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Biomedical subjects

J Brick

Publications and source records attributed to J Brick.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

The identification of alcohol intoxication by police.

BACKGROUND: The identification of alcohol intoxication by police, bartenders, social hosts, and potential passengers is an important issue in the prevention of alcohol-related driving accidents. This study examines the ability of police officers to correctly identify and make ratings of the sobriety of target drinkers presented on video. METHODS: Raters were asked to determine (1) whether the target drinker had been drinking alcohol, (2) whether it was "okay" to serve the target another drink, and (3) whether the target drinker was "okay" to drive. A rater confidence score for each target evaluated, as well as demographic characteristics about the raters, was obtained. RESULTS: Drinkers were accurately targeted to low (0.08-0.09%), medium (0.11-0.13%), and high (0.15-0.16%) blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) by using a method previously described. At lower BACs, most police officers were unable to identify whether or not targets had been drinking. Raters were "pretty sure" that targets in the 0.15-0.16% range had been drinking and "not sure" whether or not they should be served another drink or drive a car. CONCLUSIONS: The ability of raters to reliably identify target drinkers who were too intoxicated to drive safely was not obtained until the BACs were relatively high. These results suggest that prevention measures must focus on improving behavioral observations made of potential drunk drivers. Implications for bartenders and social hosts are discussed.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1997

Selective hyperexpression of c-jun oncoprotein by glass fiber- and silica-transformed BALB/c-3T3 cells.

Mining and mineral processing are important industries in the United States. A large number of workers are potentially exposed to silica during mining and to glass fibers during manufacturing. There is a concern regarding lung cancer risk among workers exposed to silica and glass fibers. Our previous studies showed that both glass fibers and silica induced transformation of BALB/c-3T3 cells. In order to explore the relationship between silica and glass fiber-induced cell transformation and oncoprotein expression, the protein products of seven proto-oncogenes (c-K-ras, c-H-ras, c-sis, c-myc, c-myb, c-erb B1 and c-jun) and one tumor suppressor gene (p53) were examined in BALB/c-3T3 cells transformed by glass fibers or silica using immunoblotting with specific monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies. The results showed that all transformants, including eight induced by glass fibers and eight by silica (Min-U-Sil 5), were positive for c-jun protein expression; the level of c-jun protein was elevated 8-21-fold in these transformants. Other protooncogene proteins in transformed cells were either not detectable or not different from non-transformed cells. These results suggest that the overexpression of c-jun is common in BALB/c-3T3 transformed cells induced by glass fibers or silica. It seems, therefore, that the expression of c-jun may play an important role in the transformation process.

3T3 Cells↗
PubMed1997

Anaerobic (bacterial) vaginosis and premalignant disease of the cervix.

Nitrosamines are carcinogenic substances found in cigarette smoke, and it is known that female smokers have an increased risk of cervical carcinoma and premalignant change. Nitrosamines may also be formed due to the combination of amines and nitrites in an acidic medium. This study has shown a statistically significant association between anaerobic vaginosis which produce amines and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2 and 3. In addition nitrate reducing organisms are found in the acidic lower genital tract in a significant number of cases. It is therefore theoretically possible that nitrosamines may be an important agent in the development of premalignant disease of the cervix.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1997

Security and legal issues associated with the computerized patient record.

The advances in electronic technology in the form of increased processing power, the ability to computerize many aspects of a patient's record, and the emergence of document imaging systems and telemedicine have enhanced health care professionals ability to more accurately document care. However, with this augmentation comes issues in liability and security of which professionals should be aware. This article discusses some of these issues from the viewpoint of the perioperative nurse.

Computer Security↗
PubMed1996

Informed consent and perioperative nursing.

Until recently, most courts have held that hospital and its employees have no duty to obtain consent--that is the responsibility of physicians. Emerging case law is establishing the duty of the hospital and nursing staff to ensure that consent is obtained. Courts seems to believe that a hospital will work harder and the patient record will be more complete if the hospital is held liable. If a patient indicates uncertainty or has questions indicating a lack of understanding, the nursing supervisor or attending physician must be contacted. Health care providers should not proceed if there is any question that the patient is withdrawing consent or reconsidering consent. Consent is valid only until it is withdrawn. It is better to defend caution to supervisors and physicians than to defend cavalier actions in a court of law. Hospitals and nurses may be held liable for lack of informed consent if they know or should have known there was not adequate disclosure or adequate consent. Case law regarding informed consent usually involves the physician and patient. Nurses, however, must be educated about how these laws affect them.

Forms and Records Control↗
PubMed1995

MDTV Telemedicine Project: technical considerations in videoconferencing for medical applications.

In spite of the many advances in technology, complex problems must be addressed in establishing and maintaining a telemedicine system. Although most such systems are built around interactive videoconferencing (IAVC) equipment, clinical requirements dictate that these systems offer more than traditional IAVC systems. Input from system users should be obtained early in the design process to ensure the functionality necessary to achieve maximum utilization. Surprisingly, audio, rather than video, signals may present the greatest challenge to achieving consistent, high-quality videoconferencing encounters. Audio technical problems can be frustrating for patients and providers alike and can undermine user confidence in IAVC as a vehicle for healthcare delivery. A capability for remote access and control of components at distant sites seems essential to providing cost-effective and technically reliable service.

Humans↗
PubMed1993

The correspondence between saliva and breath estimates of blood alcohol concentration: advantages and limitations of the saliva method.

Increased awareness of the devastating effects of alcohol misuse on our highways, workplaces and families, as well as on the individual, has resulted in increased social pressure to enforce driving-while-intoxicated laws and to develop educational, prevention and treatment programs. One aspect of this movement is to develop improved sobriety testing to ensure that laws are properly and fairly enforced and that there is compliance with abstinence in treatment. Although sophisticated blood and breath testing devices are available, field tests suggest that saliva alcohol tests based on alcohol-oxidase methodology offer advantages in portability, ease of administration, and cost and time efficiency. We evaluated the validity and reliability of a simple saliva test, based on the enzymatic oxidation of alcohol by alcohol oxidase, for estimating blood alcohol concentration. Ten subjects consumed various doses of alcohol and multiple saliva samples were obtained using alcohol sensitive saliva strips that change color in proportion to the concentration of alcohol. The reflectance values of reacted saliva strips were read by meter and estimates of blood alcohol concentration in the range of 10-90 mg/dl were compared to simultaneous estimates obtained from breath analysis using a Breathalyzer Model 900A. We also examined how alcohol levels changed over time in alcohol reacted saliva strips. The results of regression analysis indicated that the saliva strips and the Breathalyzer gave reasonably close estimates (r = 0.89-.90) of blood alcohol concentration. Correlation coefficents for the values of saliva samples read by meter measured at 10 minutes and at 18 days after collection ranged from .90 to 1.00, showing high test-retest reliability despite storage.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1993

A longitudinal investigation of alcohol use and aggression in adolescence.

Data from a prospective, longitudinal study of males and females tested at age 12, 15 and 18 years are used to study the relationship between alcohol use and aggression. Prevalence rates for alcohol use are similar for males and females. However, prevalence rates for aggressive behavior and alcohol-related aggression among females are lower than those for males and too low to permit meaningful analysis. Two series of nested structural equation models examine the interrelationships between alcohol use and aggressive behavior over time for all males in the sample and for male alcohol users only. The findings indicate that early aggressive behavior leads to increases in alcohol use and alcohol-related aggression, but that levels of alcohol use are not significantly related to later aggressive behavior. Thus, the data suggest that alcohol-related aggression is engaged in by aggressive people who drink. These data lend support to other research that indicates that early aggressive and antisocial behavior is predictive of later alcohol-related problems.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Safety of outpatient cerclage.

One hundred one women who underwent scheduled McDonald cerclage were studied. Fifty outpatients were reviewed prospectively, and 51 inpatients were studied retrospectively and concurrently. Forty-five outpatients and 48 inpatients completed pregnancy. The fetal outcomes were similar for both groups, with no significant differences in the number of complications for newborn infants. The average cost of the procedure (exclusive of physician fees) for outpatient cerclage was $546 and for inpatient, $1,174. The difference clearly shows the cost-effectiveness of outpatient cerclage.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Triphasic sharp waves in a patient with carcinomatous meningitis.

