Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

S Woolley

Publications and source records attributed to S Woolley.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2007

Physiogenomic comparison of weight profiles of olanzapine- and risperidone-treated patients.

Atypical antipsychotics induce pre-diabetic symptoms in some but not all patients, characterized most notably by elevated weight. The side effect profiles of the various drugs in the class differ, however, raising the possibility of drug-specific mechanisms for similar side effects. We used physiogenomic analysis, an approach previously employed to study the genetics of drug and diet response, to discover and compare genetic associations with weight profiles observed in patients treated with olanzapine and risperidone as an approach to unraveling contrasting mechanistic features of both drugs. A total of 29 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were selected from 13 candidate genes relevant to two potential pharmacological axes of psychotropic-related weight profiles, appetite peptides and peripheral lipid homeostasis. We applied physiogenomic analysis to a cross-section of 67 and 101 patients being treated with olanzapine and risperidone, respectively, and assessed genetic associations with the weight profiles. Weight profiles in patients treated with olanzapine were significantly associated with SNPs in the genes for apolipoprotein E, apolipoprotein A4 and scavenger receptor class B, member 1. Weight profiles in patients treated with risperidone were significantly associated with SNPs in the genes for leptin receptor, neuropeptide Y receptor Y5 and paraoxonase 1. These results are consistent with contrasting mechanisms for the weight profile of patients treated with these drugs. Genes associated with olanzapine weight profiles may be related to peripheral lipid homeostatic axes, whereas those associated with risperidone's may be related to brain appetite peptide regulation. Future physiogenomic studies will include neurotransmitter receptor SNPs and validation in independent samples.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Hypopharyngeal perforation following minor trauma: a case report and literature review.

Hypopharyngeal perforation is mainly reported in association with high velocity road traffic accidents, or with low velocity direct blows to the neck. We report a case of hypopharyngeal perforation following a low velocity motorcycle accident where neither of these mechanisms of injury was apparent. A 52 year old man was referred from the emergency department (ED) with a sore throat and dysphagia, following a low speed side impact accident. A gastrograffin swallow demonstrated a posterior pharyngeal wall tear. After 11 days of conservative hospital treatment, he recovered and was discharged. The presumed mechanism of injury in this case was cervical spine hyperextension without cervical compression.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed2005

Children of Jehovah's Witnesses and adolescent Jehovah's Witnesses: what are their rights?

The Jehovah's Witnesses Society (JW), a fundamentalist Christian sect, is best known to laypersons and healthcare professionals for its refusal of blood products, even when such a refusal may result in death. Since the introduction of the blood ban in 1945, JW parents have fought for their rights to refuse blood on behalf of their children, based on religious beliefs and their right to raise children as they see fit. Adolescent JWs have also sought to refuse blood products based on their beliefs, regardless of the views of their parents.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Jehovah's Witnesses in the emergency department: what are their rights?

The Jehovah's Witnesses Society is best known to outsiders for its refusal of blood products, even when such a refusal may result in death. Since the introduction of the blood ban in 1945, Jehovah's Witness (JW) parents have fought for their rights to refuse blood on behalf of their children, based on religious beliefs and their right to raise children as they see fit. Adolescent JWs have also sought to refuse blood products based on their beliefs, regardless of the views of their parents. Adult JWs have fought to protect their autonomy when making both contemporaneous and advance treatment refusal. The refusal of blood products by JWs raises ethical and legal dilemmas that are not easily answered. Do an individual's rights (namely bodily control, right to privacy, right to decide about life/death issues, right to religious freedom) outweigh society's rights (namely the preservation of life, the prevention of suicide, the protection of innocent third parties, and the maintenance of the ethical integrity of the medical profession)? Does the right to choose outweigh the value of human life? For doctors, conflict occurs between the desire to respect patient autonomy and the need to provide good medical care. The Watchtower Society (the JW governing body) imposes a strict code of moral standards among its members, and it is unlikely that individual JWs are making truly autonomous decisions about blood transfusions. While young children and adolescents are protected by the courts and conscious adults are afforded autonomy, dilemmas still arise in the emergency situation. This article examines the rights of young children, adolescents, and adults, focusing in the latter half on adults in the emergency situation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Evaluation of safety orientation and training programs for reducing injuries in the plumbing and pipefitting industry.

