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Biomedical subjects

R Topp

Publications and source records attributed to R Topp.

29 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Interlaboratory comparison of total cytochrome P-450 and protein determinations in rat liver microsomes. Reinvestigation of assay conditions.

Assay conditions in determining total cytochrome P-450 in four laboratories were compared. Although the determination was derived from the original Omura and Sato method in each laboratory, the four standard protocols differed slightly, resulting in considerable differences in the results. Since the cytochrome P-450 content is usually expressed per mg protein, the protein assay conditions were evaluated as well. Furthermore, we compared the cytochrome P-450 values obtained by the CO- and the dithionite (DT)-difference methods. The effect of a number of variables in the assay was investigated. The influence of the storage temperature of the microsomes was ascertained as well as effects of the gassing time with CO and the time between addition of dithionite, CO-gassing and the recording of the difference spectra. After evaluating these variables a standard operation procedure was established. Using this procedure the interlaboratory coefficient of variation for total cytochrome P-450 was 4.8%, a value which was comparable to the intralaboratory coefficients of variation. The final results also show that the millimolar extinction coefficient for the DT-difference method is higher than for the CO-difference method.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Developing a strength training program for older adults: planning, programming, and potential outcomes.

Muscle strength is important to older adults in maintaining an independent lifestyle and completing activities of daily living. In this article, the authors discuss changes in muscular functioning that commonly accompany the disuse associated with aging, as well as the impact that strength training can have on the older adult's muscle functioning. The article presents the essential components of developing a strength training program: pretesting, setting individualized goals, designing a strength training program, and establishing methods to evaluate the participants' progress. It also lists the benefits of strengthening particular muscle groups. Strength training programs for older adults should be developed on the basis of individualized expectations and goals, with the ultimate goal of facilitating the older individual's lifestyle and independence. Older adults who have participated in a strength training program have reported the following benefits of participation: improved body image, greater flexibility, increased strength, and increased self-confidence.

Age Factors↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Coping methods of patients with inflammatory bowel disease and prediction of perceived health, functional status, and well-being.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is chronic, incurable, and requires that affected patients cope with their condition on a constant basis. The purpose of this descriptive study was to predict the perceived health, functioning, and well-being among patients with IBD through the use and effectiveness of various coping methods. Forty-six patients with IBD completed the Jalowiec Coping Scale, the Health Status Questionnaire, and a demographic questionnaire. Results indicate that use of evasive, fatalistic, and emotive coping methods along with optimistic coping effectiveness were significantly inversely correlated with health perception and well-being. No coping effectiveness variables and only the use of evasive, fatalistic, and supportive coping methods were significantly inversely correlated with perceived functioning. Regression analysis indicated that 20% of the variance in health perception could be predicted from the use of emotive coping method. Fatalistic coping method use explained 24% of the variance in perceived functioning. Finally, 51% of the variability in perceived well-being could be predicted from the use of fatalistic coping method and the effectiveness of optimistic method. These findings indicate that emotion-focused coping methods are important predictors of the health, functioning, and well-being perceptions of patients with IBD.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Predictors of four functional tasks in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify predictors of performance on four functional tasks in adults with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee. DESIGN: Descriptive correlation. METHODS: A voluntary sample of 78 community dwelling adults who reported knee pain and were previously diagnosed with osteoarthritis of the knee were timed while they performed the functional tasks of going down and getting up off of the floor and ascending and descending a flight of stairs as quickly as possible. Subjects were also evaluated for their joint pain while performing these activities, their leg strength, perceptions of joint pain, stiffness, functional ability, and other health status information. FINDINGS: This study indicates that knee extension strength (quadriceps), joint pain during the activity, perceptions of functional ability and body weight combined can predict between 39% and 56% of the variance in the time to perform four functional tasks in adults with OA of the knee. CONCLUSION: Interventions that improve quadriceps strength and reduce joint pain and body weight along with facilitating perceptions of functional ability may have a positive impact upon the ability to get down to and rise up off of the floor and ascend/descend stairs in adults with OA of the knee.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Variables that discriminate length of stay and readmission within 30 days among heart failure patients.

The purpose of this study was to determine which variables may discriminate between a short length of stay (LOS) and a long LOS and readmission within 30 days among heart failure (HF) patients discharged from a hospital. The charts of 188 patients who were discharged with diagnostic related group 127 during September 30, 1997, until October 31, 1998, were retrospectively reviewed to examine the association between LOS and readmission among 12 variables. It was discovered that an increased number of physicians involved during the patient's hospitalization (p = 0.000) and case management involvement (p = 0.007) were discriminating variables for those patients with a longer LOS. The variables of serum sodium (p = 0.032) and higher NYHA classification (p = 0.018) approached significance in discriminating a longer LOS. HF patients who were readmitted within 30 days were significantlyfound to have an increased NYHA class (p = 0.002) and no specific follow-up plan arranged related to the patients' HF diagnosis (p = 0.005). The results of this study indicate several variables that significantly discriminate LOS and readmission within 30 days among HF patients that case managers can employ to improve care to this population.

Aftercare↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Developing a reciprocal program between student nurse organizations and hospitals.

Student nurse organizations can develop reciprocal programs with hospitals which can be mutually beneficial to both organizations. Hospitals need to recruit and retain qualified nurses through cost-effective methods. NSAs need to develop financial support for their group's activities. Both the hospital and the NSA need to expose students to various nursing roles in an effort to reduce reality shock. Developing a reciprocal relationship between an NSA and a hospital is one method of meeting the complementary objectives of both organizations.

Hospital Administration↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of a clinical case manager/clinical nurse specialist on patients hospitalized with congestive heart failure.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of case management by a Clinical Case Manager/Clinical Nurse Specialist (CCM/CNS) on hospitalized length of stay and hospital charge throughout a 12-month period for patients with congestive heart failure. A total of 491 patients were discharged during 1997 with a diagnosis-related group code of 127. Of this number, 88 were case managed by a CCM/CNS. The remaining 403 received the usual management of their care. The group who were case managed by the CCM/CNS demonstrated significantly shorter length of stay (t = 5.40, P < 0.00) and lower hospital charges (t = 4.26, P < 0.00) than the patients with congestive heart failure who were not case managed. Secondary analysis indicated a significant interaction between case management and involvement of a cardiologist in the care of the patient. Patients whose care involved a cardiologist without case management by a CCM/CNS demonstrated significantly greater (alpha = 0.01) length of stay and hospital charges than patients who were case managed by a CCM/CNS or patients whose care did not involve a cardiologist.

Analysis of Variance↗