Illness behavior and social support in patients with chronic venous ulcers

Venous ulcers are a chronic and costly condition for providers and payors, as well as for patients, particularly the elderly. To examine the association between chronic venous ulceration, illness behavior, and levels of social support, patients drawn from a separate clinical trial (N = 74) were interviewed using the Illness Behaviour Questionnaire and the Social Support Questionnaire. Results indicate that women had higher hypochondriasis (1.70 versus 1.03, P = 0.19), affective disturbance (2.70 versus 1.42, P = 0.08), and number of supports (Social Support Questionnaire, 2.41 versus 1.81, P = 0.056) than men, although no score achieved a standard level of statistical significance. Patients under 70 years of age had significantly higher hypochondriasis (1.96 versus 1.17, P = 0.021) and irritability (1.38 versus 0.90, P = 0.026) scores than those older than 70 years, although denial was significantly higher in those older than 70 years (3.97 versus 3.46, P = 0.045). The level of satisfaction with social support was significantly higher in those under 70 years of age (5.13 versus 4.97, P = 0.042). These results underscore the psychological and social cost imposed by chronic venous ulceration on older women. They also support previous studies implying a greater psychological burden on younger patients. The association between illness behavior and social support remains unclear, but examining the association between illness behavior and social support among patients with venous ulceration provides an opportunity to increase understanding of the psychological, physical, and social dynamics of this chronic condition.     

Sensory organization abilities during upright stance in late-onset Alzheimer's-type dementia

Postural stability was compared between individuals with mild and moderate Alzheimer's dementia and healthy older adults, using the Sensory Organization Test. Interestingly, the moderate group performed more like the healthy group than the mild group. Significant differences (p 相似文献   

Intrauterine growth retardation in full-term newborn infants with birth weights greater than 2,500 g

Intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) is an overlooked problem in full-term infants with birth weights greater than 2,500 g. Birth weight less than the 10th percentile underestimates the presence of IUGR. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of IUGR in full-term infants and to identify sociodemographic and maternal characteristics associated with IUGR. The Ohio Department of Health Vital Statistics database was used to obtain data related to sociodemographic and maternal characteristics. The fetal growth ratio (FGR) was used to determine the presence of IUGR. The sample consisted of 1,569 infants with normal ratios and 1,364 infants classified as IUGR. Infants with IUGR were more often male and African American or Asian American. Maternal characteristics associated with IUGR included history of smoking during pregnancy, lower pre-pregnancy weight, lower weight gain during pregnancy, and inadequate prenatal care. IUGR is present in a significant number of full-term infants with birth weights greater than 2,500 g. The long-term effects of IUGR in these infants remain to be determined.     

The evolving role of genomics in shaping care for persons with dementia

Alzheimer's disease and other chronic dementing conditions remain formidable challenges for individuals, their families, and health care providers. In addition to the challenges inherent in the sheer numbers affected, the complex and relatively unpredictable progression of these disorders complicates the delivery of interventions for health care providers. Identifying genetic and environmental etiologic factors and understanding their relationship to the natural history of dementia brings health care providers closer to more effective pharmacologic treatments and perhaps cure. In the meantime, genomics research brings professional nurses closer to providing more specific, perhaps individualized, anticipatory guidance and to providing nonpharmacologic interventions in a genotype-directed way to patients with chronic dementing conditions. The emergence of a genomics-based health care environment presents an opportunity and a challenge for gerontological nurse clinicians, educators, and researchers--an opportunity to evolve practice toward a higher level of specificity and effectiveness and a challenge to do so in a equitable and sensitive manner that improves health and quality of life for all served.     

Percutaneous vertebroplasty

Percutaneous vertebroplasty is a minimally invasive procedure used to stabilise vertebral compression fractures caused by osteoporosis, haemangioma, myeloma, metastases and bone cysts. Acrylic bone cement is injected into the vertebral body to relieve pain and structurally reinforce the fracture. Interest in percutaneous vertebroplasty has grown as a result of technical procedural advances in radiology and the publication of an appraisal of, and guidelines for, the procedure by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (2003). Nurses should be aware of the potential benefits of vertebroplasty and be involved in patient selection, and care of the patient before, during and after the procedure. Nurses should also be involved in audit analysis of the results of the procedure. More research into the effects of vertebroplasty is required and should involve nurses caring for this patient group.