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Biomedical subjects

A Sprague

Publications and source records attributed to A Sprague.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

An automated computer system to support ultra high throughput SNP genotyping.

Celera Genomics has constructed an automated computer system to support ultra high-throughput SNP genotyping that satisfies the increasing demand that disease association studies are placing on current genotyping facilities. This system consists of the seamless integration of target SNP selection, automated oligo design, in silico assay quality validation, laboratory management of samples, reagents and plates, automated allele calling, optional manual review of autocalls, regular status reports, and linkage disequilibrium analysis. Celera has proven the system by generating over 2.5 million genotypes from more than 10,000 SNPs, and is approaching the target capacity of over 10,000 genotypes per machine per hour using limited human intervention with state of the art laboratory hardware.

Automation↗

Tension pneumocephalus: a case report and literature review.

Following a bifrontal craniotomy with frontal sinus involvement, a 64-year-old woman developed cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhoea. At a second operation the skull base dural defect was repaired from within the anterior cranial fossa. Ten days later, the patient developed signs and symptoms of raised intracranial pressure and mass effect. Following radiological investigation, the diagnosis of tension pneumocephalus was made and confirmed at the time of decompression. Within 24 h air had re-accumulated under pressure and concurrently an ongoing CSF leak, which until then had been subclinical, became apparent. Definitive repair of the fistula was performed via a frontal sinus approach and the patient made a total recovery. The relationship between CSF leak and delayed onset tension pneumocephalus is discussed, along with other significant issues regarding the diagnosis and management of this uncommon but dangerous condition. Copyright 1999 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.

Journal Article↗

Evaluation of a fetal monitoring education program.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of a fetal monitoring education program in increasing nurses' knowledge and clinical skills. DESIGN: Multicenter randomized control trial. SETTING: Twelve hospitals in eastern Ontario, Canada. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred nine volunteer registered nurses randomly assigned, within each hospital, to an experimental (n = 47) or control (n = 62) group. Ninety-six nurses (40 in the experimental group and 56 in the control group) completed the 6-month follow-up (88% retention). INTERVENTIONS: The experimental group participated in a 1-day fetal monitoring workshop and a review session 6 months later. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Performance on a 45-item knowledge test and a 25-item skills checklist. The passing score was at least 75% correct on each test. RESULTS: The percentage of nurses in the experimental group passing both the knowledge and the clinical skills tests after the workshop was significantly higher (p < 0.01) than that of the nurses in the control group: 68.1% versus 6.5%, respectively. A large difference between the groups remained at the 6-month follow-up (experimental, 45%; control, 6.5%). The performance of the nurses in the experimental group improved to an 85% pass rate after they attended the 6-month review session. CONCLUSION: This comprehensive, research-based program is effective in increasing fetal monitoring knowledge and clinical skills.

Analysis of Variance↗

Post-war fertility and female labour force participation rates.

"This paper provides an explanation for the change in fertility and female labour supply over the post-war period [in England and Wales]. A model of fertility and labour force participation is outlined and estimated over the period 1953-82 for six age groups of women. The most significant factors to influence fertility and participation are found to be male and female earnings and education. Interest rates, number of children and the state of the labour market are also important."

Age Factors↗

Charting in record time.

Nurses working in intrapartum settings have many responsibilities to ensure a safe and satisfying birth experience for the families in their care. Paperwork, while essential, often takes time away from providing supportive care for laboring women and their families. In striking a balance between responsibilities and obligations, nurses must play an active role in designing a charting system that allows essential and important data to be recorded in the least amount of time.

Adult↗