Disposable gloves: research findings on use in practice

This article reviews the research evidence for the safety and effectiveness of disposable gloves in preventing transmission of infection. The author concludes that all nurses should have a glove policy for their unit or department to ensure the correct type of gloves are worn in appropriate situations.     

Autoantibody screening for infertility: explaining the unexplained?

Several laboratories currently offer panels of serum autoantibody assays to screen women with unexplained infertility and those undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF). Offering these tests implies that they have predictive value for the outcome of proposed infertility treatments such that the results of the testing would alter clinical management. Because screening for antiphospholipid antibodies adds expense to already costly procedures, it is an appropriate time to review the justification for the use of these panels.     

The craving to smoke in flight attendants: Relations with smoking deprivation, anticipation of smoking, and actual smoking.

In the study, the authors examined the effects of smoking deprivation, anticipation of smoking, and actual smoking on the craving to smoke. Flight attendants who were light to heavy smokers rated their craving to smoke at predetermined time points during a 2-way short flight (each leg 3–5.5 hr) and a 1-way long flight (8–13 hr). In both short and long flights, craving increased gradually and peaked as landing approached. Craving levels at the end of the 1st leg of the short flights were equal to those at the end of the long flight and were much higher than those at the parallel time point in the long flight. In the short flight, craving levels at the beginning of the 2nd leg dropped relative to the end of the 1st leg, both for participants who smoked during the intermission and for those who did not, though the drop was steeper for the former. The results provide additional evidence for the role of psychological factors in determining the craving to smoke in a naturalistic setting. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Fertility in Botswana: the recent decline and future prospects

Recent estimates of fertility in Botswana suggest a rapid decline of more than two births per woman between 1981 and 1988. This paper proposes that the baseline fertility was overestimated but that nonetheless fertility declined by about one birth per woman during the 1980s. The decline in fertility was linked to a deterioration in social and economic conditions caused by a major drought in the early 1980s and to the increased availability of family planning services in the same period. Fertility apparently began to rebound in the late 1980s in response to improved conditions, which came about as a result of a successful drought relief program. Future declines in fertility depend on the continued success of the family planning program, particularly in rural areas.     

Evaluating the effectiveness of gloves in reducing the hazards of hand-transmitted vibration

OBJECTIVES: A method of evaluating the effectiveness of gloves in reducing the hazards of hand-transmitted vibration is proposed. METHOD: The glove isolation effectiveness was calculated from: (a) the measured transmissibility of a glove, (b) the vibration spectrum on the handle of a specific tool (or class of tools), and (c) the frequency weighting indicating the degree to which different frequencies of vibration cause injury. With previously reported tool vibration spectra and glove transmissibilities (from 10-1000 Hz), the method was used to test 10 gloves with 20 different powered tools. RESULTS: The frequency weighting for hand-transmitted vibration advocated in British standard 6842 (1987) and international standard 5349 (1986) greatly influences the apparent isolation effectiveness of gloves. With the frequency weighting, the gloves had little effect on the transmission of vibration to the hand from most of the tools. Only for two or three tools (those dominated by high frequency vibration) did any glove provide useful attenuation. Without the frequency weighting, some gloves showed useful attenuation of the vibration on most powered tools. CONCLUSIONS: In view of the uncertain effect of the vibration frequency in the causation of disorders from hand-transmitted vibration, it is provisionally suggested that the wearing of a glove by the user of a particular vibratory tool could be encouraged if the glove reduces the transmission of vibration when it is evaluated without the frequency weighting and does not increase the vibration when it is evaluated with the frequency weighting. A current international standard for the measurement and evaluation of the vibration transmitted by gloves can classify a glove as an antivibration glove when it provides no useful attenuation of vibration, whereas a glove providing useful attenuation of vibration on a specific tool can fail the test.     

Intellectual decline after stroke: the Framingham Study

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The causes and characteristics of cognitive decline after stroke are poorly defined, because most studies have relied on the diagnosis of dementia after stroke, without measurement of prestroke cognitive function. METHODS: The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) was used to assess the cognitive performance of 74 subjects from the Framingham Study cohort who had suffered a stroke during a 13-year period. We compared their poststroke cognitive performance with the prestroke MMSE scores collected during their biennial examinations, and their prestroke/poststroke changes in MMSE score were then compared with those of 74 control subjects matched for age and sex. Cases and controls underwent testing for symptoms of depression using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies of Depression (CES-D) scale, and these findings were correlated with their cognitive performance. Changes in cognitive performance in the cases were correlated with the CT-documented characteristics of the stroke. RESULTS: The cases had a significantly lower mean+/-SE MMSE score at prestroke baseline (27.28+/-0.34) than did the control subjects (28.08+/-0.21), a difference that became more pronounced (23.57+/-0.92 versus 28.31+/-0.25; P<.001) after stroke. The poststroke decline in cognitive function in the cases was correlated only with a large, left-sided stroke on CT. The CES-D scores were significantly higher in the cases, but nondepressed cases had significantly lower MMSE scores than nondepressed controls. CONCLUSIONS: Stroke is followed by a significant decline in cognitive performance when prestroke and poststroke measurements are compared. Although depression is more frequent in the stroke patients, their intellectual decline appears to be independent from the presence of depression.     

