Amoebicidal activity of a preserved contact lens multipurpose disinfecting solution compared to a disinfection/neutralisation peroxide system.

The amoebicidal activity of a contact lens multipurpose disinfecting solution (MPDS) containing polyquaternium-1 and myristamidopropyl dimethylamine was compared to a disinfection/neutralisation peroxide system against Acanthamoeba castellanii and Acanthamoeba polyphaga trophozoites and cysts. A quantitative microtitre method was used to evaluate the solutions. The MPDS showed similar amoebicidal activity to the disinfection/neutralisation peroxide system against the trophozoites of both species and equal or more rapid activity against the cysts of both species.     

Detection of flunixin in greyhound urine by a kinetic enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

Anxiety levels in a sample of 65 long-term cancer survivors were assessed in a study of the effects of a planned discharge from an oncology clinic. Thirty-one percent of patients scored > or = 8, and 12% > or = 11 on the anxiety subscale of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), indicating that anxiety rates in patients in long-standing remission do not greatly differ from patients with active disease. Despite the provision of continued support and guaranteed fast-access return to the clinic if necessary, 28% of patients refused to be discharged. Fear that recurrence would not be detected was the reason most frequently cited. Seventy-five percent of these patients were HADS anxiety cases. A second assessment 4-5 months later of the 41 patients who were discharged showed a slight, but non-significant increase in anxiety rates suggesting that anxiety in cancer survivors may be persistent and not related to clinic attendance.     

Physician and patient communication training in primary care: Effects on participation and satisfaction.

[Correction Notice: An erratum for this article was reported in Vol 28(2) of Health Psychology (see record 2009-03297-015). There was a typographical error in the text on page 521, in the first sentence of the first full paragraph. The corrected sentence is provided in the erratum.] Objective: To assess the effects of a communication skills training program for physicians and patients. Design: A randomized experiment to improve physician communication skills was assessed 1 and 6 months after a training intervention; patient training to be active participants was assessed after 1 month. Across three primary medical care settings, 156 physicians treating 2,196 patients were randomly assigned to control group or one of three conditions (physician, patient, or both trained). Main Outcome Measures: Patient satisfaction and perceptions of choice, decision-making, information, and lifestyle counseling; physicians' satisfaction and stress; and global ratings of the communication process. Results: The following significant (p     

Home relaxation practice in hypertension treatment: Objective assessment and compliance induction.

50 Ss (mean age 51.1 yrs) with essential hypertension were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 conditions: individualized relaxation, group relaxation (GR), GR plus contingency contracting (CC) for home practice, or a waiting list. Treated Ss were given tape players and relaxation tapes and were instructed to practice daily for 10 wks. Unknown to the Ss, the tape players had a concealed capacity to electronically monitor the amount of relaxation practice. All relaxation conditions showed significantly greater reductions in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure than waiting-list controls but did not differ from each other. Monitored relaxation predicted systolic but not diastolic changes. Self-reports exceeded monitored practice by 91%, and only 32% of the Ss averaged 1 practice/day. GR plus CC Ss showed the lowest rate of practice across most weeks. Rated self-efficacy, age, and pretreatment expectations of benefit were positively correlated with relaxation compliance. Data support the use of relaxation for hypertension but suggest that noncompliance is common in both individual and group relaxation training. (18 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)