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Biomedical subjects

David Abbott

Publications and source records attributed to David Abbott.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Preparing New World monkeys for laboratory research.

New World monkeys represent an important but often poorly understood research resource. The relatively small size and low zoonotic risk of these animals make them appealing as research subjects in a number of areas. However, historic portrayal of many of these species as difficult to manage and handle is one of the factors that has limited their use. Basic guidelines are provided on management and handling approaches for the New World monkeys most commonly used in research: marmosets, squirrel monkeys, owl monkeys, and titi monkeys. Topics include transport and acclimation to a new facility, location changes within a facility, diet changes, removal from and return to social groups, capture and restraint, handling for anesthesia, postprocedural monitoring, and staff training.

Acclimatization↗
PubMed2005

Multi-agency working in services for disabled children: what impact does it have on professionals?

Whilst agencies in many sectors have been encouraged to work together to better meet the needs of service users, multi-agency working is now a central feature of government policy. In relation to children's services, the National Service Framework, the English green paper, 'Every Child Matters' (DfES, 2003) and the Children Bill (DfES 2004) give a high priority to an integrated approach to service provision. This paper focuses on multi-agency working for disabled children with complex health-care needs, a group of children who, perhaps even more than most, require the many professionals who support them and their families, to work more closely together. Drawing on the findings from a 3-year qualitative research study, this paper examines the impact of working in a multi-agency service on professionals. Interviews with 115 professionals concluded that staff were overwhelmingly positive about working as part of a multi-agency service. They reported improvements to their working lives in areas such as professional development, communication, collaboration with colleagues, and relationships with families with disabled children. However, whilst professionals felt that they were able to offer families a more efficient service, there was concern that the overall impact of multi-agency working on disabled children and their families would be limited.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Practical measurement of total and bioavailable estradiol in female macaques.

BACKGROUND: Commercially available, direct assay kits provide a simple and rapid means for measuring estradiol. Similarly, ammonium sulfate precipitation of SHBG-bound steroids is a reliable alternative to equilibrium dialysis or ultrafiltration for assessing bioavailability. However, while these techniques are useful for humans, they have yet to be evaluated systematically for macaques-species which are frequently used to model estrogen effects on women's health. METHODS: A reference assay (which included chromatography) and two modified versions of a human kit (one in which monkey serum was assayed directly, and another in which an extraction step was added) were used to measure estradiol in matching samples. Ammonium sulfate precipitation and an established ultrafiltration technique were used to assess bioavailability. RESULTS: Values from both kit modifications correlated significantly with those from the reference assay. Although both modifications underestimated values, the addition of the extraction step resulted in far more useful estimates due to the consistency of underestimation across the standard curve. Measures of bioavailability from ammonium sulfate precipitation and ultrafiltration were strongly correlated and consistent across all concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: Simplified techniques developed for humans can be used in macaques, although the addition of an extraction step markedly improves the performance of direct assay kits.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Validation of a new ultrasound method for the measurement of carotid artery intima medial thickness and plaque dimensions.

BACKGROUND: Carotid ultrasound is an accepted method for the detection of subclinical atherosclerosis. Valid methods that allow quantitation of carotid atheroma burden may be useful for stratifying risk. OBJECTIVE: To validate the results of intima medial thickness (IMT) and plaque measurements using a newly created software algorithm by comparing them with those obtained using a previously validated method. METHODS: Carotid ultrasound videotapes (n=24) were analyzed by experienced observers using a validated method and a new method. Ultrasound parameters were compared by measuring the difference +/- SD to yield indexes of accuracy and precision. Performance was also assessed using correlation and Bland-Altman analyses. RESULTS: Average IMT (n=24), plaque area (n=46), and several indexes that integrate IMT and plaque measurements were all found to be comparable with measurements obtained using the previously validated method. For example, the plaque area showed excellent accuracy and precision (-0.17+/-2.0 mm2, P=0.56), excellent correlation (r=0.98, standard error of the estimate = 2.01 mm2, P<0.001) and no evidence of bias using Bland-Altman analyses (Spearman's rho = 0.04, P=0.82). CONCLUSIONS: A new algorithm for the quantitation of carotid atheroma burden yields results that are comparable with those of a previously validated and widely used method. Availability of valid tools for measuring carotid ultrasound should facilitate the incorporation of this procedure into clinical risk stratification paradigms.

British Columbia↗
PubMed2002

Exploring multi-agency working in services to disabled children with complex healthcare needs and their families.

Children with complex healthcare needs typically require technical and/or medical equipment in the home. This growing group of children and families need support that crosses agency and professional boundaries, necessitating effective multi-agency working. There are many examples of multi-agency working around the United Kingdom (UK), some specifically designed to meet the needs of children with complex healthcare needs and their families. Recent legislation and policy statements have highlighted the importance of joint planning and working. Currently no research exists that examines the impact of these initiatives on disabled children with complex healthcare needs and their families. The "Working Together" project is an ongoing research study based at the Norah Fry Research Centre, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK. The project aims to explore the impact of multi-agency work on children with complex healthcare needs and their families. This paper examines the literature on barriers to disabled children and the need for multi-agency working. It also considers the concept of multi-agency working and how different approaches to working together might be perceived by children and families.

Child↗
PubMed2002

Validation of an automated method for assessing brachial artery endothelial dysfunction.

BACKGROUND: Endothelial dysfunction is an early finding in diverse vascular diseases and can be measured noninvasively using brachial ultrasound. There is great interest in the potential use of this parameter for assessing interventions or cardiovascular prognosis. Automated image analysis of the ultrasound images would facilitate implementation of such measurements in high throughput clinics and/or large clinical trials. OBJECTIVES: To compare a new method designed to assess brachial artery diameter and percentage diameter changes through automated, beat-by-beat image processing (Brachial Tools, Medical Imaging Applications, USA), with a nonautomated method (Prosound System, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, USA). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Brachial ultrasound tapes from 12 patients undergoing endothelial function assessment using forearm cuff-occlusion, measurement of flow-mediated dilation and responses to nitroglycerin were analyzed by both methods. RESULTS: The correlation between the two systems was excellent for both the measurement of absolute diameters (r=0.995, P<0.001) and percentage diameter changes (r=0.973, P<0.001). The automated method demonstrated no bias compared with the frame-by-frame method and excellent precision (0.07 mm and 1.62 percentage diameter change). CONCLUSIONS: The automated method provides valid data while substantially diminishing analysis time.

Adult↗