Biomedical subjects

Greg Robinson

Publications and source records attributed to Greg Robinson.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Automated post-collection concentration for purified preparative fractions via solid phase extraction.

Recent advancements in preparative HPLC have improved and streamlined compound purification. However, fraction evaporation remains a bottleneck within the process. An alternative to fraction evaporation is to remove the water and reduce the overall volume of the collection by trapping the fraction onto a solid phase extraction (SPE) cartridge. This method (as opposed to analytical applications involving SPE) works by collecting and then diluting the fraction(s), passing the fraction(s) through a SPE, drying the SPE with nitrogen and ultimately eluting the concentrated fraction(s) in a small amount of 100% organic solvent. An appreciable breakthrough is not observed using this method. In addition, recovery from the SPE for the tested compounds rosmarinic acid and carvacrol, two naturally occurring antioxidants in oregano, was found to be 95-98% for a 100mg injection via preparative HPLC purification at 50mg/compound.

Antioxidants↗

PubMed2005

Nonfinancial factors associated with decreased plasma viral load testing in Ontario, Canada.

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether individual characteristics were associated with differential use of viral load testing when testing is available without charge to all HIV-positive patients with provincial health insurance. METHODS: Individuals enrolled in the HIV Ontario Observational Database with complete medication records and health insurance numbers for linkage were studied. Generalized estimating equation regression models were used to examine the relationship between time-varying covariates such as plasma viral load levels, CD4 counts, and antiretroviral regimen characteristics and the number of days between viral load tests and the occurrence of an interval of >or=6 or 9 months between tests. RESULTS: A total of 1032 individuals were included in the analysis with a median follow-up of 4.6 years and a median of 18 viral load tests. In multivariate analyses, clinically important gaps in viral load testing were more likely among injection drug users (odds ratio [OR]=1.86, P<0.0001), in more recent years (P<0.01) and for individuals not using antiretrovirals (OR=1.70, P<0.0001) and less likely among individuals using >4 antiretrovirals (OR=0.62, P<0.0001). Results were similar when the outcome was the number of days between tests. CONCLUSIONS: Injection drug users, younger individuals, and residents of Toronto used fewer viral load tests than other individuals, even when financial barriers to testing were removed.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Community-based HIV education and prevention workers respond to a changing environment.

The purpose of this study was to understand the culture, values, skills and activities of staff involved in education and prevention activities in community-based AIDS Service Organizations (ASOs) in Ontario, Canada, and to understand the role of evaluation research in their prevention programming. In this qualitative study, 33 staff members from 11 ASOs participated in semi-structured interviews that were analyzed using the grounded theory approach. ASO staff experience tension between a historical grassroots organizational culture characterized by responsiveness and relevance and a more recent culture of professionalization. Target populations have changed from being primarily gay men to an almost unlimited variety of communities. Program emphasis has shifted from education and knowledge dissemination to a broadly based mandate of health promotion, community development, and harm reduction. Integration of evidence of effectiveness, social-behavioral theory, or systematic evaluation is uncommon. Understanding these points of tension is important for the nursing profession when it is engaged with ASOs in programming or evaluation research.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