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Biomedical subjects

J M Simons

Publications and source records attributed to J M Simons.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Pain assessment tools: children's nurses' views.

The persistence of inadequate treatment of pain in children could be due to lack of knowledge and nurses' failure to assess and manage pain effectively. It is recognized that effective pain assessment leads to more satisfied children and families. This study explored children's nurses' views on the use of pain assessment tools in a tertiary referral centre. Almost two-thirds of nurses did not have a preference for a pain assessment tool, but nearly three-quarters of nurses surveyed agreed that the introduction of pain assessment tools would improve documentation. When nurses were asked how much time they needed for education on these tools, 83 percent wanted only two hours, although almost half stated lack of knowledge or education as the main obstacle to use of a pain assessment tool. The inconsistencies in these replies could reflect the conflicting demands between the nurses' need to increase their knowledge of pain assessment while managing a heavy workload.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1999

Young children in A&E: a local review.

Between two and three million children attend accident and emergency (A&E) departments every year in the United Kingdom, making up one quarter of all A&E attendances (Bentley 1996). Despite government, professional and consumer guidance (Audit Commission 1996, Action for Sick Children 1997), the majority of children are not seen in a children's A&E or cared for by appropriately-trained staff. This study explored the pattern of attendance of 375 children aged five years and under who attended the A&E department in a district general hospital. Issues of service provision and quality of care were also explored using secondary data from A&E records. Key findings were that one third of the children were triaged with non-urgent illness, suggesting a need for improved access to GP services and that a number of children were referred by GPs and admitted via A&E rather than directly to the paediatric ward. Although waiting times were generally short, many children did not appear to receive analgesia, suggesting the need for improved pain assessment and management.

Age Distribution↗
PubMed1992

Metabolic activation of phenols by stimulated neutrophils: a concept for a selective type of anti-inflammatory drug.

Apocynin (4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-acetophenone) is a potent and selective inhibitor of neutrophil oxyradical production. The mechanism of action involves metabolic activation in a (myelo)-peroxidase-dependent reaction. The reaction product(s) prevent(s) the assembly of the superoxide anion-generating NADPH:O2 oxidoreductase by conjugation to essential thiol groups. Different neutrophil functions that are essential to their bactericidal activity, however, remain intact. When administered orally a potent anti-inflammatory activity was found in rats with experimentally induced local or systemic inflammation.

Acetophenones↗
PubMed1990

Reaction products of 1-naphthol with reactive oxygen species prevent NADPH oxidase activation in activated human neutrophils, but leave phagocytosis intact.

Activation of human neutrophils with opsonized particles in the presence of a nontoxic dose of 1-naphthol resulted in inhibition of superoxide anion production but not of the phagocytotic activity of the cells. In this study we have investigated the mechanism of action of 1-naphthol. The inhibition is not at the level of cellular activation since the FMLP-induced rise of intracellular free calcium was unaffected. Our results show that the (metabolic) activation of 1-naphthol to 1,4-naphthoquinone by reaction with H2O2 from the oxidative burst is a necessary event for the inhibition to occur. The study provides evidence that by its reactivity with essential thiol groups 1,4-naphthoquinone (1,4-NQ) prevents the assembly of a functional NADPH-oxidase in the neutrophil membrane.

Electrochemistry↗
PubMed1990

Metabolic activation of natural phenols into selective oxidative burst agonists by activated human neutrophils.

Phenols isolated from the traditional medicinal plant Picrorhiza kurroa inhibit the release of superoxide anion (O2-) by activated human neutrophils, but leave the phagocytotic capacity intact. Resting neutrophils and resting or activated human lymphocytes are insensitive to these agents. The underlying mechanism of this highly selective activity is investigated. A critical event is the reaction of the phenols with secretory products from the activated neutrophils. The reaction products interfere with the assembly of a functional NADPH-oxidase in the membrane. Analysis of the mode of activation of the phenols reveals two possible pathways. Catechols react directly with reactive oxygen species (ROS) from the oxidative burst. For the activation of the orthomethoxy-substituted catechols the combined activity of ROS and myeloperoxidase (MPO) is obligatory. Catechols with a dimethoxy substitution cannot be activated metabolically by neutrophil-derived ROS.

Biotransformation↗
PubMed1990

Antiarthritic activity of the newly developed neutrophil oxidative burst antagonist apocynin.

