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Biomedical subjects

S Robinson

Publications and source records attributed to S Robinson.

At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Evaluation of a food frequency questionnaire used to assess nutrient intakes in pregnant women.

OBJECTIVE: To compare nutrient intakes assessed by food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) with those determined from food diaries. DESIGN: A 100-item FFQ was administered to women at 15 weeks of pregnancy. Food diaries were kept for a 4-day period at 16 weeks of pregnancy. SETTING: Community-based study of a general population sample of pregnant women booked for delivery at the Princess Anne Maternity Hospital, Southampton, UK. SUBJECTS: 603 women were recruited. Complete dietary data were provided by 569 women. RESULTS: Nutrient intakes determined by FFQ were greater than those from food diaries. Spearman rank correlation coefficients for macronutrients ranged from 0.27 (protein and starch) to 0.37 (fat). Stronger correlations for energy, fat and carbohydrate were seen in women who did not experience nausea, suggesting that the level of agreement observed between the FFQ and food diary in the whole group may be an underestimate of the true agreement. The percentage of individuals classified to the same quarter of the distribution of nutrient intake by the FFQ and diaries ranged from 30% (starch) to 41% (calcium), with between 4% (riboflavin) and 8% (energy, protein and vitamin E) classified to the opposite quarters. Using serum vitamin C as an independent biomarker of intake, the percentage of individuals classified to the correct quarter of intake was similar for the FFQ and diary (34% and 37%), with 8% (FFQ) and 6% (diary) misclassified to the opposite quarter. CONCLUSION: The FFQ appears to give meaningful estimates of nutrient intake in early pregnancy which can be used to rank individuals within the distribution.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Pursuing a career in nursing: differences between men and women qualifying as registered general nurses.

Much interest currently focuses on differences in the career intentions and career pathways of men and women nurses. This study seeks to add to existing knowledge on this subject with findings from a survey of newly qualified registered general nurses. Questionnaires were sent to a cohort of 1164 nurses, 87% of whom responded. Data from the 936 women and 79 men were compared in relation to educational and employment background, routes into nursing and career intentions at qualification. Procedures for modelling of categorical data were applied to these data within the constraints of the study design. Findings showed that men were less likely than women to have entered nursing as a first choice and less likely to intend working in the community after qualification. Men were more likely than women to plan to move out of clinical practice and more likely to plan pursuing a postgraduate qualification. Other differences between men and women were suggested, but limitations of the study design mean that drawing of conclusions had to be more tentative. Consequently, further research on this subject is warranted.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Novel and potent adenosine 3',5'-cyclic phosphate phosphodiesterase III inhibitors: thiazolo[4,5-b][1,6]naphthyridin-2-ones.

The transformation of 3-bromo-1,6-naphthyridin-2(1H)-ones 8 to thiazolo[4,5-b][1,6]naphthyridin-2(1H)-ones 12 resulted in a 2-9-fold increase in cAMP phosphodiesterase (PDE) III inhibitory potency. Unlike the secondary binding sites on the cAMP PDE III isozyme which interact with the methyl group of milrinone (2) and CI-930 (4), the site which interacts with the 5-substituents of 1,6-naphthyridin-2(1H)-ones and the 8-substituents of thiazolo[4,5-b][1,6]naphthyridin-2(1H)-ones 12 is able to accommodate a diverse group of substituents which have different steric and electronic requirements.

3',5'-Cyclic-AMP Phosphodiesterases↗
PubMed1995

Miracles take a little longer: project 2000 and the health-promoting nurse.

This paper suggests that the new paradigm for nurse education is being prevented from fulfilling itself because of factors operating within the taught, hidden and wider curriculum. Firstly it is argued that the theoretical components relating to social science, health education/promotion and nursing need to be clearly integrated for nursing students. This integration is demonstrated through the analysis of two nursing models. Secondly it is argued that the taught curriculum needs to be supported by a suitable hidden curriculum both within the educational and clinical setting. Role models which demonstrate integrated theory occurring in practice are a vital component of this. Thirdly it is argued that without the wider social and political context supporting the aims of the 'new' nurse education, meaningful success will be very difficult to achieve.

Curriculum↗
PubMed1995

Immunotherapy with Mycobacterium vaccae as an addition to chemotherapy for the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis under difficult conditions in Africa.

