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Biomedical subjects

S Allen

Publications and source records attributed to S Allen.

At least 289 records · Page 16Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Susceptibility effects in unsaturated porous silica.

Nuclear magnetic resonance proton line widths have been studied as the saturation level of water in a porous silica system is varied. Two silica samples were used with nominal pore sizes of 60 and 140 A. It was found that the line width increased with saturation level for both systems; this is consistent with the saturation process suggested by Allen et al. At low saturation levels the peak shift, from bulk water, increased with the saturation level reaching a maximum at filling factors of approximately 40% and 20% for the 60- and 140-A samples, respectively, after which point it began to decrease. Analysis is currently under way to try to model this system to determine whether these results are also consistent. It is anticipated that further analysis will give information on the pore morphology of the system.

Computer Simulation↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Enhancing math competency of baccalaureate students.

The result of a 4-year effort to study and institute changes in Baylor University School of Nursing's baccalaureate (BSN) students' math competencies was successful. The evolution of the current math competency process is detailed. By identifying at-risk, entry-level students through math examination in the junior I semester and each semester in the program, individual clinical faculty can customize the teaching-learning experience for students. Students who need more help than a clinical instructor has available, which is documented by semester examination failure, benefit from taking a 1-hour medication administration course before graduating from the BSN program. Insights and suggestions are offered for other schools encountering this problem.

Curriculum↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cytokine expression in feline osteoclastic resorptive lesions.

Feline osteoclastic resorptive lesions (FORL) of the teeth are common in cats, and lead to pain, destruction of the periodontal ligament, and tooth loss. The expression of interleukin (IL)-1 beta and IL-6 mRNA was higher in teeth with FORL than in normal teeth (P<0.01 and P<0.001, respectively), but no such differences were found between pathological and normal gingival tissue samples. There were no differences between teeth affected with FORL and normal teeth in respect of the expression of receptor activator of NF kappa B ligand (RANKL) mRNA or osteoprotegerin (OPG) mRNA. However, OPG mRNA expression was higher in gingival tissue associated with teeth affected with FORL than in normal gingival tissue (P<0.05), whereas the reverse was true of RANKL mRNA expression (P<0.05). OPG mRNA expression was significantly higher in teeth than in femoral and alveolar bone (P<0.001). RANKL and OPG mRNAs were detected in all tissues examined. The data suggest that the elevated expression of IL-l beta and IL-6 mRNA plays a role in the mediation of osteoclast activity in advanced FORL. In contrast, OPG and RANKL do not appear to regulate osteoclasts in advanced disease. The results also suggest that OPG and RANKL mRNA play a role in mediating inflammatory responses in gingival cells, and that OPG has an inhibiting effect on tooth resorption.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Pentoxifylline preloading reduces endothelial injury and permeability in cardiopulmonary bypass.

Pentoxifylline (PTX), a methyl xanthine derivative, reduces endothelial permeability. A double blind, prospective, randomized, placebo controlled, parallel study was undertaken to assess the effect of PTX on leukotriene B4, complement fragment C3a, interleukin 6 (IL6), endothelial injury as measured by von Willebrand factor (vWf), and endothelial permeability as measured by urinary albumin excretion (expressed as excreted urinary albumin to creatinine ratio [ACR]) in patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) for elective coronary artery bypass grafting. Twenty patients were recruited into each treatment arm and given either PTX 400 mg or placebo three times daily for 1 week before surgery. Patients were well matched. All operations were performed using one anesthetic, CPB, and a myocardial protection technique. Blood and urine samples were taken after anesthetic induction (baseline); 20 min after the start of CPB; 5 min after removal of the cross clamp; and 5 min and 2, 6, and 24 hr after the end of CPB. Pentoxifylline did not reduce IL6, C3a, and LTB4 release but reduced Factor VIIIRAg and urinary albumin excretion preoperatively (PTX vs placebo, ACR 1q.0 vs 2.1 mg/mmol, vWf 0.8 vs 1.3 IU/ml, p < 0.05) and peak levels (PTX vs placebo, ACR 8.9 vs 16.2, vWf 1.2 vs 2.2, p < 0.05) after CPB. These results suggest that PTX may attenuate the endothelial injury and permeability seen in CPB.

Albuminuria↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The role of denial in recovery from coronary heart disease.

This longitudinal study investigated the relationship between denial of illness and the course of recovery in patients with coronary heart disease. Using a newly developed interview instrument, the Levine Denial of Illness Scale (LDIS), the level and modes of denial were assessed in 45 male patients who were hospitalized for myocardial infarction or for coronary bypass surgery, of whom 30 were followed for 1 year after discharge. The reliability, internal consistency, and validity of the LDIS were found to be satisfactory. Furthermore, the LDIS showed discriminant validity from trait measures of denial. LDIS scores were not associated with severity of illness or risk factors. High deniers spent fewer days in intensive care and had fewer signs of cardiac dysfunction during their hospitalization relative to low deniers. However, in the year following discharge, high deniers adapted more poorly than low deniers: high deniers were more noncompliant with medical recommendations and required more days of rehospitalization. The findings suggest that denial of illness is adaptive during acute hospital recovery, but is maladaptive in the long-run after hospital discharge.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Intensive education improves knowledge, compliance, and foot problems in type 2 diabetes.