The plant-phenol 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyacetophenone (trivial name apocynin) is a strong inhibitor of neutrophil superoxide anion (O2-) release in vitro. In vitro the inhibitory effect of apocynin is restricted to cells with the capacity to release peroxidase and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Peroxidase deficient cells are insensitive to apocynin. In the present study the antiinflammatory activity of apocynin was tested in collagen-induced arthritis in rats. Collagen-immunized rats were treated with different doses of apocynin in the drinking water starting at the onset of joint-swelling and terminating 14 days later, at the time when joint swelling in the control group was maximal. Apocynin-treated animals had a normal plasma level of collagen-specific antibodies, but showed a significant reduction of the joint swelling. Also the plasma IL-6 level in apocynin-treated animals was substantially lower than in control animals. No flare-up of joint swelling after termination of the treatment was observed in the apocynin-treated groups.

Acetophenones↗
PubMed1989

Immunodulatory compounds from Picrorhiza kurroa: isolation and characterization of two anti-complementary polymeric fractions from an aqueous root extract.

Two aqueous root extracts of Picrorhiza kurroa, one prepared by extraction at 4 degrees C and the other by refluxing, were purified using the guidance of modulation of classical (CP) and alternative (AP) pathway complement activity. By means of methanol extraction and gel filtration chromatography, two polymeric fractions were isolated from the cold water extract. A methanol-soluble polymeric fraction (CS1) was highly active in inhibiting CP complement activity exclusively, whereas a methanol-insoluble polymeric fraction (CI1) exhibited an inhibitory effect on both CP and AP complement activity. Preliminary chemical analysis of the anti-complementary fractions revealed the presence of structures of carbohydrate and of peptide nature in CS1 and CI1. The modulation of CP complement activity by CS1 was studied in more detail. Its inhibitory effect was proven to be based on complement consumption rather than on chelation of Ca2+ and/or Mg2+ or on stabilization of the target cells in the complement-assay. The purification of the aqueous extract prepared by refluxing, resulted in the isolation of a polymeric fraction with the same qualities as CS1. However, a fraction with properties similar to CI1 could not be isolated from this extract.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed1989

An ethnopharmacognostic approach to the search for immunomodulators of plant origin.

The search for immunomodulating plant constituents through basic and field inquiries into the literature and practices of traditional Indian medicine is treated. The strategy of data collecting proceeds through aspects of an ethnobotanical, an ethnopharmaceutical, an ethnopharmacological, and an ethnomedical nature. In the experimental immunopharmacognostic phase, immunomodulatory compounds are isolated and purified through action-guided fractionation procedures. The results described here refer to activities found on human complement activation and on PMN leucocytes activation. The immunomodulating plant compounds included in this report were isolated from Azadirachta indica bark, Woodfordia fructicosa flowers, Picrorhiza kurroa roots, and Jatropha multifida latex.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed1986

Role perception of consultants in Iowa nursing homes.

A study comparing the differences between consultant dietitians' and foodservice supervisors' perceptions of the role of the consultant dietitian was conducted. Since it was believed that the role of the consultant could vary with the nursing home, 150 facilities were randomly selected from the population of 419 licensed intermediate-care facilities in Iowa. The administrator of each of the nursing homes was contacted by mail and was asked to distribute questionnaires to the consultant dietitian and foodservice supervisor in the facility. Consultant dietitians (no. = 69) indicated desired and actual frequency of performance of 46 selected duties. Foodservice supervisors (no. = 84) indicated desired frequency for consultant dietitian performance for the same 46 duties. Significant differences were found between actual and desired frequency of performance for 32 duties. For all of those duties except one, the desired mean was greater than the actual mean. The reasons for those differences need to be determined. Significant differences were found between the means for frequency of performance for 21 duties desired by the foodservice supervisors and desired by the consultant dietitians. The one duty with a higher foodservice supervisor mean could indicate an area in which assistance is needed from the consultants. When means for frequency of performance of duties desired by foodservice supervisors and actually carried out by consultant dietitians were compared, significant differences were found for 13 duties. Of them, 6 had a higher foodservice supervisor mean. That could also indicate areas in which consultants need to provide assistance to the supervisors. With additional data, the role of the consultant dietitian may be defined in terms of the 46 duties in this study.

Consultants↗