PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J M Romeder

Publications and source records attributed to J M Romeder.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

Using the Internet to support self-care.

Nurses have long recognized the importance of self-care. In the current Information Age, nurses can use the Internet to locate computer- and non-computer-based programs and tools that encourage people to become active consumers who control decisions and actions related to their health. The Internet can support self-care in two main ways: by supplying information and by providing a medium for interactive social support. But there are pros and cons to such use of the Internet.

Humans↗

Premature mortality attributable to smoking and hazardous drinking in Canada.

All causes of death related to the two risk factors, smoking and hazardous drinking, have been reviewed followed by a selection of those causes of death for which the causal role of the risk factor appears to be quasi-certain. For each cause, existing epidemiologic data were reviewed and used to determine the fraction of premature mortality which could be attributed to each factor (called the attributable fraction). This fraction was then multiplied by the corresponding Canadian premature mortality measured in terms of deaths between ages one and 70 and potential years of life lost (PYLL) between ages one and 70, which gives a higher weight to younger deaths. Of the 73,440 deaths between ages one and 70 in Canada in 1974, 12% (or 8718 deaths) were found to be attributable to current smoking and 6% (4716) to hazardous drinking. In terms of PYLL between ages one and 70, hazardous drinking ranks ahead of current smoking with 10% (or 132,044 PYLL) of the total PYLL, whereas current smoking represents 8% (105,085 PYLL) of the total . Regardless of whether premature mortality is expressed in terms of deaths or PYLL, about 18% of Canadian premature mortality is attributable to current smoking and/or drinking (with the range of possible values being 14-22%).

Accidents↗

[The development of potential years of life lost as an indicator of premature mortality (author's transl)].

The indicator of potential years of life lost between ages 1 and 70 (PYLL) is proposed with the primary objective of ranking major causes of premature mortality. This proposal is based on a review of existing mortality indicators and indices and of the history of the concept of potential years of life lost. The method of calculation along with the corresponding rate and the age-adjusted rate are discussed and presented with applications to canadian data and interpretation. Several methodological aspects are discussed, particularly the comparison with more sophisticated approaches based on life tables, which do not appear to alter the ranking of major causes of premature death. This indicator fits well into the category of social indicators and can help health planners define priorities for the prevention of premature deaths. Epidemiological studies could also make use of this indicator of premature mortality. The simplicity of calculation and ease of comprehension should facilitate its use.

Actuarial Analysis↗

Potential years of life lost between ages 1 and 70: an indicator of premature mortality for health planning.

The indicator of Potential Years of Life Lost between ages 1 and 70 (PYLL) is proposed with the primary objective of ranking major causes of premature mortality. This proposal is based on a review of existing mortality indicators and indices and of the history of the concept of potential years of life lost. The method of calculation along with the corresponding rate and the age-adjusted rate are discussed and presented with applications to Canadian data and interpretation. Several methodological aspects are discussed, particularly the comparison with more sophisticated approaches based on life tables which do not appear to alter the ranking of major causes of premature death. This indicator fits well into the category of Social Indicators and can help health planners define priorities for the prevention of premature deaths. Epidemiological studies could also make use of this indicator of premature mortality. The simplicity of calculation and ease of comprehension should facilitate its use.

Accidents, Traffic↗

Effects of saline infusion and acute metabolic acidosis and alkalosis on water and electrolyte transport in the human colon.

Both the kidney and colon secrete bicarbonate and transport water and electrolytes. The respective contributions of these two organs to acid-base and electrolyte balance in normal man has thus been studied in eight healthy male volunteers who underwent simultaneous renal clearance studies, and colonic perfusion with a 0.9% saline or 7.2% mannitol solution, during metabolic alkalosis and acidosis, extracellular volume expansion, and control conditions. There was no influence of these acid-base conditions on electrolyte transport in the colon. In the urine, preferential loss of chloride over sodium averaged 81, 143 (P less than 0.001), and 141 (P less than 0.05) muequiv./min, during control, metabolic acidosis, and extracellular volume expansion conditions, respectively. During alkalosis more sodium than chloride was lost (146 muequiv./min) (P less than 0.001). Colonic pH averaged 7.41 during saline and 6.75 (P less than 0.005) during mannitol perfusion. Titratable acid was not produced in the colon during saline perfusion, and averaged 18 muequiv./min during mannitol perfusion. Urinary titratable acid increased from 19 to 25 muequiv./min (P less than 0.01) during volume expansion. With saline perfusion, bicarbonate secretion rate in the colon rose from 249 muequiv./min during control conditions to 289 muequiv./min during metabolic alkalosis (P less than 0.05). More bicarbonate was excreted in the urine during alkalosis when mannitol was introduced in the colon (243 muequiv./min) than when saline was perfused (152 muequiv./min) (P less than 0.05). This study indicates that the response of the human colon is trivial compared with that of the kidney during acute changes in acid-base balance.

Acid-Base Equilibrium↗