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Biomedical subjects

G Wills

Publications and source records attributed to G Wills.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

Biological responses to the reversal of acidification in surface waters of the English Lake District.

Declining sulphur deposition since the late 1970s has led to increases in pH in lakes and streams of the English Lake District (Cumbria, UK). To determine whether there have been biological responses to the chemical changes, we carried out surveys of stream macroinvertebrates and lake surface sediment diatoms, and compared the results with those from earlier surveys. Macroinvertebrate taxa in five streams (current average pH range 5.1-7.0) sampled in 1999 showed clear changes from those found during 1965/1966 and 1972. For three of the streams, more taxa were present in 1999 than recorded using comparable sampling methods in the 1960s and 1970s, despite lower numbers of individuals being recovered in 1999. Values of the Margalef diversity index could be calculated for both 1965-1972 and 1999 for four of the streams; the index was significantly greater in 1999 (P < 0.001) in three streams, and unchanged in one stream (the most acid). The 1999 survey revealed the presence of acid-sensitive taxa that had been absent in the earlier surveys, notably the three stoneflies Leuctra fusca, L. moselyi and Chloroperla tripunctata. Some taxa that had been present during 1965-1972 were absent in 1999, but few of these were acid-sensitive. Diatoms from the surface sediments of six lakes were classified according to their acid sensitivities. In three of the lakes sampled in 1999 there were more diatoms characteristic of circumneutral waters, and less acidophilic species than had been found in 1983-1985. In the remaining three lakes, no noticeable changes had occurred. Overall, the observed biological changes are qualitatively as expected for the observed increases in pH, and there have been no instances of biological change in the opposite direction. The results support the expectation that changes in freshwater ecological status can be reversed by decreasing the remote emissions of acidifying pollutants.

Acid Rain↗
PubMed2000

Attitudes toward homosexuality in Shreveport-Bossier City, Louisiana.

Two anonymous questionnaires assessing attitudes toward gay issues were administered to adults living in the Shreveport/Bossier City, Louisiana area. In both, demographic data were obtained regarding gender, education, religion, age and marital status. In the second questionnaire, family groups were given the questionnaire. In the first survey, the results generally supported previous findings that religiosity, gender, and education at or below the high school level appeared to be associated with negative attitudes toward gay and lesbian issues. The variable most frequently associated with positive attitudes toward gay and lesbian issues was whether or not the individual had at least one gay friend, relative, or acquaintance. In the second study, the questionnaire was analyzed in terms of the entire group of subjects, family groups, and family positions. This second questionnaire indicated that similarities are most likely to exist among mothers and daughters, and same sex siblings. In regard to family members, wives/mothers and daughters had more positive attitudes toward homosexuality than sons, fathers, grandparents, other relatives, and in-laws.

Attitude↗
PubMed1996

Patient reactions to met and unmet psychological need: a critical incident analysis.

Patients with cancer must deal with a variety of psychological and social difficulties, but the extent to which staff assist patients with these difficulties is not clear. Using the Critical Incident Technique (CIT), patients attending a Cancer Centre were asked to describe situations in which their emotional needs were, and were not, met by staff. Although most patients were able to describe a situation in which their needs were met by staff, 23% also described a situation in which this was not the case. These latter incidents were often related to anxiety, confusion and a wish to sever links with the hospital. Patients who reported that their needs were not met requested more staff time and further information about their diagnosis and treatment.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1990

The gap between patient reading comprehension and the readability of patient education materials.

Patient education materials and hospital forms are given to patients with little regard for their ability to read them. Nationwide sampling and data from the 1980 census suggest that a high proportion of patients cared for in public hospitals are functionally illiterate. In this study, 151 adult primary care patients in five different ambulatory care settings were tested for reading comprehension. Patient education materials and forms from each clinic were analyzed for readability using a standard computer program. A large discrepancy was found between the average patient reading comprehension and the ability levels needed to read patient education materials. The average reading comprehension of public clinic patients was 6th grade 5th month. Most tested patient education materials required a reading level of 11th to 14th grade, and standard institutional consent forms required a college-level reading comprehension. In the public clinics there was a gap of more than 5 years between patient reading levels and the comprehension levels required by written patient materials.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Serum C reactive protein in infective endocarditis.

C reactive protein (CRP) was measured serially in 29 patients with infective endocarditis. Twenty one patients were initially treated with antimicrobial drugs. In 13, serial measurement of CRP concentrations showed a progressive return to normal (less than 10 mg/l), which correlated with a satisfactory recovery. Of the remainder (eight patients), five had persistently high concentrations of CRP, indicating a failure to respond to antimicrobial treatment alone. Two of these five patients died and three underwent valve replacement. Of 11 patients treated with antibiotics and valve replacement, CRP concentrations returned to normal in nine. Two patients had infective complications and the CRP concentration did not return to normal. A transient rise in CRP concentration during an otherwise uneventful fall to normal was a sign of allergic reaction in two and of intercurrent infection in three more patients. Serial measurements of CRP concentrations in patients with infective endocarditis may be useful to monitor treatment and also to detect other infections and complications.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

The effects of prenatal stress on rat offsprings' learning ability.

The present study (N = 30 female rats, 11 male rats) was conducted to determine the effects of prenatal stress on rat offsprings' learning ability. Pregnant mothers were stressed by exposure to an SD (light) which had been paired with shock. A second group of pregnant rats was handled an equivalent amount of time, and a third group received no treatment. The offspring of the three groups were tested on several learning tasks and the handled and stressed groups were found to be inferior to the control group on four of six learning measures.

Animals↗