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Biomedical subjects

B McGowan

Publications and source records attributed to B McGowan.

18 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

Generic drug utilisation on the General Medical Services (GMS) scheme in 2001.

Expenditure on medicines under the Community Drug Schemes was Euro 674.8 million in 2001, a 27% increase as compared with the year 2000. Prescribing less expensive generic drugs is one method of reducing costs whilst maintaining therapeutic efficacy. In this study the cost and quantity of generic drugs dispensed and the potential savings for GMS prescribing in 2001 that could be made by increasing utilisation of generic drugs was investigated. Twenty two per cent of prescription items were dispensed generically (branded generics (17%) and non-branded generics (5%)) in 2001. This represented approximately 13% of the total ingredient cost of drugs dispensed in that period. Eighteen per cent of prescription items were dispensed as proprietary preparations when a generic equivalent was available. Eleven of the top 30 drugs, of highest cost to the GMS scheme, had a generic equivalent which if substituted could produce savings in the region of Euro 5.65 million. The results of this study highlight the potential for cost savings to be made by generic substitution, facilitating the most efficient use of the limited drugs budget.

Drug Prescriptions↗
PubMed2001

Cost of treating acute myocardial infarction in an Irish teaching hospital.

Recent figures indicate that there are approximately 6,500 patients admitted to hospital following acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in Ireland each year. As hospital admission is frequently the most expensive component of healthcare we determined the costs associated with treatment of AMI in a teaching hospital. The costing evaluation was from the hospital perspective and the strategy used was a micro-costing detailed collection of resources used. The average cost of hospital admission for the treatment of AMI was Pound Sterling 3,976. The average cost per day was calculated at Pound Sterling 501. Approximately 50% of hospital costs were associated with ward costs. Procedures accounted for 35% of costs whereas medications contributed just 7% of total costs.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Late hypotony after cataract extraction due to a scleral fistula: a technique for surgical correction.

The authors report the use of a surgical procedure for the correction of a scleral fistula in a patient with late hypotony after cataract surgery. Trephination of necrotic tissue lining the scleral fistula with a double scleral patch technique was performed. Four months later, the patient's vision had improved to 20/40, with improvement of the macular folds and an intraocular pressure of 10 mm Hg. The authors conclude that the use of a double-patching technique is effective in the repair of scleral fistulas. The technique allows one to avoid more risky repair procedures that involve a greater area of tissue excision.

Aged↗
PubMed1986

Is a male infertility clinic of any use?

Two methods of statistical analysis were used to evaluate the results from an infertility clinic (the couple-months method and Cox regression analysis). The results were in general agreement and validated the couple-months method. The total trying time, sperm motility, sperm density and results of the wife's investigation were all shown to be highly significant prognostic factors. The age of either husband or wife, semen volume, sperm morphology, size of the testes, presence of a varicocele, serum LH and serum testosterone all failed to give significant additional prognostic information. High serum FSH and testis asymmetry both gave weak additional prognostic information. The benefit of attendance at the infertility clinic was evaluated in two ways: firstly by testing whether the event of clinic attendance altered prognosis and secondly by examining the results of a broad range of treatments. The results showed that attendance at the clinic with subsequent treatment did not improve the chance of fertility. The main benefit from clinic attendance was that the couple could be given an accurate prognosis and supportive counseling.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Milkborne outbreak of Mycoplasma mycoides subspecies mycoides infection in a commercial goat dairy.

A commercial goat dairy comprised of about 300 lactating does suddenly began to have a problem with polyarthritis in the kids and clinical mastitis in the does. The problem began 3 to 4 weeks following the introduction of 27 lactating does from a herd with a history of mastitis caused by Mycoplasma mycoides subsp mycoides (Mmm). Over 2 kidding seasons (about 12 months), approximately 170 kids and 70 does died or were euthanatized. Affected kids were 2 to 8 weeks old, had multiple warm swollen joints, body temperature of 40.8 to 41.5 C, marked weight loss, and pneumonia. All were lame and some experienced so much discomfort that they were unable to get up. The predominant necropsy finding was severe fibrinopurulent polyarthritis, but fibrinous pleuritis, fibrinous pericarditis, interstitial pneumonia, and bronchopneumonia also were found in some kids. Culturing of affected joints and of bulk tank milk yielded large numbers of Mmm. The outbreak was terminated by feeding heat-treated colostrum (56 C for 1 hr) and pasteurized milk to kids. Milk from the does was cultured repeatedly; by this procedure, the does shedding Mmm in the milk were identified and culled.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Purification, characterization, and serologic characteristics of Bacteroides nodosus pili and use of a purified pili vaccine in sheep.

Hair-like appendages (pili) were isolated and purified from Bacteroides nodosus, the etiologic agent of foot rot disease in sheep. Microscopic and biochemical analyses indicated that pili from organisms isolated in Australia, New Zealand, and the United States are morphologically and structurally similar. Pili are filamentous assemblies of identical protein subunits. Using specific antisera raised in rabbits against pili, 7 antigenic types were identified. A geographic pattern in the distribution of the pilus serotypes was not evident. In a preliminary vaccine trial, sheep vaccinated with purified pili developed resistance to challenge exposure to B nodosus. Protection was correlated positively with the serum anti-pilus antibody titers.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1981

Epizootiologic study of bluetongue: virologic and serologic results.

