Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to S Thompson.
The pathophysiology of fever in sepsis/Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS) is outlined. The three phases of fever are explored using a patient case study. The conclusion recommends further research is needed on the nursing management of critically ill patients with a fever.
A clinical trial was conducted in three hospitals to determine if common tap water is suitable for use as a conductive medium in electrocardiography (ECG). It compares two consecutive ECG recordings of 100 patients, the first recordings were obtained with water as the conductive medium, the second tracings used the electroconductive gel Redux Creme. Analysis involved comparison of the height of the R wave in lead V4 and tracing reports from a cardiologist 'blind' to the medium used. Results indicated that there was no statistically significant difference in the conductive ability of the two media. Analysis of the clinical performance of the media indicated that in 82% of the traces water was equal to or better than gel in clarity, and in 90% of traces water was equal to or better than gel in suitability for diagnosis. One implication of the study is the possibility of significantly reducing the cost of ECG procedures while ensuring the quality of tracings remains at a clinically acceptable level.
A substantial amount of work has gone into elucidating the non-HLA genetic associations in JRA. In this paper, we attempt to provide an overview of this body of knowledge. Direct comparison of the different studies is difficult. Different ethnic populations, different JRA/JIA subgroups, and different systems of nomenclature and classification all impose various limitations. Adding to the complexity is the polygenic nature of chronic childhood arthritis. Family based studies will be necessary to overcome ethnicity related issues. A candidate gene approach complemented by genome wide screen data will hopefully advance our knowledge of the genetics of JRA.
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The purpose of this study was to determine what factors influence a patient's return to work after heart transplantation. Two hundred fifty patients who had undergone heart transplantation were surveyed at seven regional centers in the United States (five of which were Medicare-certified). Of these patients, 45% were employed, 36% were unemployed, 13% were medically disabled, and 6% had retired. A stepwise discriminant analysis resulted in the selection of six variables that helped differentiate those patients who did and those who did not return to work after the transplantation. The factors associated with a patient's return to work included (1) self report of being physically able to work, (2) no loss of health insurance, (3) longer length of time after transplantation, (4) education level of more than 12 years, (5) no loss of disability income, and (6) shorter length of disability before heart transplantation. This information could accurately profile 91% of the patients who were employed, 69% of the patients who were unemployed, and 80% for the entire group. The implication of this study is that social rehabilitation is not synonymous with the medical results of heart transplantation. More attention to social rehabilitation is required if heart transplant recipients are to enjoy a better quality of life and become fully productive members of the community.
INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this case-control study was to determine whether smoking plays a role in tuberculin skin test conversion among the inmate population of South Carolina. RESULTS: The major findings of this study indicate that smokers were more likely to have become tuberculin skin test converters during incarceration than nonsmokers (odds ratio [OR] = 1.78, 95% confidence intervals [CI = 0.98, 3.21). Inmates who smoked 1 to 20 cigarettes per day prior to incarceration (OR = 1.32, 95% CI = 0.76, 2.31), and those who smoked > 20 cigarettes per day prior to incarceration (OR = 1.75, 95% CI = 0.83, 3.71) were more likely to have become converters during incarceration than nonsmokers, suggesting a dose-response effect. Converters were found to have reduced their number of cigarettes smoked per day since incarceration. Those inmates smoking 1 to 10 cigarettes per day (OR = 1.88, 95% CI = 0.96, 3.69), and those who smoked > 10 cigarettes per day since incarceration (OR = 1.87, 95% CI = 0.92, 3.78) were more likely to have become converters than nonsmokers. Interestingly, inmates who smoked for 15 years or less were more likely to have become tuberculin skin test converters than nonsmokers (OR = 1.60, 95% CI = 0.81, 3.16), while those smoking for more than 15 years were more likely to have become converters than nonsmokers while incarcerated (OR = 2.12, 95% CI = 1.03, 4.36). CONCLUSIONS: This suggests that the cumulative effects related to the duration of smoking may be more important than the number of cigarettes smoked with regard to tuberculin skin test conversion. This is consistent with the understanding that long-term exposure to cigarette smoking has an adverse effect on the lung's defense mechanisms, namely mucociliary clearance of potential pathogens, such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis.