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Biomedical subjects

S Woodward

Publications and source records attributed to S Woodward.

72 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1983

The effect of increasing age on the latency for saccadic eye movements.

The latency for saccadic eye movements to a visual stimulus was studied in 59 adults whose ages ranged from 20.7 to 79.5 years. All were free of neurologic disease and drug use. Horizontal eye movements were recorded by electrooculography and the latency from the onset of a peripheral visual stimulus to the onset of a saccadic refixation eye movement was determined. A linear regression analysis revealed a correlation between increasing age and increasing latency for saccadic refixation eye movements. The direct relationship between increasing age and increasing latency for saccadic eye movements is a factor that should be taken into account in eye-movement studies as well as other methodologies such as tachistoscopic studies in which saccadic eye movements play a role in study design.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Numerical and structural chromosome aberrations in cultured lymphocytes and cutaneous fibroblasts of patients with multiple adenomas of the colorectum.

Excessive random loss and gain of simple chromosomes at the diploid and tetraploid levels, and numerous chromosomal aberrations, have been observed in lymphocytes and fibroblasts, cultured from Gardner syndrome and familial polyposis coli patients and children at risk for multiple adenomas. This increase in numerical and structural aberrations seems to represent a general instability of chromosomes in the lymphocyte and fibroblast nuclei of patients with multiple adenomas in the colorectum. A consistent heteromorphism of chromosome No. 2 homologous tentatively identified as a deletion was observed in all 17 patients with multiple adenomas in the colorectum, and two younger people of 13 and six years of age who are at risk for Gardner syndrome but do not have colorectal polyps. The chromosome No. 2 aberration was not observed in two symptomatic patients with occasional discrete colorectal adenomas.Eighteen controls who did not have Gardner syndrome nor familial polyposis coli did not show the structural aberration in chromosome No. 2 nor chromosome instability.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1980

Vasodilator therapy after cardiac surgery: a review of the efficacy and toxicity of nitroglycerin and nitroprusside.

Eight-five patients who required vasodilator therapy in the postoperative period after cardiac surgery were studied to compare the haemodynamic effects of nitroglycerin and nitroprusside, to evaluate local and systemic toxicity, and to develop long-range dosage recommendations. Ninety-one per cent of the patients received the vasodilators for postoperative hypertension, while nine per cent had low output syndromes. Both drugs significantly decreased blood pressure and central venous pressure, and increased heart rate. Nitroglycerin decreased both right and left ventricular filling pressures more than nitroprusside. No local toxicity or methaemoglobinaemia was found with either drug. Elevated thiocyanate levels were detected in 44 per cent of the nitroprusside group; however, none of the patients developed progressive metabolic acidosis. For prolonged infusions we found that nitroprusside at 1 microgram.kg-1.min-1 and nitroglycerin at 0.5 microgram.kg-1.min-1 were without significant toxicity.

Blood Pressure↗
PubMed1978

The radiology of neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). A review of 47 cases and the literature.

The radiological findings in 47 neonates with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) are reviewed. The presence of nonspecific, generalized bowel dilatation is stressed as being an important sign in early diagnosis and the progress of the distribution of the dilated loops is important in evaluating progress of the disease process. It is thus the key to the radiology of NEC. Intramural gas and portal venous gas are not always related to the severity of the disease and their disappearance is not always related to clinical improvement. These signs are therefore poor prognostic indicators. Important radiological indications for surgery besides free intraperitoneal gas and free fluid include: 1. diminished bowel gas with asymmetric loops, and 2. persistent dilated loops. Because of the number of colonic strictures seen at our hospital we advise routine barium enemas (several weeks after the acute phase) in all infants who have had NEC. Following bowel resection contrast studies of both distal and proximal remaining bowel are essential to exclude further stricture formation prior to final reanastomosis.

Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Neuronal DNA damage correlates with overexpression of interleukin-1beta converting enzyme in APPV717F mice.

Transgenic APPV717F mice, homozygous for a human minigene encoding the V717F familial Alzheimer's disease mutation, develop Abeta plaques similar to those seen in Alzheimer patients and show evidence of neuronal cell drop out in CA2-3 regions of the hippocampus at 8 months of age and older. Interleukin-1 (IL-1)beta (IL-1beta) converting enzyme (ICE) is a cysteine protease (caspase-1) that processes inactive (33 kDa) pro-IL-1beta to the active (17 kDa) inflammatory cytokine. We used immunohistochemistry, RT-PCR, and DNA cleavage (TUNEL) analysis to show progressive, age-associated increases in ICE mRNA levels, in the numbers of ICE-immunoreactive glia, and in the numbers of neurons showing evidence of DNA damage in APPV717F mice that commenced months prior to the appearance of Abeta plaques. Moreover, there were significant correlations between these parameters over an age range of 1-17 months. These findings are consistent with the idea that increases in ICE activity and expression contribute to neuronal injury in Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A closely linked genetic marker for cystic fibrosis.