Subacute encephalopathy with an electroencephalographic (EEG) pattern of generalized periodic triphasic sharp waves occurred in an 80-year-old woman with autopsy proven carcinomatous meningitis. Meningeal carcinomatosis should be included within the differential (clinical) diagnosis of such an EEG pattern.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1989

Alcohol and anxiety reduction in female social drinkers.

The present study used a 3 X 2 factorial design to investigate effects on assertive behavior and social anxiety of different doses of alcohol and individual differences in female social drinkers. Contrary to previous findings with men, a dose-dependent effect of alcohol was not found during the social interaction task. The high dose had mixed effects, reducing anxiety on some but not other dependent measures. The moderate dose resulted in significantly less assertiveness and increased heart rate during the social interaction, in high-tolerant subjects. Expectancies about intoxication failed to show significant effects. Of the individual difference variables, only acute tolerance significantly influenced alcohol's effects on anxiety. Alcohol did not reduce self-awareness.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Rheumatoid vasculitis with intrarenal aneurysm formation.

A 58-year-old male with an 8-year history of seropositive erosive rheumatoid arthritis (RA) presented with acute abdominal pain and syncope; a diagnosis of vasculitis was made arteriographically by finding intrarenal saccular aneurysms. Patients with severe RA and a high titer of rheumatoid factor may develop a diffuse vasculitis, but clinical renal involvement attributable to vasculitis is uncommon. Our case demonstrates the coexistence of RA and renal vasculitis, documented by autopsy findings, and for the first time by arteriographic demonstration of intrarenal aneurysm formation.

Aneurysm↗
PubMed1987

Cardiac lipase: effect of ethanol and stress.

The effect of ethanol (0, 0.5, 3.0 g/kg) and restraint stress on cardiac neutral (NL) and lipoprotein (LPL) lipase was studied. Although ethanol (3.0 g/kg) or stress decreased NL and increased LPL, ethanol pretreatment significantly attenuated stress induced changes in both enzymes. These results support previous research on the protective effects of ethanol and may be one mechanism through which ethanol may alter susceptibility to certain forms of heart disease.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Gender differences in acute psychomotor, cognitive, and pharmacokinetic response to alcohol.

This study investigated gender differences in acute response to alcohol. After practicing several cognitive and psychomotor tasks while sober, male (n = 11) and female (n = 13) social drinkers were administered a 0.65 g/kg dose of ethanol. Subjects were tested on both the ascending and descending limbs of the blood alcohol curve on measures of divided attention, short-term memory, body sway, pursuit tracking ability, and subjective level of intoxication. Blood alcohol level (BAL) was sampled frequently throughout the procedure. Females achieved consistently higher BALs than did males throughout, due mainly to higher BALs among women in the middle stage of the menstrual cycle. Women not using birth control medications also attained higher BALs than did males. When gender differences in BALs were controlled statistically, only memory functioning distinguished the groups: males recorded memory functioning more quickly on the descending limb of the blood alcohol curve than did females. Stage of menstrual cycle or use of birth control medications did not influence psychomotor or cognitive performance while women were intoxicated.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Timber rattlesnake venom-induced myokymia: evidence for peripheral nerve origin.

Facial and limb myokymia occurred in four consecutive cases of timber rattlesnake envenomation and represents the "fasciculations" frequently reported in this entity. The facial myokymia disappears within hours of antivenin therapy and the limb myokymia by increasing serum ionized calcium. These observations suggest that the action of the venom is a biochemical one, increasing peripheral nerve excitability.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1986

Assessment of the development of tolerance to ethanol using multiple measures.

Development of tolerance to ethanol was examined using a motor coordination test, startle response, and rectal temperature in rats chronically treated with ethanol (8-11 g/kg/day), equicaloric dextrin maltose (DM) or water. A 2.0 g/kg test dose resulted in 92, 48, and 2.7% depression from baseline of motor coordination test performance, startle response, and rectal temperature, respectively, on the first test day. There was complete tolerance to the hypothermic effect of this dose of ethanol on the 9th day of treatment while 17 days of treatment were required to achieve total tolerance on dowel test but still did not produce full tolerance on the startle response. Measurement of blood ethanol concentration indicated no significant changes in the rate of ethanol disappearance. Therefore the observed decrease in sensitivity to ethanol represents functional tolerance. These results indicate tolerance to ethanol develops at different rates depending on the measures employed to evaluate it.

Adaptation, Physiological↗