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Biomedical subjects

K Boyd

Publications and source records attributed to K Boyd.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1997

Adenocarcinoma of the cervix: a regional retrospective study.

A retrospective study using data from the Yorkshire Cancer Registry was undertaken to investigate the incidence, characteristics and prognosis of cases of cervical adenocarcinoma in the Yorkshire Region. Three hundred and twenty-six women resident in the Yorkshire Region formed the basis of the study. The overall five year survival for adenocarcinoma of the cervix is 53%. This was influenced by stage, lymph node involvement and differentiation. 37 out of 122 surgically treated patients received inappropriate treatment. There is a need for improved data collection in the treatment of these patients. This lends weight to the argument that cancer of the cervix should be managed in cancer units.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1996

The relationship between age and the use of DNR orders in critical care patients. Evidence for age discrimination.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether a relationship exists between the use of do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders in the intensive care unit and the age of the patient after controlling for the severity of illness. METHODS: Patients from the Mortality Probability Model database, which includes 6103 patients in 4 large hospitals, and from a second database, which includes 3226 additional patients in 25 hospitals, were analyzed through logistic regression seeking a relationship between age and DNR use. Adult medical and surgical intensive care units from 27 hospitals in the United States were included. RESULTS: In the Mortality Probability Model database, 11.4% of the patients had DNR orders written. In the group of patients younger than 65 years, 8% had DNR orders. This percentage climbed rapidly with age. For age ranges of 65 to younger than 75 years, 75 to younger than 85 years, and 85 years or older, the percentage of patients who had a DNR order was 11.2%, 18.9%, and 32.6%, respectively. Similar results were found in the second database: 5.4% of patients had DNR orders and, again, the rise in the use of DNR orders was associated with increased age. For patients younger than 75 years, 4.2% had DNR orders. For the older groups, 75 to younger than 85 years and 85 years and older, the rates were 8.8% and 15.4%, respectively. Logistic regression was used to control for severity of illness; when compared with patients younger than 65 years, patients 75 to younger than 85 years were 50% more likely to have DNR orders written and patients 85 years or older were 140% more likely to have DNR orders written. CONCLUSIONS: Older patients (> or = 75 years old) are significantly more likely than younger patients to have DNR orders written even after the severity of illness is controlled as a confounding variable. This association suggests age discrimination and becomes stronger as patient age increases.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Comparison of Super Stuff and paraffin wax bolus in radiation therapy of irregular surfaces.

Irregular facial contours can make radiation therapy of head and neck tumors difficult. Isodose lines become skewed, making treatment planning complex. A traditional solution to this problem is the paraffin wax box bolus. Such a bolus is made to fit the irregular surface compensating for the topology and creating an even surface. The fabrication of a wax bolus can be a difficult and time-consuming process. A method that is simple and efficient has been devised. Super Stuff bolus can be easily molded and has approximately the same effect as a similar paraffin wax bolus. This was verified by irradiating a Rando head phantom with both a paraffin wax bolus and a Super Stuff bolus. Doses to various points of interest were measured with thermoluminescent dosimetry (TLD) chips (LiF). The particular case addressed is malignant melanoma of the nasal septum, but the technique described can be useful in the treatment of other sites as well.

Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium↗
PubMed1992

Insulin, glibenclamide or metformin treatment for non insulin dependent diabetes: heterogenous responses of standard measures of insulin action and insulin secretion before and after differing hypoglycaemic therapy.

Using carefully selected relatively non-obese non insulin dependent diabetic patients, we were not able to show differences in standard measures of insulin production or insulin action between patients treated with a long acting crystalline zinc insulin, with glibenclamide, or with metformin for a six week period. All three drugs were hypoglycaemic, but a fall in basal hepatic glucose output measured by the 3H3 glucose technique was only seen in those patients who had an initial fasting plasma glucose above 12.0 mmol/l, irrespective of treatment.

