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Biomedical subjects

B Rush

Publications and source records attributed to B Rush.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Recent trends in the development of alcohol and drug treatment services in Ontario.

This article summarizes the major trends in the development of alcohol and drug treatment services in Ontario since 1979. These trends are contrasted to the objectives of a province-wide Addiction Research Foundation (ARF) community development program designed to establish or expand addiction services within this same time period. Data were obtained from all treatment services in the province by surveys undertaken in 1980, 1983 and 1986. Across the period of analysis, there have been rapid increases in the number of addiction programs, their total cost and the total treatment caseload. Some specific changes have been quite consistent with ARF objectives: a stabilization in the use of hospital beds for addictions treatment, an increase in community-based versus hospital-based treatment resources, an increase in the province-wide capacity for comprehensive client assessment and a larger representation of women in addictions programs. Other ARF objectives have yet to be achieved. In particular, a major increase in nonresidential treatment alternatives and an increase in the proportion of treated cases from special populations such as youth or the elderly are still required. Suggestions are made concerning future program development.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Is the health profile of problem drinkers different from that of other patients?

Health problems presented to the family physician over a 2-year period were compared between a group of 108 problem drinkers and a group of matched control subjects. Although the problem drinkers had a higher prevalence of many types of problems, the major differences occurred for traumatic injury, digestive disorders, and family or social dysfunction. Such problem areas could comprise a brief checklist to aid in the detection of problem-drinking patients. Information presented to the patient concerning the wide range of problems associated with their drinking may also help break through the denial so characteristic of this population.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Higher education: the coping stone of nursing education?

For many years the nursing profession in the United Kingdom has sought ways of improving the education of nurses. The present article explores some of the issues surrounding the recent proposals for an alternative to the long-standing apprenticeship system, namely that of moving basic nurse education into institutions of higher education. In particular, it focuses upon and explores the views of clinical nurse teachers and nurse tutors. In order to provide an historical context, the article begins by outlining the history of nurse education over the last century with reference to the various reports that have been published throughout the period. Before discussing the results of a questionnaire completed by those currently involved in the training and education of nurses, the article also considers the experience of other countries where collegiate education for nurses has been introduced.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1987

A comparison of psychotropic drug use between the general population and clients of health and social service agencies.

The purpose of this research was to study the epidemiology of psychotropic drug use among the general population and to draw comparisons to drug use among clients of medical, mental health, and social services in the same jurisdiction. Results showed considerably higher percentages of users for all drug categories among agency clientele. Age and sex differences in drug use replicated previous research in the general population but were noticeably absent among the clients of local services. Notably, the proportion of long-term daily users of minor tranquilizers in the agency population was about three times that of the general population. However, tranquilizer users in the two populations were similar in many respects. Results of the study are discussed in terms of the need for screening for persons with psychotropic drug problems in health and social services.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Studies on the mechanism of the protective action of 16,16-dimethylPGE2 in carbon tetrachloride induced acute hepatic injury in the rat.

We have previously demonstrated the partial protection of the rat liver by 16,16-dmPGE2 (DMPG) against a number of hepatotoxins including carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). However, it has not been determined whether hepatoprotection by DMPG represents a true "cytoprotective" action or if merely accomplished through inhibition of CCl4 metabolism to reactive, toxic trichoromethyl (CCl3.) free radicals. This report details a series of experiments in which the effects of DMPG on CCl4 metabolism was evaluated in the rat. These data indicate that pretreatment with DMPG may reduce the hepatic concentration of the toxic CCl3. free radicals in CCl4 poisoned rats. Evidence is presented which suggests that this reduction in binding may have been due to a decrease in the rate of CCl4 metabolism. However, DMPG did not affect the hepatic concentration of total microsomal cytochrome P450, the necessary enzyme in this metabolic process. On the other hand, free radical spin trapping experiments indicate that the rate of free radical formation from CCl4 was slowed by treatment. Also, indirect evidence suggests that the metabolism of another cytochrome P450 substrate, phenobarbital, was slowed in DMPG treated rats. We conclude that the rate of CCl4 metabolism may be reduced by pretreatment with DMPG. Furthermore, some measure of hepatic protection might be expected to occur as a result of the reduction in the rate of CCl4 metabolism. However, we are unable to determine if this action was solely responsible for the observed hepatic protection.

