Going with the grain? General practitioners and the new NHS

A number of policy initiatives over the last few years have encouraged general practitioners (GPs) to participate in commissioning, as opposed to simply purchasing, health care. This role was reinforced in the white paper, The New NHS. A qualitative study of GPs in two health authorities uncovered not only concerns about the reforms which have since emerged in the medical and general press, but other issues which have been less frequently articulated. There was also evidence of goodwill towards professional colleagues, including those in social services departments. The preference for professional, as opposed to market relationships may help to secure the collaborative ethos desired by government. However, if the concerns the study uncovered are indicative of a more widespread response to the white paper, they suggest the need for careful support of developing Primary Care Groups (PCGs).     

To Treat Hypernecrospermia with Decoction for Tonifying the Kidney and Generating the Sperm

Hypemecrospennia is the common disease frequently seen in andriatry. It‘s one of the main reasons that cause the masculine sterility. During March 1997 December 2003. The author applied decoction for tonifying the kidney and generating the sperm in treatment of this disease and received rather good efficacy. The complete summary of 136 cases was reported as followed.     

What do we do with the SARS reports?

The magnitude of the SARS disaster led to the establishment of several commissions and inquiries, whose reports are now available. While the reports were triggered by SARS, and focus on many issues arising from SARS, they all clearly acknowledge that concerns regarding public health in this country are long-standing. Virtually every report on the future of our health system has identified the need for investment in public health, disease prevention and health promotion as a key to sustaining our healthcare system. Yet, these earlier recommendations have been largely ignored. We can only hope that with the magnitude of the SARS disaster still relatively fresh in our minds, we will not ignore these new reports.     

Are the metabolic alterations associated with critical illness related to the hormonal environment?

The hormonal environment has a direct effect on mediating the catabolic response to critical illness. Administering hormones to normal volunteers simulated many, but not all, of the alterations observed in patients following injury or severe injection. The administration of an inflammatory agent, etiocholanolone, initiated a variety of acute phase responses and interacted with hormonally mediated changes to elicit a variety of responses commonly observed in critically ill patients. Further studies have manipulated the hormone environment in critically ill patients by administering anabolic factors or blocking catabolic hormone elaboration. These investigations have demonstrated a marked attenuation of many of the catabolic responses to critical illness. Such manipulations give some insight into the potential for patient care in the future, where catabolic responses could be successfully blunted, and anabolic hormones administered so as to prevent the marked wasting and tissue disruption that heretofore have commonly been associated with catabolic disorders.     

Is parental coping associated with the level of function in children with physical disabilities?1

Objectives The objectives of this study are: (1) to describe parental coping in a cohort of children with physical disabilities (PDs); (2) to determine whether the child's level of function is associated with parental coping; and (3) to explore whether socio‐demographic factors such as child's age, maternal education and family structure are associated with parental coping. Methods Parents of 150 children with PDs were interviewed after being referred to community rehabilitation services. They answered the following: the Coping Health Inventory for Parents, the Functional Independence Measure for children (WeeFIM) and a study questionnaire that addressed socio‐demographic characteristics. Multiple linear regression models were used to determine the association between level of function and other factors and parental coping. Results Mean (SD) age of the children was 40.9 (15.2) months and 64.7% were male. Parental coping scores, measured by the Coping Health Inventory for Parents, indicated that the parents in our study found seeking out social support from community resources useful. Parents of children with moderate to severe dysfunction in mobility (WeeFIM) found coping behaviours related to communicating with the healthcare professionals regarding their child's condition useful (β coefficient, 2.07; 95% CI, 0.37, 3.78). Greater perceived usefulness of maintaining social support through community resources was associated with lower maternal education, working parents and two‐parent families. Conclusion These findings underscore the importance of helping parents of children with PDs maintain social support. It is important to help parents understand their child's medical situation, especially those whose children have more severe mobility dysfunction.     

Are citizens of the world satisfied with their health?

This paper represents initial analyses of data on self-perceived health conditions and satisfaction with personal health from a representative survey of citizens in 130 countries. The analysis examines the effects of income and age on health perceptions along with the combined effect of cultural norms and income. Three important conclusions can be drawn. First, individual perceptions regarding personal health status are remarkably consistent around the world. Second, the incidence of satisfaction with personal health in the United States is comparable to that in most countries. Third, perceptions of personal health correlate strongly with respondents' income level, both globally and regionally.