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Biomedical subjects

M Schofield

Publications and source records attributed to M Schofield.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

The effect of a community action intervention on adolescent smoking rates in rural australian towns: the CART project. Cancer Action in Rural Towns.

BACKGROUND: This paper describes one outcome of a randomized controlled trial of community action for cancer prevention, Cancer Action in Rural Towns. The aims are to [1] explore the effectiveness of community action in decreasing adolescent smoking in rural Australian towns; and [2] describe the relationship between adolescent smoking rates and demographic variables. METHODS: In 1992, 20 rural Australian towns were selected. Community action involved formation of community committees and utilization of access-point networks to initiate and maintain intervention strategies. Cross-sectional surveys of smoking behaviors for all Year 9 and Year 10 students (13-16 years) in each town were conducted pre- and posttest. The main outcome measure was self-reported smoking in the past 4 weeks. SUDAAN software was used to look at differences between treatment. RESULTS: The results showed strong secular trends toward increased adolescent smoking, regardless of treatment group, particularly for females. There was no significant intervention effect. CONCLUSIONS: Increasing adolescent smoking rates found in this and other studies highlight that the definitive strategy to stem the adolescent smoking epidemic has not been found. Hope may remain for recent legislative strategies, but rigorous evaluation is essential, and compliance with legislation should be carefully monitored.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Factors associated with hysterectomy among women in Australia.

This study was to identify hysterectomy prevalence across urban, rural and remote areas of Australia and across states, to separate geographic variation from the effect of sociodemographic influences, and also to compare the quality of life of women who have and have not had hysterectomy. Data were collected from 14,072 women aged 45-50 years participating in the baseline survey of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health. The estimated prevalence of hysterectomy was 22%. Factors significantly associated with hysterectomy included living in a rural or remote area, state of residence, having private health insurance, lower levels of education, being married and having more than two children, having had other gynaecological and non-gynaecological surgical procedures, and more visits to general practitioners. Compared with women who had not had hysterectomy, women who had had hysterectomy had significantly poorer physical and mental health as measured by the SF-36 quality of life profile (adjusted mean PCS=45.7 vs 49.3, p<0.0001; adjusted mean MCS=46.9 vs 48.2, p<0.0001).

Australia↗
PubMed1998

Cholesterol versus cholesterol sulfate: effects on properties of phospholipid bilayers containing docosahexaenoic acid.

The important omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is present at high concentration in some membranes that also contain the unusual sterol cholesterol sulfate (CS). The association between these lipids and their effect on membrane structure is presented here. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), MC540 fluorescence, erythritol permeability, pressure/area isotherms on lipid monolayers and molecular modeling are used to compare the effect of CS and cholesterol on model phospholipid membranes. By DSC, CS decreases the main phase transition temperature and broadens the transitions of dipalmitolyphosphatidylcholine (DPPC), 1-stearoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (18:0,18:1 PC) and 1-stearoyl-2-docosahexaenoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (18:0,22:6 PC) to a much larger extent than does cholesterol. In addition CS produces a three-component transition in 18:0,18:1 PC bilayers that is not seen with cholesterol. In a mixed phospholipid bilayer composed of 18:0,18:1 PC/18:0,22:6 PC (1:1, mol/mol), CS at 2.5 membrane mol% or more induces lateral phase separation while cholesterol does not. CS decreases lipid packing density and increases permeability of 18:0,18:1 PC and 18:0,22:6 PC bilayers to a much larger extent than cholesterol. CS disrupts oleic acid-containing bilayers more than those containing DHA. Molecular modeling confirms that the anionic sulfate moiety on CS renders this sterol more polar than cholesterol with the consequence that CS likely resides higher (extends further into the aqueous environment) in the bilayer. CS can therefore be preferentially accommodated into DHA-enriched bilayers where its tetracyclic ring system may fit into the delta 4 pocket of DHA, a location excluded to cholesterol. It is proposed that CS may in part replace the membrane function of cholesterol in DHA-rich membranes.

Calorimetry, Differential Scanning↗
PubMed1998

Women's Health Australia: recruitment for a national longitudinal cohort study.

The Women's Health Australia (WHA) project is a longitudinal study of several cohorts of Australian women, which aims to examine the relationships between biological, psychological, social and lifestyle factors and women's physical health, emotional well-being, and their use of and satisfaction with health care. Using the Medicare database as a sampling frame (with oversampling of women from rural and remote areas), 106,000 women in the three age groups 18-23, 45-50 and 70-75 were sent an invitation to participate and a 24-page self-complete questionnaire. Reminder letters, a nation-wide publicity campaign, information brochures, a freecall number for inquiries, and the option of completing the questionnaire by telephone in English or in the respondent's own language, were used to encourage participation. Statutory regulations precluded telephone follow-up of non-respondents. Response rates were 41% (N = 14,792), 54% (N = 14,200) and 36% (N = 12,614) for the three age groups. Comparison with Australian census data indicated that the samples are reasonably representative of Australian women in these age groups, except for a somewhat higher representation of women who are married or in a defacto relationship, and of women with post-school education. The most common reason for non-participation was lack of interest or time. Personal circumstances, objections to the questionnaire or specific items in it, and concerns about confidentiality were the other main reasons. Recruitment of three representative age-group cohorts of women, and the maintenance of these cohorts over a number of years, will provide a valuable opportunity to examine associations over time between aspects of women's lives and their physical and emotional health and well-being.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Selenium homeostasis in the central nervous system of the rat.

