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Biomedical subjects

M Kirk-Smith

Publications and source records attributed to M Kirk-Smith.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Homosexual orientation in males: evolutionary and ethological aspects.

Evolutionary theory proposes that adaptive traits are reproduced more successfully than maladaptive traits. Accordingly, natural selection should favor heterosexuality as it facilitates reproduction and the propagation of genes. However, the question becomes, what has maintained homosexuality in a small but consistent percentage of the human population? Research into the evolutionary and hormonal factors associated with a homosexual orientation have yielded provocative but inconsistent results. It also suggests that human sexual orientation, and in particular homosexual orientation, is too complex to be described by one simple model or a single research discipline. The current paper treads a new path and emphasizes an integrative approach for the understanding of homosexuality. The authors examine the combined effects of evolutionary factors and neurohormonal processes on the development of a homosexual orientation. It is suggested that research into the topic could benefit from an examination of and change in some of the assumptions upon which much past research has been based.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed2000

Evaluation of massage with essential oils on childhood atopic eczema.

Childhood atopic eczema is an increasingly common condition in young children. As well as being irritating to the child, it causes sleepless nights for both the child and the family and leads to difficulties in parental relationships and can have severe effects on employment. A group of eight children, born to professional working mothers were studied to test the hypothesis that massage with essential oils (aromatherapy) used as a complementary therapy in conjunction with normal medical treatment, would help to alleviate the symptoms of childhood atopic eczema. The children were randomly allocated to the massage with essential oils group and both counselled and massaged with a mixture of essential oils by the therapist once a week and the mother every day over a period of 8 weeks. The preferred essential oils, chosen by the mothers for their child, from 36 commonly used aromatherapy oils, were: sweet marjoram, frankinsence, German chamomile, myrrh, thyme, benzoin, spike lavender and Litsea cubeba. A control group of children received the counselling and massage without essential oils. The treatments were evaluated by means of daily day-time irritation scores and night time disturbance scores, determined by the mother before and during the treatment, both over an 8 week period; finally general improvement scores were allocated 2 weeks after the treatment by the therapist, the general practitioner and the mother. The study employed a single case experimental design across subjects, such that there were both a within-subject control and between-subjects control, through the interventions being introduced at different times. The results showed a significant improvement in the eczema in the two groups of children following therapy, but there was no significant difference in improvement shown between the aromatherapy massage and massage only group. Thus there is evidence that tactile contact between mother and child benefits the symptoms of atopic eczema but there is no proof that adding essential oils is more beneficial than massage alone. Further studies on the essential oil massage group showed a deterioration in the eczematous condition after two further 8 week periods of therapy, following a period of rest after the initial period of contact. This may have been due to a decline in the novelty of the treatment, or, it strongly suggests possible allergic contact dermatitis provoked by the essential oils themselves. The results of this study indicate the necessity of prolonged studies with novel plant extracts as short-term beneficial results could be overturned by adverse effects after repeated usage.

Aromatherapy↗
PubMed2000

Colloquial descriptions of body image in older surgical patients.

Major surgery and associated experiences in critical care settings affect patients' perceptions of their body images. This paper discusses several colloquial terms related to body image used in interviews by elderly patients following major surgery for abdominal aortic aneurysm. The terms 'badly failed, and well mended', and 'out of sorts', and 'in tune with my body' recurred. These referred to perceptions related to body weight or strength and bodily competence and control, respectively. Patients had difficulty explaining these colloquial terms in other words, i.e. synonyms were not readily available to them. Therefore, discussions or assessment using conventional body image terms used in psychology and nursing literature may be confusing, misunderstood or irrelevant to these patients. This may be true for other groups, not necessarily elderly patients, using other colloquialisms. Such terms may not correspond directly to conventional body image terms, so comparability must be ascertained before standard body image instruments can be justified for use in such populations. Nurses and health care professionals need to be sensitive to such colloquial descriptions when assessing need and interventions involving psychological perceptions of body image. It is suggested that these colloquial terms, which patients naturally perceive as relevant, should be used to communicate, discuss, and assess therapy during recovery after major surgery that involves intensive care.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Skin conductance and subjective assessments associated with the odour of 5-alpha-androstan-3-one.

Two experiments are reported using the odours of 5-alpha-androstan-3-one (androstanone) and, a control odour, aurantiol. Various measures of skin conductance (SC) were recorded and analysed and subjects also rated the odours using analogue scales. The first experiment involved comparisons between subjects who perceive the androstanone odour as pleasant and subjects who perceive it as unpleasant. A number of differences were shown between the two groups and also between androstanone and aurantiol. The results are interpreted as demonstrating the influence of cognitive factors that are found between male and female responses and also between the responses of the 'pleasant' and 'unpleasant' groups. The second experiment examined the SC response of subjects who displayed specific anosmia to the odour of androstanone. The results suggest that the concept of specific anosmia requires modification.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Winning ways with research proposals and reports.

This paper is the first of a series of six on the evaluation of clinical treatments. It explains the steps involved in drawing up research proposals and reports, with emphasis on the importance of planning. Later papers will cover literature searches, setting aims, designing the evaluation and presenting results.

Budgets↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Finding, reading and documenting literature.

Before embarking on an evaluation project it is important to be familiar with the relevant literature. Critical reading of the literature is essential in helping the investigator refine the questions and design of his or her study. The retrieval and use of available literature for use in a study proposal is outlined here.

Bibliographies as Topic↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Clinical evaluation: deciding what questions to ask.

Preparation and planning ahead are all-important in carrying out an evaluative study. Systematic evaluation provides evidence for the justification of a given treatment or intervention. In this third article looking at clinical evaluation, the process of posing a question which lends itself to study is examined. Questioning, it is argued here, can be seen as having three progressively complex levels. These can uncover: first, whether an effect has taken place; second, what may have caused the effect; and third, how the effect might be improved. Previous articles in this series appeared in the March 13 and April 10 issues of Nursing Times.

Clinical Nursing Research↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Planning and carrying out a clinical study: the first steps.

This paper is the first of two explaining the methods which may be used in clinical evaluation. It describes how a project or study is planned to meet its aims. It covers issues related to the sample, interventions and the measures employed to evaluate the interventions.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗
PubMedDate not supplied

How to design an effective research study.

The previous paper in this series (March 13) examined three methodological issues: sample selection, treatment and/or intervention and observation and measurement. Here, aspects of research design and procedures will be considered. Research design is important in helping to ensure that the results can be correctly interpreted and that observed changes can be attributed to the planned intervention rather than to other intervening factors. The description of the procedure explains how the selected methods were combined and describes the practical details of how the study was carried out.

Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Clinical evaluation: analysing and discussing the results.

This is the last of six papers considering the evaluation of clinical treatments. The purpose of clinical evaluation is to identify changes that result from a particular form of treatment. Study findings are presented in the results section of a report. They may be summarised in tables or graphs so that changes, and the extent of those changes, can be clearly identified. Statistical tests may be used to confirm that these changes are due to treatment and not to chance. The choice of statistical tests employed depends on the methods used and should be selected when designing the study. The meaning of the results and their implications are discussed in the final section of of this paper.

Clinical Nursing Research↗