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Biomedical subjects

K O'Brien

Publications and source records attributed to K O'Brien.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Comparison of perceived needs of family members between registered nurses and family members of critically ill patients in intensive care and neonatal intensive care units.

Using the Norris and Grove (1986) questionnaire of perceived needs of families of critically ill patients, 11 registered nurses working in the neonatal intensive care unit and 19 registered nurses working in the intensive care unit of two mid-northern community hospitals provided their perceptions of family needs. Their responses were compared with responses of family members of patients in the intensive care unit (n = 25) and the (n = 24). Results suggest that regardless of unit, registered nurses' perceptions of family needs are congruent. Family members collectively and by unit ranked their needs consistently higher and in some areas differently than did the registered nurses.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

The effect of patient-carried reminder cards on the performance of health maintenance measures.

We designed a card that patients carried and showed to their physicians at scheduled appointments to remind them to perform six health maintenance procedures: influenza vaccination, pneumococcal vaccination, rectal examination and hemoccult test, Papanicolaou's smear, physician breast examination, and mammography. Prompt sheets were also attached to all charts to remind physicians to perform these same procedures. One hundred seventy-five patients received the card and the physician prompt sheets on their charts. Two hundred forty-eight patients received only physician's prompt sheet. The card group had significant increases in the performance of influenza vaccinations (47% vs 29%), rectal examination and hemoccult tests (59% vs 46%), Papanicolaou's smears, (30% vs 20%), and physician breast examinations (52% vs 29%). There was not a significant increase in the performance of pneumococcal vaccines (22% vs 24%) or mammography (18% vs 19%). We conclude that patient-carried health maintenance reminder cards are useful in increasing the physician performance of influenza vaccinations, rectal examinations and hemoccult tests, Papanicolaou's smears, and breast examinations.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

A comparison of the effects of tenoxicam and piroxicam on grip strength in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Ten patients were recruited for this randomised double-blind pilot study to compare the efficacy and tolerance of tenoxicam 20 mg daily and piroxicam 20 mg daily in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The change in grip strength over an eight week study period was the primary efficacy variable and measurements were made using a digital pinch/grip analyser (MIE Medical Research Ltd.). There were no significant treatment differences in the change in grip strength (p greater than 0.2), although greater improvements in all efficacy parameters measured were achieved for patients receiving tenoxicam than those receiving piroxicam. Both treatments were well tolerated with few adverse events reported. Further studies with more patients are required to adequately assess whether there are any differences between treatments.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Galactic cosmic radiation exposure and associated health risks for air carrier crewmembers.

The dose equivalent to air carrier crewmembers from galactic cosmic radiation was estimated for each of 32 nonstop flights on a variety of routes to and from, or within, the contiguous United States. Flying times were from 0.4 to 13 hours. The annual dose equivalents received on the flights ranged from 0.2 to 9.1 mSv (20 to 910 mrem), or 0.4 to 18% of the recommended annual limit for occupational exposure of an adult. We reviewed some of the characteristics of galactic and solar cosmic radiation and provided example calculations for estimating radiation-induced risks of fatal cancer, genetic defects and harm to an embryo or fetus. The estimated increased risk of dying from cancer because of galactic radiation exposure received during 20 years of flying ranged from 0.1 to 5 in 1,000. For the adult U.S. population the risk of dying from cancer is about 220 in 1,000.

Abnormalities, Radiation-Induced↗
PubMed1988

Solid cancer risk after treatment of Hodgkin's disease.

We pooled the data from seven studies of second cancer risk after treatment of Hodgkin's disease (HD) and estimated the relative risks (RR) of solid cancers (SC) for the following two treatment groups: (1) radiotherapy, with or without chemotherapy; and (2) chemotherapy alone. For all treatment groups combined, the RR of SC was 2.1 (95% confidence limits: 1.8 to 2.4). In the radiotherapy group, statistically significant RR were found for SC for all anatomic sites (RR: 2.2; 95% confidence limits: 1.9 to 2.6) and for SC of the bones and joints (RR: 20.0), soft tissues (RR: 18.3), non-HD lymphomas (RR: 8.1), melanomas of the skin (RR: 6.7), buccal cavity and pharynx (RR: 4.1), nervous system (RR: 3.6), respiratory system (RR: 2.5), and digestive system (RR: 1.8). In the chemotherapy alone group, none of the RR differed significantly from unity, and the RR for SC of all sites was 1.1 (95% confidence limits: 0.5 to 1.9). The average duration of follow-up for patients with chemotherapy was shorter than the duration of follow-up for patients with radiotherapy. This may explain the general absence of elevated RR after chemotherapy.

Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions↗
PubMed1988

Effects of HIV infection, perceived health and clinical status on a cohort at risk for AIDS.

Data from a general population sample of 621 healthy homosexual men are used to evaluate the social and emotional effects of HIV antibody status, clinical signs detected by medical examination, and subjectively perceived symptoms. Participants are unaware of their serologic status at the time of data collection, thus allowing the effects of the virus to be separated from reactions to the knowledge of serologic status. The data show that seropositivity for HIV is not associated with elevated levels of social or emotional impairment. Clinical signs lead to impairment in baseline data, but these effects do not persist at a second wave. This weakening suggests that the effects are mediated by psychological pathways rather than biologic ones. This suspicion is confirmed in further analyses, which show that the effects of clinical signs are mediated by subjectively perceived symptoms. These results show that neither social nor emotional impairment is likely to be a prodromal sign of HIV infection in otherwise healthy homosexual men. The substantial levels of distress found among these men is more directly influenced by psychological determinants than biologic ones. This suggests that physicians should be aware of the psychological toll imposed on gay men who develop health problems in the current atmosphere of uncertainty regarding risk of AIDS.

