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Biomedical subjects

A O'Sullivan

Publications and source records attributed to A O'Sullivan.

15 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Influence of concentrate composition and forage type on retail packaged beef quality.

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of type of conserved forage and concentrate composition on the quality of beef held in overwrapped (aerobic) or modified atmosphere packaging under simulated retail display for 17 d. Friesian steers (n = 45) were assigned randomly to one of five dietary treatments: 1) extensively fermented grass silage plus silage concentrate (EFS); 2) restricted fermented grass silage plus silage concentrate (RFS); 3) starch-based concentrate plus wheat straw (SC); 4) nonstarch-based concentrate plus wheat straw (NSC); or 5) zero-grazed perennial ryegrass plus grass concentrate (RYE). Meat quality was determined by measuring color, lipid oxidation (TBARS), alpha-tocopherol concentrations, and fatty acid composition. In aerobically packaged beef, there was a display x diet interactive effect (P < 0.001) on Hunter a* values, with steaks from the EFS group having higher (P < 0.05) a* values than all other dietary groups from d 6 through d 17. Moreover, during the last 12 d of display, beef from the EFS group had the lowest (P < 0.01) proportion of metmyoglobin (display day x diet; P < 0.001). Under aerobic packaging, the SC and NSC groups produced steaks with higher (P < 0.05) TBARS values than RFS, EFS, and RYE groups, which did not differ from each other (display day x diet; P < 0.01). The SC and NSC groups had higher (P < 0.05) oxidation levels than RFS, EFS, and RYE groups, which did not differ from each other. Beef from the EFS group had (P < 0.05) higher concentrations of alpha-tocopherol than from the SC, NSC, and RYE groups. Beef from EFS-fed steers had a higher (P < 0.05) proportion of saturated fatty acids than the SC and NSC groups. It was concluded that the method of grass conservation influenced beef color, whereas concentrate composition did not. Color of aerobically packaged beef was improved by feeding animals silage that had undergone extensive fermentation. Conversely, oxidative stability was decreased by feeding animals starch- and nonstarch-based concentrate diets.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed2002

Grass silage versus maize silage effects on retail packaged beef quality.

The effects of three preslaughter diets on heifer beef quality were investigated. Heifers (n = 45) were divided into three groups and fed for ad libitum consumption either maize silage, grass silage, or a 50:50 mixture of maize silage and grass silage. Meat quality was determined by measuring color, lipid oxidation, alpha-tocopherol levels, and fatty acid composition. Beef from the maize silage group had poorest color stability (P < 0.05), whereas beef from the grass silage diet had best (P < 0.05) color stability. The visual panel least preferred the maize silage group after 2 or more days of display, and lipid oxidation was significantly (P < 0.001) higher in this group compared to the 50:50 maize:grass silage and grass silage groups. There was a significant (P < 0.001) difference in the alpha-tocopherol levels detected in the meat from the three dietary groups. Alpha-tocopherol levels increased in the order: maize silage < 50:50 maize:grass silage < grass silage, at levels of 2.08, 2.95, and 3.84 microg/g meat, respectively. Fatty acid analysis indicated 18:3 was significantly (P < 0.001) lower in the maize silage-fed group than in the maize:grass silage and grass silage groups. However, 18:3 was significantly (P < 0.001) higher in the grass silage group than in the other two groups. There were no significant differences in all other fatty acids among the three dietary groups. It was concluded that beef from grass silage-fed animals had better overall quality in terms of color, lipid oxidation, and alpha-tocopherol levels than beef from maize silage fed animals.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Neuropathological findings in the very old. Results from the first 101 brains of a population-based longitudinal study of dementing disorders.

We report a unique longitudinal epidemiological study of cognitive decline in the elderly population of the city of Cambridge, UK. A population sample of people aged 75 and over was surveyed between 1984-1996 (n = 2,616) and followed 2.4, 6, and 9 years later. CAMDEX diagnostic criteria were used for clinical assessment, and the neuropathological protocol (in 101 cases) was based on the CERAD method, with additional features to allow Braak staging of neurofibrillary pathology. The main findings are of the heterogeneity of lesions to be found in very old populations, and the existence of considerable overlap in the pathologies found in the demented and nondemented. It seems that white matter (ischemic) pallor an amyloid angiopathy, as well as neuritic plaques, neurofibrillary tangles and Lewy body formation are all lesions that increase the likelihood of dementia.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1998

Body mass and body composition after total thyroidectomy for benign goiters.

