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Biomedical subjects

S Hampton

Publications and source records attributed to S Hampton.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Comparison of horseradish peroxidase and alkaline phosphatase-labelled antibodies in enzyme immunoassays.

The periodate method was found to be most effective for preparing horseradish peroxidase-sheep anti-human and horseradish peroxidase-donkey anti-mouse immunoglobulin (IgG) conjugates. The conjugates were improved by carrying out the oxidation of the enzyme at low pH. Anti-human and anti-mouse IgG-peroxidase conjugates (0.5 mg/mL IgG and 0.7 mg/mL IgG, respectively) were used at 1:15,000 and 1:8000 dilutions, respectively, in a sandwich ELISA to detect human and mouse IgG in buffer or in a growth medium containing 20% foetal calf serum. Using the peroxidase conjugates, it was possible to detect human and mouse IgG at concentrations as low as 1 ng/mL. The glutaraldehyde method was found to be much more effective than the periodate method for conjugating alkaline phosphatase to the antibodies. The optimum dilutions for anti/human and anti-mouse IgG-alkaline phosphatase conjugates (0.18 mg/mL IgG and 0.3 mg/mL IgG, respectively) in ELISA were 1:500 and 1:1000, respectively. The detection limit with alkaline phosphatase conjugates was 7 ng/ml for human IgG and 4 ng/ml for mouse IgG.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗
PubMed1982

24-hour profiles of melatonin, cortisol, insulin, C-peptide and GIP following a meal and subsequent fasting.

Melatonin, free and total cortisol, insulin, C-peptide and glucose-dependent insulin-releasing peptide (GIP) were measured in the plasma of twelve normal volunteers (eight women and four men), at hourly intervals for 24 h following a meal and subsequent fasting. One volunteer was excluded from calculations due to a possible effect of stress on melatonin secretion. Melatonin and cortisol showed the normal 24-h variation with peak values at 0200-0500 h, and 0900 h respectively. Following post-prandial stimulation, gut hormones remained basal throughout the sampling period. No significant relationship was found between 24-h melatonin secretion and basal, or stimulated gut hormone secretion. Melatonin secretion did relate significantly to body weight, suggesting that data concerning pineal effects in endocrine physiology and pathology, and affective disease, should be reviewed in the light of these observations.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

The influence of femoral stem thickness and implantation technique on the strength of the bone cement bond.

The influence of stem thickness, stem orientation, and insertion pressure on the strength of a prosthesis-cement-bone system was studied in vitro. Three types of prostheses were used with thick and thin stems, allowing for thick or thin cement envelopes. They were implanted with different stem orientations, and with and without a distal femoral cement plug. They were then loaded in a testing machine until a discontinuity of the load deflection curve occurred. The main factor determining the failure load was the presence of the distal plug. In specimens with plugs the main load at failure was 6.5 N, in specimens without a plug it was 4.8 N (P greater than 0.05). The most stable combination was the thick stem with a thin cement envelope placed in valgus or neutral orientation, and implanted with a distal cement plug. It was concluded that when no plug was present failure occurred at the bone-cement interface; when a plug was present it occurred at the prosthesis-cement interface.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Factor VII inhibitor.

Factor VII inhibitor activity was identified in a 66 year old man with probable bronchogenic carcinoma. Initial studies indicated a normal partial thromboplastin time (PTT) and a prothrombin time (PT) prolongation which increased with incubation. PT correction failed to occur with 50 per cent normal plasma in vitro and 2 U of fresh frozen plasma in vivo, indicating inhibitor activity. Specific factor assay levels fell within normal limits except for a factor VII level of 30 per cent. Subsequent evaluation with antiglobulin studies suggested an inhibitor of immunoglobulin G [IgG] origin.

Aged↗
PubMed1976

A stress analysis of the femoral stem in total hip prostheses.

A two-dimensional stress analysis was used to study the effects of some of the factors leading to early fatigue failure of the femoral stem in total hip prostheses. The results show that loss of proximal stem support at the level of the calcar femorale will result in stem stress levels which can lead to fatigue failure. In addition, the role of body weight and range of cyclic stress fluctuation play an important role in fatigue life under conditions where the stem has lost proximal support. These results indicate that stem design could be improved by incorporating some means of ensuring adequate support at the calcar femoralre maximum tensile stresses are found to occur.

Elasticity↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Should euthanasia be legalized?

Patients are now kept alive far longer than their ancestors could ever have been. In cases of terminal illness where there is an accompanying decline in the patient's quality of life, nurses must be aware of the implications of euthanasia.

Ethics, Nursing↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Venous leg ulcers: short-stretch bandage compression therapy.

Graduated compression therapy is rapidly becoming the treatment of choice for venous leg ulcers; it is cost-effective and offers faster healing rates than without compression. Holistic assessment of the patient along with education of the practitioner leads to the safe application of compression bandages. This article looks at the assessment of venous ulcers and how application of short-stretch bandages can achieve graduated compression, leading to rapid healing. As with any new skill, compression bandaging requires the practitioner to have received research-based education and practice and to have a clear understanding of how the technique achieves the objective.

