Professor John F. Nunn: scientist, anaesthetist and polymath.

John Francis Nunn (1925-2022) was an anaesthetist and clinical scientist who used his incomprehension of the science of anaesthesia in his early career to guide an extensive lifetime of innovative research. His interests outside of medicine led to him developing renowned expertise in such diverse areas as Egyptian hieroglyphs and the origins of the Earth's atmosphere. He was an outstanding communicator, writing four books alongside an impressive number of papers covering diverse topics from cell biology to history.

Investigating the causes of patient anxiety at induction of anaesthesia: A mixed methods study.

Aim: To investigate patient anxiety at anaesthetic induction and whether this is affected by anaesthetic room interventions.

Methods: A mixed methods study was carried out: pre-induction interventions were directly observed. Patient anxiety was assessed quantitatively with cardiovascular changes, the visual analogue scale and the state-trait anxiety inventory.

A pilot investigation into the effects of acute normobaric hypoxia, high altitude exposure and exercise on serum angiotensin-converting enzyme, aldosterone and cortisol.

Introduction: Aldosterone decreases at high altitude (HA) but the effect of hypoxia on angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), a key step in the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, is unclear.

Methods: We investigated the effects of exercise and acute normobaric hypoxia (NH, ~11.0% FiO) on nine participants and six controls undertaking the same exercise at sea level (SL).

Posttraumatic Growth and Bereavement: The Contribution of Self-Determination Theory.

No research drawing from Self-Determination Theory has investigated the bereavement experience of individuals or how motivation can help facilitate posttraumatic growth (PTG) following the death of a loved one. In two cross-sectional studies, university students completed an online survey. Study 1 investigated the contribution of global autonomous and controlled motivation in statistically predicting PTG above and beyond previously researched correlates.

Enhanced recovery pathway versus standard care in patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy.

Objective: The objective of this study was to compare outcomes after video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy or segmentectomy before and after introduction of an enhanced recovery program.

Methods: Data from 600 patients undergoing video-assisted lobectomy or segmentectomy between April 2014 and January 2017 were analyzed. A comparative analysis was performed between patients undergoing operation before (365 patients) and after (235 patients) the start of the enhanced recovery program.

Hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction: physiology and anesthetic implications.

Hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV) represents a fundamental difference between the pulmonary and systemic circulations. HPV is active in utero, reducing pulmonary blood flow, and in adults helps to match regional ventilation and perfusion although it has little effect in healthy lungs. Many factors affect HPV including pH or PCO2, cardiac output, and several drugs, including antihypertensives.

Electives in undergraduate medical education: AMEE Guide No. 88.

This Guide outlines the scope and potential roles an elective can contribute to undergraduate medical training and identifies ways to maximize learning opportunities, including within global health. The types of educational activity available for electives range from meeting individual educational need through to exploration of potential career pathways, with many factors influencing choice. Key areas of organization underpinning a successful elective before, during and after the placement include developing clarity of the intended educational outcomes as well as addressing practicalities such as travel and accommodation.

Perioperative oxygen toxicity.

This article challenges the use of hyperoxia in the perioperative period. It describes the biochemical and physiologic basis for both the direct and indirect adverse effects of oxygen. The reasons for using hyperoxia in the perioperative period are critically evaluated, and the evidence and guidelines for oxygen use in common acute medical conditions are reviewed.

Relative reinforcing value of energy-dense snack foods in overweight and obese adults.

Purpose: Obese people find energy-dense food more reinforcing than do their non-obese peers, and reinforcement influences food intake. We examined how the degree of adiposity, measured by body mass index (BMI), is associated with the relative reinforcing value of energy-dense snack foods versus fruits and vegetables in overweight and obese people.

Methods: Ninety-two overweight or obese students in introductory psychology courses completed questionnaires on age, sex, BMI, hunger, smoking status, dietary restraint, and hedonic (liking) ratings for energy-dense snack foods and fruits and vegetables.

Equity in interviews: do personal characteristics impact on admission interview scores?

