PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

K Kent

Publications and source records attributed to K Kent.

48 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1980

Neurotrophic influence on lobster skeletal muscle.

The correlation between histochemical properties of muscle fibers and the pattern of innervation by the two motor neurons was studied in the asymmetric claw closer muscles of the lobster. The closer muscle of the cutter claw is composed of 65 percent fast muscle fibers and 35 percent slow muscle fibers, whereas that in the crusher claw has all slow muscle fibers. In both claws, myofibrillar adenosinetriphosphatase activity was independent of the pattern of innervation. Oxidative capacity, as measured by reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide activity, was correlated with motor axon presence: Muscle fibers innervated solely by the "fast" motor axon had low oxidative capacity, muscle fibers receiving only the slow motor axon had very high oxidative capacity, and fibers innervated by both axons had intermediate properties. The data suggest that the motor neurons may exert trophic influences that control certain muscle fiber properties but not others.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗
PubMed1980

Water intake induced by spaced deliveries of salted and sweetened liquid food.

The water intake of food-deprived rats was evaluated under conditions where liquid food was presented occasionally. In the first experiment, when soybean milk alone was presented every 30 sec, little water was consumed. However, when sodium chloride was added to the soybean milk, water intake increased directly with salt concentration from 0.9 to 14.4%. At salt concentrations of 7.2 and 14.4%, the drinking induced by soybean milk resembled in several respects the adjunctive drinking educed by spaced presentations of dry food. In a second experiment, adulterating soybean milk with sugar in concentrations of 7 to 56% did not affect water intake significantly when the food was delivered every 30 seconds. These findings extend the range of conditions known to generate schedule-induced drinking, and point out a previously unknown constraint on the phenomenon.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Reaction time and probability on isolated terms.

The reaction-time probability effect on isolated trials was found to be asymmetrical in an experiment on 64 college students. There was a large drop in RT for a high-probability probe trial embedded in a block of low-probability trials, but a much smaller rise for a low-probability trial embedded in high-probability trials. Thus, low- but not high-probability responses seem to be influenced by characteristics of the trial block. If the basis of the probability effect were the strategic placement of the criterion for response initiation, symmetrical results should have been obtained. A motivational account which accords with the present data is that the subject is ordinarily willing to prepare but is averse to doing so in some (not entirely specified) low-probability circumstances.

Journal Article↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Morbidity after midline mandibulotomy and radiation therapy.

PURPOSE: To assess the morbidity of mandibulotomy in patients treated for neoplasms of the oropharynx and oral cavity, and to determine if postoperative radiation therapy to the mandibulotomy site carries an increased risk of complications. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The medical charts of 30 patients treated between 1992 and 1996 undergoing midline mandibulotomy for tumors of the oral cavity (7 patients) and oropharynx (23 patients) were retrospectively reviewed. Three patients presented with recurrent disease, 1 of whom was previously irradiated. Twenty-five patients received postoperative radiation after mandibulotomy to a median dose of 60 Gy to the primary tumor bed, whereas 5 patients were treated with surgery alone. The patients were separated into those whose mandibulotomy site was within the radiation treatment field (n = 9), and those whose site was shielded (n = 10). Median follow-up was 27.8 months (range 5-81 months). End points included significant pain involving the mandibulotomy site, trismus, malocclusion, wound infection, osteoradionecrosis, and time to oral intake. RESULTS: There were no postoperative deaths. Minor wound infection or breakdown occurred in 4/30 patients (13%). All of these resolved with local care and parenteral antibiotics. More serious complications involving the mandibulotomy occurred in 2 patients (7%). One patient had chronic wound drainage at the mandibular osteotomy site, which healed after plate removal. Another patient developed osteoradionecrosis. No patient developed trismus or malocclusion. With a median follow-up of 27.8 months, 4 patients have recurred locally. The complication rate was 11% for patients whose mandibulotomy site was irradiated, and 30% for those whose site was shielded. CONCLUSION: Mandibulotomy can be safely performed in patients who are likely to require postoperative external radiation.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Design, implementation, and evaluation of an educational program for a new practice model.

Redesigning patient care delivery is vital to the quality of care delivered and has resulted in the development of new nursing practice models that use some form of "nurse extender." In this article, the authors describe the design, implementation, and evaluation of an educational program for a new nursing practice model at a medical center in the Southeast. The major focus of the educational program is the use of modules to train a new nontraditional nurse extender who works in partnership with an RN. The role of the partner in patient care was developed to expedite the provision of a variety of services at the bedside and to help the nurse deliver quality patient care. The training program consisted of five modules: fundamentals of nursing, selected respiratory therapy skills, selected physical therapy skills, electrocardiogram (EKG)/arrhythmia interpretation, and phlebotomy. A major factor in the success of the program was that it was carefully developed and evaluated to meet the needs of students and staff members. This program can serve as a model for other hospitals that plan to use nurse extenders.

Curriculum↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of the partners in care practice model on nursing outcomes.

The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of an empirically-designed nursing practice model on the outcome variables of job satisfaction, autonomy, and retention/turnover of nursing staff. After 6 months significant differences were found on the experimental unit in overall job satisfaction, and on the subscales of job satisfaction in task requirements and perception of pay. Significant differences were found between the control and experimental unit on the Job Satisfaction Index subscales of interaction, task requirements, and autonomy. No significant differences were found in retention/turnover of staff between the experimental and control unit.

Decision Making, Organizational↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of the PIPC model on outcome measures of productivity and costs.

The purpose of this experimental research was to determine the effects of the Partners in Care Practice Model (PIPC) on the outcomes of productivity and costs. Over an 18-month study period, no significant differences were found in costs per patient day between the pilot and control units; however, significant differences were found in actual salaries, amount of time spent in documentation, and supply costs. Differences in costs and productivity reflected increased training costs and costs for additional supplies on the pilot unit.

Analysis of Variance↗