloxone (NAL), an opioid receptor antagonist, on pituitary LH secretion in anovulatory Holstein cows during the early postpartum period when cows were expected to be in negative net energy balance. Twenty-three cows (11 primiparous) received either saline (n = 12) or 1 mg/kg BW NAL i.v. (n = 11) on Day 14 or 15 postpartum. Jugular blood samples were collected at 15-min intervals for 2 hr before and 2.5 hr after NAL or saline. All cows received 3 ug gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) at 2.5 hr post-NAL or -saline and blood collection was continued for 1 hr. Mean serum progesterone concentration was 0.33 +/- 0.2 ng/ml. Mean net energy balance for all cows was -5.5 +/- 0.6 Mcal/day. Naloxone caused a transient increase (P < 0.05) in serum LH concentrations in both primi- and multiparous cows within 45 min after administration. In contrast, serum LH concentrations remained unchanged in saline-treated cows. GnRH increased (P < 0.05) LH and there was no effect of treatment. These results suggest that modulation of LH secretion, at least in part, may be mediated via endogenous opioids in dairy cows before first postpartum ovulation.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Influences of progeny test programs on genetic evaluations of young sires.

Our purpose was to examine differences among AI progeny test programs in their effectiveness in identifying elite young sires for milk and protein. Data were from 6238 Holstein sires in five animal model evaluations of the USDA from January 1995 to February 1997. Bulls were required to be < or = 8 yr of age and to have > or = 10 daughters in production at the time of the evaluation. Bulls in AI programs were placed in nine groups based on affiliation with major AI organizations; from these nine groups, bulls with daughters averaging < 150 DIM and bulls sampled in > 100 herds were placed in two separate groups. Bulls sampled in organizations with controller numbers > or = 30 and bulls that had no connection to a sampling organization formed two additional groups. We also classified bulls by sampling codes of the National Association of Animal Breeders. A model predicting daughter yield deviation included effects of organization or sampling code, parent average (free of progeny information), and the interaction of organization or sampling method and parent average. When all data were used, a common intercept for milk was appropriate for all sampling methods, but the slopes differed (R2 = 0.44). Neither a common intercept nor a common slope was appropriate for protein. When data were restricted to the nine major organizations, a common intercept and slope were appropriate for milk, and R2 decreased to 0.14. A common intercept and slope were found for protein, and R2 decreased to 0.15. We detected no important differences in response to pedigree selection among progeny-testing methods used by major organizations that provide semen, but a difference was detected among the sampling codes of the National Association of Animal Breeders.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Timing of insemination for dairy cows identified in estrus by a radiotelemetric estrus detection system.

The optimal time of artificial insemination (AI) was determined from data for 2661 AI in 17 herds utilizing a radiotelemetric system for estrus detection that has the potential for continuous 24-h surveillance to monitor behavioral events associated with estrus. The system consisted of pressure-sensitive radio frequency transmitters affixed over the sacrum region of cows. The activation of the sensor sent a radiotelemetric signal to a microcomputer via a fixed antenna. Cow identification, date, time, and duration of each standing event were recorded in the software program provided with the system. Each farm selected a 3-h interval to AI for cows that were identified in estrus during the previous 24 h. Pregnancy status was determined from data for return to estrus and palpation of the uterus 35 to 75 d following AI. Standing events during estrus averaged (+/- SD) 8.5 +/- 6.6 per cow, and the number of events per estrus across herds averaged from 6.2 +/- 5.1 to 12.8 +/- 9.9 per cow. The duration of estrus ranged from 5.1 +/- 3.8 to 10.6 +/- 6.8 h across herds; the mean was 7.1 +/- 5.4 h. The interval from the first standing event to AI affected the probability of pregnancy; the highest conception rates for AI occurred between 4 and 12 h after the onset of standing activity. The probability of pregnancy was higher for cows > 100 d in milk, exhibiting > 2 standing events during estrus, and inseminated during March, April or May.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

The effects of inbreeding on the lifetime performance of dairy cattle.

