Climate Change: Effects on the Older Adult

The effects of climate change include floods, hurricanes, heat waves, and fires; these natural disasters can result in respiratory, cardiovascular, and psychological harm in older adults, who experience the highest morbidity and mortality during heat waves. Advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) need education on preparing, assessing, and treating older adults for climate-change disasters, especially heat waves. This article will help APRNs understand the effects of climate-change events on the vulnerable older adults and advocates for the need to integrate health effects of climate change into curricula, practicums, policy, and research agendas.     

Bidirectional relationships between future time perspective and alcohol use: an exploratory study in a clinical setting

Abstract

Gaining a better grasp on factors related to changes in alcohol use is of particular interest for clinicians. Past research has highlighted a negative link between future time perspective (i.e. a disposition guiding how individuals consider and act regarding their future) and alcohol misuse. However, much remains at stake in the understanding of this association. The objective of this research was to explore bidirectional relationships between future time perspective and severity of alcohol-related problems, in a clinical setting. The sample includes 79 patients followed up in an outpatient alcohol treatment centre. Two measurement times were planned: at entry into care and 6 months later. Multiple linear regression analyses were carried out, controlling for sociodemographic variables. We found that baseline future time perspective predicted level of alcohol-related problems after 6 months in treatment, even when effects of baseline alcohol-related problems and sociodemographic variables were controlled. This study shows that the way patients see and position themselves regarding their future can affect level of alcohol-related problems. It may be useful for clinicians to identify patients with low future time perspective to offer tailored interventions and consider this dimension as a resource for change.     

Implementation strategies for the first licensed dengue vaccine: A meeting report

Dengue vaccination would enhance the control of dengue, one of the most frequent vector-borne viral diseases globally. CYD-TDV is the first dengue vaccine to be licensed, but global uptake has been hampered due to its use being limited to seropositive persons aged 9 years and above, and the need for a 3-dose schedule. The Partnership for Dengue Control (PDC) organized a meeting with key opinion leaders and stakeholders to deliberate on implementation strategies for the use of CYD-TDV. New data have emerged that support the shortening of the primary schedule from a 3 to 2 dose schedule, extending the age range below 9 to 6 years of age, and expanding the indication from endemic populations to also include travelers to endemic areas. Cost-effectiveness may improve with the modified 2-dose regimen and with multiple testing. Strategies to implement a dengue vaccination program have been developed, in particular school-based strategies. A range of delivery scenarios can then be considered, using various settings for each step of the intervention. However, several challenges remain, including communication about limiting the use of this vaccine to seropositive individuals only. Affordability will vary from country to country, as will government commitment and community acceptance. Well-tailored communication strategies that target key stakeholders are expected to make up a significant part of any future dengue vaccination program.     

缺血再灌注脑组织病理形态及脂质过氧化的动态观察

目的:探讨缺血再灌注脑组织病理形态及丙二醛含量变化的关系.方法:阻断双侧颈总动脉和椎动脉结合低血压法复制兔脑完全性缺血再灌注模型,观察心脉龙对脑组织病理形态变化及脂质过氧化的影响.结果:心脉龙能抑制膜脂质过氧化作用,且缺血再灌注脑组织丙二醛含量变化与其病理形态改变具有一致性.结论:动态观察血液丙二醛,可作为评价脑缺血性疾病治疗和预后的检测指标.     

The effects of dietary modification as denned by NACNE on the eating habits of 28 people

Twenty-eight members of the general public, with little nutritional knowledge and no previous commitment to dietary change, completed 7-day-weighed dietary diaries. They then attempted to change their diets, where appropriate, in line with current nutritional guidelines.
The panel achieved changes in diet that were consistent with the recent recommendations but several problems arose. In particular, although fat levels were reduced, energy levels fell and fibre goals were not reached; in addition, certain of the initial vitamin and mineral intakes gave cause for concern. These results emphasize the importance of giving advice not only about foods that might be reduced in the diet, but also about food that might be used as alternatives. They also illustrate the difficulty of persuading people to make radical changes to their eating habits even when given personal advice from a nutritionist.
The panel was small and not necessarily representative, but the results illustrate the need for more dietary analysis studies. It is not enough simply to formulate appropriate guidelines from a nutritional point of view; it is also important to ensure that the public understands them and that people make sensible decisions about their diet.     

软质聚氨酯泡沫塑料用于植皮手术包扎的临床与实验研究

目的 通过临床与实验研究选择合适的皮片游离移植手术包扎材料.方法 实验分别以软质聚氨酯泡沫塑料、层叠干纱布、松散干沙团和干棉花团为测试包扎材料.分别在测试包扎材料上加压,记录血浆袋所受到的压力和包扎材料厚度压缩比例的变化;临床常规方法片皮移植,以软质聚氨酯泡沫塑料块加压包扎皮片.结果 软质聚氨酯泡沫塑料当外加压力使其压缩至原厚度的90%～34%时,可使皮片受到25 cmH2O～54.4 cmH2O的压力;此压力范围足以使皮片与创面密切接触,保证皮片成活,又避免过大的压力影响皮片血供重建.以软质聚氨酯泡沫塑料为包扎材料植皮,皮片成活率明显提高.结论 软质聚氨酯泡沫塑料是一种良好的植皮包装材料.     

中药敷脐治疗胸腰椎术后腹胀便秘的效果观察

目的探讨使用大黄厚朴煎剂热敷脐部治疗胸腰椎术后患者腹胀、便秘的疗效。方法选择2005年1月至2006年12月中山大学第二医院骨外科胸腰椎术后出现腹胀便秘的患者80例。分成两组,治疗组用大黄厚朴煎剂热敷脐部;对照组使用开塞露塞肛。观察两组患者肛门排气,排便,腹胀消除及停药复结情况。结果治疗组的总有效率95%,对照组总有效率70%;停药复结情况:治疗组5%,对照组42.5%;腹胀减轻情况:治疗组95%,对照组52.5%。结论大黄厚朴煎剂热敷脐能有效减轻肠胀气,软化大便,对于消除胸腰椎术后患者腹胀便秘明显优于使用开塞露塞肛效果。     

Autonomy and modernisation: the management of change in an English primary care trust

Recent New Labour policy for the ‘modernisation’ of Government places a good deal of emphasis on decentralisation. This emphasis is particularly marked in relation to the organisation of primary care. However, like hospitals and other National Health Service institutions, primary care trusts (PCTs) are subject to a substantial raft of centrally established performance targets and indicators, including those which contribute to the public award of between zero and three performance ‘stars’. This raises questions about the extent to which employees can exercise autonomy in the context of rigid top‐down directives. This paper presents findings from a study using participant observation and interviews to examine the impact of a training course aimed ostensibly at increasing employee autonomy in an English PCT. The suggestion is that attempts to make employees more autonomous can be seen as a strategy for increasing central control based upon the internalisation by the employees of centrally promulgated values. The attraction of such strategies is that they may be potentially more effective and less costly than alternative strategies of direct control. However, the study suggests that the outcome of attempts by such methods as programmes to increase employee autonomy may be very different from those intended.