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Biomedical subjects

R J Watts

Publications and source records attributed to R J Watts.

32 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Age related rejoining of broken chromosomes in human leukocytes following X-irradiation.

One theory of aging is that the ability to repair DNA or chromosome damage decreases with age. This study made use of a method which allows the measurement of chromatid repair in interphase nuclei, the technique of premature chromosome condensation. The number of excess chromosome fragments per cell remaining after 24 h of incubation at 37 degrees C was determined and used as a measure of the ability of leukocytes to repair. The leukocytes from male donors of several ages were used and the cells from older donors showed greater residual damage and, therefore, less repair.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

A means of retaining chromosome damage in irradiated human lymphocytes.

The method of premature chromosome condensation has been used to determine the damage induced by ionizing radiation to chromosomes in G1 human lymphocytes. The method has also demonstrated the repair of such damage with time following exposure. This study shows how storage at a cold temperature can be used to retain this damage for further biodosimetric study.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Democratization of health care: challenge for nursing.

One of the key foundational principles of primary health care is community involvement. The implementation of meaningful community involvement requires democratic institutions and processes within the health care system. In this context the meaning of substantive democracy and the implications of this concept for the health care system are briefly discussed. The relationship between the purpose, values, and foundational concepts of democracy and those of nursing is examined in greater detail. Based on the congruency between these, the role of nursing in generating and enhancing democratic processes within the health care system is discussed and a model of nursing practice proposed.

Australia↗
PubMed1976

Sexuality and the middle-aged cardiac patient.

Counseling for the resumption of sexual activity deserves as much attention in a cardiac rehabilitation program as walking or jogging. Research findings enable the counselor to give specific sexual advice. The energey expenditure during coitus for long-married couples is equivalent to that of climbing stairs, and consequently the risk of heart attack is low. However, clustering of psychosocial and physiologic demands, such as illicit affairs, outbursts of anger, alcohol, and hearty meals, may precipitate reinfarction or death. A sexual activities program is successful only if each partner is committed to give and receive pleasure. Knowledgeable and sensitive counseling will enable the couple to explore extra-coital options for lovemaking prior to the resumption of intercourse. This writer has observed that once couples are "turned on" to the pleasuring exercises, coital activity is attempted at an earlier date without untoward side effects in the cardiac patient.

Aging↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The critical care nurse practitioner: an advanced practice role for the critical care nurse.

Research provides compelling evidence that supports the current and future utilization of critical care nurse practitioners (CCNPs) in pivotal roles as providers of cost-effective, quality patient-centered care for critically ill and technology-dependent adults. This paper gives a historical perspective and describes the current national need for CCNPs to practice in expanded roles both within and outside the boundaries of intensive care. An existing CCNP program is described. In addition, guidelines for CCNP program development and role implementation are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

16O(n, p)16N: a fast neutron detector for rapid tissue inhomogeneity correction.

We have devised a transit dose technique for fast neutron therapy treatment planning based on the 16O(n, p)16N reaction in recirculating water, and have determined the effect of simulated bone and lung inhomogeneities in phantom. An effective threshold of 10.2 MeV in the 16O(n, p) reaction is exploited to detect transmitted neutrons without the need detector collimation. This system has been demonstrated with 14 MeV (d, T) neutrons and with cyclotron produced p(42) + Be neutrons. 16N decays to the 6.13 MeV excited states of 16O in 7.14 s, allowing for easy identification by NaI(T1) and for rapid recirculation. The transmission of fast neutrons can thus be related to an effective thickness of soft tissue, providing a rapid and direct measure of the effects of inhomogeneities under actual treatment conditions, with the 10 MeV threshold providing a useful degree of insensitivity to multiply scattered neutrons. Equivalent thickness of compact bone and lung relative to water were found to be 1.4 and 0.34 respectively, closely resembling the effective thicknesses for Cobalt-60 gamma rays.

Biophysical Phenomena↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Sexual functioning, health beliefs, and compliance with high blood pressure medications.

This study compared sexual functioning in 84 hypertensive subjects enrolled in an inner city hypertensive program with a matched group of 84 nonhypertensive subjects attending ambulatory care. Using the Sexual Functioning Questionnaire (SFQ), hypertensive subjects achieved lower levels of sexual functioning than nonhypertensive subjects (F = 21.60, df = 1/164, p less than .001). The 84 hypertensive subjects were categorized according to drug regimen (simple, moderate, and complex) and diastolic blood pressure measurement (DBP) (controlled and uncontrolled). Health beliefs of both sexes, relationship between type of drug regimen and sexual functioning, and association between self-report compliance and sexual functioning were examined. In the health belief survey, males reported a greater frequency of drug-induced sex problems than females (p less than .01), use of a complex drug regimen was associated with low level of sexual functioning (p les than .01), and type of self-report compliance was not related to level of sexual functioning. Hydrochlorothiazide, propranolol, and hydralazine were used by 80 percent, 43 percent, and 20 percent of clients. Self-report compliance was significantly related to controlled DBP (p less than .001).

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Sexual function of diabetic and nondiabetic African American women: a pilot study.

This study explored differences in sexual function of diabetic and nondiabetic African American Women. Using the Watts Sexual Function Questionnaire (WSFQ) to measure components of sexual function, diabetic women disclosed significantly lower levels of sexual desire (p < .02) than control subjects. Both groups were similar in reports of sexual arousal, orgasm, and satisfaction. For diabetics, clinical and metabolic indices such as length of time as a diabetic and level of glycosylated hemoglobin (Hb-A1C) were not related to sexual function. A significant positive relationship was noted between sexual satisfaction and body mass index (BMI) (p < .03). With regard to age, both groups showed significant negative relationships between age and sexual arousal; whereas for diabetics, significant negative correlations were also found between age and sexual desire (p < .01) and orgasm (p < .05). These findings indicate that maintenance of sexual desire may be problematic for diabetics. Being overweight was not a deterrent to sexual satisfaction. Sexual performance problems are more likely to occur for the aging African American woman with diabetes.

Adult↗