These experiments have investigated selenium movement between blood and CNS in anaesthetised rats. Each animal was surgically anaesthetised and the left femoral blood vessels cannulated for blood withdrawal and solute infusion. Each rat received 75-selenium as sodium selenite infused in normal saline and experiments lasted between 5 minutes and 5 hours during which blood samples were periodically taken. At termination, the CNS was removed, regionally dissected and analysed with the plasma samples for 75-Se radioactivity by gamma-counting. Data were analysed by graphical analysis. Results showed unidirectional uptake of 75-Se into the CNS and regional differences were not found except for the hypothalamus. On average the CNS influx rate constant (Kin) was about 7 +/- 1 x 10(-5) ml/min/g. Data suggest that the 75-Se most likely entered the CNS as a free ionic form.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Uptake of 75-Selenium into the central nervous system of the rat.

These experiments have investigated selenium movement between blood and the CNS in anaesthetized rats. Each animal was anaesthetized and the left femoral blood vessels cannulated for blood withdrawal and solute infusion. Each rat received 75-Se as sodium selenite infused in normal saline and experiments lasted between 5 minutes and 5 hours during which blood samples were periodically taken. At termination, the CNS was removed, dissected and analysed with the plasma samples for 75-Se radioactivity by gamma-counting. Data were analyzed by multiple-time uptake analysis. Results showed unidirectional uptake of 75-Se into the CNS and some regional differences were found. On average the CNS influx rate constant (Kin) was about 7 +/- 1 x 10(-5) ml/min/g. This indicates that the 75-Se most likely entered the CNS in a protein-bound form.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Dose-dependent induction or depression of cysteine conjugate beta-lyase in rat kidney by N-acetyl-S-(1,2,3,4,4-pentachloro-1,3-butadienyl)-L-cysteine.

The influence of N-acetyl-S-(1,2,3,4,4-pentachloro-1,3-butadienyl)-L-cysteine (NAc-PCBD) on cysteine conjugate beta-lyase in female rat kidney has been examined. After a single, non-nephrotoxic dose of NAc-PCBD (3 mg/kg), cytosolic beta-lyase enzyme activity was increased 1.5 to 3-fold commensurate with a corresponding increase in enzyme protein levels as assessed by both Western blot and ELISA analyses. Using a cDNA probe for beta-lyase, this induction was found to be accompanied by an increase in the cognate mRNA. In contrast, a higher, nephrotoxic dose of NAc-PCBD (10 mg/kg) decreased all the above parameters. These effects appeared to be specific to the cytosolic form of the enzyme as no changes in kidney mitochondrial beta-lyase or enzyme protein levels were observed. Repeated dosing with the lower dose level (3 mg/kg) resulted in either no change, or in some instances, a reduction in the above parameters, suggesting an accumulation of the xenobiotic and a masking of the induction phenomenon. The molecular mechanisms underlying these observations are discussed in terms of the nephrotoxicity of halogenated xenobiotics.

Acetylcysteine↗
PubMed1993

A pilot leg ulcer clinic in a geriatric day hospital.

Twenty-six patients with leg ulcers with a mean age of 80 years were assessed at a day hospital to determine the aetiology and to carry out a trial of four-layer compression bandaging for those suitable. Ten had ankle brachial pressure indices (ABIs) < 0.8. Of nine patients with venous disease who received compression bandaging, only two ulcers healed and have remained healed with fitted below-knee elastic stockings. The remaining patients were unable to tolerate compression or developed deterioration of their ulcers. Nine patients had unhealing arterial ulcers all unsuitable for reconstructive surgery. Five patients presented with pressure sores due to bandages, shoes or heel pressure in bed. All healed slowly with leg elevation and pressure relief. Four patients had extensive non-venous, non-arterial ulceration associated with fluid retention and dependent oedema exacerbated by spending their nights in chairs. Varicose eczema was healed in 12 patients. All the patients had multiple pathology and poorly controlled pain. Although complete healing was achieved in only six patients, the importance of ABI measurement and the gross mixed pathology suggests that every elderly patient with a leg ulcer needs medical assessment and management and that this could form a valuable service of a geriatric day hospital.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

The NHS at a time of radical change.

In his Presidential Address Michael Schofield discussed some of the issues facing the NHS--not the implementation of "Working for Patients", but such things as providing a customer service, and making the best use of staff.

Health Workforce↗
PubMed1978

Regional distribution of ethanol in the rat brain.

The regional distribution of ethanol in selected areas of the rat brain was studied after single intravenous and intraperitoneal injections. Ethanol concentrations (measured by gas-liquid chromatography) in cortex, striatum, and hippocampus were compared with arterial and venous blood alcohol concentrations. As previously reported, equilibrium between tissue and arterial blood occurred within 3 min and followed simple diffusion kinetics. At shorter time intervals (1 min) after injection, regional ethanol concentrations differed, possibly because of regional blood flow and tissue mass. Equilibrium between tissue and venous blood required 10--15 min and coincided with the disappearance of the arterial-venous difference. These findings suggest that tissue ethanol concentrations cannot be determined from venous blood samples until brain arteriovenous equilibrium has occurred. They also support the argument that alcohol concentrations in tissue perfusates do not necessarily provide a reliable guide to those in the tissue.

Animals↗