Construction workers are at increased risk for fatal and non-fatal injuries. This study examined the effectiveness of employee orientation and training in reducing injuries among plumbers and pipefitters. We searched the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's "recordable" injury data and "documentable" safety and training records for six plumbing and pipefitting employers in northwestern Ohio. During the period 1996 to 1998, 133 injuries were recorded with the duration of 2,541,432 working hours. The most common types of injuries were cuts, lacerations, and abrasions. The majority of injuries resulted from workers being struck by objects. The injury rate was significantly higher for small companies and longer working hours. No difference was found between traveling and local workers. Seventy-five percent of workers received safety orientations on injury prevention. Among workers who received safety orientations, only 3.4% experienced injuries, compared with 11.1% of workers without orientations. Safety orientations were associated with a significant reduction in injuries (odds ratio, 0.23; 95% confidence interval, 0.15 to 0.35). Proper safety orientation and training could reduce the risks for occupational injuries in construction workers.

Accidents, Occupational↗
PubMed1999

[Powerlessness and apathy in digitalis intoxication].

A 85 year old female was hospitalized because of a bronchopulmonary infection. During the hospitalization she developed a progressive stupor. There was no sign of an intracerebral pathology, an electrolyte disorder, a new infection or a psychiatric diagnosis. Evaluation of the past history made a recently started digitalis medication responsible for the stupor. After discontinuation of digitalis the patient regained complete consciousness within two weeks. In the Holter-EKG we found once an asystole of four seconds duration without any symptoms.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

Selecting blood glucose monitoring systems.

A wide range of blood glucose monitoring systems is available for use in different applications. The systems have varying characteristics which should be taken into consideration during selection. Operator technique can influence the quality of the results.

Bias↗
PubMed1998

A comparison of HIV risk behaviors among women drug users from two cities in a rural state: recommendations for targeted prevention.

Most HIV prevention programs for women target individual risk behaviors while the influence of larger contextual factors, such as city of residence, are often neglected. This preliminary study compares women drug users from two different cities in the largely rural state of Kentucky on HIV risk behaviors. The women are from Lexington, a medium sized metropolitan area, and from Louisville, a large metropolitan area. Comparisons between the women from the two cities indicate that there are many similarities in their risk behaviors, but also some important differences. The women from Lexington (the smaller city), are more likely to be at risk for becoming infected with HIV due to their drug use, while the women from Louisville (the larger city) are more likely to be at risk because of their sex exchange practices and economic situation. The implications for prevention are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Efficacy and safety of a blood conservation program including low-dose aprotinin in routine myocardial revascularization.

OBJECTIVES: We attempted to analyze the efficacy and safety of an extensive blood saving program applied in a large cohort of patients. MEASURES: Blood saving included reinfusion of intraoperative predonated blood, aprotinin (2 million KIU) in the prime solution, reinfusion of any residual volume, postoperative acceptance of normovolemic anemia (hematocrit > or = 25%) and autotransfusion of shed blood. SETTING, EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN AND PATIENTS: In our general hospital with a heart surgery service (1150 cases/year), we studied the records of 527 non-selected consecutive patients, who were prospectively treated with this program being applied in primary myocardial revascularization between. RESULTS: We avoided the use of donor blood in 86.9% of the patients requiring a mean of 0.2+/-0.01 unit of donor blood per patient. No repeat thoracotomy for bleeding was needed in any patient. Univariate analysis revealed that female gender, a low level of hematocrit, high age, a small stature, weight, body surface area, and red cell volume prebypass significantly (p<0.001) were correlated to treatment with donor blood. Multiple regression showed that a small red cell volume and a low prebypass hematocrit were the most (p<0.0001) significant predictors for the use of donor blood. Observing a low incidence of morbidity (myocardial infarction, gastrointestinal, neurological thromboembolic, renal and wound complications), the safety of this program seems to be emphasized. CONCLUSIONS: Extensive blood saving including low-dose aprotinin reduced effectively and safely the need for donor blood in a large cohort of patients.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

[Phenprocoumon-induced cholestatic hepatitis].

