PubMed HealthSearch

Biomedical subjects

P M Jacobs

Publications and source records attributed to P M Jacobs.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

An approach to defining and operationalizing critical thinking.

The faculty in a midwestern university confronted the imperative to define and measure critical thinking in the nursing undergraduate curriculum. Theoretical and operational definitions were developed by faculty through literature review, extensive discussion, student participation, and evaluation. These activities also led to the generation of a list of indicators to assess the presence of critical thinking. Through the process faculty have developed a deeper understanding of critical thinking and fostered students' critical thinking abilities.

Clinical Competence

Exploring the concept of health among adolescents with diabetes using photography.

The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the concept of health among adolescents with diabetes. Photography was used to facilitate communication. Participants were given Polaroid cameras with instructions to take pictures illustrating health. They were then asked to explain in writing how their pictures demonstrated the concept. The participants produced 46 pictures and 53 descriptive expressions, which were analyzed for content. Health was described as energy, positive feelings, absence of illness, strength, activity, fitness, mental ability, and relationships. There were also descriptions of what one does to be healthy, which included eating nutritious food, exercising, engaging in diabetes-related care, sleeping, studying, relaxing, maintaining hygiene, and obtaining shelter.

Adolescent

Magnetic resonance imagery of a calcaneal lipoma.

An intraosseous lipoma of the calcaneus has been present and stable in this patient for at least 16 years; the only change has been an increase in the central calcification of the tumor. Because of the apparent stability of the lesion and the patient's complete lack of symptoms, no surgical intervention has been attempted. A baseline magnetic resonance image of the tumor was obtained to confirm the diagnosis and to aid in ruling out malignant degeneration of the tumor. The magnetic resonance image appearance of the calcaneal lipoma; increased signal intensity on T1-weighted images, with areas of decreased signal intensity centrally within the lesion; and corresponding increased signal intensity on the T2-weighted images and Short Tau Inversion Recovery suppression, are consistent with the descriptions from various texts on magnetic resonance imaging of the foot and ankle.

Bone Neoplasms

Musculoskeletal injury: pathologic fractures of the femur.

A pathologic fracture is one that occurs in abnormal bone during normal activity or after minimal trauma. Pathologic fractures occur most often in the spine, pelvis, humerus, ribs, and femur. Pain is the primary complaint of patients presenting with pathologic fracture or impending fracture. Pain is also the primary concern for the patient and the major indication for treatment of pathologic femur fractures.

Adult

Vitrectomy, argon laser, and gas tamponade for serous retinal detachment associated with an optic disc pit: a case report.

We report the case of a 9-year-old boy with a right optic disc pit and associated serous retinal detachment of the macula. This was treated by vitrectomy, endolaser, and gas tamponade as a primary procedure, which resulted in complete resolution. We review the literature and conclude that further reports of the management of this uncommon condition are required so that firmer guidelines on treatment can be established.

Child

Behaviour of intraocular gases.

The changes in volume of intraocular bubbles of air, sulphur hexafluoride, perfluoropropane and mixtures of these gases, were studied in human eyes, following vitrectomy for treatment of retinal detachment. The implications of these findings, for the provision of optimal internal tamponade in the treatment of retinal detachment, are discussed.

Air

Closed microsurgery for the sequelae of neovascularisation from veno-occlusive retinopathies.

Our experience of closed microsurgery for vitreous haemorrhage and/or traction retinal detachment complicating extraretinal neovascularisation after retinal vein occlusion or Eales' and Behçet's periphlebitis is discussed. Many of these eyes represented a relatively simple management problem, but the visual outcome was often compromised by intrinsic macular damage. Some eyes had complicated vitreoretinal relationships which presented unexpected technical difficulties, while persisting retinal ischaemia posed the risk of rubeosis iridis or post-operative vitreous haemorrhage unless scatter endophotocoagulation was used.

Cataract Extraction

Retinal relieving incisions.

Retinal relieving incisions were undertaken during closed microsurgery for the treatment of retinal detachment complicated by retinal shortening as a result of incarceration or irresectable epiretinal membranes. In 16 of 20 eyes the retina remained attached after a minimum follow up of six months. Visual acuity of 2/60 or better was achieved in eleven of the 20 eyes and seven eyes had an acuity of 6/60 or better. Retinal relieving incisions are required in a minority of retinal re-attachment procedures and are compatible with useful visual function.

Adult

Intraocular gas measurement using A-scan ultrasound.

A-scan ultrasound was used to measure the position of the gas-fluid interface in eyes following vitrectomy and gas internal tamponade. Using 20 eyes of 19 patients it was found that in most instances the gas-fluid interface could be measured to within 0.5mm. The procedure was simple to perform and was well tolerated by the patients. This appears a useful way of monitoring changes in intraocular gas volume.

Eye

Precision of cell density estimates and endothelial cell loss with age.

The precision of estimating endothelial cell density of the cornea, using a noncontact method of specular microscopy, was assessed by asking eight individuals with known densities in one operated-on and one unoperated-on eye to have photography on two occasions in the same day. Three photographs of each eye were assessed by two individuals using masking procedures. Interobserver differences were negligible and estimates were similar except for one eye with low density values. The method was applied to a natural history study in which 103 eyes had cell-density estimates at zero and two years, and mean cell loss was found to be 2%. A collateral study using only good photographs that were available at both zero and two years showed a similar loss of 1.86% and reduced the number of counts showing unexpectedly high gains and losses.

Aging