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Biomedical subjects

D Redman

Publications and source records attributed to D Redman.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

Measuring clients' satisfaction with self-help agencies.

OBJECTIVE: Clients' satisfaction with their involvement in treatment decisions has been largely overlooked in the formulation of satisfaction measures. The authors describe the development of a scale that assesses clients' satisfaction with services and with their involvement in treatment decisions. METHODS: Long-term users of four client-operated mental health self-help agencies were interviewed at baseline (N=310) and six months (N=248) using the 11-item Self-Help Agency Satisfaction Scale (SHASS). The scale was developed on the basis of consumers' input about their satisfaction with services and their involvement in treatment decisions. To explore the relationship between satisfaction as measured by the SHASS and outcomes, the six-month interview included four outcome measures-independent and assisted social functioning, symptom severity, and a sense of personal empowerment. Internal consistency, stability, and discriminant validity were evaluated. RESULTS: Factor analyses confirmed that the SHASS has two subscales, one assessing service satisfaction and the other assessing satisfaction with involvement in treatment decisions. The scale and its subscales showed high internal consistency, moderate stability, and discriminant validity. The SHASS subscales showed modest associations with two of four outcome measures-assisted and independent social functioning. CONCLUSIONS: The SHASS is a brief instrument that can be used to measure clients' satisfaction with their involvement in treatment in mental health self-help agencies.

Adult↗

Exposure to rubber fume and rubber process dust in the general rubber goods, tyre manufacturing and retread industries.

This study assesses the current patterns and levels of exposure to rubber fume and rubber process dust in the British rubber industry and compares and contrasts the data obtained from the general rubber goods (GRG), retread tire (RT) and new tire (NT) sectors. A total of 179 rubber companies were visited and data were obtained from 52 general rubber goods, 29 retread tire and 7 new tire manufacturers. The survey was conducted using a questionnaire and included a walk-through inspection of the workplace to assess the extent of use of control measures and the nature of work practices being employed. The most recent (predominantly 1995-97) exposure monitoring data for rubber fume and rubber process dust were obtained from these companies; no additional sampling was conducted for the purpose of this study. In addition to the assessment of exposure data, evaluation of occupational hygiene reports for the quality of information and advice was also carried out.A comparison of the median exposures for processes showed that the order of exposure to rubber fume (E, in mg m(-3)) is: E(moulding) (0.40) approximately E(extrusion) (0.33)>E(milling) (0.18) for GRG; E(press) (0. 32)>E(extrusion) (0.19)>E(autoclave) (0.10) for RT; and E(press) (0. 22) approximately E(all other) (0.22) for NT. The order of exposure to rubber fume between sectors was E(GRG) (0.40)>E(RT) (0.32)>E(NT) (0.22). Median exposures to rubber process dust in the GRG was E(weighing) (4.2)>>E(mixing) (1.2) approximately E(milling) (0.8) approximately E(extrusion) (0.8) and no significant difference (P=0. 31) between GRG and NT sectors. The findings compare well with the study carried out in the Netherlands [Kromhout et al. (1994), Annals of Occupational Hygiene 38(1), 3-22], and it is suggested that the factors governing the significant differences noted between the three sectors relate principally to the production and task functions and also to the extent of controls employed. Evaluation of occupational hygiene reports indicated a number of shortcomings including lack of suitable and sufficient information with regard to sampling and analytical methods in use, poor sampling strategy, lack of appreciation regarding true rubber process dust, and a poor understanding of the principles of control for substances assigned maximum exposure limits.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗

Dopamine produces forearm vasodilatation following alpha-adrenoceptor blockade by an action on vascular dopamine (DA1) receptors in man.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the receptor type mediating dopamine-induced forearm vasodilatation following alpha-adrenoceptor blockade. Forearm blood flow (FBF) was measured using venous occlusion plethysmography in normal volunteers. Intra-arterial (i.a.) dopamine alone produced variable and small changes in FBF. However, following alpha-adrenoceptor blockade with phenoxybenzamine, dopamine infusion resulted in forearm vasodilatation in the infused arm. This effect was not antagonized by the beta-adrenoceptor antagonist propranolol, but was antagonized by the vascular dopamine receptor antagonist, sulpiride, the (d) enantiomer being more active than the (l). It is concluded that i.a. dopamine induces forearm vasodilatation following alpha-adrenoceptor blockade by an action on vascular dopamine (DA1) receptors similar to those described in the renal and mesenteric vasculature of other species.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists↗

The action of a dopamine (DA1) receptor agonist, fenoldopam in human vasculature in vivo and in vitro.

This study was designed to investigate dopaminergic mechanisms in human vasculature using the selective vascular dopamine receptor agonist fenoldopam in vivo and in vitro. In vivo, forearm blood flow was measured plethysmographically and in vitro isolated rings of human blood vessels from a variety of sites were used for tissue bath studies. Intra-arterial fenoldopam markedly increased forearm blood flow, this effect was antagonised by (R) sulpiride, a vascular dopamine (DA1) antagonist, but not by metoclopramide, a neuronal (DA2) antagonist, or by guanethidine, an adrenergic neurone blocking agent. In vitro, fenoldopam relaxed preconstricted human renal, mesenteric and lumbar arteries, but not saphenous vein in a concentration dependent manner. (RS) sulpiride and SCH 23390 competitively antagonised this effect. These studies demonstrate the presence of a vasodilatory vascular dopamine receptor in man both in vivo and in vitro.

Adolescent↗

Human vasodilator responses to a dopamine agonist: possible mechanisms.

The action of fenoldopam, a selective dopamine DA1 agonist, on resting forearm blood flow was studied in healthy male volunteers by venous plethysmography. Metoclopramide and (+/-) sulpiride were used as dopamine antagonists. Intra-arterial fenoldopam over the range (100 ng/min to 1 microgram/min) produced a dose-related increase in forearm blood flow without evidence of systemic effects. The response to fenoldopam was not antagonized by metoclopramide or (+/-) sulpiride and neither antagonist alone altered resting forearm blood flow. It is unclear whether the effects of fenoldopam in the forearm vasculature are mediated through the vascular dopamine receptor.

2,3,4,5-Tetrahydro-7,8-dihydroxy-1-phenyl-1H-3-ben↗

In vitro screening of therapeutic agents against Cryptosporidium: hyperimmune cow colostrum is highly inhibitory.

An in vitro model of Cryptosporidium parvum infection was developed utilizing an adherent human intestinal epithelial cell line HT29.74. The efficacy of potential immunologic therapy in the form of Cryptosporidium-specific hyperimmune bovine colostrum was evaluated for the ability to inhibit in vitro infection. Oocysts were purified from stool of chronically infected AIDS patients. Hyperimmune colostrum obtained from cows immunized with Cryptosporidium and nonimmune conventional colostrum were evaluated. oocysts (10(5)-10(6)) were pre-incubated with either hyperimmune colostrum, conventional colostrum, or saline as control, for 15 min at room temperature than applied to a 70% confluent monolayer of HT29.74 cells. Cryptosporidium schizonts were identified and counted per 1,000 HT29.74 cells under oil immersion after 24 h. In the presence of hyperimmune colostrum, parasite infection was inhibited by 82% (p less than 0.001), and the presence of conventional colostrum, infection was inhibited by 67% (p less than 0.001). Treatment with the soluble fraction of hyperimmune colostrum resulted in 69% inhibition (p less than 0.001) compared to the soluble fraction of conventional colostrum which resulted in only 17% inhibition (p = NS). In vitro Cryptosporidium parvum infection of the differentiated human enterocyte cell line HT29.74 is a viable method for screening immunologic therapies. Hyperimmune bovine colostrum was highly inhibitory of Cryptosporidium infection in vitro and its soluble fraction remained significantly inhibitory while the soluble fraction of conventional colostrum did not.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