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Biomedical subjects

K Gregson

Publications and source records attributed to K Gregson.

4 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Follicular fluid responds endothermically to aqueous dilution.

BACKGROUND: Studies suggest that ovarian follicles are cooler than their surrounding tissues. The mechanism of this remarkable phenomenon is unclear. We postulate that endothermic reactions accompany the growth-associated hydration of follicular fluid. METHODS: We performed two types of experiment, using human and animal follicular fluids. In the first, saline (50 microl) was injected into follicular fluid (500 microl) held in an equilibrated incubator, with monitoring of sample temperature. In the second, an adiabatic microcalorimeter recorded thermal shifts after injection of buffer (10 microl) into previously dialysed samples (1.4 ml). The relevance of changes observed was assessed by mathematical modelling. RESULTS: In the incubator study, 9/17 bovine and 6/12 human fluids showed a temperature fall (0.05-0.2 degrees C). Cooling was delayed by up to 2 min but sustained for 7-25 min. Remaining fluids showed no change. In the microcalorimeter, 4/9 human, 4/6 bovine, 5/5 porcine and 1/4 equine samples showed an endothermic response. Remaining samples showed either no response (bovine) or exothermy (human, equine). Pre-concentration of human follicular fluid amplified the endothermy or reversed the exothermy. Modelling indicated that the incubator-type response was of appropriate magnitude to explain follicular hypothermy. CONCLUSION: Follicular fluid responds endothermically to aqueous dilution and may contribute to follicular cooling during growth.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Attitudes to audit.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1994

Practical audit workshops for nurses.

Six practical audit workshops were run for nurses working in the Greater Glasgow Health Board. Between 15 and 25 nurses came for a morning session and returned 6 weeks later for an afternoon session. The participants came from all grades, specialties and units across the health board. The morning session included a basic introduction to the principles and stages of the audit cycle and information on different audit methods. The majority of the time was devoted to small group discussions where individuals were able to develop their own ideas for audit projects relevant to their working situations. Together with one of the organizers, the members of the groups helped each other in the design of the different projects. Almost 65% of attenders (78 out of 122) returned 6 weeks later for the afternoon session and most had begun an audit project in the time interval. These projects were at various stages around the audit cycle. The afternoon sessions started with a talk by a nurse involved in an audit project, followed by the participants returning to their small groups to discuss the successes and problems involved in their own audits. The groups provided further support and advice based on a wide range of different experiences during the intervening time. The projects carried out were impressive both in the quality and the variety of topics covered. Ninety per cent of those attending felt that the knowledge gained from the exercise was of practical use in their own working environment. A measure of the success of the workshops was that several of the later afternoon talks were given by nurses who had attended the earlier workshops.

Education, Nursing, Continuing↗