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Biomedical subjects

A Sims

Publications and source records attributed to A Sims.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1991

An investigation of the safety of the blood reinfusion step used with tunneled venous access devices in children with cancer.

Infection has been identified as the most serious potential complication of the indwelling catheter. As a result, the primary nursing goal using the catheters is to prevent infection. Nurses must frequently manipulate the catheters when securing blood specimens and are concerned that this manipulation may serve as a source of infection for the immunocompromised pediatric oncology patient. One particular step in catheter manipulation during blood sampling is blood reinfusion, ie, residual blood in the catheter is withdrawn and set aside while a second sample is collected for laboratory analysis but is subsequently returned to the patient through the catheter. The purpose of this study was to examine this nursing procedure for its potential of contaminating the blood sample that was to be reinfused, or for the potential of reinfusing a sample that contained preexisting pathogens independent of the procedure itself. An experimental design was used with 21 patients randomly assigned to an experimental group (unclean procedure to exaggerate the potential to incur pathogens during the process), and 21 randomly assigned to a control group (usual clean procedure followed with the reinfusion sample). The usual blood sampling procedure was altered for all participants as the typical amount of blood that normally constitutes the reinsertion sample was not reinserted, but was instead used to complete certain microbial analyses. Of the 42 participants, 17 were male and 25 were female; 35 were white and seven were black; 22 were diagnosed with leukemias and 20 with solid tumors. The age range for participants was 2 to 20 years (mean = 9.4 years, SD = 4.8).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

Hypotheses linking neuroses with premature mortality.

The death risk for psychiatric patients has decreased over the last 30 years but still remains higher than that of the general population. The death risk for patients with a diagnosis of neurosis is higher than that for the general population. Previous studies are enlisted to investigate this mortality for socio-economic characteristics, alcohol and drug abuse, psychopathy and accident proneness. Possible psychosomatic aetiology of disease and subsequent death is examined. Psychological theories for premature death are discussed and some recommendations made for future areas of enquiry.

Accident Proneness↗
PubMed1978

Ganser syndrome: the aetiological argument.

In this case history, which shows the clinical features of the Ganser syndrome, there was abundant evidence to support both an organic and an hysterical aetiology. The aetiological dilemma is discussed, and the case illustrates some of the problems of nosology, clinical presentation, and psychopathology that this syndrome raises.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Problems associated with the analysis and interpretation of saliva lithium.

The correlation between serum and saliva lithium levels in patients undergoing lithium prophylaxis therapy is discussed. Although a high correlation can be obtained, there is an unacceptably high individual variation of paired results. Two strategies were used in an attempt to improve the reliability of saliva as a predictor of serum levels. A naturally occurring marker in saliva and serum was used. This showed high correlation but still did not prevent large sporadic differences. Serially paired results in individual patients also showed occasional excessive variation. Although saliva lithium has been used for monitoring when serum assessment is impracticable, it is considered that it is, as yet, an unreliable technique.

Humans↗
PubMed1978

The pattern of mortality in severe neuroses.

Is there an increased relative risk of death in severe neurosis? 1,482 patients from three psychiatric units in different hospitals in Birmingham were followed-up after a mean of 10.9 years. 91 per cent of the sample were traced and 139 patients were found to have died; a highly significant increased mortality for both sexes for all causes of death. Although suicide and accidents contributed disproportionately, particularly in early follow-up, there was still a markedly increased mortality from the combined categories of nervous respiratory and cardiovascular disease, more evenly distributed in time.

Accidents↗
PubMed1977

Folie à quatre.

A case of folie à quatre is described affecting a proband and his wife, sister and brother. The three family members retained their symtoms of paranoid schizophrenia. The wife was not mentally ill and her delusions disappeared in time (folie imposée). Coincidentally, there were several cases of Huntington's chorea amongst her relatives. Different categories of folie à deux are demonstrated in the various family members and relationships.

Adult↗