Context: Research indicates that some social groups are disadvantaged by medical school selection systems. The stage(s) of a selection process at which this occurs is unknown, but at interview, when applicant and interviewer are face-to-face, there is potential for social bias to occur.

Methods: We performed a detailed audit of the interview process for a single-entry year to a large UK medical school.

Effects of increased inspired oxygen concentration on tissue oxygenation: theoretical considerations.

Background And Objectives: Breathing increased fractional oxygen concentration (FiO2) is recommended for the treatment of tissue ischaemia.

Methods: The theoretical benefits of increasing FiO2 on tissue oxygenation were evaluated using standard physiological equations. Assuming constant oxygen consumption by tissues throughout the length of a capillary, the oxygen content at 20 arbitrary points along a capillary was calculated.

Effects of dietary restraint and body mass index on the relative reinforcing value of snack food.

The present study examined the independent and interactive association between dietary restraint, body mass index (BMI) and the relative reinforcing value of food. Four hundred and three introductory psychology students completed questionnaires assessing age, gender, BMI, hunger, smoking status, nicotine dependence, dietary restraint, hedonic ratings for snack food and fruits and vegetables and the relative reinforcing value of snack food and fruits and vegetables. In the overall sample, results indicated a dietary restraint x BMI interaction after controlling for age, hunger, nicotine dependence, and hedonics.

Effects of school-based interventions on mental health stigmatization: a systematic review.

Stigmatizing, or discriminatory, perspectives and behaviour, which target individuals on the basis of their mental health, are observed in even the youngest school children. We conducted a systematic review of the published and unpublished, scientific literature concerning the benefits and harms of school-based interventions, which were directed at students 18 years of age or younger to prevent or eliminate such stigmatization. Forty relevant studies were identified, yet only a qualitative synthesis was deemed appropriate.

Smoking, dietary restraint, gender, and the relative reinforcing value of snack food in a large university sample.

The present study examined the independent and interactive association between smoking, gender, dietary restraint and the relative reinforcing value of snack food in a university sample. Four hundred and three introductory psychology students completed questionnaires assessing age, gender, BMI, hunger, smoking status, nicotine dependence, dietary restraint, hedonic ratings and the relative reinforcing value of snack food and fruits and vegetables. The relative reinforcing value of snack food was determined by the number of button presses subjects would be willing to do to obtain (100g) of snack food versus 100g of fruits and vegetables.

Effects of modifying physical activity and sedentary behavior on psychosocial adjustment in overweight/obese children.

Objectives: To evaluate the relationship between changes in physical activity (PA), sedentary behavior, and physical self-perceptions and global self-worth in 30, 8-12 years old, overweight/obese children (13 boys, 17 girls).

Methods: Secondary analyses from a randomized controlled trial designed to increase PA and reduce sedentary behavior. PA was measured by accelerometers worn by participants every day for 8 weeks.

Effects of open-loop feedback on physical activity and television viewing in overweight and obese children: a randomized, controlled trial.

Objectives: Television viewing and physical inactivity increase the risk of obesity in youth. Thus, identifying new interventions that increase physical activity and reduce television viewing would be helpful in the prevention and treatment of pediatric obesity. This study evaluated the effects of open-loop feedback plus reinforcement versus open-loop feedback alone on physical activity, targeted sedentary behavior, body composition, and energy intake in youth.

Effects of breastfeeding on weight changes in family-based pediatric obesity treatment.

Research indicates that breastfeeding may provide protective effects against the development of obesity; however, breastfed children may still become obese because of the obesogenic environment. This study is designed to examine the effects of retrospective recall of breastfeeding on weight changes in children participating in a 6-month behavioral treatment program for childhood obesity. The independent variable of breastfeeding was defined as children who were exclusively breastfed for 4 weeks (excluding water or medication) versus those who were never breastfed.

Comparison of academic, application form and social factors in predicting early performance on the medical course.

Objectives: To compare the relative importance of social, academic and application form factors at admission in predicting performance in the first 3 years of a medicine course.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: A single UK medical school.