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At least 433 records · Page 24Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

[The Association for Computerized Medical Records Users in Perinatology, Obstetrics and Gynecology sentinel network for maternity hospitals. II. Changes in practices and results. 1994-1997].

OBJECTIVE: The observation of medical practices and the analysis of outcome as a function of practices are essential today for monitoring and improvement of the healthcare system. The AUDIPOG Sentinel Network provides a tool for the self-assessment of practices that enables each unit to assess its position relative to a group of maternity wards. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Pooling of individual data about births that occurred during the month of January each year in about a hundred volunteer wards allows assessing perinatal health indicators and following their evolution over time. A sample rectification technique, adapted from the quota method, allows offsetting the methodological problems created by volunteering and assessing perinatal indicators at the national level. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The analysis of data collected from 1994 to 1997 indicates a number of trends, even in the short run, and justifies that a real practice monitoring and assessment tool be set up in order to improve perinatal health.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay applicable to screen blood donors for IgA deficiency.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: In order to build panels of IgA deficient blood donors, an assay is described that is sensitive, inexpensive and easily adaptable to the automated sample processors and turnaround times of blood banks. DESIGN AND METHODS: We developed a two-step enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) carried out in microwell plates coated with rabbit anti-human IgA antibody. Captured IgA was revealed with the same antibody conjugated to horseradish-peroxidase. The assay was adapted to the automatic pipetting system and ELISA processors used in routine blood donor screening. RESULTS: The assay sensitivity was 0.1 microg/mL. Intra-assay coefficient of variation (CV) for IgA concentrations between 0.1 and 100 microg/mL ranged from 0.69% to 3.80%. The median interassay CV was 3.05% (range: 1.2-7.9%). Coated plates can be stored frozen for at least 3 months without any loss in performance. The assay takes around 80 min to be performed. By using this ELISA we found 32 IgA-deficient individuals among 20,000 blood donors (prevalence 1:625). INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS: The ELISA has a good sensitivity, is reproducible, precise and timesaving. It is easily adaptable to the automated sample processors and operating procedures used in blood banks. This facilitates the building of panels of IgA-deficient blood donors.

Automation↗
PubMed1983

Utilization of physical therapy personnel in one hospital. A work sampling study.

The purpose of this study was to illustrate the adaptability and use of work sampling, an industrial engineering technique, as a dependable method for collecting personnel utilization data in the physical therapy department of a general hospital and to demonstrate the concept of work sampling to physical therapy supervisors and personnel unfamiliar with this approach. Over a six-week period, a total of 5,824 observations were made at randomly selected 15-minute intervals during the 40-hour work week. Percentages of total time used in observed activities for all physical therapy personnel were divided as follows: 1) direct care, 20.38 percent; 2) indirect care, 11.18 percent; 3) administration, 2.27 percent; 4) communication, 3.28 percent; 5) clerical, 9.56 percent; 6) personal time, 24.60 percent; and 7) out-of-department, 28.72 percent. Physical therapists were most likely to be involved in personal duties from 8 AM to 9 AM (35%) and from 4 PM to 4:30 PM (41%). They showed greatest productivity from 9 AM to 10 AM (59%) and spent time in out-of-department activities rather consistently throughout the day. A conclusion of this study was that work sampling may be used successfully to collect personnel utilization data in a physical therapy department.

Humans↗
PubMed2002

Human cytomegalovirus and human umbilical vein endothelial cells: restriction of primary isolation to blood samples and susceptibilities of clinical isolates from other sources to adaptation.

In immunocompromised patients with disseminated infection, human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is widespread in the microvascular endothelium of multiple organs. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were used in parallel to human embryonic lung fibroblasts (HELF) to recover HCMV from blood samples of immunocompromised patients. Using the shell vial technique, comparable median numbers of p72-positive HUVEC and HELF cells were found with the 26 HCMV-positive buffy coat samples out of 150 examined. Analysis of other clinical samples inoculated as controls revealed, in the presence of highly infected HELF monolayers, either the presence of very few infected HUVEC with urine specimens (n = 10 samples) or the lack of infected HUVEC with throat washes (n = 3) or amniotic fluid samples (n = 2). Thus, peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) appear essential for primary isolation of HCMV in HUVEC. In this respect, HCMV strains, recovered from clinical samples other than buffy coats in HELF only, could be readily adapted to growth in HUVEC by coculturing PBL from healthy blood donors with infected HELF and then inoculating infected PBL onto HUVEC. Recently elucidated mechanisms of interaction of leukocytes and HUVEC with bidirectional transfer of virus seem to provide the basis for the restriction of HCMV primary isolation in HUVEC to blood samples. However, virus strains recovered from only HELF could be adapted to growth in HUVEC when inoculated with HELF-derived (either cell-associated or cell-free) HCMV strains upon primary isolation. In conclusion, due to the in vitro selection of virus variants provided with both PBL tropism and HUVEC tropism, HCMV recovery in HUVEC is PBL mediated and substantially restricted to blood samples. Lack of HCMV recovery in HUVEC from clinical samples other than blood leads to the assumption that epithelial cells, such as urinary, amniotic, or pharyngeal cells, do not possess adequate adhesion molecules to establish close contacts with HUVEC.

