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Biomedical subjects

A M McCarthy

Publications and source records attributed to A M McCarthy.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Psychological screening of children for participation in nontherapeutic invasive research.

BACKGROUND: The need for children to participate in research has raised concerns about ethical issues surrounding their participation. OBJECTIVES: To describe a protocol of preresearch psychological screening and postresearch outcomes and to present the results of the screening process for a nontherapeutic, invasive research study. DESIGN AND SETTING: Descriptive study carried out at The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-eight children (mean age, 10.6 years) were screened, with 4 not completing the research study and another 4 unavailable for psychological follow-up. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Prescreening interviews with parent and child and screening measures of appropriate child cognitive abilities and behavior; postscreening parent and child questionnaires. RESULTS: Of the 4 children who did not complete the research study, 3 were identified with increased anxiety during the screening and were advised to not participate in the study. The primary motivator for participation was monetary reimbursement (14 parents [82%]; 15 children [75%]), followed by altruistic reasons (10 parents [59%]; 4 children [20%]). Before participating, none of the children reported concerns related to participating in the study. However, on follow-up, 9 (45%) of the children reported that they had had concerns before participating. Follow-up assessment showed that parents underestimated their children's concerns related to sexual development assessment and intravenous insertion. CONCLUSIONS: Children with increased anxiety may not be appropriate participants in potentially anxiety-provoking research. Children's reports of concerns may change from preparticipation to postparticipation, and discrepancies may exist between parent and child reports of concerns with research participation. Further research is needed to ensure children's safe participation in research.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Medication administration practices of school nurses.

This study assessed the medication administration practices of school nurses. From a random sample of 1,000 members of the National Association of School Nurses, 649 (64.9%) completed the survey developed for the study. These school nurses report that during a typical day, 5.6% of children receive medication in school, with 3.3% receiving medications for ADHD. Almost all the school nurses follow written guidelines for administering medication. Potential problems were identified in documenting side effects of medications, storage of medications, student self-administration practices, and appropriate authorization of nonprescription drug use. Most nurses (75.6%) delegate medication administration to unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP), with secretaries (66.2%) the most common UAP. Discomfort with delegation and confusion over state nurse practice laws were noted. Errors in administering medications were reported by 48.5% of the school nurses, with missed dose (79.7%) the most common error. Factors identified as contributing to errors included use of UAP and responsibility for large numbers of students.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

The influence of temperature on the survival and infectivity of the cercariae of Echinoparyphium recurvatum (Digenea: Echinostomatidae).

Survival and infectivity characteristics are described for cercariae of the echinostome Echinoparyphium recurvatum at 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 degrees C. Cercarial survival was markedly age- and temperature-dependent, maximum survival time being reduced from 68 h at 10 degrees C to 12 h at 30 degrees C, 50% survival times falling from 47.9 h at 10 degrees C to 8.4 h at 30 degrees C. The mean instantaneous per capita death rate of cercariae increased exponentially with temperature. Cercarial infectivity was also temperature dependent, the main effect of temperature being upon the rate at which infectivity diminished with increasing age of cercariae. Infectivity increased from zero at 10 degrees C to a maximum at 25 degrees C after which it declined to a low level at 30 degrees C. Overall transmission efficiency of cercariae at each experimental temperature was calculated as the ratio of the mean instantaneous per capita death rate (mu) to the mean instantaneous per capita rate of infection (beta). Transmission efficiency of cercariae was found to be maximal at 20 degrees C and at a relatively high level between 10 and 25 degrees C. Transmission efficiency was zero at 10 degrees C and at a very low level at 30 degrees C. These results suggest that the cercariae of E. recurvatum show transmission optima at water temperatures likely to be encountered in natural habitats in Britain and Europe.

Aging↗
PubMed1999

Nursing interventions used in school nursing practice.

School nurses need to define clearly their practice and identify the interventions they provide to students, families, and school employees. The purpose of this research was to identify which nursing interventions listed in Nursing Interventions Classification (NIC) are used by school nurses. Of the 174 surveys mailed to school nurses, 78 usable surveys were returned, representing a 45% return rate. Of the 433 NIC interventions, 114 were used by school nurses at least monthly, with 32 of these 114 interventions identified as being used at least once a week.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Cognitive behavioral interventions for children during painful procedures: research challenges and program development.

