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Biomedical subjects

S Bale

Publications and source records attributed to S Bale.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Pressure sore prevention in a hospice.

This study investigated the influence on the number of pressure sores developing in patients nursed in a hospice when three levels of pressure support were used in association with a risk assessment tool. The study was designed as phase one of an epidemiological study examining the use of a modified Norton scoring system. This was followed by a second phase of the study, when patients were allocated to pressure sore support systems according to their risk assessment score. A total of 327 patients entered, 223 in phase one and 104 in phase two. A significant reduction in the development of pressure sores was observed in the second phase of the study.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Familial nasopharyngeal carcinoma in patients who are not Chinese.

BACKGROUND: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a malignancy that is prominent in Cantonese Chinese people. It is presumed to result from an interaction of genetic and environmental factors, including the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). In an attempt to further clarify the pathogenesis of this disease, an evaluation of NPC occurring in racial/ethnic groups not considered susceptible to this disease could be informative. METHODS: A white family with NPC occurring in three siblings was investigated and information was gleaned from literature on other reports of familial NPC in non-Chinese families. RESULTS: In the family being investigated, another genetically determined disease, hemophilia, was identified. Radiation early in life was noted to be a possible risk factor for NPC in the proband. A review of familial NPC in the white population revealed that in contrast to sporadic NPC, which is usually of the well-differentiated type, familial NPC usually is poorly differentiated. CONCLUSIONS: Familial NPC offers an important opportunity to investigate the etiology of this disease. With newer laboratory techniques to investigate pathogenetic mechanisms, detailed evaluations of non-Chinese NPC families may become increasingly important.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Environmental-occupational risk factors and familial associations in multiple system atrophy: a preliminary investigation.

We studied 60 patients with multiple system atrophy and autonomic failure and 60 control subjects matched for age, sex and race. Their psychosocial history, pedigree and occupation were obtained by personal interview. An inventory of autonomic and neurologic symptoms was obtained from 148 first-degree relatives of the patients and 80 controls by a self-administered questionnaire. Patients with multiple system atrophy had significantly more potential exposures to metal dusts and fumes, plastic monomers and additives, organic solvents, and pesticides than the control population. The potential exposures were determined in most subjects by their reported usual occupation. Clinical symptoms of multiple system atrophy were reported by a significantly larger group of patients' relatives than controls. These findings are possibly consistent with the hypothesis that multiple system atrophy develops as a result of a genetically determined selective vulnerability in the nervous system. Specific neuronal systems may become targets for environmental insults or toxins, and the disease state may occur when ageing neuronal systems can no longer sustain functional capacity. This preliminary study supports the need to further explore possible environmental, occupational, and familial contributions to the aetiology of multiple system atrophy.

Environment↗
PubMed1990

Localization of the von Hippel-Lindau disease gene to a small region of chromosome 3.

We studied 25 families with von Hippel-Lindau disease (VHL) to locate VHL more precisely on chromosome 3. We found that VHL was linked to RAF1, confirming previous observations, and to two polymorphic DNA markers, D3S18 and D3S191. Multipoint linkage analysis indicated that the most likely location for VHL was in the interval between RAF1 and D3S18. D3S18 was located at 3p26. Genetic heterogeneity was not detected in this panel of von Hippel-Lindau disease families. The polymorphic markers RAF1, D3S18, and D3S191 should be useful in identifying asymptomatic gene carriers in VHL families and in guiding efforts at gene isolation.

Chromosome Mapping↗
PubMed1990

Using modern dressings to effect debridement.

Before sloughy or necrotic wounds can begin to heal, they must be debrided. Some of the modern wound dressings are not only extremely effective in this, but they do not damage surrounding tissue.

Bandages, Hydrocolloid↗
PubMed1989

The distribution of debrisoquine metabolic phenotypes and implications for the suggested association with lung cancer risk.

Debrisoquine hydroxylation exhibits wide inter-individual variation in Caucasian populations. After similar doses of the drug, extensive metabolizers excrete up to several hundred times more of the urinary metabolite 4-hydroxy-debrisoquine than do poor metabolizers. The phenotypes have traditionally been defined by the metabolic ratio (MR), or the molar ratio of debrisoquine to its chief metabolite recovered in an aliquot of an eight hour urine sample, after a test dose of the drug. Deficient metabolism is inherited as an autosomal recessive condition. We have reanalyzed previously published data from a study of lung cancer patients and controls using a computerized optimization method to more accurately estimate the parameters describing the three phenotypic distributions. Using these new distributions to categorize controls, we show that Hardy-Weinberg conditions are now fulfilled. When the newly defined phenotype parameters are employed to assign the phenotypes of cases and controls, a highly significant difference in phenotype distribution between cases and controls is still observed. This result supports the hypothesis that the debrisoquine metabolic phenotype may be associated with lung cancer susceptibility.

Chromatography, Gas↗
PubMed1989

Cost effective wound management in the community.

When patients with cavity wounds are discharged from hospital, they may need to pay for some of the items needed for their wound care. This can be a financial strain, which nurses may be able to ease.

Bandages↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Comparing hydrocolloid dressings in management of exuding wounds.

Hydrocolloid dressings have been widely used since the late 1970s. This article compares two hydrocolloid dressings--3M Tegasorb dressing and ConvaTec's Granuflex (E)--and highlights their similarities and differences when used in the clinical situation. Both hydrocolloids were reported to perform favourably by users in most situations. 3M Tegasorb dressing becomes transparent in use and this function was rated highly by users compared to the opaque Granuflex (E). In addition, 3M Tegasorb showed better adherence. One limitation of the study was the small number of patients studied. Weekly assessments yielded 90 data sets in total.

Adult↗