Transforming lives

Being locked up in a young offender institution causes stress to inmates that can erupt into disorder and violence. Two nurses are providing relaxation and acupuncture therapies to help them cope.     

Transforming vulnerability

Asian American immigrant women engaged in filial caregiving are at special risk for health problems due to complex contextual factors related to immigration, cultural traditions, and role transition. This study examines the experience of two groups of immigrant Asian American women who are caring for older parents. A total of 41 women (22 Chinese American and 19 Filipino American) were interviewed in a study based on Strauss and Corbin's grounded theory methodology. The women were determined to be loyal to their traditional culture, which included strong filial values, while adapting to a new culture. Through the struggle of meeting role expectations and coping with paradox, the women mobilized personal and family resources to transform vulnerability into strength and well-being.     

Transforming education

This five-part editorial series examines the Institute of Medicine's (IOM) most recent report, "The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health." Each issue through July targets one of the four IOM global recommendations for expanding nursing practice and positively impacting healthcare systems of the future.     

少弱精子症患者精浆中精子及睾丸组织端粒酶活性实验研究

目的通过对少弱精子症患者精浆及睾丸端粒酶活性(TA)的检测,探讨少弱精子症患者精浆中精子与TA的相关性。方法以端粒重复序列扩增法(TRAP)检测受试者精浆中精子和睾丸组织TA。结果少弱精子症患者精子TA表达与健康者比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);少弱精子症患者睾丸组织中TA呈阳性。结论睾丸组织的TA是反映精子形成的高敏感和高特异标记物;健康者和少弱精子症患者精浆TA降低,TA的缺乏可能是生殖细胞发育停滞的原因之一。     

Elevated telomerase activity in essential thrombocythemia with extreme thrombocytosis

Introduction

We performed a comparative analysis of telomerase activity (TA) in patients with myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). The relationships between TA and known prognostic factors were also analyzed.

Materials and methods

A telomeric repeat amplification protocol was performed with bone marrow hematopoietic cells from 96 normal controls, 44 MPNs, and 40 MDSs.

Result

TA (measured as molecules/reaction) showed no correlation with age in the control group (R² = 0.0057, p = 0.464). MPN showed elevated TA compared with controls (15,537.57 vs. 7775.44, p = 0.020). Patients with essential thrombocythemia showed markedly elevated TA (22,688.56, p = 0.030), particularly in cases with extreme thrombocytosis versus those without extreme thrombocytosis (34,522.19 vs. 9375.71, p = 0.041). MDS patients showed a TA value of 7578.50.

Conclusion

There was no association between age and TA in bone marrow hematopoietic cells. TA was elevated in MPN but borderline in MDS, probably because of differences in the nature of the diseases. Elevated TA in patients with essential thrombocythemia, especially those with extreme thrombocytosis, suggests that an anti-telomerase strategy could be beneficial in the prevention of thrombotic complications.     

放射性核素示踪技术检测端粒酶活性的研究进展

人端粒酶(telomerase)与人类的衰老与肿瘤发生密切联系;其主要组成成分之一——人端粒酶催化亚单位(hTERT)是端粒酶的限速亚单位,具有重要的临床应用价值与研究意义。检测端粒酶活性,尤其是hTERT活性,不仅有助于临床诊断肿瘤,而且对于进一步开展端粒酶研究具有重要作用。本文综述放射性核素示踪技术检测端粒酶活性的研究进展。     

Transforming healthcare with a unitary view of the human

The purpose of this article is to explicate the meaning of unitary from a historical perspective. The term was first used in ancient Greece, and its meaning has been transformed over time. The article explicates the similarities and differences among the nurse theorists who use the term unitary. It also specifies a different approach to healthcare when a unitary perspective of the human guides practice.