Biomedical subjects

B Millar

Publications and source records attributed to B Millar.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1996

Creating consensus about nursing outcomes. I. An exploration of focus group methodology.

The aim of this study is to explore a method for achieving consensus about nursing outcomes between patients, nurses and health professionals. Focus group work as a research tool is described and reviewed. Problems of recruiting and facilitating such groups are highlighted. The relationship between focus groups and consensus is discussed. It is concluded that focus group work is not without problems, yet means of incorporating patient views into health services need to be developed.

Administrative Personnel↗

PubMed1996

Creating consensus about nursing outcomes. II. Nursing outcomes as agreed by patients, nurses and other health professionals.

The questions 'what is it that you want from nursing?' and 'how would you know when you have got what you want from nursing?' were put to patients, nurses and other health professionals. The patients identified essential qualities of nurses. Problems within the nursing group are identified. The view of each group on the other's work is discussed. Areas of consensus related to respect, communication, competence, co-operation and context. Indicators or measures of the consensus areas are reported.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗

PubMed1992

An exploration of issues relating to feminism and nurse education.

This paper explores the issue of feminism in relation to nursing and nurse education. As a result of this exploration, the authors suggest there is a need for a move away from traditional patriarchal approaches to nurse education, towards an educational programme based on empowerment principles that maximises the potential of feminine patterns of thinking.

Education, Nursing↗

PubMed1992

Changes in cardiac index and estimated systemic vascular resistance during induction of anaesthesia with thiopentone, methohexitone, propofol and etomidate.

Changes in cardiac index (CI) and estimated systemic vascular resistance (ESVR) were assessed non-invasively using pulsed Doppler ultrasound during induction of anaesthesia. Ninety-six ASA I patients were allocated randomly to one of four groups to receive alfentanil 8 micrograms kg-1 followed by a dose of thiopentone, methohexitone, propofol or etomidate sufficient to obtund the eyelash reflex. CI increased significantly by 8% 1 min after administration of both methohexitone (P < 0.05) and propofol (P < 0.05), returning to pre-induction values thereafter. CI increased after thiopentone but the increase was not statistically significant. There was a significant decrease in CI of 16% after induction with etomidate (P < 0.001). ESVR decreased significantly from pre-induction values by 18% after methohexitone (P < 0.001) and 23% after propofol (P < 0.001). ESVR in the thiopentone group decreased, but this was not statistically significant. ESVR increased significantly by 12% 1 min after induction of anaesthesia with etomidate (P < 0.05) and then decreased towards pre-induction values. The results suggest that the cardiostability of etomidate may not be as complete in all groups of patients as previous studies have suggested.

Blood Flow Velocity↗

PubMed1991

Study of belching ability in antireflux surgery patients and normal volunteers.

The ability to belch was evaluated by a novel test, after gaseous stomach distension to standard volume, in 16 patients after antireflux surgery and nine healthy volunteers. A structured assessment of dyspeptic symptoms was also carried out in both groups. Repeat studies in volunteers showed acceptable reproducibility for the new test of belching capacity (within-subject coefficient of variance 4.5 per cent). After antireflux surgery, patients had lower volume individual belches (median(range) 27.5(0-104) ml in patients versus 76(15-165) ml in volunteers; P less than 0.02) and belched less gas within 1 h of the stimulus than volunteers (median(range) 205(0-1363) ml in patients versus 456(45-818) ml in volunteers; P less than 0.05). Belching frequency was similar in both groups. The incidence and severity of symptoms were unrelated to belched gas volumes.

Adult↗

PubMed1991

Spot-welded wire hooks as seating guides for resin-bonded castings.

A technique is described to assist in accurate positioning of cast metal, resin-bonded prostheses. The method is particularly useful for the recementation of castings but can also be used with new restorations. A piece of rectangular chrome alloy arch wire is annealed and spot-welded to the retainer. The wire is then adapted to lie over the incisal edge of the abutment tooth and forms a locating device during trying in and cementing of the restoration. The wire hook assists in the handling of the casting at chairside and is easily snapped off after cementation, leaving little finishing to be completed. The technique permits access to all of the marginal surfaces at cementation and offers certain advantages over existing alternative techniques.

Cementation↗

PubMed1991

Nitrendipine treatment and blood rheology in patients with sickle cell disease.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Adult↗

PubMed1989

Intensive treatment of multiple myeloma and criteria for complete remission.

50 previously untreated patients with multiple myeloma received two-phase treatment: repeated cycles of 4 day infusion with vincristine, doxorubicin, and methylprednisolone (VAMP) followed by high-dose melphalan (HDM), with autologous bone marrow transplantation where possible. The overall response rate was 74% (37/50), with 25 patients (50%) achieving complete haematological and biochemical remission. These remissions were associated with a good quality of life as measured by performance status, pain grade, and the reversal of humoral immunosuppression. 6 patients died during the VAMP phase and there was 1 death related to HDM. The achievement of complete remission, as defined here, in such a high proportion of patients is exceptional and may represent a useful advance in the management of myeloma.

Adult↗

PubMed1989

A study of the photodegradation of leukotriene B4 by ultraviolet irradiation (UVB, UVA).

In view of the presence of the polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) chemoattractant Leukotriene B4 (LTB4) in the surface scale of the psoriatic lesion and the known therapeutic effect of phototherapy in psoriasis, the photostability of LTB4 was investigated. LTB4 was irradiated with dosages of UVB (290-320 nm) ranging from 100-1500 mJ cm-2 and with dosages of UVA (320-400 nm) ranging from 5-40 J cm-2. Topical application of UVB irradiated LTB4 to the forearm skin of normal volunteers showed a marked reduction in cutaneous erythema, paralleled histologically by reduced transepidermal PMN migration when compared with sites of application of unirradiated and UVA irradiated LTB4. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) demonstrated a dose-dependent photodegradation of LTB4 by UVB irradiation. UVA irradiation produced no such effect. The wavelengths responsible lie within the absorption spectrum of LTB4. In vitro chemotaxis studies, using an under agarose technique, showed a statistically significant reduction in the migration of PMN from both psoriatic and non-psoriatic subjects to the UVB irradiated LTB4 compared with the unirradiated LTB4, whilst UVA irradiated LTB4 produced a normal PMN chemotactic response.

Chemotaxis, Leukocyte↗

PubMedDate not supplied