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Biomedical subjects

L K McCoy

Publications and source records attributed to L K McCoy.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1994

Organ donation and the rural critical care nurse.

BACKGROUND: Less than 20% of people who meet the criteria for organ donors are estimated to donate organs. OBJECTIVE: To examine the knowledge and attitudes of rural critical care nurses regarding organ donation. METHODS: Forty-six critical care nurses from a southwestern medical center provided data for this study. Self-reported knowledge and attitudes were measured using the Organ Donor Attitude Questionnaire and compared with respondents' demographic characteristics. RESULTS: Knowledge scores were found to be average (74% correct). Attitude scores reflected a strongly positive attitude toward organ donation. Increased knowledge of organ donation was not found to be related to a positive attitude. However, both attitude and knowledge were found to be positively correlated with previous experience in caring for either organ donors or recipients. Results were compared with data collected in an urban setting and found to be similar. CONCLUSIONS: Results of this study indicate that exposure to patients affected by organ procurement increased knowledge and improved attitudes of the nurses who provided care. Increased knowledge and positive attitude are important when providing support to families and caring for potential donors. These factors could increase the supply of donors for transplants, which is a goal of the organ procurement process.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Clinical presentation, diagnosis, and pharmacotherapy of patients with primary brain tumors.

OBJECTIVE: To briefly review the clinical presentation and diagnosis of patients with primary brain tumors, followed by an in-depth survey of the pertinent pharmacotherapy. DATA SOURCES: A detailed search of the neurologic, neurosurgical, and oncologic literature for basic science research, clinical studies, and review articles related to chemotherapy and pharmacotherapy of primary brain tumors. STUDY SELECTION: Relevant studies on tissue culture systems, animals, and humans examining the mechanisms of action, pharmacokinetics, clinical pharmacology, and treatment results of chemotherapeutic agents for primary brain tumors. In addition, studies of pharmacologic agents administered for supportive care and symptom control are reviewed. DATA SYNTHESIS: Primary brain tumors derive from cells within the intracranial cavity and generally present with headache, seizure activity, cognitive changes, and weakness. They are diagnosed most efficiently with magnetic resonance imaging. After diagnosis, the most common supportive medications include corticosteroids, gastric acid inhibitors, and anticonvulsants. Chemotherapy is adjunctive treatment for patients with malignant tumors and selected recurrent or progressive benign neoplasms. In general, the most effective chemotherapeutic drugs are alkylating agents such as the nitrosoureas, procarbazine, cisplatin, and carboplatin. Other agents used include cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, vincristine, and etoposide. Angiogenesis inhibitors and gene therapy comprise some of the novel therapeutic strategies under investigation. CONCLUSIONS: The efficacy of chemotherapy for primary brain tumors remains modest. Novel agents must be discovered that are more specific and attack tumor cells at the molecular level of tumorigenesis. Furthermore, strategies must be developed to counteract the pervasive problem of brain tumor chemoresistance.

Antineoplastic Agents↗