The purpose of this report is to describe a pilot program designed to introduce the use of cognitive behavioral interventions for painful pediatric procedures at a university hospital, and to discuss the challenges that occurred during this process. Participants in the program included ten parents and their children who were newly diagnosed with leukemia, and staff who provided treatment for these children. Measures included direct videotaped observations of the children, perceptions of pain and anxiety completed by children, parents, and staff, and parent and staff ratings of satisfaction with the program. Results indicated strong acceptance of the interventions. This report discusses the challenges encountered, implications of the findings, and plans for future program development.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Evaluation of a school re-entry nursing intervention for children with cancer.

A retrospective qualitative design was used to identify and compare the concerns, parents, teachers, and children have regarding school re-entry after a cancer diagnosis and to describe the impact of a school re-entry program on parents', teachers', and children's concerns. Audiotaped, semistructured interviews were obtained from a convenience sample of 10 children with cancer (ages 5 to 13 years), 10 mothers, and nine teachers. All participants were positive about the school re-entry nursing intervention, which is described. Results of content analyses indicate that before the intervention, mothers were concerned about their child's safety and peer teasing; teachers were concerned about their own knowledge and peers' adjustment, and children were concerned with keeping up with school activities. After the intervention, mothers were less concerned about peer teasing but continued to be worried about their child's safety in the school setting and began to have concerns about academic progress and physical stamina; teachers reported increased concerns for the child's safety and academic progress, and a desire to return to normal routines in the classroom: and the children continued to have concerns with maintaining academic and/physical progress. Clinical and research implications are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Cognitive behavioral pain and anxiety interventions in pediatric oncology centers and bone marrow transplant units.

Although research conducted on the treatment of pain and anxiety in children has found a number of cognitive behavioral interventions to be effective, it is not known to what extent this research has been put into practice. The purpose of this project was to obtain information on the use of cognitive behavioral interventions to help children and families cope with the pain and anxiety experienced during lumbar punctures and bone marrow aspirations. In this descriptive study, 15 Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplant Units and 32 Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Centers from across the country were surveyed using a questionnaire developed to obtain information on the use and effectiveness of cognitive behavioral interventions and the availability of support services. This survey indicates that most centers use a number of cognitive behavioral interventions to help children cope with painful procedures. However, some interventions, such as providing information before procedures and positive reinforcement after procedures, are used more frequently than interventions, such as rhythmic breathing, distraction, and imagery, that require more time and training. A variety of support services were available, although psychological services were primarily available on an as needed basis and support groups were not usually offered on an ongoing basis. In general, nurses are the major providers of these interventions, with other professionals providing interventions specific to their training. Nurses need to continue to study appropriate ways to incorporate use of effective cognitive behavioral interventions into the routine care of children with cancer.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Strigea falconispalumbi (Trematoda: Strigeidae): argentophilic structures of the miracidium.

A study of the argentophilic structures of the miracidium of the strigeid digenean Strigea falconispalumbi VIBORG, 1795 was carried out. Miracidia were hatched under laboratory conditions from eggs obtained from adult S. falconispalumbi from the intestine of a naturally infected Buzzard (Buteo buteo). Miracidia were stained with 0.5%. Silver Nitrate solution using standard techniques. The epidermal plates of the miracidium are arranged in four tiers according to the formula (6 + 8 + 4 + 3) = 21. The terabratorium bears 20 papillare. Papillae are also present at the bases of the epidermal plates of the first tier, and also at the margins of the terabratorium between the epidermal plates. The two pores of the excretory ducts are positioned laterally between the third and fourth tiers of epidermal plates.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Experimental observations on the specificity of Apatemon (Australapatemon) minor (Yamaguti 1933) (Digenea: Strigeidae) toward leech (Hirudinea) second intermediate hosts.

