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Biomedical subjects

L Schumacher

Publications and source records attributed to L Schumacher.

16 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

[Subtainable health promotion via organisational development--a model project for teachers in professional training schools].

The goal of this project is the development, implementation and evaluation of a concept designed for sustainable health promotion among occupational and trade school teachers. We assume that for sustainable health promotion -- along with a behavioral prevention program -- a change is necessary in the structure, as well as, the working and communication processes within schools. The realization of early teacher participation and self regulated cooperative groups initiates comprehensive and goal-oriented developmental processes in the project schools. The organizational development process was accomplished in the following way: At the beginning we conducted a diagnosis of school-specific and individual health risks and the resources available to the project schools. The results were reported for both the individual and for the teacher group. This was intended to clarify the potential for improvement and, thus, strengthen the teachers' motivation toward processes of change. Following the diagnosis, the teachers chose areas of stress-related strain and then worked in groups to develop and implement behaviour and working condition-oriented intervention strategies for health promotion. The diagnosis results confirm the necessity of school-specific health promotion: the schools demonstrate very different demand and resource profiles. Furthermore, is has become evident that the central success factor for health promotion in schools is the teachers' willingness for change. The individual and group reports of the diagnosis results seem to have made clear how essential individual and organisational changes are.

Education, Professional↗
PubMed2005

The time course of the bilateral release of cytokines and mediators after unilateral nasal allergen challenge.

BACKGROUND: Late phase reactions after allergen challenge can be understood as a correlate of the inflammatory reaction in allergic rhinitis. METHODS: To investigate which cytokines are involved in it and to dissect direct and indirect effects of nasal allergen challenge, we performed unilateral nasal allergen provocation with the disc method in 12 seasonal allergic volunteers. Symptom scores, nasal secretions and nasal airflow were quantified. In the secretions that were collected in the early phase and for 8 h after provocation, we measured histamine, and the cytokines interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-8, IL-4, and the natural antagonist of IL-1beta, IL-1 receptor type 1 (IL-1Ra) using enzyme-linked immunosorbent (ELISA)-assays. Control challenges with diluent instead of allergen were performed in all subjects. RESULTS: We demonstrated a bilateral increase in nasal secretion weights in the early and late phase. Histamine was significantly increased in the early and late phase in nasal secretions from both nostrils. IL-1beta increased in the late phase only, where it was also found on the unchallenged, contralateral side. Its antagonist IL-1Ra was found in very high quantities (1000-fold higher than IL-1beta) but demonstrated only marginal changes after provocation. IL-8 was increased in both nostrils early and late after challenge, whereas IL-4 was significantly elevated in the late phase. CONCLUSIONS: We described the time course of mediator and cytokine release into nasal secretions after allergen challenge. We hypothesize that the observed indirect effects on the unchallenged, contralateral side can be at least partially attributed to neuronal reflexes.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Identifying patients "at risk" for alcohol withdrawal syndrome and a treatment protocol.

Alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence are common problems. It is estimated that more than 10 million Americans have problems with alcohol dependence that adversely affect their lives and the lives of their families. Many of these patients, if hospitalized, have the potential to experience symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. Major alcohol withdrawal symptoms may include seizures and the development of delirium tremens. Obtaining an alcohol consumption history is a critical component to identifying patients at risk and determining the appropriate treatment plan for potential alcohol withdrawal. A protocol was established for identifying and treating patients at risk for alcohol withdrawal. The initiation of the treatment protocol is history- and symptom-based; treatment is symptom-triggered on the basis of frequent objective assessments. The purpose of the protocol is to prevent and control withdrawal symptoms without heavily sedating or hindering a patients' neurological assessment.

Alcohol Withdrawal Delirium↗
PubMed1997

A sensitive method for the detection of murine C-type retroviruses.

