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Biomedical subjects

J J McMillan

Publications and source records attributed to J J McMillan.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Caregivers' predispositions and perceived organizational expectations for the provision of social support to nursing home residents.

This article presents the results of an investigation of caregivers' provision of supportive communication to nursing home residents. Five primary conclusions are drawn from the data: (a) Caregivers value providing affective over instrumental support; (b) caregivers believe they place more importance on supportive communication than their organizations; (c) role conflict is emotionally exhausting, but does not affect caregivers' self-evaluations or perceptions of residents; (d) caregivers' depersonalization of patients is related to their desire to communicate instrumental support; and (e) caregivers feel more accomplished when they believe their organization values supportive communication with patients. The implications of these findings for social support, caregivers' burnout, and nursing homes are discussed.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1988

Retained surgical swab debris in post-laminectomy arachnoiditis and peridural fibrosis.

We examined soft tissue biopsies from 26 patients with symptomatic nerve root fibrosis and arachnoiditis after a previous laminectomy. Dense fibrous connective tissue was found about the nerve roots and in 14 cases (55%) fibrillar foreign material was seen within it. This material had the histochemical characteristics of cotton fibres from swabs and neurosurgical patties. In two other cases nerve root fibrosis was associated with residual radiopaque lipid thought to derive from earlier myelography. Our findings suggest that risks may be associated with the introduction of foreign material into the vertebral canal, and that microscopic fragments of surgical swabs and patties may have a role in the pathogenesis of postoperative periradicular fibrosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

A new method of occipitocervical fusion using internal fixation.

We describe a method for decompression and fusion of the occipitocervical junction in cases of atlantoaxial subluxation. Use of an implanted steel rectangle provides immediate rigid internal fixation, permitting early mobilization with minimal external support.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1977

Aqueduct stenosis. Case review and discussion.

Twenty-seven cases of hydrocephalus associated with aqueduct stenosis are reviewed, and a further nine cases discussed in which hydrocephalus was present and the aqueduct was stenosed but some additional feature was present. This was either a meningocoele or an encephalocoele, or else the aqueduct was not completely obstructed radiologically at the initial examination. The ratio of the peripheral measurement from the inion to the nasion to the distance between the inion and the posterior lip of the foramen magnum is presented for each case with an outline of the ventricles. The cases behave as would be expected if the aqueduct was being blocked by the lateral compression of the mid-brain between the enlarged lateral ventricles. On reviewing these cases and other evidence it is suggested that non-tumourous aqueduct stenosis is more likely to be the result of hydrocephalus than the initial cause. The response to treatment is reviewed and a high relapse rate noted. It is suggested that assessment of the extracerebral pathways may be advisable before undertaking third ventriculostomy or ventriculo-cisternostomy.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Tin-protoporphyrin inhibits carbon monoxide production in adult male Wistar rats with common bile duct ligation.

The excretion rate of CO (VeCO), an index of total bilirubin production, and the total plasma bilirubin level are significantly elevated by 72 h after ligation of the common bile duct in adult male Wistar rats. At 72 and 96 h, rats prepared in this manner were subcutaneously injected with 50 mumol/kg body weight of tin-protoporphyrin IX (TP) (n = 5) or saline (n = 6). At 120 h after surgery, the VeCO had fallen from the pretreatment level in the TP-treated animals by 22% (P less than 0.025) compared with no significant change in the saline-treated controls. The plasma total bilirubin level of the experimental animals had also declined by 32% (p less than 0.0005) compared with their pretreatment level. The hyperbilirubinemia of the saline-treated controls was not significantly modified. These results suggest that TP reduces bilirubin production and plasma total bilirubin levels in adult rats with surgically created obstructive jaundice.

Animals↗