HISTORY AND CLINICAL FINDINGS: A 78-year-old woman had 4 years age received phenprocoumon as prophylaxis against thromboembolism after implantation of a left total knee prosthesis. Ten weeks later she developed hepatitis with negative hepatitis serology. 6 weeks before her latest hospitalisation a right total knee implantation had been performed and she again received phenprocoumon. She was admitted now because of cholestatic jaundice with rapid deterioration of her general state. There were no significant abnormal findings other than jaundiced skin and sclerae. INVESTIGATION: Bilirubin concentration was clearly elevated to 11.5 mg/dl, and the transaminase activities were increased, together with raised gamma-GT and alkaline phosphatase levels. The Quick value was below 8%. Hepatitis serology was positive for hepatitis A antibodies, but negative for B and C antibodies. No antigens were demonstrated. The eosinophil count was elevated in the differential blood count. Sonography showed a normal-sized liver with slightly dense echo pattern, but no evidence of abscess or dilatation of the bile duct system. Liver biopsy revealed severe acute hepatitis of viral type and discrete eosinophilic infiltration. TREATMENT AND COURSE: After all medication had been discontinued, transaminase activities decreased while bilirubin concentration rose. Thus, prednisone treatment was started (initially 50 mg/d), the dose then gradually reduced. The cholestasis parameters became normal and the patient's general state was much improved so that she could be discharged. CONCLUSION: Cholestatic hepatitis is a rare side effect of phenprocoumon. The associated eosinophilia suggests the cause to be an allergic genesis in the sense of a hypersensitivity reaction.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

Alzheimer disease: depiction of increased cerebral myo-inositol with proton MR spectroscopy.

To define altered metabolites in the brain of patients with probable Alzheimer disease (AD) of two brain regions, localized in vivo hydrogen-1 magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy was performed with a short echo time (30 msec) in 11 elderly patients and 10 healthy age-matched subjects. The patients had mild to moderate dementia, assessed with standard neuropsychological tests. Two abnormalities in the patients' cerebral cortex were defined: When compared with healthy subjects, the patients showed a 22% increase (P = .005) (approximately equal to 1.5 mmol/kg) in myo-inositol (MI) and an 11% decrease (P = .005) in residues of N-acetyl (NA), a putative neuronal marker. The elevation of MI in patients with mild to moderate AD suggests that abnormalities in the inositol polyphosphate messenger pathway occur early in the natural history of AD. The combination of high MI and low NA at examination with H-1 MR spectroscopy shows promise as an early diagnostic test for AD.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

Symmetric and asymmetric manual materials handling. Part 1: Physiology and psychophysics.

To study the physiological and psychophysical costs of symmetric and asymmetric manual materials handling, two tasks were performed by 30 industrial subjects. In both tasks, box weight and handle position were varied. The symmetric task, lifting and lowering between floor and conveyor, showed handles to be beneficial. The asymmetric task was palletizing and depalletizing 36 boxes between a pallet and a conveyor. Both palletizing and depalletizing proved strenuous for females with heart rates exceeding 140b/min. All handle positions were better than No Handles, but the best handle position changed from asymmetric for 9 kg boxes to symmetric for 13 kg boxes. The effect of handles was equivalent to a weight change of 1-2 kg for Heart Rate and Rated Perceived Exertion, but much higher (2-14 kg) for Body Part Discomfort measures.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Symmetric and asymmetric manual materials handling, Part 2: Biomechanics.

Earlier studies of the biomechanics of handle placement and angles on boxes in Manual Materials Handling have been limited to sagittally symmetric tasks. This study extends the results to a palletization/depalletization task with considerable asymmetric movement. Part 2 shows how body posture, hand/handle interface, and disc compressive force change in this asymmetric task. The results were not too different from the earlier studies of symmetric tasks, except that a 'traditional' handle position in the upper part of each lateral face (the 2/2 position) proved more effective than had been anticipated.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Development and characterization of a monoclonal antibody against the tube precipitin antigen of Coccidioides immitis.

Primary infection with Coccidioides immitis is commonly accompanied by the production of an immunoglobulin M precipitin antibody which is detected by the tube precipitin (TP) assay or by the immunodiffusion assay for TP antibody (IDTP assay). In the present investigation, spleen cells from spherulin-immunized BALB/c mice were fused with SP2/O Ag14 myeloma cells, and the resulting hybridomas were screened for antibody to the IDTP antigen by using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Positive hybridomas were cloned by limiting dilution and injected into pristane-primed mice for ascites production. Characterization of antibody reactivity was accomplished with the IDTP assay, two-dimensional immunoelectrophoresis, and immunoblotting. An immunoglobulin G1 monoclonal antibody which reacts with the IDTP antigen of C. immitis is described. The epitope that is recognized by the monoclonal antibody is also present, but to a lesser extent, on a second coccidioidal antigen which has been designated antigen 2. The monoclonal antibody was not reactive in immunoblots of histoplasmin or blastomycin, indicating that the epitope recognized by this antibody may be specific for C. immitis.

Animals↗