PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

C Huff

Publications and source records attributed to C Huff.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Cooperative learning: a model for teaching.

Cooperative learning provides a socially and intellectually stimulating model for the instruction of nursing students. It is one method of encouraging students to take responsibility for their own learning. Students are often able to explain a concept to another student in a unique way not used by faculty. This model harnesses and directs that student input in a constructive manner to increase achievement and accountability for all involved. Faculty must continue to examine how nursing is taught. The world is changing far too rapidly to do "business as usual." Cooperative learning is one strategy that can be used to motivate students to take active and responsible roles in their learning.

Cooperative Behavior↗
PubMed1996

Chronic herpes gestationis and antiphospholipid antibody syndrome successfully treated with cyclophosphamide.

Herpes gestationis shares many features with other bullous diseases, especially bullous pemphigoid. Treatments of benefit in bullous pemphigoid may also be effective for herpes gestationis. Cyclophosphamide, azathioprine, and other immunosuppressive agents have been used successfully in refractory cases of bullous pemphigoid. We describe a patient with severe and persistent herpes gestationis in the postpartum period and the antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, both of which were refractory to high-dose corticosteroid therapy. Treatment with pulsed-dose intravenous cyclophosphamide produced an excellent clinical response.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Antiepiligrin cicatricial pemphigoid. A subepithelial bullous disorder.

BACKGROUND: Epiligrin is a glycoprotein complex deposited in extracellular matrix by cultured human keratinocytes that serves as the major integrin ligand of these cells. In human skin, epiligrin is found at the interface of the lamina lucida and lamina densa in epidermal basement membrane where it is believed to be associated with anchoring filaments and plays an important role in keratinocyte adhesion. METHODS AND RESULTS: We have identified six patients with a subepithelial bullous disorder of mucous membranes and skin who have IgG anti-basement membrane autoantibodies that immunoprecipitate epiligrin from human keratinocyte extracts and culture media. These patients' IgG autoantibodies also bind epiligrin in human keratinocyte extracellular matrix and epidermal basement membrane as determined by immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy. Studies of 10 patients who are clinically indistinguishable from subjects with anti-epiligrin autoantibodies (ie, cicatricial pemphigoid patients) found that while seven had anti-basement membrane autoantibodies, the latter are directed exclusively against a region of epidermal basement membrane that does not contain epiligrin, are present in low titer (ie, < or = 1:10), do not react with keratinocyte extracellular matrix, and do not bind epiligrin (or any other specific antigen) in immunoprecipitation studies of human keratinocyte extracts or media. Antiepiligrin autoantibodies were also not detected in studies of 36 additional patients with bullous diseases or six normal volunteers. CONCLUSIONS: Cicatricial pemphigoid is a disease phenotype in which patients' autoantibodies may target different constituents of epidermal basement membrane. Antiepiligrin autoantibodies are a specific immunologic marker for a group of patients with a disease entity that we propose to designate antiepiligrin cicatricial pemphigoid.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Persistence of varicella-zoster virus DNA in blood mononuclear cells of patients with varicella or zoster.

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) DNA was detectable by in-situ hybridization in blood mononuclear cells (MNCs) of patients with varicella or zoster for 2-56 days after the onset of a rash. VZV DNA was present in many MNCs from one acute varicella patient 2 days after the onset of the rash and was rarely found in MNCs during acute zoster, convalescent zoster, and convalescent varicella. The morphology of MNCs containing VZV was heterogenous, although most viral-DNA-containing MNCs were large monocytoid cells. Serial examination of blood MNCs from one adult with varicella revealed VZV DNA up until 8 weeks, but not 16 weeks, after the appearance of the rash; parallel studies in four zoster patients showed VZV DNA up until 3 weeks, but not later than 7 weeks after the appearance of the rash. These results indicate that MNCs become infected with VZV during the primary encounter with VZV (varicella) and during reactivation (zoster) and that infection continues for weeks after the onset of the skin rash. Furthermore, the detection of VZV DNA in blood MNCs of uncomplicated zoster patients coincides with the period during which these patients experience pain.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Photosensitive recurrent erythema multiforme.

A case report of photosensitive recurrent erythema multiforme occurring in a 31-year-old man is presented herein. Lesions clinically and histologically resembling erythema multiforme were reproduced with light testing. The patient's lesions appeared to respond to both oral prednisone and hydroxychloroquine.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

The family continuity of care contract.

Continuity of care has been defined as a contract between a patient and physician for medical care. This study looks at continuity of care in a community family practice residency program before and after office contact has been made with at least one member of the family by the assigned physician. It is assumed that during such a visit a contract for care of the family is made. Using this premise, continuity of care increased significantly when the different resident levels and faculty were compared over a 2.5-month period. It seems reasonable to measure the continuity of care provided an assigned family only after a contract has been made. This contract should be accomplished in an initial intake interview or during the initial office contact with the assigned physician.

Continuity of Patient Care↗
PubMed1982

Depression in diagnostic subtypes of delinquent boys.

Eighteen percent of the 120 delinquent boys in a training school were found to be depressed when DSM III criteria for Major Depressive Disorder were utilitzed. Contrary to expectations, the prevalence of depression was not significantly more frequent among socialized, undersocialized, aggressive or nonaggressive subtypes. A comparison of depressive symptomatology among the depressed and nondepressed delinquents revealed that psychomotor agitation was not significantly different in the two groups. Over one-third of all parents were depressed and the authors suggest that this could be a contributory factor in the development of delinquency.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1976

Hemoglobin Jackson, alpha 127 (H10) Lys replaced by Asn.