Heparinized blood and serum samples were obtained from 1,295 ruminants in herds or flocks with bluetongue virus (BTV) infection in 4 western states. Submissions were from herds or flocks with clinical bluetongue (BT), as well as from animals on premises with no history of BT disease. Insects, including Culicoides variipennis, were collected in areas enzootic for BT disease. Viral isolations were in 10-day-old embryonating chicken eggs that were then adapted to Vero cells for serotyping. Sera were tested from group-specific antibody to BTV by the micro agar gel precipitin (AGP) test. Viral isolations were from cattle (81), sheep (122), goats (9), antelope (2), and C varipennis (5). There were 7 isolates of serotype 120, 114 of serotype 11, 42 of serotype 13, and 56 of serotype 17. In herds or flocks from which BTV was isolated, 51% of cattle, 56% of sheep, 21% of goats, and 52% of antelope had AGP antibodies. Virus was isolated from 43% of the cattle and 23% of the sheep that had no demonstrable evidence of AGP antibodies. Viral isolations were seasonal, occurring from August until December. Approximately 30% of the herds or flocks from which virus was isolated had more than one serotype of virus causing infection.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Epididymitis in rams: effect of vaccination and culling on the clinical incidence of the disease.

Ram epidiymitis caused by Brucella ovis can be effective controlled by an annual program combining rigorous culling clinically affected animals and appropriate vaccination of the remaining animals. Yearling rams purchased or saved as replacement breeders should be immunized at 4-5 months of age by two injections of Br. ovis bacterin spaced 3-6 weeks apart. Annually, approximately one month prior to the breeding season, all rams, replacements and older breeders as well, should be carefully examined by palpation of the scrotal contents. Every ram evidencing an abnormality should be culled as a breeder. All the remaining rams should receive a "booster" injection of Br. ovis bacterin.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Epididymitis in rams: studies on vaccine efficacy.

Simultaneous inoculation with Br. ovis bacterin plus Br. abortus strain 19 produced the greatest immunity. This procedure was not permitted, however, as widespread use of Br. abortus in sheep might pose a hazard to the brucellosis eradication program in cattle. Subsequent work demonstrated that an aluminum hydroxide adsorbed bacterin, administered as two injections spaced 3-6 weeks apart, conferred a significant and acceptable level of immunity.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cost-effectiveness of spironolactone in patients with severe heart failure.

BACKGROUND: Management of heart failure is estimated to consume between 1% and 2% of total healthcare resources with hospital admissions accounting for up to 70% of this. The ability of the aldosterone antagonist spironolactone to reduce hospital admission rates by 35% would be expected to prove cost-effective. AIM: To determine the cost-effectiveness of spironolactone when added to standard therapy in patients with severe chronic heart failure. METHODS: A Markov model of chronic heart failure was constructed using Treeage software. Irish cost data were incorporated into the model. RESULTS: The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) for spironolactone therapy was Euro 466 per life year gained (LYG). Sensitivity analysis demonstrated an ICER range of Euro 75 to Euro 1,136 per LYG. CONCLUSION: This economic evaluation suggests that the addition of spironolactone to standard therapy for patients with severe chronic heart failure is not only safe and effective, but is highly cost-effective in the Irish healthcare setting.

Cost-Benefit Analysis↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cost of treating heart failure in an Irish teaching hospital.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of heart failure is 3 to 20 per 1,000 population, but may exceed 100 per 1,000 in the over 65 age group. Some 1-2% of the total healthcare budget is consumed in the management of heart failure. AIM: As hospital costs account for approximately 70% of this expenditure we determined the cost of treating heart failure in an Irish teaching hospital. METHODS: Cost evaluation was from the hospital perspective using a microcosting detailed collection of resources used. RESULTS: The average cost of a hospital admission for cardiac failure was IR 2,146 Pounds. The average cost per day was IR 193 Pounds. Approximately 75% of hospital costs were associated with ward costs. Medications accounted for 3.5% of total costs. CONCLUSION: The availability of Irish cost data is essential for the assessment of the cost-effectiveness of therapeutic interventions for the treatment of heart failure in our healthcare system.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Self-reported stress and its effects on nurses.

AIM: The primary aim of this study was to examine the relationship between job satisfaction and self-reported stress levels among nurses working in a children's hospital in Belfast. The secondary aim was to identify the main causes of stress. METHOD: The study was descriptive and analytical. A random sample of 72 nurses completed the Nurse Stress Index questionnaire. The data were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The respondents' stress scores were correlated with job satisfaction scores using bivariate correlation and multivariate linear regression. RESULTS: The results of the bivariate analysis showed that a negative relationship existed between the subscales of the NSI and job satisfaction--as stress levels rise, job satisfaction falls. The multivariate analysis revealed that the only significant contribution to job satisfaction scores was stress resulting from a perceived lack of organisational support and involvement. The top scoring variables from each subscale were ranked to reveal the six main causes of stress for the sample. CONCLUSION: Job satisfaction is negatively affected by stress. The main sources of stress were job context variables, such as shortage of resources, time, management's lack of appreciation and initiating change.

Adaptation, Psychological↗