Cells, Cultured↗
PubMed1979

Social adaptation in juvenile diabetes.

A sample of 36 juvenile diabetics, age 19--28 years, and with a duration of diabetes of 14--17 years were interviewed with regard to their social adaptation. Five patients could not be traced and six patients did not want to participate. Educational and professional careers were normal. However, none had received individual diabetes-oriented vocational guidance. A majority of patients was unsatisfied with the information given at the diabetic clinics, and a negative attitude towards society and its institutions was common. Patients often felt that as children they had been neglected by the diabetic team, while their parents received all information. It is concluded that diabetic children and adolescents require continuous socio-psychological support, that psychologists and/or social workers should be permanent members of the diabetic teams, and that paediatricians should follow diabetic patients until they are fully grown up.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Changes in cortisol secretion during shiftwork: implications for tolerance to shiftwork?

The present study was conducted to determine the size of changes and the time point of those changes in biological rhythms during night-shift and whether they are associated with tolerance to shiftwork. The adrenal hormone cortisol has frequently been investigated in the field of shiftwork since it follows a pronounced circadian variation and has been demonstrated to be affected by night-work. However, studies are restricted with respect to sample size, number of measurements or duration of sampling periods. Therefore, a sample of 24 night-shift workers was investigated in a cardiac emergency unit for seven nights. Saliva samples were collected frequently for determination of cortisol. A total of 28 cortisol measurements in each subject were made in order to decide whether the circadian rhythm changed, and if so at which time point. A clear reversal of circadian function could be observed for the total group (mean cortisol concentrations) after the fifth night. However, inspection of individual patterns revealed that six out of 24 subjects did not change in circadian function. These subjects exhibited lower durations of and less consistency in recovery sleep across the following days after night-work. With respect to personality dimensions a pattern associated with neuroticism can be observed in subjects without appropriate changes in cortisol rhythm. However, owing to the small sample size of non-adapters these results are preliminary and should be replicated with larger samples. The overall relationship between neuroticism and low adaptability has been discussed.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed1996

Reduction in humidity as a method of controlling mites and mite allergens: the use of mechanical ventilation in British domestic dwellings.

BACKGROUND: Low humidity is an important limiting factor for mite population growth. Reducing humidity can therefore be used as a method to control mites within the home. OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the effect of mechanical ventilation heat recovery (MVHR) units on house dust mites and mite allergen Der p 1 in typical homes in the North-West of England. METHODS: Mite counts and Der p 1 levels were measured at 3-monthly intervals over a period of 1 year in 18 houses (nine with MVHR units and nine architecturally matched control houses). Paired dust samples were collected using a vacuum cleaner with an air-flow rate 451/sec, adapted to collect the sample onto a preweighed filter paper. A 1 m2 area of bedroom carpet, living room carpet and mattress was sampled for 2 min. Indoor temperature and relative humidity (RH) levels were recorded for a period of 1 week before and after the winter period (November and February: 3 and 6 months data sets). The environmental questionnaire was completed at the beginning and at the end of the study. RESULTS: No difference in either Der p 1 concentrations or mite counts in any of the sampling sites at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months as compared with the baseline values was found, both within and between the groups (P > 0.01). The measured levels of RH performed in autumn and winter were found to be lower in the MVHR houses compared to the architectural controls. The indoor temperature during each period did not differ between the groups. Questionnaire data showed that the severity of condensation improved in the MVHR homes, whilst during the winter period, the severity of condensation had increased in the architectural control group. CONCLUSIONS: The MVHR unit does not reduce indoor humidity to levels capable of retarding the mite population growth and decreasing mite allergens in the type of houses predominantly found in the mild and humid climate of the North-West of England.

Allergens↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Causes of frustration in soldiers during the period of adaptation to the military environment].

