PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

K Leighton

Publications and source records attributed to K Leighton.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Transcultural nursing: the relationship between individualist ideology and individualized mental health care.

This article attempts to clarify and underpin the view that individualized mental health nursing is culture biased and politically instrumental, adding weight to the transcultural argument that mental health care should be more culture sensitive than is often the case within conventional UK settings. It examines the political history of individualist ideology, and then uses social conflict theory to explore the potentially counter-therapeutic relationship of individualism and individualized nursing care in the UK mental health sector. The article challenges the widespread idea that individualized mental health nursing is 'liberal', 'democratic', 'holistic' and 'scientific', and in so doing extends the transcultural agenda to large scale infracultural differences within the UK population. It also explores the potential for policy change towards a more pluralistic service, and outlines some of the practical steps which may be taken to access alternative care approaches. It is a power analysis, which may be of transferable value to nurses in mental health care inpatient units where conventional individualized approaches are failing to reintegrate service users into the community. A glossary of terms is presented at the end of this article.

Conflict, Psychological↗
PubMed2005

Action research: the revision of services at one mental health rehabilitation unit in the north of England.

This paper reports the experiences of people in one mental health rehabilitation unit in the north of England, where conventional individualized approaches have repeatedly failed, leading to bed blocking and inertia. An action research approach has been used to identify the key problems concerned, construct appropriate goals and formulate problem-solving plans, leading to the development of an alternative therapeutic regime. The new facility is based on a society-centred, recovery approach which emphasizes the principles of community involvement, social responsibility and meaningful occupation of time. This approach may be of transferable interest to others in the field. The paper outlines the history of the unit, describes the action research process, and presents the philosophy of care, nursing model, admission criteria and main assessment tool now being used. It concludes with an open review of the research process, exploring both positive and negative aspects.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Real-time application of automated ribotyping and DNA macrorestriction analysis in the setting of a listeriosis outbreak.

A cluster of three cases of listeriosis cases occurred against a background of endemic listeriosis in Western Australia. Human and environmental isolates of Listeria monocytogenes obtained during the outbreak investigation were rapidly subtyped by automated ribotyping using an EcoRI protocol and a RiboPrinter. DNA macrorestriction analysis by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was used to confirm the relatedness of isolates. Serogroup 1/2 predominated among the food samples and the four clinical isolates from the outbreak cluster were also of this serogroup. All isolates from chicken material were serogroup 1/2 and indistinguishable by ribotype pattern. PFGE subdivided strains of this ribotype into four subtypes. The preliminary analysis had an immediate impact on hypothesis generation, environmental health investigations, environmental specimen collection and initial control measures. Sufficient typing data to guide environmental health and disease control initiatives was generated in less than one week by combining automated ribotyping with PCR-based detection of L. monocytogenes in suspect foodstuffs and an L. monocytogenes DNA probe. There were no further cases of bacteriologically confirmed listeriosis in Western Australia for six months after completion of the investigation.

Automation↗
PubMed1999

Studies of CD40L expression by lymphoid cells from experimentally and naturally SIV-infected nonhuman primate species.

Dysfunction of T lymphocytes is well documented in HIV-1-infected individuals; however, the mechanisms responsible for the noted dysfunction are not well understood. CD40L is an important costimulatory molecule that helps initiate immune responses, and there is controversy regarding whether or not expression of CD40L is compromised in HIV-1-infected individuals. We have utilized the SIV infection of experimentally infected (disease-susceptible) and naturally infected (disease-resistant) nonhuman primates as animal models of human AIDS to address this issue. Little is known concerning the expression of CD40L in nonhuman primates. Studies were conducted to determine the frequency, density, phenotype, and kinetics of CD40L expression by in vitro activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from different species of uninfected and SIV-infected monkeys. Data obtained show marked differences in the density and phenotypic lineage that expresses CD40L in lymphoid cells from the three species examined. However, no detectable differences were noted in the frequency and density of CD40L expression by in vitro activated lymphoid cells from uninfected and SIV-infected disease-susceptible rhesus macaques and seropositive as compared to seronegative disease-resistant sooty mangabeys. These data suggest that phenotypic expression of CD40L is not compromised due to SIV infection.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Intraoperative cyanosis: a case of dapsone-induced methaemoglobinaemia.

Intraoperative cyanosis is most commonly caused by hypoxaemia. The anaesthetist is required to perform a rapid series of diagnostic manoeuvres and take remedial action. Occasionally methaemoglobin, sulfhaemoglobin, or haemoglobin M, undetected preoperatively, is the cause of the cyanosis. We report a case of methaemoglobinaemia secondary to dapsone ingestion that was diagnosed intraoperatively. Dapsone, a sulfone, is used therapeutically to treat leprosy and dermatitis herpetiformis. The differential diagnosis of cyanosis, and the origin and fate of methaemoglobin are discussed. In addition the diagnostic steps and the laboratory investigations required to make the diagnosis are listed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Haemodynamic and plasma vasopressin responses with high-dose fentanyl anaesthesia during aorto-coronary bypass operations.

Twelve male patients were given high dose fentanyl (75-100 microgram.kg-1) anaesthesia with oxygen during elective aorto-coronary bypass operations, and their haemodynamic and vasopressin responses were determined during induction, sternotomy, cardiopulmonary bypass, post-bypass and recovery periods. For comparison, a group of 12 male patients were anaesthetized with morphine, halothane 0.5 per cent, nitrous oxide and oxygen, and were similarly studied. Significant alterations in haemodynamics included increased mean arterial pressure after sternotomy in the fentanyl group, increased heart rate in both groups, increased systemic vascular resistance after sternotomy only in the halothane group, and decreased left ventricular stroke work index in both groups following induction, bypass, and during the recovery periods. Plasma vasopressin levels increased significantly in both groups during the bypass period, but returned to baseline levels following bypass. Serum sodium and osmolality did not change significantly, and urinary sodium and potassium excretion rose with the progress of the operation in both groups. A positive correlation was found between mean arterial pressure and vasopressin only in the halothane group. Systemic vascular resistance was correlated to vasopressin levels in both groups. Vasopressin response in both groups was similar, with significant but relatively low increases in levels during cardiopulmonary bypass. Fentanyl-oxygen anaesthesia did not provide haemodynamic stability in eight of 12 patients.

Adult↗