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Biomedical subjects

S Lapierre

Publications and source records attributed to S Lapierre.

12 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Suicidal ideation and self-determination in institutionalized elderly.

The right to self-determination is central to the current debate on rational suicide in old age. The goal of this exploratory study was to assess the presence of self-determination in suicidal institutionalized elderly persons. Eleven elderly persons with serious suicidal ideations were matched according to age, sex, and civil status with 11 nonsuicidal persons. The results indicated that suicidal persons did not differ from nonsuicidal persons in level of self-determination. There was, however, a significant difference between groups on the social subscale. Suicidal elderly persons did not seem to take others into account when making a decision or taking action. The results are discussed from a suicide-prevention perspective.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

A cluster of bloodstream infections and pyrogenic reactions among hemodialysis patients traced to dialysis machine waste-handling option units.

From June 17 through November 15, 1995, ten episodes of Enterobacter cloacae bloodstream infection and three pyrogenic reactions occurred in patients at a hospital-based hemodialysis center. In a case-control study limited to events occurring during October 1-31, 1995, seven dialysis sessions resulting in E. cloacae bacteremia or pyrogenic reaction without bacteremia were compared with 241 randomly selected control sessions. Dialysis machines were examined, dialysis fluid and equipment were cultured, and E. cloacae isolates were genotyped by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Each dialysis machine had a waste-handling option (WHO) through which dialyzer-priming fluid was discarded before each dialysis session; in 7 of 11 machines, one-way check valves designed to prevent backflow from the WHO into patient bloodlines were dysfunctional. In the case-control study, case sessions were more frequent when machines with >/=1 dysfunctional check valves were used. E. cloacae with identical pulsed-field gel electrophoresis patterns were isolated from case patients, dialysis fluid, station drains, and WHO units. Our investigation shows that bloodstream infections and pyrogenic reactions were caused by backflow from contaminated dialysis machine WHO units into patient bloodlines. The outbreak was terminated when WHO use was discontinued, check valves were replaced, and dialysis machine disinfection was enhanced.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Personal goals and subjective well-being in later life.

With a sentence completion technique, 708 elderly participants (65 to 90 years of age) expressed 15,027 personal aspirations. These goals were classified according to their motivational content in ten major categories and their relationships with various aspects of subjective well-being were studied. Two goal profiles emerged from this analysis. Aspirations centered on self-preservation were associated with poor self-rated physical health, being burden by difficulties, lack of meaning to life, dissatisfaction with life, and negative expectations for the future. Aspirations of self-development and interest in the well-being of others were associated with feelings of well-being in later life. Development of meaningful personal goals was discussed as as a new intervention approach with the elders.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

[Attitude of nursing personnel towards patients with AIDS: impact of an awareness program].

The goal of this study was to evaluate the impact of an awareness program aimed at experienced personnel and personnel in training who provide healthcare services to patients with AIDS. The purpose of the program was to prepare healthcare staff psychically in working with patients. Six groups of approximately ten people each watched a video showing a nurse stating her concerns about AIDS. After the video, people were encouraged to express their own emotions regarding the disease and people suffering from it. Other participants making up a control group did not attend the discussion. All subjects (N = 124) completed questionnaires on their attitudes and knowledge about AIDS before and after the discussion. Results show an improvement of attitudes with respect to homosexuality, as well as a better understanding of AIDS. However, these observations do not seem to correspond with a more favourable attitude towards AIDS patients. An analysis of these discussions reveals that there is a conflict between the will to help patients and the feeling of shame when faced with the difficulty of showing empathy. As a result, the authors recommend that training programs aimed at healthcare personnel be geared to alleviate this conflict.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1993

Routine application of high-performance liquid chromatography for identification of mycobacteria.

