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Biomedical subjects

J Martin

Publications and source records attributed to J Martin.

At least 955 records · Page 53Linked to original sources

[Structure of work times of public health nurses: effect of the age of patients, nature of care given and location of contact].

In the framework of health services research sponsored by the Swiss National Science Foundation, a research was undertaken of the activity of the large majority of the public health nurses working in the Swiss cantons of Vaud and Fribourg (total population 700,000). During one week, 130 nurses gathered, with a specially devised instrument, data on 4165 patient visits. Studying the duration of the contacts, one has distinguished contact duration per se (DC), duration of the travel time preceding the contact (DD), and total duration in relation with the contact (DTC-addition of the first two). It was noted that the three durations increased significantly with patient age (as regard travel time, this is explained by the higher proportion of home visits in higher age groups, as compared with visits at a health center). Examined according to location of the visit, contact duration per se (without travel) is higher for visits at home and in nursing homes than for those taking place at a health center. Looked at in respect to the care given (technical care, or basic nursing care, or both simultaneously), our data show that the provision of basic nursing care (alone or with technical care) doubles contact duration (from 20 to 42-45'). The analyses according to patient age shows that, at an advanced age (beyond 80 years particularly), there is an important increase of the visits where both types of care are given. However, contact duration per se shows a significant raise with age only for the group "technical care only"; it can be demonstrated that this is due to the fact that older patients require more complex technical acts (e.g., bladder care, as compared with simpler acts such as injection). A model of the relationships between patient age and contact duration is proposed: it is because of the increase in the proportions of home visits, of visits including basic nursing care, and of more complex technical acts that older persons require more of the working time of public health nurses.

Adult↗

An automaton computer program for a microcomputerized real-time (thesaurus based) abstract medical record.

A study of the key wordings used by the doctors in medical records in ICU preceded this implementation; they constitute a thesaurus (2700 strings) organized in 2 trees. These strings are proposed along the dialogue which occurs between the microcomputer and the user; on these bases, several graphs allows movement in the tree by minimization of the pathway. The use of the thesaurus with the corresponding graphs necessitates only one automaton program. This medical data microcomputerized system is transparent for the user, thanks to a multilayered software. In the external layer the microcomputer provides access to the system by one of the following function keys: creation of a medical record, additional information on a medical record already known, research of a medical record, listing of the open medical records, printing of a medical record. Each one of these function keys provides access to the following 5 chapters: identity, antecedents, reasons for admission, evolution, destiny; these chapters use parameterized procedures. This software is implemented on a low-cost microcomputer fitted with a dual drive disk (170 kilobytes each) and a printer (90 characters/s).

Computers↗

Design and feasibility of a flexible computerized system for the clinical laboratory, based on the IEEE 488 standardized interface.

Our target is to build a flexible computerized system based on an informational study of the clinical laboratory, which would leave the laboratory staff free to use equipment or modules from different manufacturers interchangeably. This applies to hardware and software. To fulfil this objective, it is necessary that automatic analyzers, microcomputers and minicomputers, have built-in standardized hardware and software interfaces. Technical specifications of the IEEE 488 standardized interface, recommended by the authors, are presented here; this interface is already widely used in instrument interfacing with low-cost microcomputers are minicomputers but has not yet been used for clinical laboratory automatic analyzers. A design for a flexible laboratory based on this interface is presented, with a discussion of the feasibility of such a project.

Autoanalysis↗

[A chronological linkage technic of records and use of the obtained information. Application to the functional control of cardiac stimulators].

The application of information processing to the study of the evolution of the patient's state requires the constituting of a file which contains the values of different items as functions of time. There are many methods for doing this and most of them appeal to the construction of a complex database. The technique presented in the paper paper tries at first to constitute, for each patient, some records, of which every one corresponds to a determined "operation' (the term "operation' is taken in the wide sense; example: consultation, surgical intervention,...) then to link them according to the chronological order. It has the advantage of being easy so that it may be used even on minicomputers. Furthermore, the exploitation of the resultant data file is very easy. This method is well suited to problems such as the examination of the longitudinal investigations, the treatment of records of the patients who went through several operations, etc. The application presented here is the checking of the functioning of pacemakers. We wrote on a minicomputer MITRA 15/125 transferable general program (using FORTRAN IV exclusively), which allows one to carry out the linking and to exploit the resultant file. It is so designed that the addition of new procedures involved in new applications may be very easy.

Computers↗

Studies on neuraminidase from influenza virus A(H3N2) obtained by two procedures.