Problems with thiocyanate as an index of smoking status: A critical review with suggestions with improving the usefulness of biochemical measures in smoking cessation research.

Presents a review of the literature on thiocyanate (SCN) to illustrate the methodological issues involved in using biochemical indices of behavior. Issues related to the sensitivity, specificity, predictive value, and reportedly long half-life of SCN are discussed in relation to other biochemical indices of smoking, which include expired air CO, blood carboxyhemoglobin, nicotine, and cotinine. Several suggestions for improving the usefulness of biochemical indicators emerge from the review: (1) Attempts should be made to minimize false reports of smoking behavior; (2) the estimated prevalence of smoking in the sample should be taken into account; and (3) secondary biochemical indices should be used to confirm positive findings. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Paced smoking in the laboratory and in the natural smoking setting: differential situation-specific effects in light and heavy smokers

The present study examined the situation-specific effects of smoking using a paced regimen of smoking to control the smoke intake. The subjects were first required to sham smoke and then actually smoke one of their cigarettes in two different test contexts: 1) in the laboratory where they had never previously smoked and 2) at home, alone in a quiet room where they regularly smoke. Light (< 10 cigarettes/day) and heavy smokers (> 15 cigarettes/day) were studied to test for a possible effect of the paced regimen itself. In the light smokers, smoking produced a larger increase in heart rate (HR) in the laboratory than in the natural smoking environment; however, in the heavy smokers the smoking had a larger effect in the normal smoking environment than in the laboratory. There were no significant group or test situation differences for baseline HR, skin conductance and finger temperature. The groups also did not differ in the intensity of drawing on the cigarette or inhaling, as indicated by a puff sensor and a respiratory belt, respectively. It was concluded that differences between the effects of a cigarette in a laboratory setting and in a natural smoking environment may reflect pharmacodynamic effects of smoking that are modified by the subjects' prior experience with smoking. The data are discussed with regard to conditioned tolerance to the effect of smoking.     

Fertility decline in Barbados: some spatial considerations

Despite its small size, Barbados exhibits some striking regional differences in fertility levels, which persisted during a period of major fertility decline in the 1960s. Regression analyses are performed for 28 subregions, using sex ratio, male occupational structure, female education, and female employment for 1960 and 1970 as the independent variables. The spatial influence of the Barbados family planning program is also considered. The author argues that a concentration of family planning programs in areas of greatest accessibility and modernization contributes to spatial variations in fertility.     

The global ethics of latex gloves: reflections on natural resource use in healthcare

The collagens produced by chick embryo chondrocytes cultured in alginate beads were investigated both biochemically and ultrastructurally. The cartilage phenotype is maintained for at least 14 days, as indicated by the production of the cartilage-specific collagens II, IX, and XI and the absence of collagen I. There were differences in the distributions of collagens among the three different compartments analyzed (cells and their associated matrix, further-removed matrix (released by alginate solubilization), and culture medium), with large amounts of collagen IX (mainly in proteoglycan form) in the culture medium. Inhibition of lysyl oxidase activity by beta-aminopropionitrile led to an overall decrease in collagen production. In contrast to the biochemical observations, collagen ultrastructure in the extracellular matrix of alginate cultures was not in the form of the expected 64-nm banded fibrils, but rather in the form of segment-long-spacing-like crystallites. This abnormal structure is likely to be a result of alginate disrupting normal assembly. We conclude that, in this system, the native fibrillar structure of the collagenous matrix is not essential for the maintenance of the differentiated phenotype of chondrocytes.     

Characteristics associated with rapid decline in forced expiratory volume

Though the mechanism of tissue damage induced by colonic inflammation in ulcerative colitis is unknown, it has been established that the inflammatory mediator and potent neutrophil (PMN) chemotaxin, leukotriene B4(LTB4), is present in elevated amounts in the inflamed mucosa. The unique role of 5-lipoxygenase in the production of leukotrienes has made it a target for inhibition. This study used a rat model of acute colonic inflammation induced by a single IP injection of Mitomycin-C to test the efficacy of a specific and potent 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor zileuton in the treatment of colonic inflammation. We hypothesized that after inducing colitis in rats with mitomycin-C, the administration of oral zileuton would inhibit leukotriene production, thus preventing PMN infiltration and subsequent tissue damage. Zileuton decreased colonic tissue damage as measured by Histological score. However, zileuton did not significantly decrease neutrophil infiltration measured by mucosal PMN or myeloperoxidase (MPO) levels. Although zileuton was successful in significantly decreasing the frequency of severe colitis in our model, the fact that the decrease in PMN count and MPO level was not statistically significant suggests that another mechanism may be involved in its anti-inflammatory effect.     

