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Biomedical subjects

J Lovett

Publications and source records attributed to J Lovett.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

Clinical agreement between automated and calculated ultrasound measurements of bladder volume.

Non-invasive urine volume measurement is an important tool in the management of dysfunctional and neuropathic bladders in children. Ultrasound imaging devices have been used for many years for this purpose. An automated scanner (Bladderscan) is now available and has been recommended by a number of authors, but there is conflicting evidence in the literature regarding the accuracy and appropriate clinical application of the device. We aimed to assess the level of clinical agreement between the two methods. 36 urine volume measurements were made on 11 children using both instruments. Although there was a good correlation between the methods (r=0.97), the clinical agreement was poor (limits of agreement +/-77 ml). 13 voided volumes were directly measured and compared with the difference between pre- and post-void ultrasound measurements. The systematic errors were small but the mean absolute errors were 54 ml and 23 ml, respectively, for the automated and ultrasound imaging methods. If used correctly, ultrasound imaging provides more accurate results and can compete with the cost, convenience and ease of use of the automated method. Low cost, highly portable ultrasound imaging devices are now available and should be used in preference to the Bladderscan.

Automation↗
PubMed2001

Breaking bad news--development of a hospital-based training workshop.

The skills required to break bad news have been written about extensively and are taught in medical schools. Recent initiatives have concentrated on improving the skills of doctors and nurses in senior positions, who act as role models for their junior colleagues. A multiprofessional learning situation can be a threatening environment, in which colleagues may worry about exposing some of the weaknesses in their knowledge and skills regarding communication with patients. We describe the initiation, running, and evaluation of successful training workshops on breaking bad news in a large British district hospital.

Humans↗
PubMed1998

Waiting lists. On a knife edge.

Achieving the government's waiting list targets relies heavily on the willingness of theatre staff to do overtime. A survey of acute trusts in England found that more than three-quarters were having difficulty recruiting staff. A third were using local pay incentives, including double time for waiting list initiative work and bonus schemes. Theatre management needs a more strategic approach.

Absenteeism↗
PubMed1997

Immune hyperactivation of HIV-1-infected T cells mediated by Tat and the CD28 pathway.

Human immunodeficiency virus-type 1 (HIV-1) infection is characterized by a chronic state of immune hyperactivation in patients. Infection of human peripheral blood lymphocytes with HIV-1 in vitro resulted in increased interleukin-2 (IL-2) secretion in response to T cell activation via the CD3 and CD28 receptors. Expression of the HIV-1 transactivator Tat recapitulated this phenotype and was associated with increased IL-2 secretion in response to costimulation with CD3 plus CD28. IL-2 superinduction by Tat occurred at the transcriptional level, was mediated by the CD28-responsive element in the IL-2 promoter, and was exclusively dependent on the 29 amino acids encoded by the second exon of Tat.

Anti-HIV Agents↗
PubMed1991

Group therapeutic factors on an alcohol in-patient unit.

Seventy consecutive patients admitted to an alcohol unit were given a modified version of Yalom's therapeutic factor questionnaire at various points during the therapeutic programme. This programme consists of a two-week introductory programme, followed by a treatment programme, which includes psychodynamic groups, life-history reviews and intensive cognitive-therapy sessions. Internal agreement of ranking order of therapeutic factors was high among all patients and was independent of time spent in group therapy. Patients valued most an existential factor (which embraces concepts of personal responsibility and isolation), self-understanding and cohesiveness; they least valued guidance and identification. Therapists also completed the questionnaire: their ranking of therapeutic factors correlated highly with that of patients, but they ranked an existential factor much lower.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1989

Inguinal herniation justifies sigmoidoscopy.

Controversy exists concerning the association of inguinal hernia and colonic carcinoma and, more specifically, whether the development of an inguinal hernia justifies sigmoidoscopy. To study the role of endoscopic screening in cases of inguinal hernia, we prospectively evaluated 464 patients with inguinal hernia over a 54-month period with flexible sigmoidoscopy. Each patient was over the age of 40 and male. Sigmoidoscopy documented polyps (97 patients, 21 percent) and carcinoma (22 patients, 5 percent). Multiple neoplasms were observed in 6 percent (7 of 119 patients). Occult blood was detected in the fecal specimens of 8 percent of the total group of patients, but in only 13 percent of the patients with polyps or carcinomas. A normal examination occurred in only 38 percent of the total group. By using the presence of an inguinal hernia in patients older than 40 years of age as an indication for sigmoidoscopy, we found that more than one of every four patients had an asymptomatic, concurrent malignant or premalignant colonic lesion. Flexible sigmoidoscopy should be used for screening colonic neoplasms in patients with inguinal hernia.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Pathogenicity test for Listeria monocytogenes using immunocompromised mice.

The lethality of Listeria isolates was determined with normal adult mice and mice that were immunocompromised by treatment with 20 mg of carrageenan per kg. The mean 50% lethal doses (LD50s) of the pathogenic isolates were significantly lower (alpha = 0.05) in the immunocompromised mice than in the untreated mice, with an average reduction of 5.8 log10 units. In contrast, the mean LD50s of the nonpathogenic isolates were lower in the immunocompromised mice by an average of only 0.4 log10 unit, a difference that was not significant (alpha = 0.05). When immunocompromised mice were used, the LD50s of pathogenic Listeria monocytogenes isolates were lower than those of nonpathogenic L. innocua and L. seeligeri isolates by greater than or equal to 6 log10 units and lower than those of nonpathogenic L. ivanovii isolates by greater than or equal to 4 log10 units. Pathogenic L. monocytogenes isolates could be distinguished from nonpathogenic isolates by their ability to cause deaths in immunocompromised mice in 3 days at a dose of approximately 10(4) CFU per mouse. An alternative procedure using iron-overloaded mice failed to effectively differentiate pathogenic Listeria isolates.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Suppression of post-vasectomy cytotoxic sperm antibody formation in rats by a short-term pretreatment with cyclosporine.

