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Biomedical subjects

D Schumacher

Publications and source records attributed to D Schumacher.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1994

[The decomposition of Maillard reaction products by amylolytic enzymes. 1. Reversible inhibition of alpha- and glucoamylase and alpha-glucosidase by oligosaccharide Amidori compounds].

The influence of Amadori-compounds (fructosyl-, maltulosyl- and maltotriulosylglycin) on the activity of the enzymes alpha-glucosidase (from Saccharomyces cerevisiae), glucoamylase (from Aspergillus niger) and alpha-amylase (from porcine pancreas) was studied. Fructosylglycin was not hydrolyzed by all three enzymes. alpha-Glucosidase hydrolyzes maltulosylglycin 10 times slower than maltotriulosylglycin. Glucoamylase and alpha-amylase catalyze only the cleavage of maltotriulosylglycin to form glucose and maltulosylglycin. The activities of alpha-glucosidase and glucoamylase are inhibited through the Amadori-compounds fructosyl- and maltulosylglycin. These Amadori-compounds don't influence the activity of alpha-amylase. Electronic effects or interactions between the secondary amino function of Amadori-compounds and the carboxyl- or carboxylate groups of active centres could be responsible for such an inhibition.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

The quality of routinely collected maternity data.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the validity of clinical information held on a regional maternity database, the St Mary's Maternity Information System (SMMIS). DESIGN: A retrospective review of 892 maternity case notes and matched SMMIS records, by a midwife trained in clinical coding techniques. SETTING: Three maternity units in the North West Thames Region. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Percentage agreement for 17 directly recorded SMMIS data items and equivalent data abstracted from the notes. Frequencies of diagnosis codes abstracted from case notes, as compared with those generated by SMMIS on the basis of directly recorded data. RESULTS: A generally high level of agreement was observed between the abstracts of the notes and the SMMIS records. Of the 17 data items examined, 10 showed 95% agreement or better, and all but two exceeded 80% agreement. Little difference was found between the levels of agreement observed at the three sites. A greater number and range of diagnosis codes were abstracted from the notes than were generated by SMMIS. CONCLUSIONS: The directly recorded clinical data held on the SMMIS regional database is largely accurate and consistently recorded across a variety of units. The database can therefore be considered a valuable resource for the comparative audit of maternity practice. The SMMIS technique for deriving, on a semi-automatic basis, diagnosis codes from the directly recorded fields, appears to work moderately well. We suggest that the direct method of data collection used in SMMIS could provide a model for other specialties in the National Health Service.

Data Collection↗
PubMed1991

The effects of the Medicare PPS on vulnerable subgroups of psychiatric patients treated in short-term general hospitals.

Changes in care in short-term general hospitals were monitored for three vulnerable subgroups of Medicare psychiatric patients: (1) those more than 75 years old, (2) those with comorbidities, and (3) those with one or more secondary diagnoses of psychiatric or substance abuse problems. Patterns of care studied for changes following institution of the Medicare Prospective Payment System (PPS) were volume of cases, average length of stay, discharge locations, and readmission rates. Results indicate that the changes occurring for the three subgroups were similar to the changes occurring for all Medicare psychiatric patients. After PPS was introduced in 1983, the average length of stay decreased, and a greater proportion of patients were discharged to other hospitals or home health care providers; however, rates of readmission to the same hospital did not increase.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1991

Preventing heel ulcers: a comparison of prophylactic body-support systems.

Five commercially available body-support systems used in the prevention of decubitus heel ulcers were objectively compared for their capacity to dissipate or decrease pressure concentration at the most prominent posterior aspect of the heel in bedridden, insensate patients. The Foot Drop Stop, a foam heel suspender, completely eliminated contact between the heel and the bed, and it was the most successful in decreasing pressure concentration. The space boot and foam heel protectors were far more successful than sheepskin rugs or polyester heel protectors, which provided little protection to the prominent heel.

Equipment and Supplies↗
PubMed1990

How the medicare prospective payment system affects psychiatric patients treated in short-term general hospitals.

This study's purpose was to monitor changes in hospital utilization and discharge patterns for a large national sample of Medicare psychiatric patients treated in short-term general hospitals from 1980 through 1987. We compare data on the Medicare sample with trends for psychiatric patients with Blue Cross or private health insurance who were treated in the same hospitals. Study results indicate that treatment patterns changed for the Medicare psychiatric patients. Average length of stay decreased, especially for patients treated in scatterbeds. The proportion of patients discharged to other hospitals increased, and the number of admissions dropped for those patients over age 75.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

Effects of sex, thyro-parathyroidectomy, and light regime on levels and circadian rhythms of wheel-running in rats.

Intact and thyro-parathyroidectomized (TPX) Sprague-Dawley rats of both sexes were observed for 24 days under a 12:12 light:dark cycle (Entrainment), followed by 20 days in constant dim red light (Free-Run). Circadian periods and levels of wheel-running activity were examined. Intact females and TPX males were significantly more active and had significantly shorter free-running circadian periods than intact males, and the effects of TPX in females were different from those in males. Circadian periods in TPX females were slightly, but not significantly, shorter than in intact females, and activity levels in TPX females were nonsignificantly depressed relative to intact females. It was also found that day versus night activity levels differed more in TPX animals than in intact animals, especially during entrainment, suggesting that TPXs may be more sensitive to some effects of light. A number of possible explanations for the effects of TPX are considered, including changes in thyroid and calcitonin levels, interactions with gonadal hormones, and possible developmental effects of thyroid hormones on the circadian system. It is also possible that rhythm changes are secondary to alterations in activity levels. Human manic depressives reportedly have an unusually high incidence of thyroid, parathyroid, and calcium regulation abnormalities, display shortened circadian sleep-wake rhythms and abnormal levels of activity, and may also be hypersensitive to some effects of light; in addition, depression predominates in women, whereas mania predominates in men. The present results suggest that thyroid dysfunction could be partially responsible for the some of these abnormalities, and for sex differences in the manifestations of these disorders.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Does piezoceramic influence avian bone formation in the early postoperative phase?

Polarized and depolarized blocks of a piezoceramic composed of Pb (ZrTi)O3 are implanted in the diaphysis of the metatarsus of cocks. 15, 34, 55 and 84 days postoperatively, the implantation bed is histomorphologically examined, and the percentage of bone, osteoid and chondroid at the interface of the base and top area of the implants is morphometrically determined. The same types and the same amount of tissue develop with the same dynamics in the bed of polarized and depolarized piezoceramic. Therefore polarized piezoceramic has no positive influence on bone formation in the early postoperative phase.

Animals↗