A new hemoglobin mutant was detected as a fast-moving variant on cellulose acetate electrophoresis at pH 8.4. The mutation is in the alpha-chain at position 127, where lysine is substituted by asparagine. This is an external residue, and mutation at this site does not lead to any altered physiologic function of the hemoglobin.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Celiac disease: helping families adapt.

Lifelong dietary compliance prevents the long-term effects associated with celiac disease. However, this simple solution, diet, has many long-reaching effects on the children affected with celiac disease and their families. Assisting families in coping with this chronic illness is necessary for children and families to develop a sense of control. An overview of celiac disease is presented through the use of a case study. Guidelines are given to enable the healthcare provider to understand and help families through the process of adapting to a child with a chronic illness. Recommendations for nutritional management with helpful suggestions related to making celiac disease an everyday part of family life are discussed.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Human sperm bioassay has potential in evaluating the quality of cumulus-oocyte complexes.

Human sperm bioassay is routinely used as a quality control check for the culture media. This is one of the three bioassays chosen by the College of American Pathologists (CAP) for interlaboratory proficiency testing to assess the standards of in vitro fertilization (IVF) and andrology laboratories. This study utilized sperm bioassay to assess the quality of cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) retrieved in IVF procedures COCs, harvested from the female partner of IVF couples, undergoing identical ovarian stimulation protocols, were individually inseminated with the sperm of the corresponding male partner. Sperm motility in sperm-COC cocultures were compared. Cocultures were established by inseminating the 103 COCs, retrieved from 18 IVF couples with 1 x 10(5) to 2 x 10(5) sperm of the corresponding male partners of the couples. In all 18 cases, the sperm were prepared identically using the Percoll wash method. The cocultures were maintained for 48 h but the oocytes were removed immediately after the fertilization check (approximately 16 h). The motility of sperm in the cocultures and in the insemination stocks were noted and 17 of 18 sperm stocks used for insemination had similar high preinsemination motility (90.2 +/- 5.0%). At 48 h the sperm motility had significantly decreased in the cocultures compared to the insemination stocks; 52.7 +/- 19.9% versus 67.2 +/- 10.4%. There was no difference in the motility among the small, medium, and large COCs (56.4 +/- 24.6%, 52.5 +/- 17.9%, and 50.8 +/- 20.9%, respectively). In 45% of IVF cases, the motility in cocultures varied widely, falling below as well as above that of their corresponding insemination stocks. Furthermore, the sperm motility varied among the cocultures in both pregnant and nonpregnant patients but the extent of variation appears to be greater in the latter. The inter-COC coculture sperm motility variation most likely is due to the differences in the quality of cumulus-oocyte complexes.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Fractions of Percoll eliminated sperm: increased sperm yield in percoll wash.

Sperm preparation by Percoll is one of the most widely used techniques, but it has the disadvantage of producing a low final yield of motile sperm. This study compared the quality of Percoll-eliminated sperm with that of Percoll recovered sperm to determine if the profile of the Percoll preparation could be improved. Semen specimens were fractionated by discontinuous Percoll gradient column. This resulted in 4 sperm fractions: sperm retained in the semen (SRS), sperm clumped at the interface of 40 and 80% Percoll (SCI), sperm scattered in the column (SSC), and sperm-forming pellet, called Percoll-recovered sperm (PRS). The sperm fractions were evaluated for count, motility, viability, vitality, and morphology. The SRS exhibited the lowest motility, viability, and vitality (40, 68, and 64%, respectively), which were significantly different from those of SCI, SSC, and PRS. The motility, viability, and vitality differences between SSC and PRS did not reach a statistically significant level. Good motility (grades a and b) was found in SSC (73%) when compared with that of PRS (82%). The lower part of SSC and PRS exhibited identical sperm morphology. The Percoll sperm recovery was 18%, but if SSC is combined with PRS, the total recovery becomes 40%. These data suggest that the SSC fraction, particularly the lower part, which maintains the physical contact with the PRS, can be pooled together to increase the final sperm yield without compromising the quality of the sperm to be used for insemination.

Cell Survival↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Assessment of the relationship of sperm morphology with seminal and other clinical conditions of semen donors.

The occurrence of abnormal forms of spermatozoa in human semen is quite common. According to WHO, semen is considered normal even if it contains 50% morphologically abnormal spermatozoa. This study assessed whether the sperm morphology maintains any relation with the relevant clinical conditions of the semen donor. One hundred samples representing normal and different types of male factor etiologies underwent semen and morphological analysis. Clinical information such as race, age, weight, profession, medication, medical history, and smoking habit of the semen contributors were recorded. The influence of seminal and clinical features on sperm morphology was evaluated with multiple regression analysis. Head abnormalities were more common than tail abnormalities. Acrosomal defects and coiled tails were the most prevalent head and tail abnormalities, respectively. Regression analysis failed to confirm any strong association between sperm morphology and other seminal parameters. Accessory gland-related seminal parameters such as viscosity, volume, pH, and liquefaction showed the least association with the morphological variability. Sperm morphology also showed poor correlation with race, age, weight, smoking habit, and work environment.

Acrosome↗