ABSTRACT
Four commercial assays for the screening of cannabinoids in urine were compared. Urine specimens from 93 selected subjects were run by fluorescence polarization immunoassay on the Abbott TDx; by enzyme multiplied immunoassay with two Syva EMIT assays; and by thin-layer chromatography with the TOXI-LAB system (Marion Laboratories). The TDx cannabinoid threshold can be set anywhere from 25 to 150 micrograms per L. Twenty-five micrograms per L was chosen for this study. The thresholds for EMIT are fixed at 20 micrograms per L for one assay and 100 micrograms per L for the other. The detection limit for TOXI-LAB, according to the manufacturer, can be anywhere from 5 to 50 micrograms/L, depending on the specimen. Urines, positive by at least one method, were further analyzed by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC/MS), The detection limit for the GC/MS method was 10 micrograms per L. The results showed a few false negatives and unconfirmable positives; in general, correlation was considered acceptable. Dose-response curves comparing TDx and EMIT gave paralell results, with comparable cross-reactivity for the major metabolite, 11-nor-delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol-9-carboxylic acid (delta-9-THC-COOH). A dose-response study of TOXI-LAB using delta-9-THC-COOH also gave acceptable results. Adsorption to glass was investigated using spiked urine; a 27 percent reduction in concentration was caused by this phenomenon. Foaming of spiked urine caused by vigorous mixing resulted in a reversible 89 percent apparent reduction in concentration.
Subject(s)
Cannabinoids/urine , Chromatography, Thin Layer , Fluorescence Polarization , Immunoenzyme Techniques , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Dronabinol/urine , Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry , Humans , Reagent Kits, DiagnosticABSTRACT
This paper reports a survey taken of 79 college and university medical schools seeking the status of policy formation regarding in-house created educational materials at each location. About 65% (51) of the institutions had no definitive policies, but over half of those were aware of the need. Twenty-six provided either written documents or a narrative describing how they approach the problem. Only two recognized the special area of media production. A model policy was synthesized from the aggregate. The model provides for support and recognition of creative service units and a philosophical framework upon which the entire group, including content experts, production staff, and parent institution, can share income and recognition equitably.
Subject(s)
Jurisprudence , Ownership , Policy Making , Teaching Materials , Copyright/legislation & jurisprudence , Economics , Ownership/legislation & jurisprudence , United StatesABSTRACT
An overview of four centuries of anatomical illustration is presented, citing specific examples to document trends in style and to show the effects of concurrent advances in the technology of reproduction and printing.
Subject(s)
Medical Illustration/history , Anatomy, Artistic/history , Engraving and Engravings , Europe , History, 15th Century , History, 16th Century , History, 17th Century , History, 18th Century , History, 19th Century , HumansABSTRACT
The instrument of evaluation of the degree of occupation of nursing staff is centered on the activities of the staff. It generates an index indicating how "busy" the staff is during a given shift on a particular unit. It can be used to validate a patient classification system by level of nursing resources requirements.
Subject(s)
Nursing Staff, Hospital/statistics & numerical data , Patients/classification , Adolescent , Child , Child, Preschool , Evaluation Studies as Topic , Hospitals, Pediatric , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Personnel Staffing and Scheduling , Quebec , Task Performance and Analysis , WorkforceABSTRACT
A classification scheme and an instrument to determine work load, in use since June 1975 in the daily adjustment of supply and demand in the 24 pediatric units of the Sainte-Justine Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, is described. Construction and implementation of the instrument are delineated. The instrument was successful in determing the number of nurses necessary to meet the work load on various units. On the basis of these data, the short- and long-term management of supply and demand of nursing care was examined and the classification system was generalized to all types of patients except psychiatric.
Subject(s)
Nursing Care , Personnel Management , Personnel Staffing and Scheduling , Humans , Models, Theoretical , Patient Care PlanningABSTRACT
A 22-week training program for EMT-A technicians, developed at the University of Connecticut Health Center, has been described. The program is coordinated by a trauma surgeon and a security officer, and teaching is carried out by faculty, residents, emergency-room nurses, experienced rescue-team members, EMT firemen, and the like. Lectures and videotaped practical problems are used. High levels of teaching and cooperation between the university health center and the community were maintained.