A RT-PCR assay was developed for group-specific detection of murine C-type retroviruses using a nested set of degenerated primers. To distinguish exogenous viruses from related, but silent endogenous viruses, a DNAse I pretreatment of supernatants is applied. This is followed by a heat inactivation/denaturation step. The PCR method is ultrasensitive. which enables the detection of 100 attogram of MoMuLV proviral DNA or up to 1-10 infectious mouse C-type retroviruses in 10 microl supernatant of infected cells. The high specificity of the method allows the differentiation between mouse C-type retroviruses and related retroviruses of the A, B, and D type and C-type retroviruses found in other species. It serves as a valuable tool for the screening of animal cell cultures for contaminations with mouse retroviruses, e.g. hybridomas or recombinant cell lines producing foreign proteins.

3T3 Cells↗
PubMed1997

Outcome after total hip arthroplasty. Comparison of a traditional disease-specific and a quality-of-life measurement of outcome.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the Harris Hip Score (HHS), a traditional method of patient assessment of a total hip arthroplasty (THA), and the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), a commonly used health-related quality-of-life survey. One hundred forty patients returning for routine clinical follow-up evaluation of a primary THA were asked to fill out the SF-36 quality-of-life survey, as well as questions concerning their perceptions of their THA. The patient's surgeon assessed the THA with the traditional HHS. The correlations between the HHS and the SF-36 domains were highest in the physical component summary scores for male patients of all ages and female patients 65 years of age or older. The correlations were lower for the mental component summary scores of all patients, but particularly in female patients younger than 65. When the SF-36 scores were compared with age and sex-matched population norms, both age and sex were found to be important. Men younger than 65 had scores lower than norms in the physical function domains, but were comparable in the mental health domains. The older men had scores comparable to the norms in all domains. Female patients of all ages, however, had lower scores in the physical function domains. The greatest differences were noted in the female patients younger than 65. The HHS is commonly used to assess disease-specific pain and function in THA patients; however, the results of this study suggest that the SF-36 health survey can capture additional important quality-of-life domains that are influenced by a THA and that these domains are influenced by the age and sex of the patient. The combination of a disease-specific scoring system and a quality-of-life survey would allow a more global assessment of a THA in all patients. Studies evaluating the results of THAs should either assess the results of male and female patients separately when sample size is sufficiently large or use sex as a possible covariate in a multivariate analysis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Nursing Management Minimum Data Set (NMMDS).

The Nursing Management Minimum Data Set (NMMDS) is the research-based management data set that meets the nurse executives need for a specific nursing management data capture system that will produce accurate, reliable, and useful data for decision making. The authors update the development of the NMMDS and discuss the 17 NMMDS across-settings elements. Also discussed are the applications of the NMMDS to clinical practice and some ways in which the NMMDS can benefit both nurses and patient/client care.

Continuity of Patient Care↗
PubMed1996

Differences between patients' and physicians' evaluations of outcome after total hip arthroplasty.

The purpose of this study was to compare patients' and physicians' evaluations of the results of 147 total hip arthroplasties. The patients and physicians independently evaluated pain and over-all satisfaction with the outcome of the procedure using a 10.0-centimeter visual-analog scale. They also answered a questionnaire with which they assessed general health, functional ability, and pain. The mean (and standard deviation) analog rating for pain (with 0.0 centimeters indicating no pain and 10.0 centimeters, severe pain) was 1.7 +/- 2.6 centimeters as assessed by the patients and 1.1 +/- 1.8 centimeters as assessed by the physicians (p < 0.001, paired t test). The mean analog rating for over-all satisfaction (with 0.0 centimeters indicating poor and 10.0 centimeters, excellent) was 8.6 +/- 2.1 centimeters as assessed by the patients and 8.8 +/- 1.7 centimeters as assessed by the physicians (p = 0.07, paired t test). There was a marked disparity between the patients' and the physicians' scores when the patients assigned a low score to a particular area. For the thirty patients who rated the pain as more than 4.0 centimeters, the mean analog rating was 6.8 +/- 2.1 centimeters according to the patients, while it was 3.6 +/- 2.7 centimeters according to the physicians (p < 0.001, linear regression). The mean analog rating for over-all satisfaction according to the nineteen patients who rated this parameter as less than 7.0 centimeters was 3.8 +/- 2.0 centimeters, while the mean rating according to the physicians 6.5 +/- 2.8 centimeters (p < 0.001, linear regression). The patients' and physicians' evaluations were similar regarding the results of the total hip arthroplasty when the patients had little or no pain and were satisfied with the result. However, the disparity increased as the patients' ratings for pain increased and their ratings for over-all satisfaction decreased. This study highlights a discrepancy between patients' and physicians' evaluations of the results of total hip arthroplasty. This discrepancy increased when the patient was not satisfied with the outcome. The use of patients' self-administered questionnaires as well as traditional physician-generated assessments may provide a more complete evaluation of the results of total hip arthroplasty.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1993

The effect of exercise on fructose absorption.

