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Biomedical subjects

S Gaskell

Publications and source records attributed to S Gaskell.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Simple horizontal averaging programme enables shade correction for image analysis in psoriasis.

Computer-assisted area measurement of skin lesions would be useful for the assessment of disease severity. Difficulties can be encountered, however, when lesions cannot simply be separated using the normal threshold tool of an image analyser. Owing to body curvature, peripheral sites are usually shadowed. To obtain a well-fitting curved line to account for body curvature-induced glare and shadow, we devised a simple C-programme for averaging neighbouring pixels on the same horizontal line. An image was captured from a colour slide to the image analysis system. C++ was used for programming. Execution of the averaging programme with the original image resulted in a background brightness image file. When this was subtracted from the original image, the lesions were easily detected using the standard threshold tool and the percentage of area involved was calculated. This method is sufficiently accurate for the assessment of disease severity.

Humans↗
PubMed1999

Strategies to improve compliance with evidence-based clinical management guidelines.

BACKGROUND: Clinical management guidelines (CMGs) have been developed to standardize physician practices and ensure safe and cost-effective patient care. In June 1996, evidence-based CMGs were initiated at our urban Level I trauma center. This study compares physician compliance with two such CMGs before (PRE) and after (POST) the institution of continuous surveillance by a clinical resource manager. STUDY DESIGN: For 2 months PRE resource manager surveillance hospital records were reviewed retrospectively for compliance with two CMGs. POST data were collected prospectively for 2 months by the resource manager, who alerted practitioners to deviance from CMGs to justify or document therapy alternatives. The CMGs studied addressed deep venous thrombosis and stress ulcer prophylaxis. "Under" or "over" therapy described that which fell short of or exceeded guidelines. Data were analyzed by chi-square; p < 0.05 defined statistical significance. RESULTS: Compliance with the CMGs was 48% PRE and 74% POST (p=0.001). All noncompliant instances POST (and none PRE) were altered or justified. Deep venous thrombosis and ulcer "over" therapy was significantly higher PRE (19% versus 2%, p=0.003; 49% versus 19%, p=0.001), resulting in $22,760.35 in costs. There was no difference in pulmonary embolism or gastrointestinal bleed rate (1%) PRE to POST. CONCLUSIONS: The use of a clinical resource manager empowered to monitor and coordinate physician behavior improves compliance with CMGs. Further study is warranted to validate resultant outcomes benefit, specifically cost-effectiveness and duration of the need for such a program.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Melanin content and distribution in the surface corneocyte with skin phototypes.

An individual's sensitivity to sunlight is traditionally assessed by the Boston or Fitzpatrick classification of skin type. The ability to tan depends, to some degree, on the melanin content of the epidermis. In the study reported here, surface corneocytes in exposed skin and unexposed skin have been assessed using a surface stripping slide mounting technique and an Optomax V image analyser, with which the percentage of corneocyte area occupied by melanin granules has been taken as the melanin content index (MCI). There was a significantly different MCI between different skin types for both exposed (P < 0.0001) and unexposed (P < 0.0001) areas using the Kruskal-Wallis one-way ANOVA test. There was also a positive significant correlation between MCI and skin types II-VI in both exposed (r = 0.95, P < 0.001) and unexposed areas (r = 0.89, P < 0.005). Image analysis also demonstrated that the number of melanin granules in surface corneocytes was significantly higher in the exposed area compared with the unexposed area, for skin types II, III, IV, V and VI. Melanin cap-like structures were also observed in exposed corneocytes and heavily pigmented skin contained larger melanin particles than fairer skin. The results indicate that an individual's skin phototype and melanin content, assessed by image analysis, have a significant correlation.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

The effects of a novel potent oral retinoid (Rol3-6298) in the treatment of multiple solar keratoses and squamous cell epithelioma.

Sixteen patients with solar keratoses and/or squamous cell carcinoma were treated for 4 weeks with Rol3-6298, a potent oral retinoid of the arotinoid series. This treatment caused a small but statistically significant reduction in the mean number and area of the lesions. Tissue measurement and cell kinetic studies demonstrated that the treatment caused significant thickening of uninvolved epidermis but no change in the rate of cell division. Similar side-effects to those occurring with etretinate were experienced.

Aged↗
PubMed1981

Pregnanediols and breast milk jaundice.

Samples of breast milk collected from mothers of infants with breast milk jaundice were analysed for 5 beta-pregnane-3 alpha, 20 beta-diol, and other pregnanediols using gas chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry. None was detected in any of the specimens and therefore it is unlikely to be the inhibitory factor in bilirubin conjugation. The plasma osmolalities of the infants, which were determined at the onset of jaundice, were within normal limits.

Breast Feeding↗
PubMed1978

Development of a model for transepidermal elimination.

Transepidermal elimination is a phenomenon which occurs spontaneously in certain skin disorders in which effete connective tissue or foreign materials is expelled via the epidermis to the exterior. In order to learn how this phenomenon is effected and what factors control it, we have attempted to produce an animal model for the process. When charcoal particles are deposited subepidermally in guinea-pig flank skin transepidermal elimination occurs within 4 days and we believe that this mimics the disorder seen in man. The hair follicles became hyperplastic and were intimately involved in the reaction, some of the particles actually being expelled via the follicular lumina. The reaction has some similarities to the wound healing response.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A tale of two tribes.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