Ten common-sense teaching strategies for effective inservice presentation by staff nurses

Staff nurses are currently being given the opportunity to present inservice offerings as a criterion for the professional performance evaluation. Unfortunately, staff nurses, even those with baccalaureate preparation, generally have not been prepared in strategies for effective teaching. Consequently, many staff nurses either avoid this opportunity altogether or may proceed with the "seat of the pants" approach, making learning a chance event. This article sets forth 10 common-sense teaching strategies for effective inservice education presentations with the goal of encouraging and empowering staff nurses to share their particular area of expertise with their peers.     

Root growth and phosphorus and potassium uptake by two corn genotypes in the field

In a field study P and K uptake by two corn (Zea mays L.) genotypes which differed in root growth was investigated. The effect of differences in root growth on P and K uptake was assessed using a mechanistic-mathematical model which describes nutrient uptake by growing plant roots in soil. Nitrogen was applied at 0 and 227 kg ha^–1 to Pioneer 3732 and B73xMo17 corn grown on Raub silt loam (fine-silty, mixed, mesic Aquic Argiudoll) and at 227 kg N ha^–1 to these two genotypes on Chalmers silt loam (finesilty, mixed, mesic, Typic Haplaquoll). Root growth and P and K uptake by the two corn genotypes was measured 31, 47, 75 and 91 d after planting on the Raub and 31, 47, 61 and 75 d after planting on the Chalmers soil.Root growth and P and K uptake by B73xMo17 was greater than that of Pioneer 3732 on N-fertilized Raub soil. On Chalmers soil the difference in root growth between the two genotypes resulted in an increase in K but not P uptake. The higher soil P level of the Chalmers appears to have offset possible differences in P uptake due to root size. There were no differences between the two genotypes in either the percentage of roots with root hairs, or the density or length of root hairs. Phosphorus and K uptake calculated with the simulation models for both corn genotypes on both soils over each of three growth periods agreed with observed P (Y = 0.68X + 1.71; r = 0.944^**) and K (Y = 0.88X + 15.52; r = 0.928^**) uptake. Differences in P and K uptake between B73xMo17 and Pioneer 3732 resulted primarily from the difference in root growth in the topsoil. A high correlation was found between root surface area and P (r = 0.893^**) and K (r = 0.928^**) uptake by both corn genotypes on both the soils.Journal paper No. 10,316 Purdue Univ. Agric. Exp. Stn., W. Lafayette, In 47906. Contribution from the Dep. of Agron. This paper was supported in part by a grant from the Tennessee Valley Authority.     

Role of intimin and bundle-forming pili in enteropathogenic Escherichia coli adhesion to pediatric intestinal tissue in vitro

Attaching and effacing (A/E) lesion formation is central to enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) pathogenesis. In vitro experiments with human epithelial cell lines have implicated virulence plasmid-encoded bundle-forming pili (BFP) in initial binding and intimin in intimate attachment and A/E lesion formation. This study investigated the role of BFP and intimin in EPEC interactions with pediatric small intestinal biopsy tissue in in vitro organ culture. Organ culture infections (2 to 8 h) were performed with E2348/69 (a wild-type EPEC O127:H6 clinical isolate) and E2348/69 derivatives including CVD206 (eae deficient), CVD206(pCVD438) (eae-complemented CVD206), CVD206(pCVD438/01) (expressing intimin, which is nonfunctional due to a single amino acid substitution), JPN15 (spontaneous EPEC adherence factor virulence plasmid-cured E2348/69), and 31-6-1(1) (E2348/69 with a TnphoA insertion inactivation mutation in the virulence plasmid-encoded bfpA gene). Scanning and transmission electron microscopy revealed that after 8 h E2348/69 and CVD206 (pCVD438) (both Int+ BFP+) adhered to all specimens, causing A/E lesions with surrounding microvillous elongation. JPN15 and 31-6-1(1) (both Int+ BFP-) adhered and caused A/E lesions although bacteria adhered in "flat," two-dimensional groups. CVD206 and CVD206(pCVD438/01) (both Int- BFP+) did not adhere to any sample, and no pathological tissue changes were seen. Thus, in human intestinal organ culture, BFP do not appear to be involved in the initial stages of EPEC nonintimate adhesion but are implicated in the formation of complex, three-dimensional colonies via bacterium-bacterium interactions. Intimin appears to play an essential role in establishing colonization of EPEC on pediatric small intestinal tissue.     

