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Biomedical subjects

M Coombs

Publications and source records attributed to M Coombs.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

A literature review of dental casualty rates.

The ability to determine dental casualty rates for the Australian Defence Force in a given situation is vital for military planners. This article reviews the literature and the available Australian Defence Force data on the subject to give some guide to planners. The review found the studies to be fairly consistent in that a well-prepared dentally fit force can expect 150 to 200 dental casualties per 1,000 soldiers per year. If the force were less prepared, as in the case of a reserve call out, this figure would be likely to increase; in the extreme case of an ill-prepared force or a force assisting in humanitarian aid, the emergency rate could be five times that figure. The literature also indicates a change in the nature of dental casualties. Although maxillofacial cases have remained steady at 25%, dental disease has decreased and endodontic cases have had a corresponding increase.

Australia↗
PubMed1998

Determination of trinitrotoluene and metabolites in urine by means of gas-chromatography with mass detection.

Biological monitoring of chemicals and/or their metabolites has been a recent development in South Africa with the publication of the Hazardous Chemical Substance Regulations in 1995. Although trinitrotoluene (TNT) exposure has been included in recent legislative developments, only occupational exposure limits have been set. TNT does not have a biological exposure index in South Africa or internationally. This study was conducted to determine levels of TNT and its metabolite excretion in a sample of munition workers by using gas-chromatography with mass detection methodology. The metabolites 4-amino-2,6-dinitrotoluene (4ADNT) and 2-amino-4,6-dinitrotoluene (2ADNT) in urine of exposed subjects, as well as total TNT (the sum of 4ADNT and 2ADNT), were used to determine absorption and excretion due to TNT exposure. Results indicated an increased absorption of TNT during the working week as compared to other published international studies. Post-shift values exceeded pre-shift levels in all samples. More reliable and specific research is necessary to set a biological threshold limit for TNT and its metabolites since monitoring indicated no definite symptoms, signs or biological effects due to increased excretion.

Chromatography, Gas↗
PubMed1993

Haemodynamic profiles and the critical care nurse.

The last decade has witnessed phenomenal developments available for the critically ill, especially for the patient in shock. These advances have implications for all members of the health care team as new roles and functions are constantly emerging. As the therapies practised today continue to expand, this demands a greater level of expertise for all those involved in critical care. This ever-increasing complexity mandates that we examine the future direction of critical care nursing. This paper examines one area of clinical development--the haemodynamic profile. From a theoretical knowledge base on shock with a review of patient goals of therapy, the discussion is developed with reference to the clinical application of the haemodynamic profile. The parameters, their calculation and meaning for patient treatment is examined using clinical exemplars. The paper concludes by re-affirming the themes drawn on throughout the paper of holistic care, independent and interdependent team relationships and accountable professional practice.

Critical Care↗
PubMed1993

Ventricular assist devices for the failing heart: a nursing focus.

The last decade has witnessed phenomenal advances in the therapies available for critically ill patients, especially for those patients in circulatory failure. This paper presents an overview of mechanical assist devices, focusing on the use of ventricular assist for the failing heart. From a basic review of cardiac failure, the principles of ventricular assist and the indications for its use are examined. After reviewing the ventricular assist devices currently available, the discussion moves to the expert nursing skills required by a patient receiving ventricular assist therapy. All aspects of clinical practice are discussed, with particular emphasis on the full use of assessment skills in order to facilitate care planning and ensure safe delivery of care. These expert nursing skills are considered within the framework of collaborative care. Patients needing ventricular assist may require some of the most advanced holistic nursing skills that critical care nurses possess.

Clinical Competence↗
PubMed1991

Motivational strategies for intensive care nurses.

Motivation plays an important part in people's lives--at work and at play. A motivated individual displays energy, enthusiasm and determination. The frustration that is experienced in a demotivating climate can have implications for an individual's mental health and physical well-being. It is suggested that this state of affairs must surely not be allowed to exist - for the sake of the nurses, clients and organisations. Using a broad review of the motivational theories, this paper draws on resultant common themes. From this, a framework is proposed on which are based suggestions that can be used by critical care nurses to facilitate nurse motivation, with all the concomitant effects this may have.