A study to assess the impact of immunotherapy with Mycobacterium vaccae on the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis was conducted under existing conditions in Kano, a large city in Northern Nigeria. Whilst it did not quite meet all the criteria of a well-controlled randomized or double-blind trial, the study produced results suggestive of a successful intervention. Immunotherapy with M. vaccae had a beneficial influence on clinical recovery and survival, whether given after 1, 2 or 3 weeks of chemotherapy, according to an assessment made 10-14 months after treatment. Approximately 3 weeks (19.8 days) after the onset of chemotherapy (SHRZ), 73% of the patients who received immunotherapy and 19% of those who received placebo (chemotherapy alone) had become sputum negative by microscopy for acid-fast bacilli (AFB). Similarly, a mean fall in erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) of 25.4 +/- 2.50 mm and 4.0 +/- 2.29 mm was observed in the immunotherapy and placebo recipients respectively, at the same time of assessment. When weight was assessed in the two groups, it was observed that 3 weeks after starting chemotherapy, the recipients of immunotherapy had a mean weight gain of 2.90 +/- 0.24 kg whilst placebo recipients had a mean weight gain of only 0.55 +/- 0.17 kg. These parameters were re-evaluated, 10-14 months later. They showed that 11% of the recipients of the active intervention and 84.6% of placebo recipients still had demonstrable AFB in their sputum. The mean weight gain had increased to 7.91 +/- 1.03 kg and 2.04 +/- 0.94 kg in the immunotherapy and placebo recipients respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Sex hormone-binding globulin and female reproductive function.

Although sex steroids have long been known to influence serum concentrations of SHBG, it is now recognized that nutritional factors may be more important in the regulation of SHBG in women. Thus, SHBG concentrations are negatively correlated with body mass index (BMI) and, more particularly, to indices of central adiposity. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), the most common cause of anovulatory infertility, is associated with truncal obesity, hyperandrogenism and hyperinsulinaemia. There is evidence that insulin may be the humoral mediator of the weight-dependent changes in SHBG. Serum SHBG concentrations are inversely correlated with both fasting and glucose-stimulated insulin levels, and insulin has been shown to have a direct inhibitory effect on SHBG synthesis and secretion by hepatocytes in culture. However, the interrelationship of BMI, insulin and SHBG appears to be different in women with PCOS from that in normal subjects. The clinical importance of the weight-related suppression of SHBG is illustrated by the finding of a greater prevalence of hirsutism in obese women PCOS compared with their lean counterparts. Obese subjects with PCOS have similar total testosterone concentrations to lean PCO women but have lower SHBG and reciprocally higher free testosterone levels. Calorie restriction results in reduction of serum insulin followed by an increase in SHBG and a fall in free testosterone but an isocaloric, low-fat diet has no significant effect on SHBG concentrations. Weight reduction in obese, hyperandrogenaemic women with PCO is an important approach to the management of both anovulation and hirsutism.

Diet↗
PubMed1995

Deciding to pursue nurse education: sources of information, influence and encouragement.

Current concerns about a shortage of nurses means attention may again be focusing on recruitment strategies. This paper presents findings on aspects of the decision to take nurse training, and contributes to available information upon which recruitment strategies can be formulated. Questionnaires were sent to 1164 registered general nurses shortly after qualification; this represented the first phase of a longitudinal study of these nurses' careers. Participants were asked about the effect of the following on their decision to take nurse training: written information about nursing; discussions with staff of educational institutions; personal involvement in health care work or caring activities, and having relatives qualified in health care. Findings for the 87% who returned the questionnaire, showed that respondents were more likely to report that these events had a positive than a negative effect on their decision. Participants were also asked how encouraging educational staff, careers staff, family and friends had been about their decision to take nurse training. The implications of the findings for those responsible for nurse recruitment are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Development and biochemical characterization of a double-virus-inactivated factor VIII preparation.

This paper describes the development of a double-virus-inactivated preparation. The original goal was to inactivate and/or remove parvovirus from plasma-derived factor VIII. More recently, attention has also been focused on the controversial issue of transmission of the non-lipid-coated hepatitis A virus by preparations of factor VIII which have been solvent/detergent-treated and purified by ion-exchange chromatography.

Antiviral Agents↗
PubMed1995

Electrophysiological assessment of brain function in severe malnutrition.