The infectivity of Apatemon (Australapatemon) minor cercariae to 7 species of freshwater leech was examined under laboratory conditions. The leech species exposed to infection were; Erpobdella octoculata, Helobdella stagnalis, Glossiphonia heteroclita, Glossiphonia complanata, Hemiclepsis marginata, Piscicola geometra, and Theromyzon tessulatum. Five species were capable of acting as second intermediate hosts. Despite this broad specificity only Erpobdella octoculata and Helobdella stagnalis could be considered to show a high degree of compatibility with the parasite. In these 2 leech species more than 38% of the cercariae successfully penetrated and established metacercarial cyst infections. The leeches Piscicola geometra and Theromyzon tessulatum did not become infected. Close parallels were found between the species order of host utilization determined experimentally and that revealed by a range of field surveys in Britain, Eastern Europe and Russia. This suggests that the order of second intermediate host utilization in the natural environment has, at least in part, a physiological basis. The degree to which different leeches are utilized as hosts may relate to the opportunity which they afford for transmission of A. minor to wildfowl definitive hosts.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Pseudechinoparyphium echinatum (Digenea: Echinostomatidae): experimental observations on cercarial specificity toward second intermediate hosts.

Infectivity of Pseudechinoparyphium echinatum cercariae to 11 species of gastropod was examined experimentally. Broad specificity and differential host-parasite compatibility were exhibited. Nine gastropod species functioned as second intermediate hosts. Planorbarius corneus, Physa fontinalis, Lymnaea peregra and Biomphalaria alexandrina showed high levels of compatibility with the parasite. In single-species exposures over 90% of cercariae encysted in each of these hosts. Low compatibility with the first intermediate host species Lymnaea stagnalis may be a mechanism preventing super-infection of emitting snails. Cercariae did not infect the prosobranchs Bithynia tentaculata and Viviparus viviparus. Experimental infection of a host community comprised of 8 European gastropod species revealed an order of host utilization similar to that shown in single-species exposures. However, cercarial transmission success in P. fontinalis and L. peregra (compared to that in P. corneus) was significantly reduced. This may have been due to the marked preference of cercariae for P. corneus compared to the other two highly suitable hosts for whom cercariae showed equal preference.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1990

Speciation of echinostomes: evidence for the existence of two sympatric sibling species in the complex Echinoparyphium recurvatum (von Linstow 1873) (Digenea: Echinostomatidae).

Evidence for the existence of 2 first intermediate host-specific sibling species of the 45 collar-spined echinostome Echinoparyphium recurvatum is presented. Experimental studies on their life-cycles were carried out under controlled laboratory conditions. The two entities were found to be morphologically indistinguishable in all major respects, yet they exhibited distinct biological characteristics. One of the sibling species utilizes the freshwater lymnaeid pulmonate snail Lymnaea peregra as first intermediate host, and the adults occur in the anterior small intestine of the wildfowl experimental definitive host Anas platyrhynchos. The other utilizes the freshwater mesogastropod prosobranch snail Valvata piscinalis as first intermediate host, and the adults occur in the posterior small intestine and rectum of A. platyrhynchos. The existence of the two sibling species in sympatry may be explained by the fact that the life-cycles of the two forms represent two distinct cycles of transmission serving to reduce excessive competition between them.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

The influence of second intermediate host dispersion pattern upon the transmission of cercariae of Echinoparyphium recurvatum (Digenea: Echinostomatidae).

Transmission of cercariae of the echinostome digenean Echinoparyphium recurvatum was observed in experimental populations of the second intermediate host snail Lymnaea peregra. Populations of 100 snails were distributed among plastic mesh cages in an infection arena to produce different patterns of host dispersion. Cercarial transmission was investigated in host populations showing three separate patterns of host dispersion; Ideal Regular, Random and Contagious ('Clumped'). Levels of cercarial transmission in populations showing each type of dispersion pattern were found to be significantly different. The highest rate of cercarial transmission occurred in the contagiously dispersed host population, and the lowest in the randomly dispersed population. Analysis of results from the randomly dispersed population also showed that both the mean percentage prevalence of infection, and also the mean number of cysts recovered per snail, increased significantly with the number of snails per cage. The positive relationship between the mean number of cysts per snail and the number of snails per cage was found to be best described by an exponential function. Chemosensory location of L. peregra snail hosts by E. recurvatum cercariae may provide an explanation for the patterns of cercarial transmission observed.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Herpes simplex virus type 1 ICP27 deletion mutants exhibit altered patterns of transcription and are DNA deficient.

