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Biomedical subjects

M A Jennings

Publications and source records attributed to M A Jennings.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

Assessing the accuracy of an automated coding system in emergency medicine.

Accuracy and speed are imperative when it comes to coding medical records. Completely automated approaches to coding are faster than human coders, but are they as accurate? To measure accuracy, a "gold standard" is required; however, establishing a standard for medical records coding is problematic given the inherent ambiguity in some of the coding rules and guidelines. This paper presents statistics regarding the variability amongst experienced coders and compares this variability with an automated system, LifeCode. The authors conclude that LifeCode is as accurate as the human coders used in this study and offers the potential for increased coding consistency and productivity.

Electronic Data Processing↗

Early citizen review: does it make a difference?

Case review, designed to promote adequate and appropriate planning and service delivery for children in foster care, is expected to reduce time in foster care and to lead to permanent placement outcomes. This article reports the results of a study on the impact of external citizen review initiated 14 to 45 days after a child entered the court system. Comparisons were made between two study groups to determine the impact of early citizen review on services planned and provided, court delays, completeness of the written case plans, number of placements, time in placement, and achievement of permanent placement. Implications for policy and practice are discussed.

Case Management↗

BAY u9773, a novel antagonist of cysteinyl-leukotrienes with activity against two receptor subtypes.

The effects of BAY u9773 (6(R)-(4'-carboxyphenylthio)-5(S)-hydroxy-7(E),9(E), 11(Z),14(Z)-eicosatetraenoic acid), a cysteinyl-leukotriene analogue, were investigated on a variety of smooth muscle preparations in order to determine its profile as a cysteinyl-leukotriene receptor antagonist. The tissues were contracted with leukotriene C4 or leukotriene D4 and their receptor characteristics defined as either 'typical' or 'atypical' according to the activity or inactivity, respectively, of the selective antagonists ICI 198615, MK 571 and SKF 104353. BAY u9773 antagonised 'typical' cysteinyl-leukotriene receptors with pA2 (or pKB) values in the range 6.8-7.4 and also antagonised 'atypical' receptors with pA2 values in the range 6.8-7.7. However, BAY u9773 had no effect at 10(-6) M against a selection of non-leukotriene stimuli in the same preparations. BAY u9773 competitively displaced [3H]leukotriene D4 binding to guinea-pig lung homogenate, with a pKi of 7.0 +/- 0.1. In the guinea-pig lung strip, BAY u9773 was found to be inactive at 10(-6)M against leukotriene C4- and leukotriene D4-induced contractions, which may suggest the existence of a third type of cysteinyl-leukotriene receptor. These data demonstrate that BAY u9773 is a selective cysteinyl-leukotriene receptor antagonist with comparable activity at both 'typical' and 'atypical' receptors and as such represents a valuable tool for the study of cysteinyl-leukotriene receptors.

Animals↗

A study of temperature changes occurring in setting dental cements.

A study has been made of the rise in temperature associated with the setting of dental cements. Results are discussed in terms of the chemistry of the cement systems and are related to specification testing and clinical usage. Zinc oxide cements evolve more heat than those based on ion-leachable glasses, and phosphate bonded cements evolve more heat than polycarboxylate cements.

Acrylic Resins↗