Bandages↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Evaluation of the new Cairwave Therapy System in one hospital trust.

The Pegasus Airwave mattress has been used for many years in the Eastbourne NHS Trust and has proven its efficiency in the prevention of pressure sores. Pegasus has now produced a new, improved, model: the Cairwave Therapy System. This article looks at criteria that may be used to determine whether the new model is suitable for patient care. The evaluation took the form of a randomized controlled study in which 12 mattresses were randomly allocated to patients--six Airwave mattresses and six Cairwave Therapy Systems--over a 4-month period. The results of the evaluation showed that patients found the mattress comfortable. An encompassing cover reduced the risk of cross-infection, rehabilitation was supported by the firm edges of the bed and patient movement was easier due to the soft cover. During the trial all patients remained free from pressure sores.

Beds↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Can electric beds aid pressure sore prevention in hospitals?

The purchase, cleaning and maintenance of air mattresses can be an expensive part of pressure sore prevention and repositioning of patients can be time consuming and costly in terms of possible nursing injuries. The King's Fund bed has been a friend to the health service for many years but the time has come to look for an alternative system that will support patient comfort and independence, will assist nurses in implementation of a no-lifting policy and aid pressure sore prevention policies. This article describes a study that was undertaken in two medical wards to assess the value of electrically controlled beds in relation to the prevention of pressure sores, implementation of a no-lifting policy and quality of patient care. A total of 782 patients took part in the study over a 6-month period and 726 replies were obtained from nurses. The ward had similar profiles of patients' medical conditions and age; they were being medically managed by the same consultants. Results showed that patients experienced greater comfort on beds with the electric facility, produced less pressure sores, mobilized easily and pressure sore prevention costs could be reduced. There is a need to be proactive in prevention of pressure sores and not reactive to a pressure sore that is already developing.

Beds↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Efficacy and cost-effectiveness of the Thermo contour mattress.

Use of air mattresses in reduction of pressure sore incidence is an important part of quality patient care. However, there will never be enough air mattresses to match the demand as increased education and an increase in the general provision of air mattresses can lead to an unrealistic expectation of obtaining air mattresses when required for patients. This raises the demand for air mattresses and increases costs within hospital trusts. This study examined a way to redress the balance through use of an alternative, cost-effective type of mattress (thermoelastic polymer) in the prevention of pressure sores. Prime consideration was given to the comfort of the patient. The claims of the manufacturers, Barrington Healthcare, that 'patients with Waterlow scores of 23 can be nursed safely on this product' were explored as part of the study. A total of 407 patients took part over a 6-month period. Twenty-four Thermo contour mattresses were loaned to one ward for the study and patients were allocated to the mattress through admission to the experimental ward. Patients were then split into two groups on two wards. Group B were allocated to a Thermo contour mattress and group A were nursed on air mattresses and foam mattresses generally used throughout the trust. Results showed that more patients were comfortable on the Thermo contour mattresses than on all other mattresses. Patients with Waterlow scores under 25 did not develop pressure sores on the Thermo contour mattress. However, the sample of patients with a Waterlow score of between 20 and 25 was small and therefore further research is required.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Use of Pressurease and Airform mattresses in pressure ulcer care.

Large cell dynamic air mattresses are effective in the prevention of pressure ulcers but they still have inherent problems, e.g. the ability of the mattresses to move patients along the mattress through the inflation and deflation of the cells. Also, there have been reports that the inflation and deflation of cells can cause motion sickness. This article reviews two mattresses from Sareo Healthcare Ltd: a static system, Pressurease; and a unique dynamic system, Airform. These two systems offer a cost-effective and clinically effective method of pressure ulcer prevention and therapy.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Repose: the cost-effective solution for prompt discharge of patients.

Pressure ulcer prevention is expensive and at times difficult to achieve. Formation, or the potential formation, of pressure ulcers can lead to delayed patient discharge, particularly when the appropriate equipment is unavailable on the day of discharge. This article reviews the potential of Repose, an inflatable mattress overlay, to be an inexpensive and clinically effective alternative to alternating air mattress systems.

Beds↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Case study: the treatment or palliative care of pressure ulcers.

As nurse education increases there are reduced justifications for the existence of pressure ulcers. Patient assessment, along with rationalization of equipment and repositioning techniques, reduces the potential for pressure ulcer formation. Therefore, the future for pressure ulcer prevention will rely on nurse education and motivation. The patient featured in this case study suffered unnecessarily from pressure ulcers as, after her admission to a new nursing home where she was given the appropriate pressure-relieving and wound-dressing treatment, the ulcers were showing signs of healing.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

SuperSkin: the management of skin susceptible to breakdown.

Few studies have been undertaken in the area of skin protection, even though maintaining tissue viability in the event of incontinence, shear forces and the potential for exudate to macerate periwound areas remains a challenge for any nurse caring for patients. This article outlines and discusses the problems associated with overhydrated tissues and shear forces and the potential for SuperSkin liquid film dressing, marketed by CliniMed, to provide a solution.

Humans↗