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Biomedical subjects

B McCormack

Publications and source records attributed to B McCormack.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Polysialic acids: potential in drug delivery.

A number of bacterial polysialic acids were injected intravenously into mice. Half-lives (up to 40 h) in the blood circulation were dependent on the polysialic acid used, increased by deacylation of their phospholipid moiety, decreased with shorter chain derivatives and appeared to be dose independent. A model drug (fluorescein) covalently coupled to a polysialic acid was found to assume the half-life of its carrier. Results suggest that intact or deacylated polysialic acids and shorter chain derivatives can be used to augment the half-lives of drugs, small peptides, proteins and drug delivery systems in the blood circulation, thus prolonging their pharmacological action.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

A case study identifying nursing staffs' perception of the delivery method of nursing care in practice on a particular ward.

The research describes how nursing staff on a general surgical ward in a district general hospital perceived the delivery method of nursing care in practice. The study design was based on ethnographic methods and data were collected by diary keeping and semi-structured interviews. An organizational method based on the principles of primary nursing had been implemented on the ward for 2 years prior to the study commencing. As well as talking in general terms about primary nursing, the nursing staff talked at some length about specific issues related to their practice.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1990

Extracranial repair of cerebrospinal fluid fistulas: technique and results in 37 patients.

Although neurosurgeons have traditionally preferred intracranial repair for the management of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) fistulas, this approach is associated with the complications of a craniotomy, anosmia, and a high incidence of recurrent fistulas. Extracranial repair, on the other hand, produces no central nervous system morbidity, preserves olfaction, and is associated with a low incidence of recurrence. Although there have been several reports of extracranial repair of CSF fistulas by otorhinolaryngologists, this approach has received scant mention in the neurosurgical literature. We report here our experience with 37 patients with CSF rhinorrhea or otorrhea who underwent extracranial repair. The etiology of the fistula was postoperative in 22, traumatic in 6, and spontaneous in 9. The fistulas were repaired using one of four techniques: external ethmoid-sphenoid in 18 patients, transmastoid in 9, transseptosphenoid in 7, and osteoplastic frontal sinusotomy in 3. In 32 of the 37 patients (86%) the fistulas were successfully repaired with the initial procedure. Of the 5 patients requiring a second operation, the fistula was successfully closed in 4 for an overall success rate of 97%. Complications were few and consisted of a transient facial paresis in a patient undergoing transmastoid repair and one death from meningitis. The authors conclude that because of low morbidity and mortality and a high success rate in closing fistulas, extracranial repair is the preferred technique for the operative management of CSF rhinorrhea and otorrhea.

Cerebrospinal Fluid Otorrhea↗
PubMed1989

Setting the baseline parameters for clinical assessment of foot to ground contact using the Musgrave pressure plate system.

The Musgrave Pressure Plate System for the measurement of foot contact patterns comprises two fixed pressure plates constructed from arrays of load cells, interfaced to a BBC computer. Its main advantage is the ability to measure and analyse spatial distributions of contact pressures and their time dynamics, and to do this relatively inexpensively in a clinical setting. Its main potential disadvantage is that it can disrupt the natural gait pattern by the discipline in enforces on the foot placement. The eventual aim of the project of which this study forms the pilot phase, is to develop formal decision rules based on the analysis of a large number of normal subjects for the diagnosis of abnormal foot pathology and the evaluation of therapy, using data collected by a Musgrave system. The objective of this study is to set baseline norms, and to evaluate the system. The analysis is based on 100 normal subjects using selected parameters on foot contact pressure, contact area and time, available from the system. Several stages of the foot contact process are described in terms of the selected parameters. The results show clearly that even with a relatively small subset of the available recorded data on each foot plant, a wide range of descriptive information can be accumulated. Statistically significant differences were found between the right and left feet on most of the parameters considered. However, these differences were based on a large sample and are not large in absolute terms in many instances. Therefore the observed differences may be small compared to differences between normal and abnormal cases.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Anthropometry↗
PubMed1989

Reinforcement of bone cement using metal meshes.

Following on from previous work reported in this journal, a practical system has been developed for in situ fibre reinforcement of bone cement in the hip joint prosthesis. A fibre preform is inserted during the operation, surrounding the metal stem of the prosthesis, forming a composite with the cement. Tests performed on full-scale models of the joint show improvements in fatigue life by more than an order of magnitude when a preform of metal fibres is used; this significantly delays the onset of cement cracking and stem loosening. Initial results reported previously suggest that other fibre materials such as carbon may give even greater improvements. Clinical trials have begun, using a form of the metal mesh.

Bone Cements↗
PubMed1984

Preparing nonretarded young persons to meet mentally retarded adults.

A representative sample of 420, 15- and 16-year-old students in Dublin city participated in a short educational program designed to introduce them to mentally retarded adults. The main feature was a carefully, structured contact session with retarded peers held in the students' school. Various control procedures ascertained that the program had been effective at increasing the students' confidence at meeting retarded people. Moreover, the majority of students voluntarily chose to visit a local mental retardation center, and a proportion of them maintained regular contacts. We argued that students need to be given explicit guidance on how to interact with retarded peers.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

A national survey of young people's perceptions of mental handicap.

Over 1300, 15 and 16-year-old students throughout Ireland, completed a range of questionnaires which covered their past contact with mentally handicapped adults, their perceptions of them, their views on integration within society and their knowledge about the causes of this disability. It was found that only one quarter of the students had ever interacted with a mentally handicapped adult and nearly half of them had never been in their company. There were marked differences between these subgroups in their perceptions of, and attitudes to, mentally handicapped people. Equally striking were the differences between male and female students, although the effects of social background, city versus country and socio-economic status, were less pronounced. The implications for school-based, educational programmes on disability are discussed and areas for further research are highlighted.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Changing young people's perceptions of mentally handicapped adults.

A representative sample of 420, 15- and 16-year old students, participated in a short educational programme about mental handicap; the main feature of which was a well-structured contact session with a group of mentally handicapped adults. This lasted 40 min and took place in the students' school. Various control procedures ascertained that the programme was effective at increasing their confidence in meeting mentally handicapped people and in their knowledge of the causes of mental handicap. Moreover the majority of students voluntarily visited a local mental handicap centre and a proportion maintained regular contact. These findings were replicated in a second study involving a further 368 students but this time the programme was presented by teachers and/or personnel from a local mental handicap service. The salient features of the contact sessions are discussed and directions for future research noted, particularly explicit guidance for adolescents on interacting with atypical peers.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

How to promote quality of care and preserve patient autonomy.

This article explores the relationship between the provision of a quality service and the promotion of patient autonomy. The key issue of meeting patients' actual needs while maintaining their self-worth within a budget-conscious environment is examined.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Role in one.

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Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Caught in the act.

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Aged↗