The aim of this study was to determine the frustrations that prevent soldier's successful adaptation to the military environment in the first three months of military duty. The sample consisted of 200 adapted (group A) and 400 maladapted (group NA) soldiers. The applied instrument was the Adjustment questionnaire. It was concluded that the most important cause of frustration was the problem of establishing the interpersonal relationship of soldier and his comrades in the unit. The presence of the actual factor of decompensation was also important, in the sense that it could disqualify for military duty, temporarily or permanently, even a well adapted soldier. Commanding officers and comrades could positively influence the socialization of a personality, by helping the less sociably adaptable soldiers in their adaption to the military environment.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1993

A longitudinal study of children with Down syndrome who experienced early intervention programming.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The long-term motor, cognitive, and adaptive functioning of a sample of adolescents with Down syndrome who experienced an early intervention program was examined in this descriptive study. SUBJECTS: Ten children with Down syndrome (7 girls, 3 boys) who had participated in an early intervention program constituted the early intervention (EI) group. An age-matched group of children with Down syndrome (6 girls, 4 boys) who had not experienced an early intervention program served as a comparison group. METHODS: The EI group's motor functioning was compared with that of a normative sample used in the development of the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency. The cognitive and adaptive skills of the EI group were compared with those of the comparison group. The children were assessed using the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale, the Vineland Social Maturity Scale, and the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency. RESULTS: The EI group subjects fell below their chronological age levels in gross and fine motor skills; however, their mean gross motor skill levels exceeded their mean fine motor skill levels. The specific deficits in gross motor and fine motor skills, which were documented in a previous follow-up study on the same sample, continued to be areas of deficits (visual motor coordination, running speed, balance, and reaction time). The EI group subjects had significantly higher scores on measures of intellectual and adaptive functioning than did the children in the comparison group. The EI group subjects did not show the decline typically seen with age in adaptive functioning in individuals with Down syndrome. CONCLUSION AND DISCUSSION: Because of the design limitations, the differences between the groups should be interpreted with caution.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed1992

Detection of HIV-1 antibodies in blood specimens spotted on filter-paper.

Described are the results of an international collaborative study to evaluate the use of whole blood samples spotted on filter-paper (BSP) for the detection of antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). BSP samples were collected from 40 patients at risk for HIV-1 infection and tested blindly using commercially available HIV antibody test kits, either specifically manufactured or modified for this purpose. Parallel serum samples were also collected, and the antibody reactivity was defined and confirmed by Western blot. The results demonstrate that recovery of antibodies from BSP samples after elution can be comparable to that from serum. Some kits can be easily adapted to test BSP samples, while others cannot. At present, detection of HIV antibodies in BSP samples should therefore be carried out using kits specifically manufactured for this purpose or by the development of a modified protocol using a panel of BSP and their corresponding serum specimens.

AIDS Serodiagnosis↗
PubMed1987

Day-night differences in the number and structure of synaptic ribbons in chick pineal.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of lighting (day-night) changes on pinealocyte synaptic ribbon shape (conformation) and numbers. Three-dimensional reconstruction analysis of pinealocyte basal processes revealed that 30% (6/20) of all ribbons from dark-adapted animals were either curved or split. Synaptic ribbons from light-adapted animals did not show this variant morphology; all were linear structures. An analysis of each section from each series, containing curved or split ribbons, revealed that 44% (16/36) of all ribbon profiles would yield inflated counts if used in random morphometric sampling protocols. Therefore, split and curved (variant) ribbon morphologies could result in an overestimation of synaptic ribbon populations of approximately 13% (0.44 X 30%) of dark-adapted samples. In spite of this potential sampling error, the fourfold increase in the number of synaptic ribbons observed during the dark phase of a light-dark cycle remains highly significant (P less than 0.0001).

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Adaptive control of theophylline therapy: importance of blood sampling times.

A two-observation protocol for estimating theophylline clearance during a constant-rate intravenous infusion is used to examine the importance of blood sampling schedules with regard to the information content of resulting concentration data. Guided by a theory for calculating maximally informative sample times, population simulations are used to assess the effect of specific sampling times on the precision of resulting clearance estimates and subsequent predictions of theophylline plasma concentrations. The simulations incorporated noise terms for intersubject variability, dosing errors, sample collection errors, and assay error. Clearance was estimated using Chiou's method, least squares, and a Bayesian estimation procedure. The results of these simulations suggest that clinically significant estimation and prediction errors may result when using the above two-point protocol for estimating theophylline clearance if the time separating the two blood samples is less than one population mean elimination half-life.

