Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

S Murphy

Publications and source records attributed to S Murphy.

At least 595 records · Page 33Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Platelet preservation by freezing. Use of dimethylsulfoxide as cryoprotective agent.

Variables important in the preservation of platelets by freezing with dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) as cryoprotective agent were studied in normal volunteers and thrombocytopenic patients. Use of 5 per cent DMSO and a freezing rate of 1-3 degrees C/minute yielded optimal preservation of platelet viability. The addition of 5 per cent Dextrose did not improve results. In vivo yield using 5 per cent DMSO was superior to previous results in which glycerol was used as the cryoprotective agent. Viability after freezing was equivalent when platelets were frozen in small (10 ml) and large (60 ml) volumes of plasma. The larger volume had the advantage that a smaller percentage of the platelets was lost during transfer from one plastic container to another.

Blood Platelets↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Bone aluminium content in Alzheimer's disease.

The possible association between aluminium and Alzheimer's disease is still contentious. If aluminium neurotoxicity is implicated in the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease, it may result either from excessive aluminium exposure or increased brain aluminium uptake. In a pilot study to test the former hypothesis, trabecular bone aluminium content, which reflects long-term aluminium exposure, was evaluated in 7 patients with a clinical diagnosis of senile dementia of the Alzheimer type (SDAT; mean age 80.8 +/- 3.35 years) and 19 non-demented age-matched controls (mean age 79.6 +/- 6.09 years). Trabecular bone was obtained from post-traumatic femoral neck fracture specimens taken from patients during femoral head prosthesis surgery. Bone aluminium content was expressed quantitatively by atomic absorption spectrometry and qualitatively by the acid solochrome azurine histological staining technique. Quantitative analysis showed a lower aluminium content in the SDAT (11.9 +/- 4.04 micrograms/g dry bone) versus the non-demented group (18.2 +/- 7.37 micrograms/g), which was significant at the 95% but not at the 99% confidence limit. Aluminium deposition from qualitative histological analysis was not detectable in either group. These results do not support a hypothesis of excessive aluminium absorption and tissue accumulation in Alzheimer's disease.

Age Distribution↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Normal ciliary ultrastructure in children with Kartagener's syndrome.

Kartagener's syndrome has been found to be associated with the immotile cilia syndrome (lack of dynein arms and defective radial spokes in cilia). The ultrastructure of cilia of a child with Kartagener's syndrome was examined and found to be within normal limits. The implications of this are discussed.

Cilia↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Rape and HIV.

The risk of contracting HIV infection as a result of rape is unknown. We describe 4 female patients who were found to have antibodies to HIV-1 following rape, only one of whom had another recognized risk factor for HIV infection. The need for careful follow-up of rape victims, and the potential for HIV acquisition by the assailant is discussed.

Female↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Experience of HIV disease in a London District General Hospital.

The aim of this paper is to describe and discuss the experience of HIV disease in Central Middlesex Hospital, London up to June 1993. A retrospective study of the total number of HIV-positive patients cared for was performed. In addition, prospectively collected data as part of local epidemiological surveillance from January 1987 to June 1993 on all HIV test requests was analysed. Between January 1987 and June 1993 3695 individuals were tested for HIV-1 antibody at Central Middlesex Hospital. Of these, 101 HIV-1 seropositive individuals were identified and have attended this District General Hospital. Seven HIV-1 seropositive individuals were identified from before December 1986. Sixty (56%) had acquired their infection heterosexually. Thirty-eight (35%) originated from the UK and 47 (44%) from sub-Saharan Africa; the remaining 23 (21%) originated from the rest of Europe, South America and the Caribbean. Thirty-four (31%) of the patient group developed AIDS during follow-up at the hospital and in 26 individuals AIDs developed within 2 months of their first positive HIV result. The mean survival of 20 patients after AIDS-defining diagnoses was 7 months 18 days. This unselected group of HIV-1 seropositive patients present late in the course of their HIV disease and survival following AIDS is poor.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Endothelial cell activation following moderate traumatic brain injury.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) initiates a cascade of acute and chronic injury responses which include disturbances in the cerebrovasculature that may result in the activation of the microvascular endothelial development of a dysfunction endothelium. The present study examines endothelial cell (EC) activation in a percussion model of moderate TBI. The criteria for endothelial activation used in these studies was surface expression of a number of markers collectively termed endothelial activation antigens. Temporal induction of the major histocompatibility (MHC) class II molecules, E-selectin (CD62E), vascular cell adhesion molecule (VACM-1) (CD106) as well as altered expression of constitutively expressed intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) (CD54), the glucose transporter protein (glut-1), the transferrin receptor (tfR) (CD71), and MHC class I molecules was examined at various times following impact. Induction of E-selectin and increased expression of ICAM-1 was seen by 2 h post-impact (PI) and was sustained through 24 h PI. Decreased expression of immunologically reactive glut-1 and tfR was observed by 2-4 h PI and remained low up to 24 h PI. No induction of VCAM-1, MHC class II molecules or altered constitutive expression or MHC class I molecules was seen. Changes in EC activation were observed predominantly at the site of impact and were diminished temporarily. These results indicate that mild concussive injury to the brain results in activation of the endothelium.

ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Comparison of the HOTV and Lea Symbols charts for preschool vision screening.

PURPOSE: Two preliterate acuity charts, the Lea Symbol chart and the HOTV chart, were compared prospectively in an established preschool vision screening program. The charts were compared by measuring time required to test, reliability coefficients, and the percentage of children testable with each chart. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Seven hundred and seventy-seven 3- to 5-year-old children were randomized to four screening sequences that determined the order of chart use. Each child was screened on two occasions within 6 weeks. Testing was performed at 10 feet, and optotypes were not isolated for testing. RESULTS: Mean test time was significantly less for older children, but was not related to the chart used. Reliability coefficients were similar for the Lea Symbols and the HOTV charts. The percentage of children testable by each chart improved with increased age of the child. More 3 year olds were testable with the Lea Symbols chart compared to the HOTV chart (92% versus 85%, P = .05). CONCLUSIONS: Vision screening with either chart was more rapid and more frequently achieved with 4- and 5-year-old children compared with the 3 year olds. For the population as a whole, each chart gave similar results. Among the 3 year olds, however, testability rates were better for the Lea Symbols chart. The Lea Symbols chart is an acceptable option for preschool vision screening, and may be more efficacious than the HOTV chart for screening 3-year-old children.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The effect of keeping an end-product on intrinsic motivation.

OBJECTIVE: According to literature in occupational therapy and psychology, intrinsic motivation is thought to be enhanced if people can keep the end-product of an activity. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of keeping an end-product on intrinsic motivation. METHOD: Fifty participants chose one of four activities (painting a ceramic vase, decorating cookies, stringing beads for a necklace, creating stationery) and performed two conditions (keep, no-keep) in counterbalanced order. Participants were timed in each condition and, after each condition, ranked their self-determination and competence, which are psychological needs underlying intrinsic motivation. Participants were interviewed at the end of the study to examine their experiences. RESULTS: Participants worked significantly longer on a chosen activity when the end-product could be kept and rated themselves significantly more self-determined and competent after performing the keep condition. However, further analysis revealed that these results depended on the activity chosen. CONCLUSION: The findings support that keeping an end-product can enhance performance of an activity. However, because results were not consistent across all activity choices, further research is needed to characterize the meaningfulness of particular activities.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The effectiveness of occupational therapy-related treatments for persons with Parkinson's disease: a meta-analytic review.

Given the current changes in health care, being able to obtain and use research evidence that supports occupational therapy treatment has become increasingly important. The purpose of this study was to synthesize available evidence on the effectiveness of occupational therapy-related treatments for persons with Parkinson's disease. A meta-analysis was performed to achieve this synthesis. The results revealed small to moderate positive effects of intervention on outcomes related to clients' capacities and abilities as well as for outcomes related to function during activities and tasks. Limitations in the research reviewed for this meta-analysis may have resulted in an underestimation of treatment effects. Occupational therapists can use results from this meta-analysis to communicate with clients about the possible benefits of participating in occupational therapy.

Evidence-Based Medicine↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Participation in daily living tasks among older adults with fear of falling.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated patterns of participation in daily living tasks by older adults with fear of falling. The relationship between reported participation in a broad set of daily living tasks and the risk of falling involved in task performance--or activity-related risk--as judged by occupational therapists was examined. Further, several characteristics of older adults that have been associated with fear of falling were examined to determine which older adults had patterns of participation most strongly associated with the activity-related risk. METHOD: Thirty-eight occupational therapists were surveyed and asked to judge the activity-related risk in performing specific daily living tasks. Additional data were obtained from 339 older adults with fear of falling who participated in a previous study on the effectiveness of an intervention to reduce fear of falling. Older adults' participation in daily living tasks as measured by items of the Sickness Impact Profile was correlated with the judgments of activity-related risk controlling for potential confounding factors. Univariate regression analyses and t tests were used to determine whether several characteristics of older adults were associated with the relationship between participation and activity-related risk. RESULTS: Small to moderate significant relationships were found between older adults' participation in daily living tasks and the activity-related risk as judged by occupational therapists (r = -.25, p < .0001). Older adults with the lowest confidence in ability regarding falls had the strongest relationships. CONCLUSION: Activity-related risk is an aspect of daily living tasks that relates to participation in activities by older adults with fear of falling. Knowledge of the activity-related risk involved in daily living tasks can be used to facilitate occupational performance in clients with fear of falling and associated activity restriction.

Accidental Falls↗
PubMedDate not supplied

"Learned helplessness" and the patient with progressive supranuclear palsy.

Progressive supra-nuclear palsy is a neurologically debilitating disease of unknown cause and with no effective treatment. Learned helplessness, a major cause of depression in the institutionalized elderly, is a feeling of worthlessness and powerlessness resulting in a decreased incentive to try. This article provides insight into these two problems and specific nursing interventions to enhance self care.

Aged↗