Cystic fibrosis is a recessive genetic disorder, characterized clinically by chronic obstructive lung disease, pancreatic insufficiency and elevated sweat electrolytes; affected individuals rarely live past their early twenties. Cystic fibrosis is also one of the most common genetic diseases in the northern European population. The frequency of carriers of mutant alleles in some populations is estimated to be as high as 1 in 20, carrying a concomitant burden of about one affected child in 1,500 births. Because little is known of the essential biochemical defect caused by the mutant gene, a genetic linkage approach based on arbitrary genetic markers and family studies is indicated to determine the chromosomal location of the cystic fibrosis (CF) gene. We have now obtained evidence for tight linkage between the CF locus and a DNA sequence polymorphism at the met oncogene locus. This evidence, combined with the physical localization data for the met locus presented in the accompanying paper, places the CF locus in the middle third of the long arm of chromosome 7, probably between bands q21 and q31.

Chromosome Mapping↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Impact of neurological problems on urinary continence.

Nurses care for patients with neurological problems in many health-care settings. Urinary incontinence frequently occurs in patients with neurological disorders and can be a source of great distress. One study of patients with chronic neurological problems aged 15-59 years revealed that 83% of the 117 men and 36% of the 188 women surveyed had urinary symptoms (Thomas et al, 1988). This article reviews the ways in which continence is affected in this client group and suggests how nurses can help these patients.

Female↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Complications of allergies to latex urinary catheters.

Latex products are widely used both in our homes and in hospitals. Latex allergy is an increasingly worrying problem for health professionals, not least allergy to latex urinary catheters. The pathophysiology of latex allergy is discussed with reference to catheter allergy. Other known problems of latex catheters are also highlighted, including toxicity leading to urethritis and stricture formation, and encrustation. Nurses need to be aware of the increasing incidence of latex allergy and the importance of screening patients specifically for this risk factor.

Catheters, Indwelling↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Troubleshooting common problems associated with long-term catheters.

A catheter complications survey study, carried out over a 2-year period in three Bristol health districts, recorded 506 emergency referrals during a 6-month period (Kohler-Ockmore and Feneley, 1996). A further detailed study on 54 of the patients showed that 48% experienced catheter blockage and 37% reported urine bypassing. Urinary catheterization can cause many health problems; bacteriuria is inevitable in long-term catheterized patients (Cravens and Zweig, 2000). This article identifies some of the common problems that can occur with long-term catheters, makes recommendations and applies an evidence-based approach to catheter care. In order to identify and treat the associated problems, it is necessary to understand the anatomy and functions of the bladder. The article addresses this before examining the problems, which include: catheter blockage; bypassing of urine; catheter rejection and balloon non-deflation; and latex allergy. The psychological and social aspects, although not covered in this article, are also important and should always be considered along with all other aspects of care.

Catheters, Indwelling↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Benchmarking best practice for external ventricular drainage.

Sharing of best practice and use of all available evidence is important in developing effective clinical guidelines for nursing practice. This can be achieved through benchmarking. Sharing of good practice and achieving consensus guidelines can avoid repetition of effort by nurses engaged in similar fields of practice. The Pan London Neuroscience Practice Development Forum was established in 1998 to share best practice within the field of neuroscience nursing across London. The Pan London Forum has now achieved consensus and developed evidence-based clinical guidelines for the management of external ventricular drainage. Within the scope of this article, the principles of external ventricular drainage will be highlighted, before identifying the evidence base for nursing management of patients. Approaches for troubleshooting common problems will also be discussed and the benchmarked clinical guidelines will be presented.

Benchmarking↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Learning and sharing safety lessons to improve patient care.

Nurses are at the forefront of patient safety and are constantly reviewing their practice to improve care delivery. When things go wrong in health care the consequences can be distressing for patients and staff. Lessons need to be learned and acted on to minimise the likelihood of reoccurrence. The 'root cause analysis' approach provides nurses and other healthcare staff with a consistent and structured methodology to investigate incidents. It enables staff to identify where systems are failing and where improvements in patient care and safety can be made.

Communication↗