Mycolic acid analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was introduced in our laboratory as the routine technique for identifying all clinical isolates of mycobacteria referred to us. HPLC identified 96.1% of the 1,103 strains analyzed, whereas the biochemical procedures and/or the commercial DNA probes identified 98.3% of strains, for an overall agreement of 94.4%. Compared with the probes, there was 100% specificity and 98.9% sensitivity for Mycobacterium tuberculosis identification. HPLC allowed early detection and identification of the rare mycobacterial species M. haemophilum, M. malmoense, M. shimoidei, and M. fallax as well as uncharacteristic strains of M. simiae. After 18 months of routine use, HPLC proved to be reliable, easy to perform, rapid, and less costly than other identification methods.

Bacterial Typing Techniques↗
PubMed1993

[Chronic obstructions of the left main and right coronary arteries].

The authors report a case of chronic occlusion of the left main coronary associated with occlusion of the second segment of the right coronary artery documented at coronary angiography carried out for effort angina without previous infarction. Myocardial perfusion was preserved mainly by a marginal branch of the right coronary arising immediately before the occluded second segment and by a small branch of the left main coronary artery.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Evaluation of a mechanical/chemical infectious waste disposal system.

OBJECTIVES: The mechanical/chemical infectious waste disposal system (IWDS), model Z-5000 HC, manufactured by Medical SafeTEC Inc. (Indianapolis, Indiana) was evaluated for its ability to disinfect biomedical waste. METHODS: The IWDS was operated with a sodium hypochlorite solution and tested with loads consisting of microbial cultures and blood. During and after processing, samples of liquid, milled solid waste, and leachate were collected to determine the efficacy of disinfection and the chemical by-products released. An inactivation factor was calculated. Aerosol emission was studied. All tests were done in triplicate. RESULTS: Our results showed the expected level of disinfection (inactivation factor greater than or equal to 5 log10) for all tests carried out with Bacillus subtilis, Enterococcus faecalis, Candida albicans, and Serratia marcescens, and for most of the tests with Mycobacterium fortuitum and bacteriophages OX174 and f2. Further tests performed in the absence of blood resulted in an inactivation factor greater than or equal to 5 log10 for all tests with M fortuitum, but not for those of the milled solids with bacteriophage f2. Aerosols were found to escape the apparatus when the IWDS was operated in the absence of chlorine. The liquid effluent contained an average of 17,600, and 15 mg/l of free chlorine, chloramines, and trihalomethanes (THM), respectively. The air effluent contained 1.1 mg/m3 of total chlorine and 1.4 micrograms/m3 of THM. CONCLUSIONS: Under our study conditions and except for certain tests with bacteriophage f2, the IWDS reduced the microbial populations tested by a factor of 5 log10. The aerosol dispersion problem remains to be solved, and the significance of the chemical by-products released will require further investigation.

Aerosols↗
PubMed1989

Performance characteristics of two bioassays and high-performance liquid chromatography for determination of flucytosine in serum.

We compared the accuracy and precision of two microbiological methods and one high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) procedure used to measure the concentrations of flucytosine in serum. On the basis of an analysis of six standards, all methods were judged reliable within acceptable limits for clinical use. With the biological methods, a slight loss of linearity was observed in the 75- to 100-micrograms/ml range. Compared with the bioassays, the HPLC method did not present linearity problems and was more precise and accurate in the critical zone of 100 micrograms/ml. On average, results obtained with patient sera containing 50 to 100 micrograms of flucytosine per ml were 10.6% higher with the HPLC method than with the bioassays. Standards for the biological assays may be prepared in serum or water.

Biological Assay↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Motivational goal objects in later life.

With a sentence completion technique, 708 elderly participants (64 to 90 years of age) expressed 15,020 personal aspirations. These goals were classified according to their motivational content in ten major categories and their relationships with different sociodemographic variables were studied. Two goal profiles emerge from this analysis. Aspirations centered on self-preservation are associated with very old age, functional impairment, lower S.E.S. and education, being alone or institutionalized. Aspirations of self-development and interpersonal relationships are associated with younger age, physical autonomy, higher S.E.S. and education, being married or living at home. Development of meaningful personal goals are discussed as a mean of intervention with elderly individuals.

Aged↗