Apolipoprotein E*3-Leiden transgenic mice as a test model for hypolipidaemic drugs

PURPOSE: We report an investigation into the distribution of proteoglycans (PGs) in normal, organ-cultured and dextran-treated human corneas. METHODS: Immunogold labeling was carried out at the electron microscope level to localize keratan sulphate (KS), chondroitin sulphate (CS), and heparan sulphate (HS) PGs. RESULTS: High levels of labeling for CS was found in the epithelium, endothelium, and keratocytes, with light labelling present in the basement membranes and the corneal stroma. Labeling for HS was present in the epithelium, endothelium, and keratocytes, with intense labeling present at the endothelium/Descemet's membrane interface and the epithelium/Bowman's layer interface. Large filaments were also observed in these regions in cuprolinic blue-stained specimens. Keratan sulphate was present at high levels in the stroma and the basement membranes with low levels present within the keratocytes, epithelium, and endothelium. The pattern of KS labeling along the collagen fibrils in the stroma sometimes showed evidence of periodicity. Organ-cultured corneas had extensive collagen-free "lakes," the interior of which immunolabeled positively for KS and showed staining with cuprolinic blue. The lakes were greatly reduced in the dextran-treated samples. CONCLUSION: This investigation determined the ultrastructural distribution of KS, CS, and HS PGs in human cornea and showed that organ culture is associated with a change in distribution of stromal PGs.     

Spinal neurilemmomas and neurofibromas: central dot sign in postgadolinium MRI

The MR studies of three histologically proven spinal neurilemmomas and neurofibromas were reviewed retrospectively. There were two benign neurilemmomas (schwannomas) and one neurofibroma. The common characteristic of these cases was a central low intensity focus ("dot") seen on postcontrast T1-weighted imaging. The low intensity foci corresponded histologically to a congeries of changes including edema, microcysts, foam cells, hyalinization of blood vessels, old hemorrhage, and dystrophic calcification.     

Accessory artificial circulation in complex treatment of experimental acute toxic pulmonary edema

In experiments on 50 dogs with toxic acute edema of the lung, induced with intravenous injection of 0.1% silver nitrate, the authors have studied the efficacy of accessory artificial circulation and "conservative" therapy. During the perfusion a discharge of the right portions, adequate extracorporeal gas metabolism, normalization of blood gas and acid-base balance were noted; an intensity of pulmonary edema is descreased. An intensive therapy for pulmonary edema was found to be more effective in association of "conservative" treatment with venoarterial perfusion and blood oxygenation.     

Nitrous oxide "analgesia": resemblance to opiate action

Nitrous oxide produced a dose-related "analgesia" in mice (median effective dose, 55 percent). The analgesia was evaluated by means of a phenylquinone writhing test. Narcotic antagonists or chronic morphinization reduced nitrous oxide analgesia. Either nitrous oxide releases an endogenous analgesic or narcotic antagonists have analgesic antagonist properties heretofore unappreciated.     

Circulating ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 in peripheral artery disease and hypercholesterolaemia: relationship to the location of atherosclerotic disease, smoking, and in the prediction of adverse events

We examined the relationship of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) with smoking and hypercholesterolaemia in peripheral artery disease (PAD). Serum samples were obtained from 119 patients with objectively-proven PAD, 39 patients with hypercholesterolaemia but asymptomatic for PAD, and 132 age and sex matched asymptomatic controls. Using ELISAs, we found increased sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 (both p <0.01) in the patients with PAD relative to the controls, but no significant change in patients with hypercholesterolaemia. However, the effect for sVCAM-1 was lost when smoking was entered as a covariate. Only sICAM-1 was higher in patients with PAD in the femoral/iliac arteries compared to the carotid arteries (p <0.05). In a 39-month follow-up of 112 patients with PAD, increased ICAM-1 weakly (univariate p <0.05) predicted those 57 whose disease progressed (i.e. to end points such as myocardial infarction and arterial surgery). However, high fibrinogen was a much better (univariate p = 0.001, multivariate p <0.05) predictor of disease progression. We suggest (i) that increased levels of sVCAM-1 in atherosclerosis are due to smoking, (ii) that increased sICAM-1 is independent of this risk factor, (iii) that both these changes are independent of hypercholesterolaemia, and (iv) that increased sICAM-1 is a weak predictor of disease progression in peripheral atherosclerosis.