Two approaches to social support in smoking cessation: Commodity model and nondirective support

The commodity model of social support and features of Nondirective Support may clarify varied results of support interventions for smoking cessation. A commodity model views social support as attractive in and of itself and as an alternative to high-risk choices such as smoking. If such support is easily accessible, a would-be quitter is less likely to choose to smoke. Consistent with the commodity model, social support interventions tend to be effective as long as support remains available, but they lose their effects when support is terminated. From a second approach, Nondirective Support entails accepting recipients' goals, cooperating without taking control, and validating recipients' feelings. In contrast, Directive Support entails taking control and telling recipients what to do and feel. Review of support interventions indicates the value of the continued availability of support suggested by the commodity model and of Nondirective Support's flexibility and responsiveness to the person.     

Articulation of Asthma and Its Care Among Low-Income Emergency Care Recipients

Low-income minority patients from East St. Louis, Illinois, a depressed midwestern urban city, who had visited acute care settings with asthma symptoms, participated in a focus group. Questions were constructed around the Health Belief Model to characterize participants' experiences in receiving asthma care, their confidence in long-term asthma self-management, barriers they perceived to managing their asthma, and recommendations they would make for improving asthma care in their community. Analysis of comments suggests an appreciable understanding of asthma triggers, limited coping behaviors for asthma symptoms, very limited practice of active asthma management, perception of the health care system as frequently insensitive to their needs or their knowledge of their own care, exchange of well-articulated information regarding how to deal with the system, and an apparent lack of awareness of any potential contribution of patient education or support system.     

Cytoprotective actions of 2,4-dimethoxybenzylidene anabaseine in differentiated PC12 cells and septal cholinergic neurons

The potential cytoprotective actions of a novel nicotinic agent 2,4-dimethoxybenzilidene anabaseine (DMXB) were investigated in differentiated PC12 cells and transected rat septal cholinergic neurons in vivo. In NGF-differentiated PC12 cells, removal of both NGF and serum led to cell loss, a reduced % of cells expressing neurites, the release of lactate dehydrogenase, and a decrease in total cellular protein. Cell loss was apparent within 24 h, and remained constant between 4–8 days post-NGF removal. NGF alone (100 ng/ml), DMXB (10 μM), but not nicotine (10 μM), prevented these cell and neurite losses. DMXB-induced cytoprotection was blocked by 1 μM mecamylamine. DMXB (1 mg/kg, ip) injected twice but not once per day protected cholinesterase-staining septal neurons from retrograde degeneration following unilateral fimbrial transections. The twice per day DMXB injection-protocol also decreased cell roundness among cholinesterase-staining cells in the lesioned septal hemisphere compared to saline-injected animals. These studies suggest that DMXB may exert cytoprotective activity in NGF-sensitive neuronal populations. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Mechanisms and treatment issues for neuropathic pain

Canadian Journal of Anesthesia/Journal canadien d'anesthésie -     

“Classical” neuroendocrine peptide hormones produced by cells of the immune system

Cells of the immune system are shown to produce peptide hormones whose production was once thought to be restricted to neuroendocrine tissue. Interestingly, in some cases, very specific stimuli elicit the production of one species of neuropeptide hormone. In other instances, it appears that some peptide hormones are constitutively produced. In either situation, the various immunocyte-derived hormones have biological activity in endocrinological assays. In the present report, a review of the various neuroendocrine hormones produced by cells of the immune system is discussed.     

Three-dimensional color Doppler sonography and uterine artery arteriography of fibroids: assessment of changes in vascularity before and after embolization.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the accuracy of three-dimensional color Doppler sonography and uterine artery arteriography in depicting changes in fibroid vascularity before and after embolization. METHODS: Preembolization and postembolization three-dimensional color Doppler sonography and selective uterine artery arteriography were retrospectively compared in 15 patients who underwent uterine artery embolization for treatment of symptomatic fibroids. Three-dimensional color Doppler sonography was performed by using a scanner with color power angiographic imaging capability. Vascularity was quantified by using an estimation of power-weighted pixel density as described by our group in previously published studies. Uterine artery arteriography was performed by using a standard selective microcatheter embolization technique. For purposes of comparison, fibroids were classified as either hypervascular or hypovascular relative to myometrial vascularity before and minutes to several hours after uterine artery embolization. Changes in fibroid vascularity (i.e., from hypervascular to hypovascular) as depicted by three-dimensional color Doppler sonography were compared with those shown on uterine artery arteriography and classified as being in agreement or disagreement. RESULTS: In 13 (87%) of 15 patients there was agreement; in 2 (13%) of 15 there was disagreement. In both cases of disagreement, three-dimensional color Doppler sonography showed collateral flow not depicted by uterine artery arteriography The mean reduction in quantitated vascularity after uterine artery embolization was 44% (range, 19%-78%). CONCLUSIONS: Three-dimensional color Doppler sonography accurately depicts fibroid vascularity and in some cases can reveal collateral flow not depicted by uterine artery arteriography.     

Quality of life in patients with seasonal affective disorder: summer vs winter scores.

OBJECTIVE: To compare perceived quality of life (QoL) in patients diagnosed with seasonal affective disorder (SAD) during the winter and summer months. METHODS: Twenty-six patients who were enrolled in an ongoing multicentre study in Canada completed 2 measures of QoL (the 20-item Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form General Health Survey [SF-20] and the Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire, [Q-LES-Q]) during the winter, when suffering from depression, and again during the summer months. RESULTS: Both general and health-related QoL scores were significantly improved in patients with SAD during the summer months, with scores for the most part falling within normal range. CONCLUSIONS: Perceived QoL in patients with SAD is markedly impaired during the winter months but shows a substantial rebound during the summer months. The findings of this study provide further evidence that SAD is a distinct diagnostic entity.