PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Z Wilson

Publications and source records attributed to Z Wilson.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

Barriers to treatment among members of a mental health advocacy group in South Africa.

BACKGROUND: As part of an international survey of mental health advocacy groups, information pertinent to patients' concerns regarding their diagnosis and treatment was gathered from South African members of a depression and anxiety support group (n = 404). METHODS: Questionnaires developed by GAMIAN, an international consortium of advocacy groups, were mailed along with explanatory letters and self-addressed envelopes to South African members and members in nine other countries, for completion. Of 1,000 questionnaires mailed in South Africa, 40.4 % were returned. RESULTS: The sample comprised patient members with anxiety-only (39 %), depression-only (8 %), mixed anxiety-depression (26 %), and other diagnoses (27 %). While one-third of respondents reported onset of symptoms before the age of 20, most waited 3-5 years before seeking help. After making contact with the health system, respondents experienced further delays in obtaining a correct diagnosis. In many instances, respondents were poorly informed of diagnosis and treatment (25 %), and nearly half of all respondents discontinued treatment on account of side-effects. CONCLUSIONS: Attempts to improve awareness of mental illness, and better communication between physicians and their patients, might help to break down some of the barriers patients encounter when seeking help.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Comparative study of electric and manual toothbrushes in patients with fixed orthodontic appliances.

The objective of this three treatment, three period, single blind, cross-over trial was to evaluate the efficacy of three toothbrushes in a cohort of children undergoing fixed appliance orthodontic therapy. The brushes used were: (1) Dental Logic HP550 with regular brush head HP5924 (Philips, U.K.); (2) Braun Oral B Plaque Remover (D7) with dedicated orthodontic brush head OD5-1 (Braun AG, Germany); and (3) a manual dedicated orthodontic toothbrush (P35, Oral B Laboratories, Calif.). Sixty orthodontic patients, aged 10 to 16 years and wearing upper and lower fixed appliances, were screened and recruited with parental consent. After an oral soft tissue examination at baseline, the percentage of plaque-covered tooth surfaces and gingival bleeding sites were recorded using visible plaque and gingival bleeding indexes. Each subject was randomly allocated to one of three groups (n = 20) with brushing sequences 1-2-3, 2-1-3, 3-2-1. The first brush was given 2 weeks after baseline (visit 1). The time interval for using each brush was 4 weeks at the end of which visible plaque and gingival bleeding indexes were recorded and a further prophylaxis given. Statistical analysis was undertaken with analysis of variance. Data were analyzed on a site-specific basis; buccal smooth and interproximal surfaces, lingual smooth and interproximal surfaces. At baseline the mean visible plaque index for all subjects were; buccal smooth, 52.5% (+/- 22.5%); buccal interproximal, 70.5% (+/- 18.5%); lingual smooth, 68.5% (+/- 21%); lingual interproximal, 76% (+/- 16%). At visit 1, the plaque scores at all surfaces had reduced significantly compared to baseline, but there had been no active treatment. This was attributed to a Hawthorne effect. Subsequently, there were no significant effects on visible plaque (or gingival bleeding) indexes with any toothbrush at any tooth surfaces. This suggests that the new HP550 is equally effective as specifically designed orthodontic toothbrushes in removing plaque from patients with fixed orthodontic appliances.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Toothbrushing forces in children with fixed orthodontic appliances.

The aim of this investigation was to determine whether toothbrushing forces are influenced by wearing fixed orthodontic appliances. Thirty children, (10 males, 20 females) with planned fixed appliance therapy and aged 10-15 years, were recruited to the study. No subject had previously worn an orthodontic appliance. At baseline, each subject brushed their teeth in their usual way, unsupervised. The toothbrush used was a purpose-designed electronic instrument that measured the force applied to the brush and transmitted force data by radio to a remote PC. After toothbrushing, subjects had orthodontic brackets fitted. Toothbrushing was repeated at 2 and 14 weeks after baseline, and brushing forces recorded. There were no significant differences between the measurements made at baseline and those made at 2 and 14 weeks. There were no differences between males and females in the forces used at any time point. It was concluded that toothbrushing forces are unaffected by placing fixed orthodontic appliances in children. The brushing forces recorded were comparable with those previously found by other investigators.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Drug analysis in fly larvae.

We reared larvae of Calliphora vicina on human skeletal muscle obtained from cases of suicidal overdose with co-proxamol (propoxyphene and acetaminophen) and amitriptyline. After 4 days, third-instar larvae were either transferred to drug-free muscle or continued to feed on drug-laden muscle for a further 2 days prior to harvesting. Amitriptyline and nortriptyline were detected in both groups of larvae, but propoxyphene was only in those fed continuously on drug-laden muscle, and acetaminophen was in neither. Drug concentrations in muscle food source were amitriptyline 0.48 microgram/g, nortriptyline 0.38 microgram/g, propoxyphene 0.99 microgram/g, and acetaminophen 14.13 micrograms/g. For triplicate rearings, the mean ratios of drug concentrations in larvae to food source were amitriptyline, 0.56; nortriptyline, 0.5; and propoxyphene, 0.06. In triplicate rearings, no drug or metabolite was detected in puparia, puparial cases, or imagos. We conclude that the absence of a drug in maggots is not necessarily an indication that the drug was not present in significant concentrations in the food source. The malpighian tubules and the "nephrocytes" of fly larvae appear capable of eliminating different drugs with varying efficiency.

Acetaminophen↗