Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to A Costello.
A correlational study examined patients' (n = 335) reports of nurse caring and satisfaction with nursing care, using the Caring Behaviors Inventory and Patient Satisfaction Instrument. A strong, positive correlation (r = 0.78, p < .001, R2 = 61.46%) was found. The outcomes of this study have important implications for adult health nurses.
PURPOSE: This research was conducted to gain an understanding of the care-by-parent experience for mothers of preterm infants. DESIGN: Phenomenologic methodology was used to explore the experiences of six mothers. Each participant slept overnight with her infant in a private hospital room. The mother assumed responsibility for her infant's care, knowing that nursing staff assistance was available if needed. Interviews were conducted on the following day and again after the infant had been home at least four days. SAMPLE: The participants were six mothers of preterm infants. MAIN OUTCOME VARIABLE: Mothers' experiences as they assumed responsibility in caring for their preterm infants away from the intensive care nursery. RESULTS: Findings revealed that the care-by-parent experience gives the mother an opportunity to assume full responsibility for her preterm infant's care, tests the reality of caregiving, helps her learn about caregiving activities and her infant's patterns of behavior, and confirms her readiness for independent parenting and the infant's readiness for discharge home. These findings confirm the benefits of rooming-in prior to discharge of preterm infants and provide guidelines for discharge planning.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
To assist the parents of preterm infants at Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Canada, we have developed a unique and creative method of individualizing parent information: The parent information binder (PIB). This method has supported a shift from nurse-directed education to parents as partners in their own education. Parents and health care professionals utilize the PIB collaboratively to facilitate organization and collection of information, which is individualized according to the infant's level of wellness and the parents' readiness to receive the information. This approach empowers parents to be active and integral participants in decisions regarding their infants' hospital care.
Genes encoding particulate methane monooxygenase and ammonia monooxygenase share high sequence identity. Degenerate oligonucleotide primers were designed, based on regions of shared amino acid sequence between the 27-kDa polypeptides, which are believed to contain the active sites, of particulate methane monooxygenase and ammonia monooxygenase. A 525-bp internal DNA fragment of the genes encoding these polypeptides (pmoA and amoA) from a variety of methanotrophic and nitrifying bacteria was amplified by PCR, cloned and sequenced. Representatives of each of the phylogenetic groups of both methanotrophs (alpha- and gamma-Proteobacteria) and ammonia-oxidizing nitrifying bacteria (beta- and gamma-Proteobacteria) were included. Analysis of the predicted amino acid sequences of these genes revealed strong conservation of both primary and secondary structure. Nitrosococcus oceanus AmoA showed higher identity to PmoA sequences from other members of the gamma-Proteobacteria than to AmoA sequences. These results suggest that the particulate methane monooxygenase and ammonia monooxygenase are evolutionarily related enzymes despite their different physiological roles in these bacteria.
A cost-effectiveness study compared visual laser ablation of the prostate (VLAP) with transurethral resection (TURP). Achieving equivalent outcomes, VLAP was more expensive than TURP. The result was sensitive to various assumptions, suggesting that VLAP might prove to be the preferred technology. Problems inherent in economic evaluation of emerging technologies are discussed.
A 45-kDa membrane polypeptide that is associated with activity of the particulate methane monooxygenase (pMMO) has been purified from three methanotrophic bacteria, and the N-terminal amino acid sequence was found to be identical in 17 of 20 positions for all three polypeptides and identical in 14 of 20 positions for the N terminus of AmoB, the 43-kDa subunit of ammonia monooxygenase. DNA from a variety of methanotrophs was screened with two probes, an oligonucleotide designed from the N-terminal sequence of the 45-kDa polypeptide from Methylococcus capsulatus Bath and an internal fragment of amoA, which encodes the 27-kDa subunit of ammonia monooxygenase. In most cases, two hybridizing fragments were identified with each probe. Three overlapping DNA fragments containing one of the copies of the gene encoding the 45-kDa pMMO polypeptide (pmoB) were cloned from Methylococcus capsulatus Bath. A 2.1-kb region was sequenced and found to contain both pmoB and a second gene, pmoA. The predicted amino acid sequences of these genes revealed high identity with those of the gene products of amoB and amoA, respectively. Further hybridization experiments with DNA from Methylococcus capsulatus Bath and Methylobacter albus BG8 confirmed the presence of two copies of pmoB in both strains. These results suggest that the 45- and 27-kDa pMMO-associated polypeptides of methanotrophs are subunits of the pMMO and are present in duplicate gene copies in methanotrophs.
Infant feeding practices are influenced by many factors including culture, household income, literacy, advice from health care workers and advertising. In South India doctors play a very significant role in influencing a mother's decision about when or whether to supplement breastfeeding with formula feeds. Doctors exert their influence on mothers both directly and indirectly, and they are increasingly targeted by commercial infant food companies. Doctors need continuing education about nutrition education, lactation management, and a greater awareness about the influence of inappropriate promotional practices by companies.
A study of companies that adopted SFAS 106 early reveals the companies generally have not funded retiree health benefits. The timing of a firm's adoption of the accounting standard is affected by a number of variables specific to that firm.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
This study shows that removal of urinary catheters at midnight has several advantages over removal at 6 AM. The midnight group had a significantly greater initial voided volume and a longer time to first void than the equivalent 6 AM group. Advantages to midnight catheter removal also exist for nursing staff. Midnight tends to be less busy on the nursing unit compared with 6 AM, thus making it a preferable time for performance of routine tasks. Catheter removal at midnight also allows for convenient observation of patient voiding and assessment earlier in the day. This means that any necessary intervention can take place during working hours when more staff are on duty. There is also the potential for earlier discharge, with economic benefits related to shorter bed stay and more efficient discharge planning. We believe midnight catheter removal offers considerable benefits over the traditional 6 AM time on both general and urology units.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Paired helical filaments (PHF) are abnormal neuronal polymers characteristic of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Although tau appears to be a major constituent of PHF, the mechanism for the polymerization of tau or its integration into PHF remains unknown. Here, we show that the oxidation of bovine tau in vitro induces an apparent dimerization of this protein and polymerization into filaments. These observations suggest that the oxidation of tau in vivo may contribute to the development of PHF in individuals with AD.
Seven patients with renal cell carcinoma involving the inferior vena cava underwent surgical resection between 1975 and 1991. Pre-operative staging defined five patients with stage T3bNoMo disease, one patient with stage T3bN1Mo, and one patient with stage T3bNoM1 disease. At operation one patient had tumour thrombus filling the right atrium. Two patients had tumour thrombus within the intrahepatic vena cava and four infrahepatic tumour thrombus. The mean follow-up is 34.4 months (median 40 months). Four patients have been followed for over 4 years. Three of these patients are survivors, two have remained disease-free since their initial surgery. The other patient had a liver resection at 49 months for a solitary metastases; he is currently disease free. One patient died at 38 months from a gastrointestinal haemorrhage. Three patients are 12 months or less postoperation. Operative mortality was zero. The mean postoperative hospital stay was 14.7 days. Data suggests that 3-10% of renal cell carcinomas will involve the inferior vena cava. The small number of patients in this series suggests that many patients with renal cell carcinoma involving the inferior vena cava are not referred for surgical assessment. These patients are potential surgical candidates. Their survival after surgical resection, excluding the group with extension of tumour thrombus into the hepatic cava or above, is not reduced when compared with other patients with renal carcinoma.