PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

C Munro

Publications and source records attributed to C Munro.

54 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

Practice, problems and compliance with postural drainage: a survey of chronic sputum producers.

Fifty outpatients with chronic respiratory disease, who had previously been requested to perform regular postural drainage, were asked to complete a questionnaire designed to assess their usual practice of postural drainage, their impression of its value and their problems and compliance with it. The group performed a median of one session of postural drainage lasting 15 minutes daily, increasing to two sessions lasting nearly 40 minutes daily during exacerbations of chest symptoms. Seventeen patients had difficulty finding time for postural drainage, 15 found it distasteful and in 17 postural drainage caused discomfort or pain. Twenty-seven patients were judged to be performing inadequate postural drainage, despite individual initial instruction and regular follow-up in a respiratory outpatient clinic. Other diverse reasons for poor compliance revealed by the survey are discussed and recommendations made to encourage improved compliance.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Discrimination of human macrophages and dendritic cells by means of monoclonal antibodies.

Two monoclonal antibodies (MoAb), RFD1 and RFD7, have been used to investigate whether human macrophages and dendritic cells represent phenotypically distinct cell types. RFD7 recognizes a 77 kd antigen, and is specific for acid phosphatase positive tissue macrophages, while RFD1 recognizes a unique Class II antigen, which is associated with dendritic cells. With immunohistological/cytological methods it was found that neither of these reagents reacted with granulocytes, monocytes, or lymphocytes, with the exception that a small proportion (less than 20%) of B cells were stained with RFD1. In tissues, RFD7 reacted with mature macrophages only and did not stain Langerhans cells in the skin or the interdigitating (dendritic) cells of the T-cell zones of lymphoid tissue and the thymic medulla. Conversely, RFD1 appeared specific for the interdigitating (dendritic) cells and did not react with macrophage populations identified morphologically, geographically, and histochemically in any tissue studied. When peripheral blood monocytes (RFD1-, RFD7-) were matured in vitro, two distinct populations of RFD1+ RFD7- and RFD7+ RFD1- cells emerged. It is concluded that in normal tissues these two reagents identify phenotypic differences between macrophages and dendritic cells that may have functional significance.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1985

Urinary hormone levels at the time of ovulation and implantation.

Daily early morning urine samples were collected from women receiving donor artificial insemination and were evaluated for estrone conjugates, pregnanediol-3-glucuronide, and human chorionic gonadotropin. All hormone concentrations in urine were indexed by creatinine levels and expressed as the concentration of hormone per milligram creatinine. Composite profiles of 23 women who conceived normal full-term pregnancies were compared with composite profiles obtained from 11 of the same women during nonconception cycles. The endocrine profiles of seven pregnancies that spontaneously aborted and two ectopic pregnancies were also evaluated retrospectively. The combined application of these three urinary hormone indices provides a practical approach for prospective monitoring of the major hormone dynamics during ovulation and implantation and during relatively infrequent events such as spontaneous abortion and ectopic pregnancy. The rise of estrone conjugates which precedes detectable increases of urinary human chorionic gonadotropin at the time of implantation appears to be an early indicator of implantation and may prove to be the best method for detection of occult pregnancy. This method is also suitable for monitoring early pregnancy when exogenous gonadotropins have been employed, as in embryo transfer following in vitro fertilization.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗
PubMed1984

Development of a microtitre plate enzyme immunoassay for the determination of progesterone.

A rapid, solid-phase microtitre plate enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for progesterone is described using progesterone 3-O-carboxymethyloxime-horseradish peroxidase as the label and an antiserum raised in rabbits to a progesterone 11 alpha-hemisuccinyl-bovine serum albumin immunogen. A competitive reaction was used with a reaction time of 2 h. Antibody-bound and free steroid were separated in a simple washing step of the antibody-adsorbed well surface. 2,2'-Azino-di-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline sulphonic acid) diammonium salt was used as the substrate with a reaction time of 1 h. A lower limit of sensitivity of 0.25 pg/well was obtained with the response being linear (logit/log) through 1000 pg/well. Results obtained by EIA and radioimmunoassay in several species gave excellent agreement (r = 0.98). This assay system allows accurate determination of progesterone in plasma with good specificity, precision and accuracy, and is suitable for the rapid assessment of luteal function and reproductive status in both clinical and research situations in a wide variety of species.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Content and process of general practice. Preliminary report.

A method is described for the collection of information on the content and process of general practice. During their two-week clinical tutorial attachments to Queensland general practitioners, fifth year medical students record information about patients seen: a preliminary analysis of more than 50,000 patient contacts in three years is presented.

Australia↗
PubMed1983

Ovarian and endocrine responses in the cat after coitus.

