Racial, ethnic, and cultural differences in dementia caregiving: review and analysis

Expectancy theory posits that anxiety sensitivity may serve as a premorbid risk factor for the development of anxiety pathology (S. Reiss, 1991). The principal aim of the present study was to determine whether anxiety sensitivity acts as a specific vulnerability factor in the pathogenesis of anxiety pathology. A large, nonclinical sample of young adults (N = 1,401) was prospectively followed over a 5-week highly stressful period of time (i.e., military basic training). Anxiety sensitivity was found to predict the development of spontaneous panic attacks after controlling for a history of panic attacks and trait anxiety. Approximately 20% of those scoring in the upper decile on the Anxiety Sensitivity Index (R. A. Peterson & S. Reiss, 1987) experienced a panic attack during the 5-week follow-up period compared with only 6% for the remainder of the sample. Anxiety sensitivity also predicted anxiety symptomatology, functional impairment created by anxiety, and disability. These data provide strong evidence for anxiety sensitivity as a risk factor in the development of panic attacks and other anxiety symptoms.     

Farnesyltransferase inhibitors versus Ras inhibitors

BACKGROUND: Intra-arterial regional anaesthesia (IARA) may be useful for ambulatory hand surgery in patients with poor veins. This randomized, double-blind study assessed which of the three doses of lignocaine gives the optimal analgesia with a minimum of adverse effects. METHODS: A preservative-free, alkalinized 0.5% lignocaine 1, 2 or 2.89 mg/kg body weight was injected into the radial arteries of 60 adult patients, allocated to three equal groups, to produce anaesthesia for carpal tunnel releases, capsulotomies, tenosynovectomies, palmar fasciectomies, Z-plastics, arthroplastics, arthrodeses etc. RESULTS: Surgical analgesia and motor block were best in group 3 (P < 0.01), whereas injection and tourniquet pain scores were similar in the three groups. Onset of analgesia was similar in all groups, and varied between 2 and 15 min. Cannulation time, surgery start time and tourniquet time were also similar in all groups, as were operating conditions and patient's acceptance of the method. No significant cardiovascular changes were observed after tourniquet release in any of the groups. Plasma lignocaine concentrations were lowest in group 1 (1 mg/kg) (P < 0.001). Five patients in group 1, seven in group 2 and seventeen in group 3 developed small bruises at the cannulation site (P < 0.001). Six patients (two in group 1, three in group 2 and one in group 3) had minor symptoms of lignocaine toxicity after tourniquet release (NS). No other complications were observed. CONCLUSIONS: The highest dose of lignocaine produces best surgical analgesia, without increasing the risk of toxicity. However, many patients receiving this dose will develop bruises at the injection site, and an occasional patient may need supplemental analgesia.     

Observation of rhombic facets on platinum wire after heating in air using scanning tunnelling microscopy

Evidence is provided for the formation of surface faceting due to heating in air at 1160 K. For the first time diamond-shaped facets with angles of 60 and 120° have been observed on the surface of a sample of ultrapure platinum wire in air using scanning tunnelling microscopy. The maximum extension of the facets is about 1000 Å.     

Effect of dietary fish oil supplementation on peroxidation of serum lipids in patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus

Target 17 of the Health Policy for Europe calls for the health-damaging consumption of dependence-producing substances such as alcohol, tobacco and psychoactive substances to be significantly reduced in all Member States between the year 1980 and the year 2000. With regard to alcohol, it is suggested that alcohol consumption be reduced by 25%, with particular attention to reducing harmful use. A question posed by a number of Member States is what is the level of per capita alcohol consumption of lowest risk to physical, psychological and social harm. A working group was convened to consider population levels of alcohol consumption with particular reference to the Member States of the European Region of WHO. A basis for understanding population problem experience can be established through the interaction between individual risk and distribution of consumption levels within the population. The working group concluded that public health policy within the European Region should continue to advise decreases of per capita consumption. Even when taking into account coronary heart disease, it can be concluded at the population level, across all ranges of alcohol consumption found in almost all countries of Europe, that a reduction in consumption is linked to better health. However, public health policy concerning alcohol should not be based solely on mortality. All outcomes of drinking, that is mortality, morbidity, social and criminal consequences, as well as quality of life, should be considered. The existing data relating alcohol consumption to health originates from countries primarily with a cultural experience of consuming alcohol. In those countries, where there is a cultural or religious tradition of not consuming alcohol, there can be no public health grounds for recommending alcohol consumption.     