Brain function in 10 severely malnourished children and matched controls was assessed using spectral analysis of electroencephalographic responses to photic driving during slow-wave sleep. The percentage power in the classical EEG broad-band domains was derived from temporo-occipital records. The malnourished group (5-23 months old; z-score height-for-age -3.2 +/- 0.3, weight-for-height -2.5 +/- 0.3) were tested on admission and on discharge from hospital. No significant differences were found between admission and discharge. Significant differences were found between malnourished and control groups, in the alpha 1 band in the undriven EEG, and in the alpha/beta 1 power ratio while driving at 8 Hz. These electrophysiological abnormalities, persisting despite somatic rehabilitation, must be associated with the chronic rather than the acute aspects of malnutrition, and can index the deviation of brain function from normality.

Body Height↗
PubMed1995

Post-transplant hyperlipidemia: risk factors and response to dietary modification and gemfibrozil therapy.

A retrospective chart analysis of 200 consecutive, cyclosporine-treated, renal allograft recipients, transplanted between January 1988 and June 1992, was conducted to determine the incidence of and the etiologic variables for post-transplant hypercholesterolemia. In addition, the effectiveness of dietary intervention alone or in combination with gemfibrozil (600 mg b.i.d.), in post-transplant hypercholesterolemia was evaluated. Hypercholesterolemia (> or = 240 mg/dl on two separate determinations, while on maintenance immunosuppression) was present in 138 patients (Group A-69%). When compared to the remaining 62 patients without hypercholesterolemia (Group B-31%), there were no differences in mean age, body weight at transplantation, race, incidence of overt diabetes, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, or serial serum creatinine, albumin, and cyclosporine levels between these groups. Post-transplant hypercholesterolemia was significantly more prevalent in females, in recipients with higher baseline serum total cholesterol levels (mean +/- SEM, Group A = 229.0 +/- 5.0 vs. Group B = 192.0 +/- 6.1 mg/dl, p < 0.001), and in recipients with an elevated fasting blood glucose at 1 year post-transplant (Group A = 150.5 +/- 10.5 vs. Group B = 105.2 +/- 10.7 mg/dl, p < 0.05). In all patients with hypercholesterolemia, a hypocaloric low fat and low cholesterol (< 300 mg/day) diet was initiated at a mean of 0.59 +/- 0.06 years after transplantation with grading of dietary compliance at each follow-up visit (Grade 1, < 300 mg cholesterol; Grade 2, 300-500 mg cholesterol; Grade 3, > 500 mg cholesterol intake in 24 hours).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1994

A cell-based reporter assay for the identification of protein kinase C activators and inhibitors.

Transmission of extra cellular signals across biological membranes results in the generation of lipid metabolites which in turn influence specific cellular events such as cell growth or differentiation. Many of these lipid messengers can activate protein kinase C (PKC) isozymes of which one function is to perpetuate the extracellular signals to the nucleus by phosphorylating other targets proteins. We have engineered mammalian cell lines to identify and evaluate activators and inhibitors of PKC-dependent and independent signal transduction pathways. The A31 mouse fibroblast cell line, has been stably transfected with a construct containing a triplet repeat of the TPA response element (TRE) upstream of a thymidine kinase promoter fused to the human growth hormone (hGH) gene. A31 cells containing this reporter construct exhibit significant increases in hGH secretion following stimulation by phorbol esters or other mitogens. The levels of hGH secretion are modulated in this system using different pharmacological agents. We demonstrate that this assay can be used to identify specific and general inhibitors as well as activators of the signal transduction pathway mediated by PKC isozymes.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Effect of platelet-activating factor and its antagonists on colonic dysmotility and tissue levels of colonic neuropeptides.

We investigated whether platelet-activating factor (PAF) alters colonic tissue levels of substance P and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), two neuropeptides that regulate colonic motility. Left colons were harvested from NZ White Rabbits and underwent vascular perfusion via the inferior mesenteric artery. Strain gauge transducers were sewn onto the serosal surface of the colon to evaluate colonic motility. Colons were perfused with either buffered saline alone or with 5.0 x 10(-5) M PAF. PAF administration increased tissue VIP and substance P levels and decreased the force of colonic contractions. Pretreatment with WEB-2170 or alprazolam decreased concentrations of both tissue neuropeptides, and decreased the force of colonic contractions and minute motility index. These results suggest that both VIP and substance P are stimulated by PAF and may participate in colonic dysmotility during inflammatory states.

Alprazolam↗