LH release leading to ovulation was induced in 17 of 29 oestrous periods. The time of ovulation after coitus was determined by histological examination or by observation at laparotomy of ovaries in situ. Histological methods revealed that ovulation was complete in most follicles (9 of 13) at 32 h post coitum and in all follicles that were involved in the ovulatory process by 36 h. When laparotomy was used, no signs of preovulatory change were noted at the first observation time, 22 h post coitum, but in 4 cycles in which the entire process of ovulation was observed, the ovulatory process occurred between 23 and 28 h (3 follicles), 23 and 27 h (2 follicles), 25 and 28 h (3 follicles), and 25 and 29 h (3 follicles) post coitum. The first ovulatory process noted was complete at 25 h post coitum. In cats, LH release continued over a 16-h period before returning to baseline (long surge), values being 616 +/- 180 ng/ml at 1/2 h and 941 +/- 154 ng/ml at 2 h post coitum. In 6 cats the LH release pattern was limited to a 4-h period (short surge), values being 537 +/- 218 ng/ml at 1/2 h and 353 +/- 245 ng/ml plasma at 2 h and basal (49 +/- 18 ng/ml) by 4 h post coitum. Decreased secretion of oestrogen by follicles in animals undergoing ovulation was first observed at 16 h post coitum. It is concluded that coitus induces LH release within minutes in the cat and that ovulation begins about 24 h later and finishes by about 32 h post coitum. Only one coital input can cause LH release for as long as 16-20 h although shorter periods of LH release (4 h or less) can result in ovulation.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Patient characteristics negatively stereotyped by doctors.

A variety of studies demonstrate the existence of prejudice in the manner and content of health care delivery. Alcoholics, attempted suicides, drug addicts, prostitutes, the mentally retarded or mentally ill, the aged and women have been found to receive less adequate health care. Previous studies have identified manifestations of prejudice in health care delivery but have generally failed to determine the prevalence of negative stereotypes in a sample comprising a cross section of medical practitioners. This study reviews the negative patient stereotypes reported by 2421 Victorian (Australia) and Michigan (U.S.A.) doctors. The characteristics of patients so stereotyped are found to be remarkably consistent. The most commonly held negative stereotypes (patients who abuse alcohol, unhygienic patients, abusive patients, substance abusers and those with minor mental disorders) appear to be determined by the social values which prevail in our society. Many negative stereotypes appear to reflect a response to patients who deviate from the sick role. Other stereotypes may involve reactions to patients or to the types of problems which raise important therapeutic dilemmas.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Patient characteristics that elicit negative responses from family physicians.

Responding anonymously to a questionnaire asking them to list medical conditions and social characteristics of patients that evoked negative responses, 439 family physicians specified 1,846 medical conditions and 1,519 social characteristics. Of the medical conditions, the largest category (60 percent) represented conditions for which medical treatment offered little or no likelihood of cure or alleviation. Of the social characteristics, the largest category (33 percent) involved behavior that violated the physician's personal norms, even through it had little or no bearing on the patient's health. It appears that the responses accurately reflect the Protestant Ethic value system characteristics of Western Europe and the United States, but this constellation of values is accentuated in physicians by their selection and their professional training. Although negative responses to patient characteristics do not inevitably lead to inferior treatment of the negatively perceived patient, negative feelings might be reduced through changes in both the undergraduate and graduate levels of medical education.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1981

Continuing education in general practice. 2. Impact of education activities.

Should continuing education for doctors be compulsory? Our study of General Practitioners in Queensland evaluated the usefulness of and preference for various types of educational activities. Lectures and consultants' letters were considered the most useful while pharmaceutical company evenings and visiting lecturers were most regularly attended. These latter activities were a useful source of medical knowledge: patient management skills were gained at weekend conferences; and procedural skills were obtained through hospital training courses.

Australia↗
PubMed1981

Continuing education in general practice. 1. Attitudes of general practitioners.

As part of a Queensland survey, we made an assessment of the attitudes of general practitioners to continuing education. We analysed responses for age, sex, type and geographical location of practice. Almost all the respondents (99%) agreed that commitment to CME is lifelong. Most of them did not feel that there is too much concern with keeping up-to-date. Recognition of their own educational needs is a problem for a sizeable minority. Most feel that GP skills can be taught through CME courses, which should focus on patient management. Informal communication with colleagues is a useful mode of learning. Although exactly half the doctors felt that CME should be mandatory, a greater proportion of younger doctors were in favour.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Bromocriptine, methyl testosterone and placebo for inhibition of physiological lactation: a controlled study.

Lactation occurs when the fully developed breast is released from the inhibitory influence which oestrogen and progesterone exert upon the action of prolactin. The use of oestrogens to suppress lactation depends on a continuation of the peripheral, that is, mammary, inhibition of prolactin. Androgens are also believed to act by inhibition of the action of prolactin on the mammary gland epithelium. Bromocriptine, when compared in a double-blind trial with orally administered methyl testosterone and placebo, gave almost complete relief of breast discomfort and congestion, though a small amount of milk production was seen. Methyl testosterone, in the dosage used in this study, was quite ineffective in suppressing lactation or breast symptoms.

Adolescent↗