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Biomedical subjects

V Wood

Publications and source records attributed to V Wood.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Quantification of pneumothorax size on chest radiographs using interpleural distances: regression analysis based on volume measurements from helical CT.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to define the relationship between interpleural distance measurements on an erect posteroanterior chest radiograph and pneumothorax size as measured by helical CT in a series of patients. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Twenty pneumothoraces from 19 patients (10 males, nine females) were analyzed. Most pneumothoraces were on the right side (n = 16). The etiology was spontaneous in seven patients and iatrogenic in thirteen. All patients underwent an erect inspiratory posteroanterior radiograph and a helical CT scan of the thorax on the same visit to the radiology department. The interpleural distance was measured at three locations and the figures added together. Following helical CT of the thorax, the percentage pneumothorax size was calculated by drawing regions of interest around the relevant hemithorax and lung on 10-mm reconstructed slices. A scattergram of the sum of interpleural distances in centimeters versus percentage pneumothorax size was plotted. RESULTS: Analysis of results showed that percentage pneumothorax size could be calculated by the formula Y = 4.2 + [4.7 x (A + B + C)], r = .98, p < .0001. CONCLUSION: This study identified a formula for accurately calculating percentage pneumothorax size as determined by helical CT from an erect posteroanterior radiograph. Using this formula with the clinical status of the patient should more easily identify patients requiring active intervention.

Adolescent

The Pulfrich pendulum phenomenon in stereoblind subjects.

The Pulfrich pendulum phenomenon, in which a pendulum swinging in the frontoparallel plane appears to swing in an ellipse when a neutral density filter is placed over one eye of the observer, was investigated in stereoblind subjects. It was found that such subjects can report the presence of the Pulfrich effect although they fail to fuse random-dot stereograms and fail to exhibit interocular transfer of the movement aftereffect. These findings suggest that 'stereoblind' subjects must retain some residual binocular mechanism for depth perception. Three possibilities are considered: (i) the stereoblind may be able to utilise contiguous temporal disparities as a cue for depth in the Pulfrich effect; (ii) they may retain some residual binocularity, sufficient to reveal the Pulfrich effect but not for other more demanding tasks for the binocular mechanisms; and (iii) they may retain some coarse magnocellular pathway disparity mechanism having lost their high-acuity parvocellular disparity system. There is little evidence to support any of these hypotheses, but the third shows promise.

Depth Perception

Rita Kennedy: case analysis for decision-making.

For nurse educators, the teaching environment has changed drastically. During the past two decades, the pressures of public, professional and educational accountability have impacted on the nursing instructor. Clinical teaching of student nurses has not escaped these pressures and poses concerns for nursing instructors. The Rita Kennedy case illustrates some of today's issues. To illustrate some of the difficulties in dealing with such issues, the case will be analysed using the Schnelle's model. Although Schnelle's framework was initially used for analysis for business cases, the framework for analysis and decision-making is also applicable in nursing education. The following analysis will first discuss assumptions, followed by an alternative course of action, decision and recommendation. However, to assist understanding, the information in the Kennedy case has been categorised in the Table.

Decision Making

Nurse Education Tomorrow Conference 1991. An examination of selected current student nurse issues.

Clinical teaching has become increasingly complex and difficult for nursing instructors. Pressures for public accountability in nursing education and patient care, economic stresses, marked changes in the nursing curricula, and the growth of collective bargaining units have all complicated the task of educating student nurses. Traditional issues focusing on teaching strategies, academic and clinical evaluation concerns have been extensively researched. What are the current issues facing nurse educators? Our project aimed to identify some current student nurse issues in selected nursing programmes. Using a convenience sample, data were collected from the chairmen of nursing education in selected agencies. Analysis following the Fox and Diamond framework (1965) revealed recurring issues relating to mature students, stress and the clinical environment, and the mentor needs are a few of the issues discussed in this paper.

Education, Nursing

A stress-relieved resin-bonded fixed partial denture.

Reports of bonding failures with resin-bonded fixed partial dentures (commonly called the "Maryland Bridge") are common. Failures are due to individual tooth mobility as much as they are to bonding inadequacy. The incorporation of stress relievers in the design of resin-bonded fixed partial dentures has created a dramatic reversal in bonding failures.

Dental Abutments

Instructional assignments and the recent collective bargaining agreement: effect on nursing education.

Nursing teachers employed in the community college nursing programmes in Ontario were discontent with their workloads. Along with other teachers in the community college setting, they went on strike in the fall of 1984. Attention was focused on the workload formulae. In 1986, a new contract was ratified for all the teachers in the community colleges in Ontario. What issues emerged? Discussion will focus on contract changes with respect to instructional assignments, the effects upon the nursing instructors and students, and finally the implications for the programme.

Collective Bargaining

Impact of advanced trauma life support training on early trauma management.

To assess the impact of ATLS education on early trauma management, charts of patients with an ISS of 14 or greater were reviewed for a 1 year period before and after ATLS training of emergency room trauma care providers. There were 50 patients in the before ATLS group, with a mean age of 41.6 years and an ISS of 29.8, and 71 patients in the after ATLS group, with a mean age of 40.6 years and an ISS of 30.6. Of those parameters evaluated as measures of early assessment, only rectal examination was found to be performed significantly more frequently after ATLS training. The mortality rates of 26 percent before ATLS and 20 percent after ATLS were not significantly different. In evaluating assessment and management parameters in the patients who died, no airway management errors were found in the after ATLS group; however, there were more missed injuries in this group. We have concluded that ATLS instruction failed to produce a quantifiable improvement in patient assessment or outcome. Further studies directed at assessing the retention rate for ATLS education and determining the impact on clinical performance are needed.

Adult