Despite the established role of foot care education in diabetes management, reports evaluating such interventions are rare. The effectiveness of an intensive foot care intervention programme and a conventional one were therefore compared in Type 2 diabetes. The intensive group showed significantly greater improvements than the conventional group in foot care knowledge (p less than 0.001), compliance with the recommended foot care routine (p = 0.012), and compliance with the initial advice to consult a podiatrist (other than the project podiatrist) for further treatment (p = 0.008). At the first follow-up visit the intensive group also showed a significantly greater reduction in the number of foot problems requiring treatment than the conventional group.

Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Baseline hemodynamic state and response to hemodilution in patients with acute cerebral ischemia.

Hemodynamic data were obtained in 9 patients (mean age 65 yrs) with carotid territory cerebral infarct within the preceding 24 hours (mean 14 +/- 8) as part of a pilot study testing the feasibility and safety of hypervolemic hemodilution. Pulmonary arterial catheters (PACs) were placed without complication in all patients, and after baseline measurements were obtained, up to 1500 cc of 6% hetastarch in 0.9% sodium chloride was administered the first day and up to 1000 cc per day the second and third days. Pulmonary wedge pressure (PWP) rose from 6.3 +/- 3.5 to 14.4 +/- 3.4 mm Hg (p less than 0.001) without development of congestive heart failure in any patient. This was accompanied by a drop in hematocrit (Hct) from 40.3 +/- 3.4 to 32.9 +/- 2.0 (p less than 0.001) and rise in cardiac output (CO) from 4.3 +/- 1.0 to 5.3 +/- 0.6 (p less than 0.05). Phlebotomy of 250 cc was performed in 2 patients and 500 cc in one in order to reduce Hct to desired levels. The volume of fluid needed to raise PWP to 15 was unpredictable (2361 +/- 1106 cc) and therefore PACs were necessary to monitor the rate and volume of fluid administration. The data show that PWP is sufficiently low and Hct sufficiently high following stroke in most patients that hemodilution by volume expansion with phlebotomy added if necessary can be undertaken safely with appropriate monitoring of hemodynamic function, and that this therapy results in optimal reduction of Hct and increased CO without risk of hypotension.

Acute Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

CDRH RF phantom for hyperthermia systems evaluations.

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) sponsored clinical evaluations of investigational 'regional' hyperthermia systems at four clinical institutions. To support this project, the Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) developed a series of test instruments to evaluate the magnitude and repeatability of the induced heating by radiofrequency (RF) systems. Data from three institutions using the same model hyperthermia system have been analyzed. After heating, the average temperature from measurements taken at several points in the test phantom at each institution agree within +/- 0.002 degrees C. These differences are about equal to the measurement uncertainty. Thus, this technique can be used for preclinical evaluation and quality control of the total system operation. After one of the institutions relocated its hyperthermia system, a subsequent set of data showed inconsistencies compared to their earlier data. Investigation traced this to cable loss and power meter interference. From the analysis of the data from the three institutions, the utility of the CDRH RF phantom for hyperthermia systems evaluation is demonstrated.

Equipment Design↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Whole body hyperthermia in dogs using a radiant heating device: effect of surface cooling on temperature uniformity.

Rectal and subcutaneous temperatures were measured during a total of 10 whole body hyperthermia treatments conducted in six dogs. During five of the treatments skin cooling, by means of initiating air flow through the radiant heating device, was necessary during the plateau phase because rectal temperature exceeded the target value. Skin cooling was not necessary in the other five treatments. Although the rectal temperatures were similar in all 10 treatments, extensive and rapid subcutaneous temperature non-uniformity, of approximately 4 degrees C, developed during treatments where skin cooling was necessary. During the treatments where skin cooling was not necessary, the subcutaneous temperature remained approximately equal to the rectal temperature. These data indicate that the environment in the radiant heating device during the plateau phase can have a profound effect on the temperature at superficial sites, which is not reflected by the temperature measured at deeper sites. The temperature at superficial sites should be measured during whole body hyperthermia to assure that the prescribed heat dose is administered to the largest percentage of body mass possible. Active skin cooling during whole body hyperthermia should be avoided if possible.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Rural attitudes, opinions, and drug use.

There are two primary purposes of this paper. The first is to summarize the results of a survey conducted in a rural area of Kentucky on attitudes and behaviors regarding substance use. The second purpose is to examine differences in drug attitudes and behaviors for higher and lower density rural areas. Participants for this study were contacted by telephone in March 1996. The sample was generated by random digit dialing for eight county telephone exchanges. The sample included 334 respondents from the eight counties who were grouped into respondents from higher density areas (n = 132) and lower density areas (n = 202). Results indicated that respondents from both higher density and lower density areas were similar on drug use and attitudes. However, lower density areas reported their county as a worse place to live and less safe than respondents from higher density areas. Respondents from lower density areas were also more likely to report there was more alcohol/drug use and more alcohol bootlegging in the past year, and that bootlegging alcohol is a serious problem in their county. Future research could include the examination of heterogeneity of rural areas using different indices.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Early detection of postnatal depression.

Although postnatal depression is considered a relatively common problem, it is particularly difficult to detect in the early months following childbirth. The author describes how she and her colleagues examined what action could be taken to increase the detection of postnatal depression in the early stages, and benefited from the use of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. While she concedes that the project would need to be developed into a wider study before definitive conclusions could be drawn, the article demonstrates how different parts of the primary health care team can work together to improve services to patients.

Community Health Nursing↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Developing an integrated nursing team approach.

Nursing Standard recently published a literature search that explored different models of integrated nursing and more traditional models of community nursing in primary care (Baileff 2000). Models of change for implementing integrated nursing were also examined. This article aims to explore the development of an integrated nursing team in a healthcare centre in Northampton.

Community Health Nursing↗