Physical and chemical properties of DMP 504, a polyalkylammonium-based bile acid sequestrant

In an open, controlled, multi-centre clinical field trial, seven 'naturally occurring' outbreaks of acute febrile (rectal temperature > or = 39.5 degrees C) respiratory disease in housed calves were treated with a single antimicrobial agent, and either the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) carprofen (n = 95) or flunixin meglumine (n = 92) on an alternate basis. Carprofen was administered as a single subcutaneous injection at a mean dosage of 1.4 mg kg-1 (range 1.2 to 1.9 mg kg-1) body weight on the first day and flunixin meglumine by intravenous injection at a mean dosage of 2.0 mg kg-1 (range 1.2 to 2.6 mg kg-1) body weight on the first 3 consecutive days. All calves were examined clinically immediately prior to initial treatment and on three occasions up to 1 week after the end of treatment. There were no statically significant differences between NSAID groups in reduction of clinical parameters between examinations, or in overall efficacy. This trial demonstrated that a single dose of carprofen was equally effective as three daily doses of flunixin meglumine as adjunctive therapy to antimicrobial treatment in acute respiratory disease in calves.     

Effect of pregnancy on maternal oxygen saturation values: use of reflectance pulse oximetry during pregnancy

Our objective was to evaluate the usefulness of pulse oximetry monitoring in a large population of pregnant patients. We designed our study to measure pulse oximetry saturation in a cross section of 952 obstetric inpatients and outpatients. A group of 366 patients identified as normal were compared with abnormal subgroups. A subgroup of 64 patients with saturation measurements less than 96% were further evaluated. Our results indicated that oxygen saturation values did not change appreciably during the course of pregnancy in normal patients. Hypoxemia (saturation measurement less than 96%) was associated with smoking, and hypoxemia with preterm labor occurred more frequently in patients who smoked. Obesity and magnesium sulfate use appeared to be synergistic in the presence of hypoxemia. We concluded that the routine use of pulse oximetry during pregnancy may not be justified. Smoking, obesity, and magnesium sulfate use have some effect on oximetry in pregnant patients.     

All optical multiple-quantum-well waveguide switch

By increasing the input light intensity to a GaAs/GaAlAs multiple-quantum-well waveguide, an induced phase shift of up to ? radians has been detected. Partial switching of light between two such coupled waveguides by variation of the input light intensity has been observed for the first time.     

Radiotherapy after chemotherapy for metastatic seminoma--a diminishing role. MRC Testicular Tumour Working Party

In a retrospective study, data from 302 patients with metastatic testicular seminoma treated with chemotherapy between 1978 and 1990 in 10 European centres were analysed to evaluate the role, if any, of postchemotherapy treatment with irradiation. The primary endpoint of this study was the progression-free survival rate after chemotherapy with or without additional radiotherapy. This was related to the type of primary chemotherapy, sites and sizes of pre- and postchemotherapy masses, the extent of surgical resection after chemotherapy and the use of radiotherapy. 174 patients had residual disease at the end of chemotherapy. The most important prognostic factors for progression were the presence of any visceral metastases or raised LDH prechemotherapy, and the presence of residual disease at visceral sites after chemotherapy. Approximately half the patients with residual masses underwent postchemotherapy radiotherapy, with selection based predominantly on institutional practice. In patients receiving platinum-based chemotherapy, no significant difference was detected in progression-free survival whether or not radiotherapy was employed. Patients receiving BEP (bleomycin, etoposide and cisplatin) had a progression-free survival rate of 88% (95% CI, 80-96%) uninfluenced by postchemotherapy radiotherapy. In patients with residual masses confined to the abdomen after platinum-based chemotherapy, the absolute benefit to radiotherapy was estimated to be 2.3%. The potential benefit of postchemotherapy radiotherapy is minimal, and so it is concluded that the use of adjuvant radiotherapy to residual masses after platinum-based chemotherapy for metastatic seminoma is unnecessary.