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Biomedical subjects

C Beasley

Publications and source records attributed to C Beasley.

30 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Olanzapine plasma concentrations and clinical response in acutely ill schizophrenic patients.

Olanzapine is an atypical antipsychotic effective in the treatment of schizophrenic patients. After a 2- to 9-day placebo lead-in, 79 inpatients with schizophrenia according to DSM-III-R criteria were placed on an olanzapine dosage of 10 mg/day or 1 mg/day for up to 6 weeks. Blood samples were obtained weekly during this period. Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses of Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale rating scale data suggested a minimum effective therapeutic concentration of 9 ng/mL. Using an intent-to treat analysis, 45% of the patients with olanzapine plasma concentrations > or = 9.3 ng/mL responded (> or = 20% decrease in BPRS), whereas only 13% of the patients with concentrations < 9.3 ng/mL responded. Use of olanzapine plasma concentrations of > 9 ng/mL as a predictor for treatment response in acutely ill schizophrenic patients is practicable because this therapeutic marker significantly increases the likelihood of a patient responding to olanzapine.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Explaining brain death: a critical feature of the donation process.

To examine how a family's understanding of brain death may affect the decision to donate, an interview study was conducted with the immediate next of kin of 164 medically suitable organ donor candidates. Telephone interviews were conducted with members of both donor and nondonor families 4 to 6 months after the relative's death. Only 61% of the donor and 53% of the nondonor respondents said they had received an explanation of brain death. Few respondents reported that the hospital or organ procurement organization staff used visual aids to clarify or reinforce the information they were given. Next of kin who decided against donation had far less understanding of brain death than did those who decided in favor of it. Before making an organ donation request, healthcare providers must inquire about and address common misunderstandings people have about brain death. Healthcare teams should develop and be trained on a clear protocol for communicating with the families of patients who may be potential organ donors.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Determinants of familial consent to organ donation in the hospital setting.

More than half of the nation's donor potential is lost due either to failure to identify medically suitable potential donors, or to family refusal to donate. While family consent rates typically average around 50% we show that these rates can be substantially improved by incorporating a few simple request process elements that are designed to meet the needs of grieving families. If relevant critical care and OPO staff are trained and empowered to carry out high-quality request procedures, consent rates, and donation overall can increase substantially.

Attitude↗
PubMed1984

A research design to predict required length of psychiatric hospital stay.

It is often an important clinical task to predict how long a given patient will need to be hospitalized, but past research efforts to provide an empirical basis for such predictions have not been highly successful. The authors propose a conceptual model for predicting length of stay that goes beyond previous research; they not only include a range of traditionally employed patient characteristics but also take into account the nature of the treatment goals and the availability of post-hospital treatment resources. The model forms the basis for an objective prediction procedure which will be tested in a large-scale research project on long-term hospital treatment outcome.

Aftercare↗
PubMed1982

Effects on free recall and recognition of transforming visually presented words and pictures into trace or imagery form.

The effects on free recall and recognition of transforming visually presented words and pictures was investigated. The Ss (n = 88) were asked to imagine or trace the words or pictures, and the number of item remembered was measured through free recall or recognition. There was no significant difference in items remembered as a result of tracing or imagining. Significantly more picture stimuli were remembered as opposed to words, and recognition of items was superior to free recall (p less than .01). A significant interaction (p less than .01) indicated that picture stimuli enhanced free recall, but when the method of recollection was recognition there was no difference in performance; words and pictures were remembered equally as well. The results support previous findings and also indicate that it is important to know the method of recollection, as well as the form of the presented stimuli.

Form Perception↗
PubMed1977

Nitrification in the intertidal zone: influence of effluent type and effect of tannin on nitrifiers.

Nitrification by intertidal sediments was measured by using a tide simulator that approximated the cycle of seawater on tidal flats. Sediments were chosen from sites affected by industrial and municipal effluents and pastoral seepage and runoff. The ability of sediments from different sites to nitrify endogenous nitrogen varied markedly. All sites exhibited an initial lag before activity commenced. The duration of this lag and the rate of nitrate production were different at each site. The sediments were also capable of oxidizing NH3-N supplied to them in seawater. This "nitrification potential" was highest at sites receiving nitrogenous effluents (slaughterhouse and sewage), but was also substantial in sediments affected by bark extract effluent and pasture runoff. The lowest potential and the longest lag were exhibited by sediments in an apple cannery effluent area. Enrichment cultures of nitrifying microorganisms were obtained from all sites using NH4+ as a source of energy, but enrichments for nitrite oxidizers were unsuccessful. Concentrated pine bark tannins, similar in origin to those in effluents at the well-nitrifying chipmill site, were tested for toxicity to pure cultures of nitrifying bacteria. Two Nitrobacter strains and one Nitrosomonas strain were unaffected by tannins even at 5 mg/ml. A Nitrosolobus and a Nitrosospira strain were inhibited partially at 5 mg/ml and only slightly or not at all at 1 mg/ml.

Ammonia↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Taking research and development forward.

The funding of research and development in NHS trusts has changed since the Culyer report. This has increased opportunities for nurses to become involved in R&D at different levels. This article explains the distribution of money and makes recommendations for partnerships in R&D.

Humans↗