The effect of exercise on intestinal absorption of fructose was evaluated in 10 subjects after they consumed four beverages, each containing a total of 50 g carbohydrate: 100% fructose (100F), 95% fructose and 5% glucose (95F), 70% fructose and 30% glucose (70F), and 100% glucose (100G), as well as a water placebo. With 100F and 95F, breath hydrogen, which is an index of incomplete absorption, increased significantly in all subjects. In contrast, hydrogen excretion did not increase in any subject after consumption of 100G or water, or in five of seven subjects who consumed 70F. The rapid increase in hydrogen excretion observed when consumption of 100F was followed by exercise was not noted during a comparable nonexercise trial. These data suggest that intestinal capacity for absorption of fructose is readily saturated after ingestion of amounts as small as 50 g and that exercise, which reduces intestinal transit time, can cause incomplete absorption of fructose.

Fructose↗
PubMed1988

Fatty acid composition of macrophage phospholipids in mice fed fish or borage oil.

The polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) composition of murine peritoneal macrophage phospholipids was dramatically altered in vivo following the four-wk feeding of specific dietary oils. Fish oil (containing 20:5n-3 and 22:6n-3) feeding significantly increased macrophage 20:5n-3, 22:5n-3, and 22:6n-3 (P less than 0.05), while borage oil (containing 18:2n-6 and 18:3n-6) increased (P less than 0.05) the macrophage 20:3n-6/20:4n-6 ratio, relative to safflower oil (containing 18:2n-6) and hydrogenated coconut oil (containing 12:0)-fed animals. The macrophage phospholipid PUFA profiles were compared with those of the liver, lung and spleen. The significance of the PUFA alterations is discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

The long 3'-untranslated regions of the PDGF-A and -B mRNAs are only distantly related.

A cDNA clone of about 2300 base pairs was prepared from the human osteosarcoma cell line U-2 OS by hybridization with a 22-mer oligonucleotide complementary to the NH2-terminus of PDGF-A. Restriction and sequence analysis showed that this clone contains the entire coding region for PDGF-A and a long 3'-untranslated region which is only distantly related to that in the mRNA of PDGF-B.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1979

Further progress with oncolysis due to apathogenic clostridia.

Cl. onc. apathogenic for human beings and small animals is not able to cure tumor-bearing hosts. Combined treatments with local X-irradiation and local HFH have decreased the death rate of Harding-Passey-Melanoma-bearing mice. A cure rate of ca. 20% has resulted for the first time in such experiments. The survival time has increased significantly, however relapses occured on the sites of transplantation which finally killed the animals. Therefore it was tried to repeat the threefold-combined treatment. The animals with a relapse tolerated such a second and third series well. After the second series of treatment some animals became free of relapse and some after the third series. That means, if repeating treatment with local HFH, local X-irradiation, and i.v. spore-application of Cl. onc., it is possible to cure the Harding-Passey-Melanoma of the mouse at a high percentage.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Professional advancement model for critical care orientation.

The Mayo Medical Center, Rochester, Minnesota, has developed a unique collaborative method to educate both the experienced and the recent graduate nurse about critical care. These programs are 12 to 16 weeks and include a classroom, a skills lab, computer-assisted learning, and preceptor instruction. The curriculum model design incorporates Benner's novice-to-expert professional advancement model. Professional growth of the critical care nurse occurs through a combination of educational strategies that build on general theory to the application of critical thinking skills. The result of this program is a competent, practicing, critical care nurse.

Career Mobility↗