To date there are no data available as to whether postmenopausal women who undergo total thyroidectomy for benign euthyroid goiter demonstrate changes in body mass or body composition. We prospectively evaluated 8 postmenopausal women (mean age 57 +/- 7; range 48 to 70 years) who underwent total thyroidectomy for benign goiter. All patients were euthyroid preoperatively (serum free thyroxine [FT4] 12.7 +/- 0.6 pmol/L and serum thyrotropin [TSH] 0.98 +/- 0.2 mU/L) and were commenced on adequate thyroxine replacement immediately postoperatively in order to maintain a serum TSH within the normal range (0.5-4 mU/L). Body mass, body composition, and thyroid function were assessed preoperatively, and at 4 and 12 months postoperatively. Body composition was assessed by anthropometry and dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (Lunar DPX-L scanner). Eight healthy postmenopausal women without evidence of thyroid disease matched for age, weight, and estrogen therapy who were followed over the same period were used as controls. All patients were maintained in a euthyroid status throughout the study. No significant changes in body mass or any parameter of body composition were demonstrated at 4 and 12 months postoperatively. Similar findings were recorded in our control group. We conclude that total thyroidectomy in euthyroid postmenopausal women with benign goiter does not result in a significant change in either body mass or body composition if adequate thyroxine replacement is maintained.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Pediatric sun exposure.

The risk of malignant melanoma may double if severe sunburns are experienced during childhood. Because children are exposed to sunlight for the longest period of time before age 21, regular use of sunscreen can reduce a child's lifetime risk of developing skin cancer. Therefore, preventive education is vital for parents of infants, preschool and school-age children, and adolescents. By assessing a child's risk factors, health care providers, teachers, and child-care professionals can incorporate preventive sun-safety education into their practice. This effort needs to occur at the community, state, and national level for widespread preventive sun safety and protection. In collaboration with the Healthy People 2000 project and in compliance with the United States Preventive Service recommendations, health care providers can help reduce the incidence of skin cancers in the American population.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1995

An unusual case of deafness with speech impairment: lesson in diagnosis and management.

Hearing impairment can be the cause of significant disability and handicap. This medico-legal case demonstrates the need for accurate assessment of both the severity and type of hearing loss if the best clinical management is to be provided. In particular, the case identifies the critical role of additional, objective auditory testing when pure tone audiometry, which depends on the subjective response of the individual, is inconsistent or indicates severe hearing impairment.

Audiometry, Evoked Response↗
PubMed1986

Discharge planning for the mentally disabled.

Discharge planning is an idiosyncratic process that depends on each patient's needs and situation. Consequently, each mental health professional plays various roles as the process evolves. The most fundamental and pervasive issue in planning for the discharge and placement of the mentally ill patient is balancing the client's need for stability and security against the need for independence and unrestricted functioning. Although the needs and resources relevant to each individual situation must be analyzed, everyone requires some degree of continuity in his or her relationships and in such fundamental aspects of his or her life such as living arrangements and financial security, in order to function well. Stability and consistency are vital for the mentally disabled person, whose very illness is often characterized by severe difficulties with trusting, forming lasting relationships, and an inability to cope with frustrations and problems. Conversely, stability and consistency can translate into overdependence on others or a restricted view of the world that may contribute to overdependence. The discharge planner must maintain a reasonable degree of stability and consistency without totally extinguishing the spark that encourages the degree of risk taking necessary for a normal existence. The discharge planner will also be forced to deal with other issues such as public reactions to the mentally ill and fiscal constraints. The mentally ill have no real constituency to advocate for them; therefore, the services provided for them are often easy targets of a budget crunch. In addition, residences for the mentally ill are difficult to establish because of public attitudes and fears; often communities resist having one developed in their midst. Consequently, many residences are located in impoverished areas where clients are subjected to innumerable obstacles in attempting to live normal, productive lives. The discharge planner also may struggle with the discouragement of repeatedly placing the same patients. Many patients can manage community life for a limited time only before they decompensate and require read-mission, which starts the discharge planning process all over again. Other patients may learn to manipulate the system by getting readmitted when they want respite from the responsibilities of everyday life in the community. Community placement philosophy dictates that, assuming some measure of psychiatric stability, any time spent in the community as opposed to the hospital is advantageous to the patient. Thus readmission rates are not accurate indicators of success or failure in community placement.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adult↗