Biomedical subjects

S Tiffany

Publications and source records attributed to S Tiffany.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1998

Future financial neonatal shock.

In a changing economic climate, the neonatologist must be aware of all of the forces that can affect the practice of neonatology. In addition to clinical issues, billing and reimbursement must take into account physician work and common procedural terminology (CPT) codes, which accurately describe the medical services and procedures delivered. An understanding of this coding and resource-based work unit system is necessary to prevent financial loss. The influence of managed care, capitation, fixed per-case reimbursement, practice guidelines and care maps have already seriously affected clinical practice patterns. The neonatologist must be proactive in negotiating contracts using historic information and outcome data to define and defend the quality of care provided.

Abstracting and Indexing↗

PubMed1993

Smoking cessation interventions for university students: recruitment and program design considerations based on social marketing theory.

BACKGROUND: Audience variables with social marketing implications for university campuses were investigated to identify prepromotional campaign strategies for the design of smoking cessation interventions and for subject recruitment. METHODS: A first survey based on a stratified systematic probability sample of 2,998 college students at a large midwestern university identified 313 smokers. A total of 263 (response rate = 84%) participated in a second telephone survey, and results were based on the 193 (73%) respondents who still smoked. RESULTS: Recruitment implications indicate that potential participants are predominantly lower classmen in their early 20s who are unmarried, childless, white, full-time domestic students. Smoking habits are moderate but well-established and confined almost exclusively to cigarette smoking. An average of three attempts to quit smoking was reported, and the majority of respondents rated their interest and intention to quit as "somewhat" to "very likely." The best publicity options for programs are campus newspapers as well as grocery stores and gas stations, where most cigarettes are purchased. Program design implications suggest that accessibility, affordability, convenience, flexibility, social support, and behavioral prompts/cues are important factors to consider. CONCLUSIONS: This study is a first initiative to "fill the gap" in the social marketing research literature by providing recruitment and program design information specifically for developing a smoking cessation campaign for university campuses.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1983

Effects of endogenous antidiuretic hormone (ADH) on macrophage phagocytosis.

Although several studies have indicated that antidiuretic hormone (ADH) enhances the phagocytic function of the reticuloendothelial system (RES) in shock syndromes, it remains unknown what influence ADH exerts upon the individual phagocytic components of this system. The present investigation was designed to evaluate the effects of endogenous ADH on the phagocytic activity of peritoneal macrophage cells. As a phagocytic stimuli, fluorescent methacrylate microbeads were injected intraperitoneally into Brattleboro (ADH deficient) and normal Long Evans rats in the presence and absence of exogenous ADH. Peritoneal cells were harvested 19-22 hr after the administration of the microbeads and the percent phagocytosis was determined in macrophage cells using a fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS II). Our results indicate that the percentage of peritoneal macrophages ingesting the fluorescent methacrylate microbeads was significantly reduced in the absence of ADH (Brattleboro rats: 5.4 +/- 0.6% versus Long Evans rats: 16.8 +/- 2.3%; p less than 0.001). In addition, our data demonstrate that exogenous administration of ADH significantly enhanced macrophage phagocytosis in Brattleboro (14.7 +/- 2.2%) and normal Long Evans (49.6 +/- 4.5%) rats. These data suggest, for the first time, that endogenous ADH might play a modulatory role in the phagocytic activity of a specific component of the RES, namely, the macrophage cell.

Animals↗

PubMed1982

In vivo effects of prostaglandin E2 and arachidonic acid on phagocytosis of fluorescent methacrylate microbeads by rat peritoneal macrophages.

Several studies have suggested that prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) might influence the phagocytic activity of macrophage cells. The present study was designed to examine the in vivo effects of PGE2, the prostaglandin synthesis inhibitor meclofenamate, the prostaglandin precursor arachidonic acid, and the biologically inactive fatty acid 11,14,17-eicosatrienoic acid on phagocytosis by peritoneal macrophage cells in the rat. Following 3 days of treatment with either agent, fluorescent methacrylate microbeads were injected intraperitoneally into all rats. Peritoneal exudates were harvested after administration of the microbeads and the percent phagocytosis determined in macrophage cells using a fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS II). The administration of PGE2 was associated with a significant decrease in the percentage of peritoneal macrophages ingesting the fluorescent methacrylate microbeads. In contrast, treatment with arachidonic acid or 11,14,17-eicosatrienoic acid significantly enhanced the percentage of phagocytic macrophage cells. A significant increase in the number of macrophages undergoing phagocytosis of the methacrylate microbeads was also observed in rats treated with meclofenamate. This later observation, taken together with the inhibitory effect induced by PGE2 on macrophage phagocytosis, points to a potential modulator role of PGE2 on the phagocytic activity of macrophages. These data also suggest that arachidonic acid might influence macrophage phagocytosis by a mechanism independent of PGE2.

Animals↗