Effects of implementing patient-centered care models on nurse and non-nurse managers

Evaluation of new patient care delivery models often focuses on their impact on the role of the staff nurse and the introduction of a variety of assistive personnel. This article examines the effects of patient-centered care models on the roles of nurse and non-nurse managers. Interviews with 26 managers approximately 6 months after models have been implemented reveal a number of issues and challenges faced by the managers during and after implementation. The data provide a number of new insights not previously reported in the literature.     

Effects of feeding fresh garlic and garlic oil on detoxifying enzymes and micronuclei formation in rats treated with azoxymethane

Two studies were conducted during which 23 patients with chronic migraine were exposed to pulsing electromagnetic fields over the inner thigh. In an open study, 11 subjects kept a 2-week headache log before and after 2 to 3 weeks of exposure to pulsing electromagnetic fields for 1 hour per day, 5 days per week. The number of headaches per week decreased from 4.03 during the baseline period to 0.43 during the initial 2-week follow-up period and to 0.14 during the extended follow-up which averaged 8.1 months. In a double-blind study, 9 subjects kept a 3-week log of headache activity and were randomly assigned to receive 2 weeks of real or placebo pulsing electromagnetic field exposures as described above. They were subsequently switched to 2 weeks of the other mode, after which they kept a final 3-week log. Three additional subjects in the blind study inadvertently received half-power pulsing electromagnetic field exposures. The 6 subjects exposed to the actual device first showed a change in headache activity from 3.32 per week to 0.58 per week. The 3 subjects exposed to only half the dose showed no change in headache activity. Large controlled studies should be performed to determine whether this intervention is actually effective.     

Structural basis for the recognition of carbohydrates by human galectin-7

Knowledge about carbohydrate recognition domains of galectins, formerly known as S-type animal lectins, is important in understanding their role(s) in cell-cell interactions. Here we report the crystal structure of human galectin-7 (hGal-7), in free form and in the presence of galactose, galactosamine, lactose, and N-acetyl-lactosamine at high resolution. This is the first structure of a galectin determined in both free and carbohydrate-bound forms. The structure shows a fold similar to that of the prototype galectins -1 and -2, but has greater similarity to a related galectin molecule, Gal-10. Even though the carbohydrate-binding residues are conserved, there are significant changes in this pocket due to shortening of a loop structure. The monomeric hGal-7 molecule exists as a dimer in the crystals, but adopts a packing arrangement considerably different from that of Gal-1 and Gal-2, which has implications for carbohydrate recognition.     

Heterotrimeric G proteins physically associated with the lipopolysaccharide receptor CD14 modulate both in vivo and in vitro responses to lipopolysaccharide

Septic shock induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) triggering of cytokine production from monocytes/macrophages is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. The major monocyte/macrophage LPS receptor is the glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored glycoprotein CD14. Here we demonstrate that CD14 coimmunoprecipitates with Gi/Go heterotrimeric G proteins. Furthermore, we demonstrate that heterotrimeric G proteins specifically regulate CD14-mediated, LPS-induced mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation and cytokine production in normal human monocytes and cultured cells. We report here that a G protein binding peptide protects rats from LPS-induced mortality, suggesting a functional linkage between a GPI-anchored receptor and the intracellular signaling molecules with which it is physically associated.     

Amelioration of virulent Babesia bovis infection in calves by administration of the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor aminoguanidine

The expression of synaptosomal-associated protein (SNAP-25), neural growth-associated protein (GAP-43) and neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) were studied in mouse olfactory cells and axons for 2 weeks following unilateral bulbectomy. The olfactory cells and axons in the control olfactory epithelium were positive for SNAP-25 but levels decreased in the atrophic olfactory epithelium 3 days after bulbectomy. There was no expression of SNAP-25 in the olfactory epithelium on the bulbectomy side 7 days after bulbectomy, indicating that this protein may be a good marker for the degeneration of olfactory cells. The expression of NCAM was still found in the atrophic olfactory epithelium at 7 days after bulbectomy, while the expression of NCAM in the olfactory epithelium of the bulbectomy side was stronger than that on the control side at 14 days after bulbectomy. The expression of GAP-43 in the olfactory axonal bundles of the bulbectomy side at 3 and 4 days after bulbectomy was stronger than that on the control side. These results suggest that upregulation of NCAM may be related to the regeneration of the olfactory cells, with upregulation of GAP-43 probably playing a role in axonal regeneration after bulbectomy.     

Three sibs with mild variety of osteopetrosis

We report three sibs with mild autosomal recessive variety of osteopetrosis. The prominent clinical features were short stature, malocclusion of teeth, hepatosplenomegaly and a typical facial appearance. The only atypical features were microcephaly, a normal upper segment to lower segment ratio and a normal arm span.