16,16-Dimethylprostaglandin E2↗
PubMed1986

The relationships among alcohol availability, alcohol consumption and alcohol-related damage in the Province of Ontario and the State of Michigan 1955-1982.

This study examines the relationships among the relative price of alcohol, per capita alcohol consumption and liver cirrhosis mortality rates over a 28 year period in Ontario and Michigan. A high, positive association between per capita consumption and liver cirrhosis mortality was observed for both jurisdictions. In both areas, changes in the relative price of alcohol were inversely related to changes in consumption and cirrhosis mortality. Although causal inferences from these data must be made with caution, the results are strong enough to suggest that policy initiatives concerning the economic availability of alcohol should consider public health consequences.

Alcohol Drinking↗
PubMed1985

A community-centered alcoholism assessment/treatment service: a descriptive study.

This paper describes socio-demographic, alcohol-related, legal, medical, behavioural and treatment characteristics of 407 patients with problems of alcoholism/drug abuse assessed over a period of three years in a community oriented assessment and treatment program. The results show that patients entering this program represent a cross section of alcoholics in the area. These patients are similar to those entering traditional outpatient and residential facilities on most demographic variables; severity of alcoholism, length of history, and previous treatment experience. However, they are slightly younger and differ significantly from the others on their sources of referral. Over the three year period a significant change has occurred in the relationship between the program and the sources of referral. The implications of these findings for planning comprehensive treatment services for alcoholism are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

Clinical presentation of nonhaemolytic transfusion reactions.

Due to the sophistication of red cell compatibility testing, the majority of transfusion reactions are non-haemolytic in origin. This paper reviews the clinical presentation of these reactions, emphasising that blood transfusion reaction must always be considered in the differential diagnosis when a patient develops unexpected complications during his hospital stay. Fever, allergic reactions, respiratory distress, hypotension and jaundice may all be manifestations of a transfusion reaction.

Fever↗
PubMed1978

Effect of sodium chloride on changing the rate-limiting step in the human placental choline acetyltransferase reaction.

The kinetic constants, Km and Vmax, for the choline acetyltransferase reaction were determined for choline and eight choline analogs under conditions of high (0.3 M) and low (approximately 0.01 M) sodium chloride. At high sodium chloride, the maximal velocities of the different substrates varied over 27-fold, while at low sodium chloride, less than a 5-fold variation was observed. Dead-end inhibition studies using acetylaminocholine as the inhibitor showed that under conditions of high sodium chloride, inhibition changes from noncompetitive to competitive as the reactivity of the substrate decreases. Under conditions of low sodium chloride, acetylaminocholine inhibition is nonlinear and noncompetitive with respect to all substrates tested. These results suggest that increased ionic strength increases the rate of coenzyme A dissociation from the enzyme. The rate-determining step of the reaction can be ternary complex interconversion, coenzyme A release, or both, depending on the ionic strength and the substrate employed.

Choline O-Acetyltransferase↗
PubMed1977

Recurrent venous thrombosis with a "lupus" coagulation inhibitor in the absence of systemic lupus.

A young man presenting with recurrent deep venous thrombosis was found to have a lupus type coagulation inhibitor. He showed neither clinical nor serological evidence of systemic lupus. The value of the Russell viper venom coagulation time in the detection of the inhibitor is demonstrated. Anticoagulant therapy has not caused any bleeding complication despite the presence of the inhibitor.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Quality control in the microbiological serum folate assay.

Low values obtained in the microbiological assay of serum folate are often due to the presence of antibiotics in the test serum. The assay has been modified to permit consistent recognition of the presence and extent of such contamination. Other assay variables have been investigated and a quality control system devised which rapidly identifies the presence of inconsistencies in any one assay batch. The system further allows for the reporting of some clinically useful results from an imperfect assay batch thus reducing the necessity for reassay of some test sera.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