AIDS Serodiagnosis↗
PubMed1987

Prevalence of smokeless tobacco use in Pitt County, North Carolina.

The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of smokeless tobacco use in the largest tobacco-producing county in the United States. A 1-in-100 systematic random telephone sample was taken from the county telephone directory. A total of 280 complete questionnaires were obtained. Results indicate that .40 +/- .042 [p +/- SE(p)] males and .09 +/- .024 of females use smokeless tobacco. The point prevalence for the total population was estimated to be .15.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Cytologic results of fine-needle aspiration biopsies of the central nervous system.

The cytologic results of 34 fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsies of the central nervous system (CNS) are reported. There were 31 intraoperative biopsies performed at the time of craniotomy. All the cases were diagnosed using direct smear preparations stained with Papanicolaou and Diff-Quik (Harleco, NJ) stains. The sensitivity of the procedure was 90.7%, specificity 100%, positive predictive value 100%, and efficiency of the test of 91%. There were no false-positive diagnoses and three false-negative diagnoses. This study attests to the diagnostic accuracy of FNA cytologic examination of the central nervous system. Statistical analysis of the few previous FNA biopsy series of the CNS are presented. Review of the indications, advantages and complications of CNS needle biopsy are discussed. This report supports the role of fine-needle aspiration cytology in the evaluation of CNS lesions. With recent developments in radiologic imaging, especially ultrasound and computed tomography (CT) using stereotactic guidance, specimens can be obtained for cytologic diagnosis using thinner needles. Excellent diagnostic accuracy can be obtained, as pathologists gain greater familiarity with interpreting FNA biopsy material. Other advantages of FNA biopsy of the central nervous system include the low morbidity and mortality of the procedure and the ability to perform the biopsy through a burr hole under local anesthesia and thereby decrease hospitalization time and cost.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Detection of two viral genomes in single cells by double-label hybridization in situ and color microradioautography.

Double labeling and color microradioautography were used in a new method of hybridization in situ to identify different genes in individual cells. The method is based on the unequal penetration of 3H and 35S into two layers of nuclear track emulsion separated by a thin barrier film. Hybridization of a 35S-labeled probe specific for one kind of gene results in silver grains over cells in both layers of emulsion; a 3H-labeled probe for a second gene provides grains only in the first layer of emulsion. Silver grains are converted to magenta-colored grains in the first layer and to cyan-colored grains in the second to facilitate enumeration of grains in each layer. This technique should be widely applicable in analyses of differential gene expression in single cells or in discrete populations of cells.

Autoradiography↗
PubMed1984

Can a calcaneal morphologic index determine the degree of osteoporosis?

The proposal that a scoring system of the radiographic trabecular patterns of the os calcis could be related to degree of osteoporosis was tested. The technique fails as it showed no correlation with actual bone density determined by a Compton scatter technique and because of a low level of observer concordance. Possible reasons for the poor performance of the index developed in India when applied to North Americans are discussed.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1984

Glucose affects in vitro maturation of fetal rat islets.

Fetal pancreatic islets (21.5 days old) were cultured in RPMI 1640 containing either 2.8 or 11.1 mM glucose for 7 days. After the 7-day culture period, islets cultured in 2.8 mM glucose demonstrated a minimal first phase of insulin secretion in response to acute glucose stimulation, whereas islets cultured in 11.1 mM glucose demonstrated a biphasic insulin secretory pattern. Islets cultured in 11.1 mM glucose initiated insulin secretion at 4.4 +/- 0.1 mM glucose and plateaued at 11.6 mM glucose when exposed to a linear gradient. In addition, culture in 11.1 mM glucose increased DNA content (P less than 0.01) and [3H]thymidine incorporation (P less than 0.05) in fetal islets. However, ultrastructural morphometric analysis indicated that the actual number of beta-cells within islets cultured in either 2.8 or 11.1 mM glucose did not increase. The insulin contents of islets cultured in 2.8 and 11.1 mM glucose were 0.46 +/- 0.06 and 1.14 +/- 0.10 mU/islet, respectively. During subsequent glucose stimulation, islets cultured in 2.8 and 11.1 mM glucose released 3% and 5.6% of their total insulin content, respectively. Ultrastructural morphometric analysis indicated that 11.1 mM glucose stimulated an increase in the volume of individual beta-cells, i.e. hypertrophy. The hypertrophy of beta-cells within islets cultured in 11.1 mM glucose resulted in a concomitant increase in islet volume. Finally, the hypertrophy of beta-cells within islets cultured in 11.1 mM glucose was a result of increased volumes of mitochondria, secretory granules, and, to the greatest extent, endoplasmic reticulum. These findings indicate that glucose is a potent factor in the maturation of cultured fetal rat islets.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Metabolic basis of the species difference to aflatoxin B1 induced hepatotoxicity.

Primary metabolism of aflatoxin B1 by the liver microsomal enzymes from a range of animal species showed both quantitative and qualitative differences. Quail was shown to have the most rapid metabolism of aflatoxin B1. The major product of metabolism in this case was found to be aflatoxin B1-8,9-dihydrodiol suggesting that the quail microsomes produced high levels of the proposed reactive intermediate aflatoxin B1-8,9-epoxide. Using this system to generate the epoxide, the ability of the cytosol prepared from each species to conjugate epoxide with reduced glutathione was investigated. Large differences in ability to conjugate were observed ranging from 0 to 72% for quail and mouse respectively. Differences in both primary and secondary metabolism of AFB1 were noted between male and female Fischer 344 rats.

Aflatoxin B1↗