Blood Glucose↗
PubMed1991

Influence of the 53 kDa glycoprotein on the cooperativity of the Ca(2+)-ATPase of the sarcoplasmic reticulum.

Previous results from this laboratory suggest that the 53 kDa glycoprotein (GP-53) of rabbit skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum membrane (SR) may influence coupling between Ca2+ transport and ATP hydrolysis by the Ca(2+)-ATPase. Here we report evidence that GP-53 may influence the cooperative behavior of the Ca(2+)-ATPase. The ATPase activity of the Ca(2+)-ATPase displays negative cooperative dependence (Hill coefficient n less than 1) on [MgATP] and has positive cooperative dependence (n greater than 1) on [Ca2+]free. We have determined the degree of cooperativity for native SR vesicles, SR preincubated with antiserum against GP-53 or preimmune serum, and SR partially extracted with KCl-cholate. Our results show that SR preincubated with preimmune serum or SR treated with cholate in 50 mM KCl (yielding membranes rich in GP-53) demonstrate a cooperative dependence of Ca(2+)-ATPase activity on both [ATP] and [Ca2+] similar to that of untreated SR. SR preincubated with anti-GP-53 antiserum (which causes an uncoupling of Ca2+ transport from ATP hydrolysis) or SR extracted with cholate in 1 M KCl (yielding membranes depleted of GP-53) displays decreased positive cooperative dependence on [Ca2+] and decreased negative cooperative dependence on [ATP]. The results are consistent with the interpretation that GP-53 may influence the cooperative behavior of the Ca(2+)-ATPase.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1991

New assessments of weight-related body image derived from extant instruments.

A study of 79 female college students examined the reliability and validity of two new size/weight-related measures of body image. The Body-size Appraisal Scale and the Overweight Preoccupation Scale were derived from existing instruments. Analyses supported the internal consistency and 2-wk. test-retest reliability of both new scales. Correlations of scores on each scale with measures of anxiety about being fat, negative body-image affect and avoidance, restrained and bulimic eating, and depression support their concurrent and construct validity. Scores on the Overweight Preoccupation Scale were also related to the extent of investment in physical appearance. Regression analyses indicated that each new scale could be predicted from several other conceptually relevant body-image attitudes, even after actual body weight was controlled.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Correction of fasting hyperglycaemia with insulin or sulphonylurea lowers fasting ketone levels, but does not alter resting or post-glucose energy expenditure in non insulin dependent diabetes. Differences between the OGTT and the glucose clamp.

Sixteen non-obese non insulin dependent diabetic patients had a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test with simultaneous measurement of intermediary metabolites and of overall energy expenditure by indirect calorimetry during the test. The same patients had a 3H3 glucose infusion and hyperinsulinaemic glucose clamp procedure with glucose held at 10.0 mmol/l and insulin infused at 40 mU/m2/min. The changes in glucose and fat metabolism, in total energy balance and the fall in RQ during the glucose tolerance test did not correlate with the measures of hepatic glucose output or peripheral insulin resistance in these patients. Although the concept of insulin resistance is useful in considering the non insulin dependent diabetic state, the data derived from the body responses to a single glucose load are more relevant to the day to day fluctuation of the internal environment.

Blood Glucose↗
PubMed1990

Cataracts, intra-ocular lens implants, and a flying career.

The successful correction of cataracts by intra-ocular lens implantation (pseudophakia) restores relatively normal physiological vision to cataract victims. In 1976, Canadian Aviation Authority began to restore flight status to pilots who had developed cataracts and had such surgery. In 1987, a follow-up study was done on the first 75 relicensed pilots. No aircraft incident was related to pseudophakic vision in 16,338 h post-surgery flight time. Air Transport Rated, Senior Commercial, and Private Pilots were included in the study, which covered the whole range of flight activity and all the variations in climatic conditions that are part of Canadian aviation. We conclude that pseudophakic correction of post-surgical cataract vision does not pose any significant hazard in a flight environment.

Accident Prevention↗