The effect of a short pulse therapy with cyclosporine on the production of vasectomy-induced cytotoxic sperm antibodies was studied in Lewis rats. Cyclosporine at a dose of 10 mg/kg was administered once daily for 7 days before and 7 days after vasectomy (group A), for 7 days before vasectomy (group B), and for 7 days after vasectomy (group C). Ten rats were studied in each group for a period of 5 weeks. Ten rats were vasectomized and untreated with cyclosporine (group U). All animals in this group developed high titers of cytotoxic sperm antibodies at the end of the first week after vasectomy (primary antibody response). In contrast, all the treated rats of groups A, B, and C had a normal range of sperm antibody titers. By the third week, six of nine rats in the post-treated group C had significant cytotoxic sperm antibody titers, while the other groups had normal antibody titers. In the fourth week, all the rats of groups A and B continued to have normal sperm antibody titers of less than or equal to 16, while most animals in groups C (78%) and U (63%) had significant cytotoxic sperm antibody titers. It is concluded that prevasectomy treatment with cyclosporine may significantly reduce or delay the production of cytotoxic sperm antibodies in Lewis rats.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Physician attitudes toward confidential care for adolescents.

We examined factors that determine whether pediatricians will grant confidential care to adolescents. Through four vignettes, in which adolescents of different ages and maturity requested confidential care, we assessed the willingness of physicians to give such care for four problems: request for contraceptive, diagnosis of gonorrhea, intrauterine device found incidentally on x-ray study, and illicit drug use. A random sample of 932 physicians responded to the vignettes. Overall, physicians agreed to give confidential care to adolescents in 75% of the vignettes. They were more likely to give confidentiality in cases involving sexual activity. They supported confidential care for 87% of patients requesting contraceptives, but for only 54% reporting illicit drug use. The proportion of physicians supporting confidentiality increased with age and maturity of the minors. Seventeen-year-old mature adolescents seeking contraceptives were given confidentiality by 97% of physicians. Thus physician responses to vignettes indicated that they strongly support confidential care for adolescents as represented in the clinical vignettes.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Comparison of methods for isolating Campylobacter jejuni from raw milk.

The method of Doyle and Roman (Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 43:1343-1353, 1982) was compared with that of Lovett et al. (Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 46:459-462, 1983) for the ability to recover Campylobacter jejuni strains inoculated into raw milk at a concentration of less than 1 cell per g. The method of Lovett et al. gave significantly greater recovery proportions.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

A comparison of clinical course with blood group antigen testing by specific red cell adherence and immunoperoxidase in ureteral and renal pelvic tumors.

Specimens of transitional cell carcinoma of the ureter and renal pelvis from 20 patients were tested for blood group antigenicity using immunoperoxidase and specific red cell adherence methods. The results of antigen testing were correlated with tumor stage and grade as well as the subsequent clinical course of the patients. The specific red cell adherence test was negative in 80 per cent and the immunoperoxidase test was negative in 40 per cent of all tumors. Of the 4 patients with positive specific red cell adherence tests 3 had high grade (II to III), invasive tumors as did 7 of 12 with tumors that were positive by immunoperoxidase testing. Blood group antigen testing did not prove helpful in predicting the clinical course of our patients. In addition, a careful review of previously published data does not support the conclusion that blood group antigen testing is a valuable predictor of upper tract tumor aggressiveness.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Isolation of Campylobacter jejuni from raw milk.

Campylobacter jejuni was isolated from raw milk by a method that can routinely detect less than or equal to 1 organism per ml. This procedure was used in a survey of 195 separate farms and showed a 1.5% incidence of C. jejuni in milk from bulk tanks.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Effect of temperature, duration of incubation, and pH of enrichment culture on the recovery of Campylobacter jejuni from eviscerated market chickens.

To establish an enrichment system of high efficiency for recovery of Campylobacter jejuni from market chickens, the effects of the temperature, duration of incubation, and pH of the enrichment culture on the isolation of the bacterium were evaluated. Whole chickens or chicken parts in plastic bags were individually rinsed, and the washings filtered through cheesecloth. The cells were separated from the washings by centrifugation, and the pellet was inoculated into 100 mL of enrichment broth. Isolation of C. jejuni from poultry samples was significantly increased by incubating these samples in an enrichment medium at 42 degrees C as opposed to 35 degrees C; for 48 h as opposed to 24 h or 72 h; and at pH 7.0 as opposed to pH 6.0, 6.5, 7.5, or 8.0.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Thermal inactivation of Yersinia enterocolitica in milk.

Three strains of Yersinia enterocolitica isolated from milk had D values at 62.8 degrees C from 0.24 to 0.96 min and z values of 5.11 to 5.78 degrees C. Since the pasteurization processes for dairy products recommended by the Food and Drug Administration are adequate to destroy large concentrations of these organisms, Y. enterocolitica in pasteurized milk probably results from substandard processing or recontamination after pasteurization.

Animals↗