The effects of inbreeding on the lifetime performance of dairy cattle were examined using data for production, somatic cell score, and linear type for all Holstein cows that were scored between 1983 and 1993. The results of fixed and mixed animal models differed. Relative net income adjusted for opportunity cost for the 2,610,123 cows with an 84-mo opportunity for herdlife was depressed by $14.79 for fluid market pricing and by $12.40 for manufacturing pricing per 1% increase in inbreeding. Mixed model estimates of depression per 1% of increase in inbreeding were +0.55 d for age at first calving, -6 d for days of productive life, and -4.8 for days in milk. Inbreeding decreased the mature equivalent production of milk, fat, and protein during first lactation by 27, 0.9, and 0.8 kg and the lifetime production of milk, fat, and protein by 177, 6.0, and 5.5 kg, respectively, per 1% increase in inbreeding. Inbreeding had little effect on conformation traits. The effects of inbreeding were cumulative, and effects on lifetime profit functions were relatively larger than the effects on lactation traits. Registered cows had higher levels of inbreeding and larger standard deviations than did grade cows. Inbreeding in registered cows depressed relative net income adjusted for opportunity cost for fluid and manufacturing prices by $24.43 and $21.78, respectively; income was depressed $9.43 and $9.02, respectively, for grade cows. The difference between registered and grade cattle is likely due to the incomplete pedigree information in grade animals. Inbreeding among cows in this study was not high on average, but economic losses represented a significant cost to the producer.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Observational study of accuracy in compounding i.v. admixtures at five hospitals.

Rates of errors in i.v. admixture compounding at five U.S. hospital pharmacies were studied. Pharmacy staff members at five hospitals representing each U.S. geographic region were observed as they compounded sterile products in order to record the medication, dose, base solution, and other details. Intravenous admixtures, antineoplastic preparations, parenteral nutrient solutions, and ready-to-use products were included. Observations took place for five days at each pharmacy. The observers' notes were checked against the labels used to prepare the doses; any deviation was considered an error. The clinical importance of each error was assessed for its potential to affect a patient adversely. The mean error rate for the five hospitals combined was 9% (145 errors for 1679 doses), excluding ready-to-use products. Mean error rates for individual pharmacies ranged from 6% to 10%. Wrong-dose errors were the most common type of error. Parenteral nutrient solutions had the highest error rates-37% for manual preparation and 22% for preparation that was partly automated. Of every 100 errors, 2 were judged to be potentially clinically important. In five U.S. hospital pharmacies, the observed error rate for compounding i.v. admixtures was 9%.

Data Collection↗
PubMed1997

Prediction of transmitting abilities for productive life and lifetime profitability from production, somatic cell count, and type traits in milk markets for fluid milk and cheese.

Two net income functions were constructed to reflect differences in value of carrier, protein, and somatic cell score (SCS) between milk markets for fluid milk and those for cheese. Individual costs were for production of carrier (water, lactose, and minerals), fat, and protein. Totals for net income from a lactation were adjusted for the opportunity cost of postponed replacement using all herdmates on test. Heritabilities and correlations were estimated with a multiple-trait sire model using 52,688 registered and grade (24%) cows that were classified daughters of 844 bulls included in the Sire Evaluation for Type program of the Holstein Association of America. Although the genetic correlation between the net income traits was high (0.92), the resulting economic weights were quite different. Indexes to select for net income for a fluid milk market weighted milk production much more than it weighted fat or SCS and selected against protein yield. Indexes for a cheese market gave more weight to milk components, SCS, and traits related to productive life. The removal of some type traits had little effect on the evaluation of either net income trait. In contrast, weights for prediction of productive life from SCS and the production and type traits became more stable when strength, fore udder, and rear udder heights were removed. Removal of some of the type traits that were used for prediction reduced multicollinearity and the variance of weights without sacrificing accuracy.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Construction of D29 shuttle phasmids and luciferase reporter phages for detection of mycobacteria.

Diseases caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, M. leprae and M. avium, cause significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Effective treatments require that the organisms be speciated and that drug susceptibilities for the causative organisms be characterized. Reporter phage technology has been developed as a rapid and convenient method for identifying mycobacterial species and evaluating drug resistance. In this report we describe the construction of luciferase reporter phages from mycobacteriophage D29 DNA. Shuttle phasmids were first constructed with D29 in order to identify non-essential regions of the D29 genomes and to introduce unique cloning sites within that region. Using this approach, we observed that all of the D29 shuttle phasmids had the cosmid vector localized to one area of the phage genome near one cohesive end. These shuttle phasmids had been constructed with a cosmid that could be readily excised from the D29 genome with different sets of restriction enzymes. Luciferase reporter phages were made by substituting the luciferase cassette for the cosmid vector. Recombinant phages with the luciferase cassette fall into two groups. One group produced light and had the expression cassette oriented with the promoter directing transcription away from the cohesive end. In contrast, the other group had the expression cassette in the opposite orientation and failed to produce light during lytic infection, but did produce light in L5 lysogens which are known to repress D29 promoters. These results suggest that a phage promoter of the D29 phage can occlude the expression of a promoter introduced into this region. D29 luciferase reporter phages are capable of detecting low numbers of L5 lysogens like L5 luciferase phages. However, unlike L5 luciferase phages, D29 luciferase phages can readily infect M. tuberculosis and M. bovis BCG, demonstrating that these phages can be used to evaluate drug susceptibilities of many types of mycobacteria.

