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Biomedical subjects

S Henderson

Publications and source records attributed to S Henderson.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Impact of pet ownership on elderly Australians' use of medical services: an analysis using Medicare data.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether pet ownership by elderly people is associated with lower use of health services. DESIGN: Survey of physical and mental health, and retrospective 12-month review of Medicare records of the number of general practitioner and specialist services. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: Elderly people living in Canberra (Australian Capital Territory) and Queanbeyan (New South Wales), surveyed in 1994 for the second stage of a larger longitudinal study. RESULTS: Elderly pet owners did not differ from non-owners on any of the physical or mental health measures or in use of health services. CONCLUSION: Given the high use of health services by older people, our findings suggest that the claim that pet ownership leads to savings in health services should be viewed with caution.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

GP attendance by elderly Australians: evidence for unmet need in elderly men.

OBJECTIVES: To examine GP service use by elderly people and, in particular, to compare those who had not consulted a GP in one year with those who were low attenders and those who were high attenders. DESIGN: Medicare data on GP service use were matched to data collected by interview in 1990-1991 and reinterview in 1994 as part of a community study on health and well-being. SETTING: Canberra and Queanbeyan in the Australian Capital Territory. PARTICIPANTS: People aged 70 years and over, living in the community. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The number of visits made to a GP in 12 months. RESULTS: Medicare data were available for 624 of the 897 participants interviewed (70%). While the women non-attenders reported similar levels of physical illness and symptoms to the low attenders, men non-attenders reported significantly higher levels of illness (P < 0.01) than the low-attender group. The health of men who were non-attenders was very similar to men who were high attenders of GP services. Men who had not seen a GP in one year reported significantly more pain (P = 0.002) and less social support than both low attenders and high attenders (P = 0.012 and P = 0.049, respectively). CONCLUSION: We identified a group of men who had not attended a GP in one year, despite significant levels of morbidity. Such a group may benefit from consultation with a GP and could be targeted in any attempt to improve elderly men's health.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Magnesium deficiency increases ketamine sensitivity in rats.

PURPOSE: Inhibition of the NMDA receptor likely contributes to ketamine's neurodepressive properties. Magnesium also inhibits the NMDA receptor by binding to a site associated with the ketamine-binding domain. Electrophysiological studies suggest that magnesium prevents ketamine from binding to the NMDA receptor and thereby prevents ketamine inhibition. We undertook an in vivo study to determine if magnesium deficiency was associated with an increased sensitivity to ketamine. METHODS: Weanling rats were maintained on a Mg(2+)-deficient or control diet for 14 days. In Study I, rats were anaesthetized then sacrificed and the Mg2+ concentrations in the brain and plasma were measured. In a second prospective study, experimental animals were rendered hypomagnesaemic and the potency of 125 mg.kg-1 ip ketamine was evaluated. Animals were then were fed a Mg(2+)-containing diet and ketamine sensitivity was re-examined 14 days later. RESULTS: The Mg(2+)-deficient diets rendered the rats hypomagnesaemic as indicated by the brain and plasma concentration of Mg2+. In Study 2, the time to loss of righting reflex was shorter; 1.9 +/- 0.3 min (n = 12) and 2.6 +/- 0.2 min (n = 16, P < 0.05), whereas the latency to toe pinch was prolonged: 25.0 +/- 5.8 min (n = 12) vs 3.1 +/- 2.1 min (n = 16, P < 0.05) in the Mg(2+)-deficient compared with age-matched control animals, respectively. The hypomagnesaemic animals had a higher death rate following ketamine injection. The increased sensitivity to ketamine was no longer apparent when the animals were re-tested following replenishment of Mg2+. CONCLUSION: Hypomagnesaemia is associated with an increased sensitivity to ketamine.

Anesthetics, Dissociative↗
PubMed1997

The use of low dose Orgaran in heparin-induced thrombocytopenia associated with in vitro platelet aggregation at higher Orgaran concentrations.

We report a case of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia with in vitro antibody cross-reactivity by platelet aggregometry to both low molecular weight heparin and the heparinoid Org 10172 (Orgaran). The in vitro reactivity with Orgaran was only present at the upper limit of concentrations that would normally be used therapeutically. Low dose Orgaran therapy was initiated, allowing successful renal replacement therapy without invoking further thrombocytopenia or thrombosis. Interestingly, in vitro platelet aggregometry following treatment did not reveal increasing sensitivity to Orgaran. This case indicates that negative in vitro platelet aggregometry at defined lower concentrations of Orgaran may predict in vivo safety at the same levels despite positive platelet aggregometry reactions at higher concentrations of Orgaran.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Leakage of fluid past the tracheal tube cuff in a benchtop model.

We have assessed a range of high volume, low pressure (HVLP) cuffed tracheal tubes in a benchtop model, for leakage of fluid from above the cuff to the model trachea below, during various ventilatory modes. Rapid leakage occurred in the model during all modes of ventilation, unless tracheal pressure was greater than the height of fluid in the column above the cuff. This leakage occurred preferentially down longitudinal folds that occur in the HVLP cuff wall. This model suggests that, if a longitudinal fold within the cuff wall is patent, then the possibility exists of subglottic to tracheal leakage.

Equipment Failure↗
PubMed1997

Knowing the patient and the impact on patient participation: a grounded theory study.