Rapid smoking and self-control in the modification of smoking behavior.

Investigated the efficacy of combining rapid smoking aversion and training in self-control skills for maintaining nonsmoking. 50 habitual smokers (26 males, 24 females; mean age 33 yrs) were assigned to a 3-wk treatment program emphasizing rapid smoking plus self-control, rapid smoking plus filler discussion, normal-paced (placebo) smoking plus self-control, or the placebo smoking procedure plus filler discussion. At the 13-wk follow-up, the performance of the combined rapid smoking plus self-control program was not superior to rapid smoking plus discussion. In fact, Ss in the combined program performed worse (had a higher mean smoking rate and a smaller percentage of abstinence) at both treatment termination and follow-up. Self-control did improve performance in placebo smoking Ss. Differences associated with self-control were not statistically significant. Rapid smoking was found to be significantly more effective than the placebo smoking when data from non-married treatment pairs were considered. Possible explanations for the negative impact of self-control on rapid smoking are outlined. Locus of control scores and extended experimenter–S contact after termination were not related to treatment performance. (20 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

11 beta-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity in Cushing's syndrome: explaining the mineralocorticoid excess state of the ectopic adrenocorticotropin syndrome

A characteristic feature of the ectopic ACTH syndrome is a state of mineralocorticoid excess, although the etiology remains obscure. Some forms of endocrine hypertension, such as licorice ingestion, have been explained by cortisol acting as a mineralocorticoid in the setting of inhibition or deficiency of 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11 beta HSD). This enzyme is responsible for the conversion of cortisol (F) to hormonally inactive cortisone, and its activity in vivo can be inferred from the ratio of the urinary excretion of tetrahydrocortisol (THF) and its isomer (5 alpha THF) to tetrahydrocortisone. Twenty-two patients with Cushing's syndrome (11 pituitary dependent, 9 ectopic, and 2 adrenal adenomas) and 13 controls were studied. Compared to controls. Cushing's patients had a significant increase (P < 0.001) in the excretion of all principal metabolites of F, secondary to a 5- to 6-fold increase in the cortisol secretion rate [median, 34.0 (range, 13.3-327) mg/day in Cushing's vs. 6.1 (range, 2.5-10.3) mg/day in controls]. The THF plus 5 alpha THF/tetrahydrocortisone ratio was significantly increased in Cushing's syndrome regardless of etiology [mean, 1.81 (range, 1.09-9.99) in Cushing's vs. 0.81 (range, 0.51-1.47) in controls; P < 0.001), indicative of defective 11 beta HSD activity. Furthermore, compared to patients with pituitary-dependent Cushing's, this ratio was significantly higher in patients with the ectopic ACTH syndrome (4.12 vs. 1.49; P < 0.01) and was inversely correlated with serum potassium levels (r = -0.57; P = 0.01; n = 22). One explanation for the mineralocorticoid excess state of the ectopic ACTH syndrome appears to be that cortisol gains inappropriate access to the mineralocorticoid receptor through failure of its normal metabolism by 11 beta HSD. The reason for the defective 11 beta HSD activity is unclear, but it may be secondary to substrate saturation, inhibition by other adrenal steroids, or product inhibition.     

Cigarette smoking under stress: the role of coping expectancies among smokers in a clinic-based smoking cessation program

This study examined 2 expectancies to explain smoking under stress: smokers' expectations about their ability to cope with stress while remaining abstinent and their expectations about the stress-ameliorating and coping benefits of smoking under stress. The interaction of the expectancies concurrently predicted smoking urge under stress, which, in turn, predicted subsequent smoking. The interaction of posttreatment expectancies prospectively predicted smoking status 3 months after treatment, although the coping benefits of smoking expectancy effect was reversed. Expectations about coping ability increased and expectations about the coping benefits of smoking decreased as a function of participating in a smoking cessation program. The discrepant concurrent and prospective findings, reasons that coping expectancies are associated with smoking under stress, and treatment implications are discussed.     

Documenting and explaining the common AAB pattern in music and humor: Establishing and breaking expectations.

The AAB pattern consists of two similar events followed by a third dissimilar event. The prevalence of this pattern in the aesthetic domain may be explained as violation of expectation: A minimum of two iterations is required to establish a repetitive pattern; once established, it is most efficient to promptly violate the expected continuance of the pattern to produce the maximal aesthetic effect. We demonstrate the prevalence of this pattern (in comparison to AB or AAAB) in a representative sample of a variety of musical genres and in a representative sample of repetitive genre of jokes. We also provide experimental evidence that the AAB pattern in jokes is maximally effective in producing a humor response in participants. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)