Burnout, Professional↗
PubMed1984

Biogenic silica fibre promotes carcinogenesis in mouse skin.

Silica fibres derived from plants are common contaminants of human diet in certain regions of the world where oesophageal cancer reaches extremely high incidences. We show here that one of these types of fibre (derived from Phalaris canariensis L) promotes the occurrence of tumours in the skin of mice initiated with a polycyclic carcinogen. Three experiments are described. In the first, the grain which bears these fibres was added to the diet. This did not result in any abnormality in any part of the gastrointestinal tract, but there was a significant induction of tumours in the skin around the mouth and nose; these were the areas of the body surface which most frequently came into contact with the grain. In the second experiment, the mice were separated from the grain by an intervening wire gauze barrier; a similar number of tumours appeared on initiated mice treated in this way. In this case, contact now occurred most frequently on the dorsal surface, which was rubbed against the gauze barrier, and it was on this surface that the tumours appeared. No tumours appeared if the grain was removed. In the third experiment, pure fibres were isolated from the surface of the grain and boiled in strong nitric acid so as to remove any organic material. When these acid-cleaned fibres were applied to the initiated skin with light pressure, they promoted carcinogenesis in the same way as croton oil. In each experiment the majority of tumours produced were benign neoplasms, together with at least one squamous carcinoma. It seems possible that the size and shape of these fibres are the critical properties determining their promoting activity. Their mean diameter is 15 microns, their modal length close to 200 microns, and they are sharply pointed with a tip diameter of 0.5 micron.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1984

Diacylglycerol stimulates DNA synthesis and cell division in mouse 3T3 cells: role of Ca2+-sensitive phospholipid-dependent protein kinase.

The synthetic diacylglycerol 1-oleoyl-2-acetylglycerol competes directly with [3H]phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate for common binding sites in monolayer cultures of Swiss 3T3 cells and rapidly stimulates the phosphorylation of a Mr 80,000 cellular protein that has recently been shown to reflect the activation of protein kinase C in intact cells. Thus, this diacylglycerol provided a useful tool to determine whether exogenously added diacylglycerols can mimic the potent tumor promoter phorbol ester in eliciting DNA synthesis and cell division in quiescent cells. We found that OAG acts synergistically with insulin and other growth factors to stimulate reinitiation of cell proliferation, and several lines of evidence indicate that OAG shares with phorbol esters a common pathway of mitogenic action via stimulation of protein kinase C activity in intact 3T3 cells. The findings support the hypothesis that diacylglycerols represent endogenous analogs of phorbol esters and raise the possibility that diacylglycerols generated in the plasma membrane could act as a mitogenic signal for quiescent cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Mutagenesis in Chinese hamster cells by cyclopenta(a)phenanthrenes activated by a human hepatoma cell line.

The cyclopenta(a)phenanthrene, 15,16-dihydro-11-methyl-cyclopenta(a)phenanthren-17-one, had potent mutagenic activity in cell-mediated mutation assays with V79 Chinese hamster cells as targets, and cells of the human hepatoma line HepG2 as mediators of activation. The compound was inactive when low-passage hamster embryo cells were used as activators. When the mutagenic activity of a series of cyclopenta(a)phenanthrenes was compared in mutation assays with HepG2 cells as activators, there was a good correlation between mutagenic activity in this system and carcinogenic activity in mouse skin in vivo. One exception was a noncarcinogenic compound, which is mutagenic in the Ames' test, and was also mutagenic in the mammalian cell assay.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The challenge facing critical care nurses in the UK: a personal perspective.

Wide-reaching professional, organisational and technological changes within healthcare have impacted on the role of the critical care nurse over the past decade. The major challenge to critical care nurses is to remain focused on providing quality care, optimistic about what can be achieved and realistic given the finite resources available. Suggestions as to how the future of critical care nursing may look are raised. Strategies to ensure that best practice and innovation continues within critical care are discussed, ensuring that patient and family needs remain a priority.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