Cloning, Molecular↗
PubMed1996

Relationships between ambient sounds and the accuracy of pharmacists' prescription-filling performance.

Associations between ambient sounds and accuracy of pharmacists' prescription-filling performance in a pharmacy was studied. Pharmacists were videotaped as they filled prescriptions each workday for 23 days. Each filled prescription was inspected by the investigator. Deviations from the physician's written order were considered errors. Videotape analysis was used to detect unpredictable, predictable, uncontrollable, and controllable sounds. A within-subjects case control study design was employed to determine whether the frequency of ambient sounds was significantly different when prescriptions with errors, compared with those without errors, were filled. Loudness, in terms of equivalent sound levels (Leq) for each half hour, was analyzed for a relationship to dispensing error rate. A mean dispensing error rate of 3.23% was found. Unpredictable sounds, controllable sounds, and noise had a significant effect on pharmacists which resulted in a decreased dispensing error rate. These results suggest that the quality of pharmacists' performance is not adversely affected by ambient sound. As equivalent sound levels increased, the error rate increased to a point, then decreased.

Case-Control Studies↗
PubMed1996

Phenotypic relationship of yield and type scores from first lactation with herd life and profitability.

Milk records from Ayrshire, Brown Swiss, Guernsey, Jersey, and Milking Shorthorn cows that first calved between 18 and 35 mo were combined with scores for linear type traits collected before 43 mo during first lactation to study herd life and lifetime profitability. Profitability (discounted relative net income) was the value of milk, calves, and cow salvage minus fixed costs, operating costs, and cow depreciation costs. Cows were included if they appeared only in a single herd and if the herd remained on test for 72 mo after birth date of the cow. Phenotypic correlations were computed for milk and fat yields and for 14 type traits during first lactation with nine variables for lifetime performance from 3895 Ayrshire, 7997 Brown Swiss, 20,179 Guernsey, 71,731 Jersey, and 628 Milking Shorthorn cows. Multiple correlations for predicting discounted relative net income for the four breeds with the most data were 0.43 to 0.46 from milk and fat yields (linear and quadratic effects) during first lactation, 0.11 to 0.29 from final score, and 0.21 to 0.33 from all type traits. Type scores had considerably less predictive ability than yield during first lactation for predicting profitability and had limited predictability after yield was included. Final score increased multiple correlations only 0.00 to 0.02 above that for yield for the same four breeds. Final score plus 13 type traits (linear, quadratic, and interaction effects) increased multiple correlations only 0.02 to 0.04 above that for yield. Because of the limited value of some of the linear type traits, an effort should be initiated to eliminate them from programs of breed associations.

Aging↗
PubMed1995

Multiple-trait prediction of transmitting abilities for herd life and estimation of economic weights using relative net income adjusted for opportunity cost.

Genetic and phenotypic (co)variances among linear type traits, final score, first lactation milk and fat yield, and 84-mo totals for longevity, relative net income, and relative net income adjusted for opportunity cost of postponed replacement were estimated with a multiple-trait sire model. Data were from 433,116 cows in herds participating in the classification program for conformation traits of the Holstein Association of America. Yield information from all cows in classified herds indicated that classified cows are not a random sample. Heritability of net income adjusted for opportunity cost was higher, .17, than unadjusted net income, .12, but the genetic correlation between the estimates of net income was high, .97. Adjusted net income also had high genetic correlations with first lactation milk yield, .80; fat yield, .60; and dairy form, .48. Heritability of longevity (months in milk to 84 mo) was .06. Adjustment of net income for opportunity cost lowered the genetic correlation with longevity from .84 to .70. Evaluation of lifetime merit using traits measured during first lactation with economic weights developed using adjusted net income was more accurate than indirect prediction of longevity; the approximate reliability of a first-crop AI sire for lifetime merit was .65 compared with .42 for longevity.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Variation in distances among teats of Holstein cows: implications for automated milking.

