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Biomedical subjects

Linda Campbell

Publications and source records attributed to Linda Campbell.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Regional and species specific bioaccumulation of major and trace elements in Arctic seabirds.

Twenty-five essential and nonessential elements were analyzed in Arctic seabirds to study the influence of phylogeny, tissue, Arctic region, and diet on avian element accumulation and to identify co-occurrence among metals. Muscle and liver concentrations were positively correlated, generally being higher in liver than in muscle, and generally did not differ by sex. Zinc showed the highest absolute concentrations in all samples (mean, 11.2-26.7 microg/g in muscle, depending on species and area), followed by copper (5.2-7.5 microg/g), arsenic (0.5-5.4 microg/g), selenium (1.0-5.8 microg/g), rubidium (1.4-2.2 microg/g), and cadmium (0.04-1.2 microg/g). Mercury levels ranged from 0.05 to 0.8 microg/g in muscle. The concentrations varied among species (dovekie [Alle alle], black guillemot [Cepphus grylle], thick-billed murre [Uria lomvia], black-legged kittiwake [Rissa tridactyla], northern fulmar [Fulmaris glacialis], ivory gull [Pagophila eburnean], Thayer's gull [Larus thayeri], and glaucous gull [Larus hyperboreus]), and between the northern Baffin Bay (Canada) and the Barents Sea, depending on the element. Whereas some elements (e.g., mercury and zinc) increased in absolute and standardized concentrations with trophic level in the northern Baffin Bay, most elements showed no relationship with trophic level or other dietary descriptors. In absolute concentrations, nonessential elements differed between regions, whereas essential elements differed among species but not within a species across the two regions. Standardized concentrations (element pattern) of both essential elements and nonessential elements generally did not differ between regions but was highly species specific and, thus, determined by the phylogenetic element regulation capacity. The usefulness of multivariate ordination in element wildlife studies is illustrated, which provides additional insight regarding element co-occurrence in wildlife, allows inclusion of species with low sample number, and reduces the possibility of type II errors created by low sample size.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Sustaining nurse-managed practice.

Community-based nurse-managed practice (CBNMP) brings primary health care to local, typically vulnerable, populations. Despite cost-effective, high quality care, a 21% decline in academic CBNMPs was documented in the 1990s. A multiple case study addressed factors that hindered or facilitated diffusion and sustainability of CBNMPs in prevalent practice settings. To promote sustainable practice, CBNMPs should articulate a practice mission, identify the practice as nursing, create a team approach, balance mission with margin, and promote attractive sites. Other recommendations include planning for growth and evolution of health care and applying for awards to increase the visibility and political clout of CBNMPs.

Community Health Centers↗
PubMed2002

The use of physical restraints as a safety measure in the care of older people in four rehabilitation wards: findings from an exploratory study.

We investigated the prevalence and type of physical restraint used with older persons on four rehabilitation wards in Northern Ireland. A longitudinal observational approach was used. One hundred and two patients were observed on four occasions over a three-day period. Most of the patients (68%) were subjected to some form of physical restraint, side-rails being the most commonly observed method. Those who were restrained were dependent on nursing care to meet their needs and received more drugs than those whose mobility was not restricted. No association was found between restraint use and nursing staffing levels, nor was there any association with the incidence of falls. Nurses rationalised their use of restraint as being linked to wandering and patient protection in cases of confusional type behaviours. An association was found between stroke and the maintenance of positional support through the use of restraints (side-rails and screw-on tabletops). Approximately, one-third of those restrained had this noted in their care plans, with concomitant evidence of patient/family involvement in the restraining decision.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A review of mercury in Lake Victoria, East Africa: implications for human and ecosystem health.

Lake Victoria, East Africa, has been the site of many recent studies measuring mercury (Hg) concentrations in water, fish, sediment, soil, and humans. Most of these studies were motivated by concerns about Hg contamination from processing of gold ore on the southern shores. Total Hg (THg) concentrations in fish were usually below permissible World Health Organization (WHO) concentrations and international marketing limits and do not threaten the lucrative export industry. Nile perch 3-10 kg and most >10 kg had THg concentrations above the WHO threshold concentrations for at-risk groups (200 ng/g). Elevated THg concentrations in large Nile perch are not of major concern because Nile perch are rarely consumed by the people living on Lake Victoria and very large Nile perch are becoming increasingly rare in catches. Water THg concentrations were below Canadian drinking water guidelines but were elevated relative to those in the northern Great Lakes. Sediment and soil THg concentrations were within inter-national guidelines and are comparable to those in northern latitudes but are lower than those in the Amazon basin. Biomass burning and soil erosion are estimated to be the major sources of THg for the lake and probably constitute a larger source of THg than gold mining in Tanzania.THg concentrations in urine and hair from human volunteers indicate that while gold miners and frequent skin-bleaching cream users are at risk of inorganic mercury poisoning, the rest of the population, including fishermen, is not. Human exposure assessments demonstrated that fish consumption and soil geophagy constitute major sources of THg for humans, but the total estimated daily intake of THg was below the Health Canada tolerable daily intake (TDI) limits. The use of beauty creams containing high inorganic Hg concentrations, however, caused the estimated THg exposure to exceed the TDI. The high THg content in the hair of regular cream users supports this assessment. The nutritional benefits of fish and soil geophagy outweigh the risk of THg poisoning. Still, due to the importance of those natural items as a THg source to humans, as well as the changing nature of Lake Victoria, regular monitoring and risk assessments need to be carried out in the Lake Victoria catchment.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Evaluating a nurse-led DXA scanning service.

AIM: To examine the feasibility of using a peripheral dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scanning service in a nurse-led clinic and whether or not it would influence treatment and clinician satisfaction with the service. METHOD: A nurse-led clinic, using peripheral DXA scans to identify patients at risk of osteoporosis, was established in the rheumatology department of the hospital. Patients were referred from several sources. A questionnaire was sent to referring health professionals with each scan result. Returned questionnaires were statistically analysed. Of the sample size of 2000, 1024 questionnaires were returned, giving a response rate of 51 per cent. RESULTS: The results confirmed the hypothesis that a nurse-led peripheral DXA scanning service is feasible and beneficial to referring clinicians. Eighty nine per cent (n=912) of respondents stated that the scan results influenced treatment of patients. CONCLUSION: Further investigation of the extent that the DXA scanning service may have reduced unnecessary treatment is required.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