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Biomedical subjects

S Cavanagh

Publications and source records attributed to S Cavanagh.

16 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Functional impairment and cognition in bipolar disorder.

Bipolar disorder is a common, chronic and severe mental disorder, affecting approximately 2% of the adult population. Bipolar disorder causes substantial psychosocial morbidity that frequently affects the patient's marriage, children, occupation, and other aspects of the patient's life. Few studies have examined the functional impairment in patients with affective illness. Earlier outcome studies of mania reported favorable long-term outcomes. However, modern outcome studies have found that a majority of bipolar patients evidence high rates of functional impairment. These low reports of functional recovery rates are particularly surprising. The basis for such limited functional recovery is not entirely clear. Factors associated with functional dysfunction include presence of inter-episode symptoms, neuroleptic treatment, lower social economic class, and lower premorbid function. Cognitive dysfunction, a symptom domain of schizophrenia, has been identified as an important measure of outcome in the treatment of schizophrenia. Recently, there has been some suggestion that there may be impaired neuropsychological performance in euthymic patients with recurring mood disorders. Whether impaired neuropsychological performance in associated with the functional impairment in bipolar patients who have achieved syndromal recovery is an intriguing question. The literature on functional impairment and cognition in bipolar disorder is reviewed.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

A bacterial group II intron encoding reverse transcriptase, maturase, and DNA endonuclease activities: biochemical demonstration of maturase activity and insertion of new genetic information within the intron.

The Lactococcus lactis group II intron Ll.ltrB is similar to mobile yeast mtDNA group II introns, which encode reverse transcriptase, RNA maturase, and DNA endonuclease activities for site-specific DNA insertion. Here, we show that the Lactococcal intron can be expressed and spliced efficiently in Escherichia coli. The intron-encoded protein LtrA has reverse transcriptase and RNA maturase activities, with the latter activity shown both in vivo and in vitro, a first for any group II intron-encoded protein. As for the yeast mtDNA introns, the DNA endonuclease activity of the Lactococcal intron is associated with RNP particles containing both the intron-encoded protein and the excised intron RNA. Also, the intron RNA cleaves the sense-strand of the recipient DNA by a reverse splicing reaction, whereas the intron-encoded protein cleaves the antisense strand. The Lactococcal intron endonuclease can be obtained in large quantities by coexpression of the LtrA protein with the intron RNA in E. coli or reconstituted in vitro by incubating the expressed LtrA protein with in vitro-synthesized intron RNA. Furthermore, the specificity of the endonuclease and reverse splicing reactions can be changed predictably by modifying the RNA component. Expression in E. coli facilitates the use of group II introns for the targeting of specific foreign sequences to a desired site in DNA.

Bacterial Proteins↗
PubMed1995

Project 2000: a modular approach to course planning.

Project 2000 has given nurse educators an opportunity to consider and plan educational programmes that will endure until the year 2000 and beyond. The United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting (1986) highlighted the need for preparing practitioners for uncertainty by developing structures that adapt to rapid change. This includes planning smaller units of study, that are accessible and allow for credit transfers. This article describes the development of a semester based, modular programme of study, for Project 2000. The idea of modularity, both from the higher education and nurse education perspective is examined. An outline of the course is offered and for the benefit of colleagues who may be considering embarking on a similar remit, areas of difficulty encountered on implementation are highlighted with some resolutions.

Curriculum↗
PubMed1993

High-resolution MRI in the investigation of recurrent pain after lumbar discectomy.

We used gadolinium-enhanced fat-suppressed MRI to investigate 67 patients with persistent pain after lumbar discectomy. Twenty-five patients had reoperations for lesions diagnosed in this way. Eleven were for recurrent disc prolapse at the same level and sciatica was relieved by all but one. Five operations were for prolapse at an adjacent level and all were successful. The diagnosis of sepsis was less precise, but extension of tissue enhancement into the operated disc space was found to be significant. Only three patients had evidence of arachnoiditis which suggests that this condition has been too often diagnosed as a cause of persisting low back pain.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

The reverse radial forearm flap in the severely injured hand: an anatomical and clinical study.

An anatomical study in 25 cadaveric upper limbs quantified the communications between the radial and ulnar arteries immediately proximal to the carpus. These studies suggest that the reverse radial forearm flap can safely be used in severe hand trauma where reliable pre-operative assessment of the palmar collateral circulation is not possible. It is recommended that the pedicle is pivoted 4 cm from the styloid process at which point there is a 96% probability of leaving the superficial palmar branch and one other communication intact and a 77% probability of leaving two other communications intact. Two clinical cases are outlined for illustration.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

A composite neuro-teno-cutaneous forearm flap in the one-stage reconstruction of a large defect of the soft tissue around the ankle.

The vascular anatomy of the radial forearm flap, incorporating the brachioradialis and palmaris tendons together with the superficial radial nerve in 20 fresh cadavers, is described. The radial artery in the cadaveric forearm was irrigated and injected with blue latex. The number and distribution of the cutaneous branches supplying the skin, brachioradialis tendon, palmaris tendon, and superficial radial nerve, were then documented in relation to the distance from the radiocarpal joint. The radial artery was found to provide adequate blood supply to the above structures. This flap has been used as a composite neuro-teno-cutaneous flap to resurface a large defect involving tendon, nerve, and skin loss in the ankle and the foot as a one-stage procedure. This technique avoids multiple-staged operations and thus shortens the convalescent period in rehabilitation of severely traumatized limbs.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Pregnancy and drug addiction--long-term consequences.

With the prevalence of drug addiction amongst young women rising in the United Kingdom the problems associated with pregnancy in this group are increasingly being reported. An attempt has been made to determine whether the birth of a baby is a sufficient stimulus for the mother to cease her drug of addiction. Between the years 1966 and 1988, 86 such mothers gave birth at St Mary's Hospital, London, whom we were able to trace for at least one year after their last delivery. The results show that the majority of mothers continued with their drug use and where this is so the chances of the child remaining with her are markedly reduced. Discussion centres around possible ways of identifying those likely to succeed in drug withdrawal during pregnancy and the need for increasing and continued support for these mothers and their babies after they have left hospital.

Child Custody↗
PubMed1991

Orem and the nursing process: new directions for the 1990s.

The fourth edition of Orem's book Nursing: Concepts of Practice (1) offers many new insights and applications of her model which will be particularly welcomed by nurses in this country. While there will still be complaints about the 'jargon' the model requires nurses to contend with, Orem has made a serious attempt at making her model more accessible to practitioners. Careful attention has been given to the nurse's role in health promotion and the care of dependent others, in particular children. There has also been the introduction of 'green' issues, such as the impact of toxic substances in the atmosphere. Yet the most important reformulation of Orem's ideas involve the nursing process. The explanation of Orem's ideas in terms identifiable as assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation will assist both student nurses and qualified staff to tackle the 'practical' aspects of Orem's model with more familiarity and ease. This article presents an overview of Orem's current thinking about the nursing process, and identifies similarities with the nursing process as generally understood in this country.

Drug Prescriptions↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Nurses under stress.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Burnout, Professional↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Changing urine testing protocols through audit.

A multidisciplinary audit to monitor the introduction of a ward-based urine screening test using Multistix 10 SG was associated with a 40% reduction in the number of culture-negative samples being sent for laboratory testing. Ongoing education and support was provided for nursing staff throughout the process of change.

Aged↗