Currently, there is an emphasis on patient participation. Studies have demonstrated that when patients participate in their care, they experience positive outcomes such as greater satisfaction with care and decreased vulnerability. Nurses are of the opinion that patients should participate in their care. Literature and research indicate, however, that there is an incongruence between nurses' pro-participatory attitudes and actual practice. Grounded theory was used to identify factors relevant to patient participation from the nurses' and patients' perspectives. Using purposive sampling from four hospitals in Western Australia, in-depth interviews and participant observation were conducted. The constant comparative method of analysis was used. As this study is in progress, the core category and sub-categories are still being refined. One category that has emerged strongly is 'knowing the patient' and the outcome on patient participation. This paper will discuss this category from the nurses and patients perspective including recommendations.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1997

Helpfulness of interventions for mental disorders: beliefs of health professionals compared with the general public.

BACKGROUND: The study aimed to compare the beliefs of health professionals about the potential helpfulness of various mental health interventions with those of the general public. METHOD: Surveys were carried out in Australia of 872 general practitioners, 1128 psychiatrists, 454 clinical psychologists and 2031 members of the public. Respondents were presented with a case vignette describing either a person with depression or one with schizophrenia. Respondents were asked to rate the likely helpfulness of various types of professional and non-professional help and of pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions. RESULTS: The professionals gave much high ratings than the public to the helpfulness of antidepressants for depression, and of antipsychotics and admission to a psychiatric ward for schizophrenia. Conversely, the public tended to give much more favourable ratings to vitamins and minerals and special diets for both depression and schizophrenia, and to reading self-help books for schizophrenia. CONCLUSION: The beliefs that health practitioners hold about mental disorders differ greatly from those of the general public. There is a need for mental health education campaigns to help close the gap between professional and public beliefs.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Validity of a recall and recognition condition to assess visual memory in the CERAD battery.

This study assessed the validity of a measure of visual recall and recognition memory using a modified administration of the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease (CERAD) Constructional Praxis task to extend the capacity of the CERAD neuropsychological battery's ability to assess nonverbal free and recognition recall. The sample consisted of consecutive university hospital memory disorders clinic patients (n = 77). To test the measures' ability to discriminate dementia severity based on an independently derived clinical dementia rating, scores on Free Visual Recall showed expected group differences as a function of dementia severity (ANOVA, F = 12.7, p = .0001), but exhibited a floor effect in the moderately severe dementia range. Recognition Visual Recall was also able to discriminate dementia severity based on an independently derived clinical dementia rating (ANOVA, F = 10.6, p = .0001). Both Free Visual Recall and Recognition Visual Recall measures were found to have strong concurrent validity based on intercorrelations with the Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised (WMS-R; Wechsler, 1987) Visual Reproduction I and II. In addition, moderate to strong discriminant validity for Free Visual Recall was demonstrated based on correlations with a family member self-report of memory problems in everyday life.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1997

An exploratory study from the patients' perspective of living with allergies.

Allergic disease is one of the most prevalent chronic medical conditions in the world. Allergen avoidance has been accepted as a form of treatment for allergic disease; however, the success of treatment is often dependent on how patients choose to manage their condition. The purpose of this study was to explore how allergic conditions affect the lives of allergy sufferers and what information they believe would be useful to other allergy sufferers in the management of their allergic condition. Patients suffering from non-life-threatening allergies stated that their allergy affected many aspects of their life, such as their work, their social life, their emotional state, their physical appearance and, hence, their interactions with others. The chronic symptoms of their condition caused the greatest concern to patients. Many of these participants 'accepted their condition' and undertook controlling-measures as part of their daily life. In contrast, patients suffering from life-threatening allergies stated that their allergy did not affect their life. Knowledge of their allergic condition was more important than acceptance. The findings elicited from allergy sufferers identified how nurses can educate patients about their condition and assist them in learning to live with their condition.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1996

Visual function of prematurely born children with and without perceptual-motor difficulties.

The relationship between visual and perceptual-motor abilities at 6 years of age was investigated in a cohort of 141 prematurely born children without cerebral palsy. Visual acuity was assessed using the Sonksen-Silver Acuity System and stereopsis with the Titmus stereo test. Perceptual motor abilities were evaluated using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children and the Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration. The results showed a higher incidence of abnormalities both of linear acuity and stereopsis in the study group when compared to a group of reference children. Whereas abnormalities of linear acuity were not associated with perceptual-motor difficulties, abnormal stereopsis was significantly associated with poor performance on both perceptual-motor tests. Our results suggest that infants born preterm, even in the absence of other major neurological signs, are at risk for abnormal visual function and perceptual-motor difficulties. As these could interfere with everyday life and school performance, a longitudinal assessment of both areas of competencies is recommended so that diagnosis and possible intervention can take place as early as possible.

Brain Diseases↗
PubMed1996

Surgical treatment of patients with open tibial fractures.

Open tibial fractures are true surgical emergencies because of the risk of extensive infection to bone and devitalized soft tissue. The most serious consequence of open tibial fractures is osteomyelitis, which usually can be prevented by prompt surgical intervention within six to eight hours after injuries occur. Open tibial fractures often are the result of trauma from motor vehicle collisions, farm accidents, falls from heights, or gunshot wounds. Initial management of patients with multiple trauma injuries focuses on their life-threatening injuries before or during orthopedic surgical intervention for open tibial fractures. Orthopedic surgeons often work in collaboration with general, vascular, and plastic surgeons and perform multiple surgical procedures (eg, fasciotomy procedures for compartment syndromes, irrigation and debridement of wounds, application of external fixation devices, placement of intramedullary nails, possible limb amputations). The type and extent of open tibial fractures and soft tissue injuries determine the best treatment options for patients. Perioperative nurses should help patients focus on treatment choices for their open tibial fractures that ensure optimal surgical outcomes and maintain their quality of life.

Accidents↗