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Biomedical subjects

Karen Wilson

Publications and source records attributed to Karen Wilson.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

Preventing medication errors with smart infusion technology.

PURPOSE: Processes that pharmacists can use to identify high-risk areas and drugs that require special focus in error-prevention efforts are discussed, with emphasis on the need for i.v. medication error prevention. SUMMARY: Pharmacists can help determine where best to focus medication safety efforts and innovative technology by identifying areas that pose the greatest risk of harm to a patient, such as medications, administration routes, patient care areas, and diagnosis-related groups. Delivery of i.v. medications via infusion devices has traditionally not been a major concern for pharmacists. The introduction of "smart" infusion technology has changed that paradigm by requiring pharmacist involvement in defining minimum and maximum doses for continuous and bolus infusions used within a health care facility. This technology provides a software filter to prevent key-stroke errors in programming infusion devices for delivery of i.v. drugs, as well as a new source of data with which to measure medication errors at the bedside. Implementation of smart infusion technology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center appeared to prevent errors involving heparin. In addition to having an immediate positive impact at the bedside, the technology was relatively easy to implement. CONCLUSION: Smart infusion systems represent an innovative technology that can provide an additional layer of protection at the point of care to help avert i.v. drug errors and prevent patient harm.

Biomedical Technology↗

Gender differences in pain, coping, and mood in individuals having osteoarthritic knee pain: a within-day analysis.

This study examined gender differences in prospective within-day assessments of pain, pain coping, and mood in men and women having OA, and analyzed gender differences in dynamic relations between pain, mood, and pain coping. A sample of 64 women and 36 men diagnosed as having pain due to osteoarthritis of the knee(s) rated their pain, pain coping, and mood two times each day (once in the afternoon and once in the evening) for 30 days using a booklet format. Two gender differences were found in between person-analyses: women used more problem focused coping than men, and women who catastrophized were less likely than men to report negative mood. Several within-day and across-day gender differences were noted. First, women were much more likely to show a significant increase in pain over the day. Second, men were more likely than women to experience an increase in coping efficacy over the day. Third, men were more likely than women to use emotion-focused coping when their mood was more negative. Finally, men were more likely than women to experience an increase in negative mood and a decrease in positive mood in the morning after an evening of increased pain. Taken together, these findings underscore the importance of obtaining multiple daily assessments when studying gender differences in the pain experience.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Further evaluation of quantitative structure--activity relationship models for the prediction of the skin sensitization potency of selected fragrance allergens.

Fragrance substances represent a very diverse group of chemicals; a proportion of them are associated with the ability to cause allergic reactions in the skin. Efforts to find substitute materials are hindered by the need to undertake animal testing for determining both skin sensitization hazard and potency. One strategy to avoid such testing is through an understanding of the relationships between chemical structure and skin sensitization, so-called structure-activity relationships. In recent work, we evaluated 2 groups of fragrance chemicals -- saturated aldehydes and alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes. Simple quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) models relating the EC3 values [derived from the local lymph node assay (LLNA)] to physicochemical properties were developed for both sets of aldehydes. In the current study, we evaluated an additional group of carbonyl-containing compounds to test the predictive power of the developed QSARs and to extend their scope. The QSAR models were used to predict EC3 values of 10 newly selected compounds. Local lymph node assay data generated for these compounds demonstrated that the original QSARs were fairly accurate, but still required improvement. Development of these QSAR models has provided us with a better understanding of the potential mechanisms of action for aldehydes, and hence how to avoid or limit allergy. Knowledge generated from this work is being incorporated into new/improved rules for sensitization in the expert toxicity prediction system, deductive estimation of risk from existing knowledge (DEREK).

Aldehydes↗