Blood Specimen Collection↗
PubMed1978

[Chronic vascular catheterization in the rat. Adaptation to injections and semi-continous blood sampling for hormonal studies].

A method for frequent sampling of blood and injections of fluids in undisturbed rats is described. The right external jugular vein and the left carotid artery are cannulated without completely blood stream interruption in the vessel. Injection or perfusion can be performed during several weeks. Blood was collected for at least 15 post-operative days. The technique appears suitable for pituitary kinetics studies which can be carried out several times in rats bearing indwelling catheters.

Acclimatization↗
PubMed2001

The integrating ion imager: a device for determining heavy ion doses during irradiations.

We have designed and built an integrating ion imaging system (I3) that records the spatial distribution of the dose of heavy ions incident on samples irradiated at the radiobiology beamline of the Alternating Gradient Synchrotron at Brookhaven National Laboratory. The images of dose are integrated over the duration of the exposure. Unlike the images formed on X-ray film, these images are linear with the incident dose. Heavy ions are incident on a phosphor that is located just behind the sample position. Visible light emitted from the phosphor is collected by a lens and focused onto a scientific grade charge coupled device (CCD) cooled to about -45 degrees C. The phosphor and CCD camera are integral parts of a modular sample holder designed for irradiating molecular samples, which is easily mounted on the sample platform of the beamline. The imager can be adapted to other types of samples. The present CCD image is digitized to 14 bits (16,384 intensity levels), but the dynamic range is extended by adjusting the aperture of the CCD camera lens. Digital images from the CCD are routinely transferred over the BNL local area network for archival storage on a UNIX server, from which they can be opened from any authorized computer with access to the Internet. Images obtained with no sample in place record the dose at all points on the target field. When a sample is in place, an image of the sample appears providing its exact location with respect to fiducial marks recorded for all images. Areas surrounding the image of the sample are used in comparison with companion no-sample images to get exact doses over the sample. The contrast mechanism responsible for image formation is the shift along the Bragg curve resulting from loss of energy of the ions as they pass through the sample--not from a change in ion flux reaching the phosphor. The sharpness of the images formed with the DNA samples we have recorded indicates that neither scattering of the incident heavy ions or the generation of secondary ions contribute significantly.

Elementary Particles↗
PubMed1999

Specific detection of green sulfur bacteria by in situ hybridization with a fluorescently labeled oligonucleotide probe.

An oligodeoxynucleotide probe (GSB-532) specific for green sulfur bacteria was developed. Highly stringent hybridization conditions were established using whole cells of Chlorobium limicola DSM249 immobilized on glass slides. At a formamide concentration of 10%, the optimum specificity was reached at 47 degrees C. When a conventional fixation procedure was used, a conspicuous autofluorescence developed within the cells. This autofluorescence was due to the liberation of bacteriochlorophyll by the detergent Triton X-100 and a subsequent conversion to bacteriophenophytin and related compounds. The signal-to-noise ratio could be increased by a final dehydration of the samples with methanol. Finally, the method was adapted to the hybridization of natural samples collected on polycarbonate membrane filters. In situ hybridization of pure cultures, various enrichments, and natural samples from the chemocline of a freshwater lake confirmed that probe GSB-532 hybridized exclusively to cells of green sulfur bacteria. Our protocol allows the highly specific detection of green sulfur bacteria in water samples and a rapid screening of natural bacterial communities. Employing probe GSB-532, the phylogenetic affiliation of the epibionts in "Chlorochromatium aggregatum" and "Pelochromatium roseum" could be demonstrated for the first time.

Chlorobi↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A new combinatorial approach to surface reconstruction with sharp features.

This paper presents a new combinatorial approach to surface reconstruction with sharp features. Different from other postprocessing methods, the proposed method provides a systematic way to identify and reconstruct sharp features from unorganized sample points in one integrated reconstruction process. In addition, unlike other approximation methods, the reconstructed triangulated surface is guaranteed to pass through the original sample points. In this paper, the sample points in the sharp regions are defined as characteristic vertices (c-vertices), and their associated poles (c-poles) are used as a "sculptor" to extract triangles from a Delaunay structure for the sharp features. But, for smooth surface regions, an efficient region-growing scheme is used for triangle extraction and connection. Since only the c-poles associated with the sharp regions are used to participate in the Delaunay computation with the sample points, the proposed algorithm is adaptive in the sense that, given a sampled object with less sharp features, the triangulation becomes more efficient. To validate the proposed algorithm, some detailed illustrations are given. Experimental results show that it is robust and highly efficient.

Algorithms↗