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Biomedical subjects

C Knight

Publications and source records attributed to C Knight.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

The impact of a client's diagnosis of AIDS on social workers' clinical judgements: an experimental study.

This article reports the findings and implications of a study in which the effect of the AIDS diagnosis, alone and in interaction with a client's race, gender and sexual orientation, on social workers' clinical assessments was determined. The study utilized a constructed case history in which all information about the client was held constant except for his or her race (African-American or white), gender, sexual orientation and terminal diagnosis (AIDS or heart condition). Licensed social workers in one state were randomly selected and sent one case history as well as a questionnaire which required them to provide clinical assessments of the hypothetical client as well as information about themselves and their evaluations of their ability to be helpful to the client. Results indicate that respondents believed that a variety of treatment options were necessary if the client they had read about had AIDS. Further, they reported feeling uncomfortable and ill-prepared to work with such a client. The interaction effects of the AIDS diagnosis and the client's race, gender, and sexual orientation also influenced several dependent measures.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1995

From antianginal drugs to myocardial cytoprotective agents.

The existing major classes of antianginal drugs improve quality of life in patients with coronary artery disease, but mortality in these patients remains unacceptably high. In order to limit the complications of the disease, it is vital to limit myocyte loss. Potentially, this can be achieved not only by prophylaxis, but also by protection, against ischemia. Any therapy that increases myocardial resistance to ischemia will protect against cell death and prolong the life of the myocyte, and possibly the patient. The mechanisms of cell damage during ischemia, and possible therapeutic interventions, are discussed.

Heart↗
PubMed1995

The vicious circle of ischemic left ventricular dysfunction.

Myocardial ischemia tends to be self-propagating, and minor events such as plaque rupture can lead to the catastrophic sequelae of myocardial infarction and death. The biology of the endothelium and the cardiac myocyte is crucial to the development of these vicious circles. The abnormal responses of the endothelial cell in atherosclerosis tend to provoke and propagate ischemia, and because of the limited metabolic reserve of the myocyte, even short periods of ischemia can lead to left ventricular dysfunction and arrhythmias. This article examines the clinical implications of the disordered biology of the endothelial cell and the myocyte that is the basis for ischemic left ventricular dysfunction.

Coronary Vessels↗
PubMed1995

Potassium channel openers: clinical applications in ischemic heart disease--overview of clinical efficacy of nicorandil.

Nicorandil is a balanced arterial and venodilator that may also possess cardioprotective properties via its activation of ATP-sensitive potassium channels. It has a number of beneficial hemodynamic effects and has been shown to be effective in treating angina with similar efficacy as the currently available antianginal agents. In addition, it may have useful effects in unstable and variant angina. In this review we examine the hemodynamic effects of nicorandil and discuss the currently available data on its clinical efficacy, both in isolation and in comparison with other agents.

Angina Pectoris↗
PubMed1995

Detection of ambulatory ischaemia is not of practical clinical value in the routine management of patients with stable angina. A long-term follow-up study.

It has been reported that medically treated patients with stable angina and positive exercise test for ischaemia have an adverse 1-2 year outlook if they are shown also to have transient, and predominantly silent, ischaemic episodes detected by ambulatory ST segment monitoring during their daily activities: it has been suggested that this investigation could be used to identify patients more likely to benefit from early investigation and treatment. We assessed the long-term (up to 65 months) prognostic significance of transient ischaemic episodes during daily activities in 172 patients routinely attending cardiac outpatients with medically treated stable angina who had undergone exercise testing and 48 h of ambulatory ST segment monitoring between February 1988 and August 1989 for this purpose. A positive exercise test for ischaemia was not a prerequisite for inclusion. One hundred and four patients (60.5%) had a positive exercise test for ischaemia and 72 (42%) had transient ischaemia during daily activities (63 had both tests positive). Over a median 50-month follow-up period 54 patients suffered at least one cardiac event (primary event: cardiac death n = 7; non-fatal myocardial infarction n = 11; unstable angina n = 18; elective CABG/PTCA n = 18). Two further patients suffered non-cardiac death. Cardiac events, either objective (cardiac death or non-fatal myocardial infarction) or subjective (unstable angina or revascularisation) were no more likely to occur in those with transient ischaemia during daily life when compared with those without, at follow-up times up to 65 months.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1995

The Trent Regional Day Case Commission. An initiative to investigate the constraints to the extension of the use of day surgery.

In 1989, Trent Regional Health Authority set up a Commission to enquire into the organization of day case surgery and encourage its use. Improved methods for measuring and comparing day surgical activity were developed using routine data sources. These revealed even greater variation between hospitals and specialties in the amount of day surgery performed than did the usual analyses. Arrangements for day surgery differed considerably between specialties. Few theatres, beds, or surgeons' sessions were dedicated to day surgery, but general surgery and gynaecology used dedicated facilities more than other specialties such as ENT and ophthalmology. The Commission visited each hospital and found that day case facilities, organization and resources were poor in many of them. It was able to make specific recommendations for improvements. Day case surgery increased substantially over the period that the Commission operated, most hospitals reported that it had influenced changes in day surgery and that it had been useful, especially for local managers. Schemes to increase day surgery were funded. Highlights two elements for managing change: the need for good information about a problem, and the need to extend ownership of the issue throughout the organization.