Infected cell polypeptide 27 (ICP27, alpha 27, IE63) is the 63-kilodalton product of an immediate-early gene of herpes simplex virus. Functional analysis of temperature-sensitive mutants in herpes simplex virus type 1 ICP27 demonstrated that this protein plays an essential role in virus replication (W. R. Sacks, C. C. Greene, D. P. Aschman, and P. A. Schaffer, J. Virol. 55:796-805, 1985). Because the temperature-sensitive forms of ICP27 induced by the mutants affected gene expression to differing degrees, these mutants were not suitable for establishing the ICP27 null phenotype. For this purpose we generated deletion mutants in ICP27--3dl1.2 and 5dl1.2--lacking the transcriptional start site as well as portions of the promoter and coding sequences of the gene. These mutants failed to specify ICP27-specific transcripts and proteins and were replication incompetent. The mutants induced the synthesis of greatly reduced levels of viral DNA (18% of wild-type levels) and were characterized by the overexpression of early proteins, reduced levels of gamma 1 proteins, and the absence of detectable gamma 2 proteins. The alterations in viral protein synthesis appeared to occur at the level of transcription. The phenotypic properties of the mutants were consistent with the results of transient expression assays demonstrating that ICP27 acts to down-regulate transcription of early genes and to further up-regulate transcription of late genes whose expression is induced by ICP0 and ICP4. Because ICP27 is not thought to be directly involved in viral DNA synthesis, it is likely that the reduced levels of viral DNA characteristic of deletion mutant-infected cells is a consequence of aberrant regulation of certain early genes whose products are involved in viral DNA synthesis and late genes whose products are required to stabilize viral DNA once synthesized. Taken together, these findings suggest an essential role for ICP27 in the modulation of early and late gene expression at the transcriptional level.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

The temporal relationship between vaginal fluid volumes obtained with the Rovumeter vaginal aspirator and the fertile phase of the cycle.

Recent trends in family planning demonstrate an increasing interest in natural methods of birth regulation. In their present form, however, these methods are highly subjective and individualistic. A further trend in fertility programmes has been a very rapid development of technological methods to detect fertility in the female cycle, some of which could possibly benefit natural family planning users. One such technique--that of changing volumes of cervico-vaginal fluid (CVF), which is a mixture of cervical mucus and vaginal transudate--has been tested in a pilot study to ascertain its reliability to demarcate the fertile phase of the cycle. Results show that in all cycles tested, it is possible using the Rovumeter aspirator to detect the beginning of the fertile phase by rapidly increasing volumes of CVF; this volume reaches a peak approximately 1 day before ovulation detected by ultrasound and demonstrates an abrupt fall after ovulation and the onset of the infertile phase. From the results of this pilot study, we believe that, by the use of suitable algorithms and larger studies, it should be possible to develop a CVF volume method which could be offered as an objective alternative method for users of natural family planning and programmes.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Isolation and characterization of deletion mutants of herpes simplex virus type 1 in the gene encoding immediate-early regulatory protein ICP4.

Using Vero cells transformed with the wild-type gene for ICP4 as the permissive host cell, we isolated herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) mutants containing deletions in both copies of the ICP4 gene. The mutants, d120 and d202, contained deletions of 4.1 and 0.5 kilobases, respectively, in each copy of ICP4. ICP4 mRNA synthesized in d202-infected Vero cells was 0.5 kilobases smaller than that synthesized in cells infected with the wild-type virus. No ICP4 mRNA was detected in d120-infected Vero cells. d120 and d202 specified polypeptides that reacted with ICP4 antiserum and were smaller than the wild-type ICP4 polypeptide by 130 and 30 kilodaltons, respectively. The only other HSV-1 gene products detectable on infection of Vero cells with d120 and d202 were ICP6 (of the early kinetic class of HSV-1 polypeptides), ICP0 (immediate early), ICP22 (immediate early), and ICP27 (immediate early). Immediate-early polypeptides ICP0 and ICP27 were expressed to a higher level in Vero cells infected with an ICP4 temperature-sensitive (ts) mutant (tsB32) at 39 degrees C, indicating immediate-early stimulatory activity associated with the ts ICP4 polypeptide. In addition, the patterns of complementation of d120, d202, and tsB32 in ICP4-transformed cells also demonstrated inhibitory activity associated with the ts form of the ICP4 polypeptide.

Cell Transformation, Viral↗