1. Neuraminidase was obtained by (A) bromelain solubilization or (B) by treatment with N-lauroylsarcosine. 2. 5-N-acetyl-2-O-(3-methoxyphenyl)-alpha-D-neuraminic acid, employed as substrate, avoids the interference produced by the thiobarbituric acid method, and is not interfered by the ampholytes. 3. Only about 20% of original enzyme activity was lost after electrofocusing. The sample from procedure A showed two peaks, corresponding to pIs 4.4 and 5.6. The sample from procedure B, having a higher activity, showed only one peak at pI 4.4. 4. Samples A and B showed different Km and hydrolysis rate with N-acetylneuraminyl-lactose and glycophorin A. It was not found significantly different with other substrates: alpha 1-acid glycoprotein, brain gangliosides, 5-N-acetyl-2-O-(3-methoxyphenyl)-alpha-D-neuraminic acid and 2'-(4-methyl umbelliferyl)-alpha-D-N-acetylneuraminic acid.

Amino Acids↗

Venous thrombosis during total parenteral nutrition with central venous catheters--role of nutritive solutions.

Contrast venograms were performed after removal of the catheter in 17 cases with isolated fever during a study of 187 patients treated by total parenteral nutrition with silicone central venous catheters. Thrombosis of the superior vena cava or of one of its collaterals was present in 7 cases and comparison with the 10 cases who had normal venograms showed a significant difference in the composition of the nutritive solutions infused. Patients with thrombosis received more hypertonic solutions with higher concentrations of glucose and nitrogen in their daily infusions.

Journal Article↗

Studies on the disulfide region of alpha 1-protease inhibitor.

The single disulfide bond of purified human alpha 1-protease inhibitor was reduced with dithiothreitol in the absence of denaturant and the resultant sulfhydryl groups were alkylated with iodoacetamide-1-C14. The product was found to be fully functional as an inhibitor of trypsin and elastase in esterolytic and proteolytic assays. The modified protein was also found to be nearly identical to native alpha 1-protease inhibitor when analyzed by immunological, electrophoretic, and spectral methods. The performic acid oxidized inhibitor, on the other hand, was devoid of any enzyme inhibitory activity. Analysis of the derivatized protein by amino acid analysis and by radioactive counting revealed only a single cysteine-containing peptide. The alkylated inhibitor was digested with cyanogen bromide and then trypsin, and subjected to two-dimensional peptide mapping. A single cysteine-containing peptide was recovered and shown to have the sequence Phe-Asn-Ile-Gln-His-Cys-Lys. A variety of experiments involving gel filtration or dialysis of reduced or oxidized alpha 1-protease inhibitor indicate that this Cys-peptide is covalently bound to either free cysteine or to glutathione via a disulfide bridge.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Binding of 21 thiol reagents to human hemoglobin in solution and in intact cells.

The reactivity of the cysteine-beta 93 residue of human hemoglobin was investigated in order to define the optimal structure of potential antisickling agents. The properties of 21 thiol reagents were compared with regard to (a) their binding rate to hemoglobin in solution and within intact cells; (b) the modification of the oxygen dissociation curve of intact cells and (c) the effect on methemoglobin formation in solution or within intact cells. The results show the very different behaviors of these reagents.

Adult↗

Enteropathy complicating maintenance therapy in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

Seven patients being treated for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia between March 1976 and March 1981, in accordance with Medical Research Council protocols, developed clinical malabsorption while on maintenance chemotherapy. All of them received weekly methotrexate and 6 of the 7 were given co-trimoxazole. Five patients had folate deficiency. Stopping the anti-leukaemic therapy led to a resolution of gastrointestinal symptoms. A combined effect of methotrexate and co-trimoxazole is postulated.

Adolescent↗

Effects of inspiratory loading on respiratory muscle activity during expiration.

We studied respiratory muscle activity during expiration in four normal subjects during inspiratory resistive and elastic loading, with and without positive and expiratory pressure. Net inspiratory muscle activity (Pmus) was measured by relating esophageal pressure to the chest wall relaxation pressure-volume (P-V) curve. Abdominal muscle activity (Pabd) was quantitated by relating gastric pressure to the relaxation P-V curve of the abdomen. The decay rates of Pmus and of transdiaphragmatic pressure (Pdi) were increased during loading, and end-expiratory lung volume decreased. The decay rates of Pmus and Pdi were inversely related to expiratory duration. Inspiratory intercostal/accessory activity during expiration was frequently observed together with Pabd, especially during elastic loading. We conclude that external mechanical loads, acting during inspiration, influence respiratory muscle behavior during expiration. Inspiratory loads diminish expiratory braking by the inspiratory muscles and recruit expiratory muscles. The rate of expiration is enhanced and its duration shortened. Simultaneous persistent action of the inspiratory intercostal and accessory muscles throughout expiration may serve to optimize diaphragmatic length.

Abdominal Muscles↗

Comparison of gingival index and sulcus bleeding index as indicators of periodontal status.

Although the gingival index and sulcus bleeding index have been widely used as indicators of periodontal status, there is some disagreement among investigators as to their meaning and significance. A clinical study was undertaken to monitor the occurrence of gingival bleeding, oedema, and change in colour in subjects with and without periodontal disease, and it was found that the combinations of these clinical symptoms often did not correspond exactly with an index score. It is therefore suggested that any study of periodontal disease should be based on fundamental criteria, such as bleeding or oedema, rather than on composite indices.

Adult↗