Ambulatory Surgical Procedures↗
PubMed1995

Emergency coronary artery stenting for coronary dissection complicating diagnostic cardiac catheterisation.

Dissection of a coronary artery is a recognised and significant complication of diagnostic coronary angiography that often requires emergency coronary artery bypass grafting. A coronary stent was used to treat this complication. This technique has potential advantages in terms of speed of reperfusion and availability in centres performing diagnostic angiography without surgical cover on site.

Cardiac Catheterization↗
PubMed1994

Collateral growth between left internal mammary and left anterior descending coronary arteries following coronary artery bypass surgery.

A case is described in which new collateral vessels grew between the left internal mammary artery and the left anterior descending coronary artery following coronary artery bypass surgery. Collateralization of the coronary arteries by extra-cardiac arteries has not been previously described following bypass surgery and may have implications for the mechanisms of angiogenesis.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Initial experience of a new linear everting falloposcopy system in comparison with hysterosalpingography.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the endolumenal portion of the fallopian tube from ostium to fimbria using a specially designed linear everting catheter and microendoscope. The study compared falloposcopy results with those obtained with hysterosalpingography (HSG) in the same patients and explored the system's ability to classify internal tubal conditions. DESIGN: A prospective study of a new diagnostic technique, falloposcopy, versus conventional means of evaluating tubal status. SETTING: A tertiary university infertility center. PATIENTS: Eighteen infertile patients with a previous history of infertility of at least 2 years duration. INTERVENTION: Diagnostic falloposcopy was performed on a total of 31 tubes. RESULTS: Although the results of HSG and falloposcopy were in agreement in 19 cases, falloposcopy findings were at significant variance with HSG in 12 cases (40%). Seventeen of the tubes visualized by falloposcopy were considered to be normal, 10 showed mild disease, and 4 were severely damaged. CONCLUSION: Falloposcopy using the linear everting catheter is rapid and atraumatic. It provides more complete information concerning tubal status than HSG and as such constitutes an important advance in diagnosis and therapy planning.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Transcervical access and intra-luminal imaging of the fallopian tube in the non-anaesthetized patient; preliminary results using a new technique for fallopian access.

A study was performed to evaluate a new transcervical, Fallopian tube access system for use in falloposcopy procedures without the need for conventional hysteroscopy or uterine distension. Visualization was accomplished by the use of a 0.5 mm falloposcope which was delivered to the Fallopian tube by a new linear everting catheter. The linear everting catheter allows access to the Fallopian tube by means of a flexible, tubular rolling membrane which can safely negotiate the tortuous anatomy from the ostium to the ampulla. Concurrent laparoscopy was performed solely for supervision purposes and not for tubal manipulations in 13 Fallopian tube access procedures in 10 patients. The ostia were visualized in 12 cases and the Fallopian tube was accessed in all 12 without complications. As a precursor for future gamete and embryo transfer procedures, intra-tubal insemination was performed by visualizing the ostia, accessing the Fallopian tubes, and obtaining successful isthmic-ampullary, intra-luminal images.

Catheterization↗
PubMed1992

Effectiveness of a preoperative teaching programme for cataract patients.

Shortened hospital stays have necessitated examination of alternative approaches for pre and postoperative teaching. An investigation of one alternative became a study in which a home care preoperative teaching programme for older adults undergoing cataract extractions with lens implants was implemented and evaluated. The findings indicated that the teaching programme was effective and resulted in positive benefits.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

The diabetic foot: magnetic resonance imaging evaluation.

Fourteen diabetic patients with suspected foot infection and/or neuropathic joint (Charcot Joint) were evaluated with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in an attempt to assess the extent of the infection and also to distinguish infection from the changes seen with neuroarthropathy. The majority of patients with infection had more than one site of involvement and the following diagnoses were made by MRI evaluation: osteomyelitis (n = 8), abscess (n = 7), neuropathic joint (n = 5), septic arthritis (n = 4), and tenosynovitis (n = 4). Clinical or surgical/pathological confirmation of the MRI diagnoses was obtained in all but nine sites of infection or cases of neuropathic joint. If the two diagnostic categories of septic arthritis and tenosynovitis are excluded, all but four of the MRI diagnoses were confirmed. A distinctive pattern for neuroarthropathy was identified in five cases, consisting of low signal intensity on T1- and T2-weighted images within the bone marrow space adjacent to the involved joint. We conclude that MRI is a valuable adjunct in the evaluation of the diabetic foot, and that it provides accurate information regarding the presence and extent of infection in this subset of patients. MRI has proven particularly helpful in differentiating neuroarthropathy from osteomyelitis.

Abscess↗
PubMed1990

Process issues in consultancy.

A piece of short term consultancy work in a school for the Mentally Handicapped is described from the perspective of both the consultants and the consultees with particular reference to the process issues involved. Reasons for the high levels of stress, experienced in the exercise are explored by an examination of the contributory factors within the school and the consultancy process itself. As well as a theoretical discussion questions of practical management are considered.

Adolescent↗