Distances among teats were measured immediately prior to and immediately following milking in 912 lactations of 506 Holstein cows to assess variation due to age (parity), stage of lactation, year, and observer. Data were used to simulate success or failure to attach by the Gascoigne Melotte robotic milker. Distance between front teats premilking was nearly twice that for rear teats. When attachment of the cluster to an udder with a particular set of teat distances was simulated, excessive distance between front teats was the most frequent cause of attachment failure for third and later parities. For first parity, extremely narrow distance between rear teats was the most frequent cause of predicted attachment failure. Reduction in teat distances because of milking was proportionately much greater for distance between rear teats (45 to 50%) than for other teat distances (25 to 29%). In a study of 10 Holstein cows measured at milking and at 0, 6, 8, and 12 h after milking, distances among teats increased linearly with time elapsed postmilking. Electronic storage of a profile of a cow for teat distance and adjustments for milking interval and stage of lactation can increase chances for successful cluster attachment.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Accuracy of predicting genetic merit from pedigree information for bulls entering stud sampling programs.

Four sources of pedigree information were used to determine the most accurate prediction of daughter yield deviation and PTA milk, fat, and protein for AI-sampled bulls (birth years from 1984 to 1986). Pedigree sources compared were parent average, pedigree index, PTA of sire, and PTA of sire and dam. Bulls were included only if they did not have a USDA evaluation in July 1989, so that a parent average was nearly uninfluenced by daughters of the bull. When pedigree estimates from immediately prior to first evaluation were used, parent average was a better predictor than pedigree index. Inclusion of PTA of dam with PTA of sire was more accurate than PTA of sire alone for predicting each trait and resulted in R2 comparable with parent average. Predictability of daughter yield deviation from parent average for each trait improved over time as the amount of daughter information increased. Regression coefficients and R2 increased considerably for parent average and PTA of dam but not for pedigree index or PTA of sire when evaluations of young bulls began influencing estimates for their ancestors. Parent average was always a better predictor than pedigree index. Although animal model evaluations of cows have improved predictive value, regression coefficients for all pedigree sources were less than theoretically expected.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Subjects presented at ASHP Midyear Clinical Meetings, 1967-90.

The subject matter and trends of presentations made at ASHP Midyear Clinical Meetings (MCMs) were studied. A computerized database of information from MCM and Annual Meeting (AM) program and abstract books was created. The data were analyzed to determine the distribution of MCM presentations by subject and by author for the period 1967 to 1990, determine if there were differences in subjects covered between MCMs and AMs, explore the proposition that there has been duplication of material in MCM presentations, and evaluate the frequency with which MCM presentations have been published in ASHP journals. The total number of presentations made at MCMs from 1967 through 1990 was 8180, while the total for the AMs was 1547 for the two periods (1962-71 and 1985-90) studied. The most common keywords in titles were "pharmacy," "drug," "patient," "hospital," and "service." All International Pharmaceutical Abstracts subject categories and two other categories were represented; presentations in the institutional pharmacy practice category were the most frequent, while pharmacognosy-related presentations were least frequent. The overwhelming number of authors made only one presentation and were listed as the first author. The subjects of presentations were similar between AMs and MCMs. A tendency toward duplication of material was found. Of the 8180 MCM presentations, at least 1005 were published in an ASHP journal. Between 1967 and 1990, presentations at MCMs covered a wide range of subjects but were sometimes duplicative or not on the cutting edge.

Abstracting and Indexing↗
PubMed1994

Gene transfer efficiency during gestation and the influence of co-transfer of non-manipulated embryos on production of transgenic mice.

Litter size of DNA microinjected zygotes is lower than for non-manipulated zygotes. The rate of embryonic and fetal survival in early, mid and late gestation was determined to assess whether DNA integration was responsible for embryonic losses. Also, the effect of including non-microinjected embryos with injected embryos on pregnancy rate and transgenic pup production was determined. In Experiment 1, one-cell embryos from immature CD-1 mice were microinjected with a whey acidic protein promoter-human protein C gene construct. One hour after microinjection embryos were transferred to pseudopregnant recipients (45 transfers of 30 embryos each). Fifteen recipients were sacrificed on day 4, 12 and 18 of gestation and the embryos/fetuses analysed for the transgene. The percentage of embryos or fetuses that were positive for the transgene was not significantly different at any day. However, the number of viable embryos at day 4 was significantly greater than fetuses on days 12 or 18. In addition, a high degree of mosaicism was observed in day 18 fetuses and placentae recovered. In Experiment 2, one-cell embryos from CD-1 mice were microinjected and co-transferred with non-manipulated embryos (C57BL/6). Pregnancy rate and the total number of pups born were improved by addition of non-injected embryos. However, the number of transgenic mice produced was similar whether non-injected embryos were included or not. There were 32.2% (15/46) transgenic pups when 0 non-injected embryos were transferred compared with 15.1% (13/86) transgenic pups when 4 or 8 non-injected embryos were added to the transfers. In summary, a high degree of embryonic and fetal mortality occurs among microinjected embryos.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