A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF CHEST RADIOGRAPHIC FEATURES BETWEEN HIV SEROPOSITIVE AND HIV SERONEGATIVE PATIENTS OF PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS

Chest radiographic appearance of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) positive patients was reviewed. A study group of 50 HIV +ve cases and a control group of 100 HIV -ve cases were analysed. The chest radiographs of HIV seropositive group showed significantly higher incidence of thoracic lymphadenopathy (36% vs 8%, P<.001), pleural effusion (28% vs 10%, P<.01) and miliary pattern (12% vs 2%, P<.05) as compared to the seronegative group. Cavitation was less common in the seropositive group (8% vs 35%, P<.001) than the seronegative group. Upper zone involvement was significantly less common in the study group (38% vs 77%, P<.001) as compared to the control group.KEY WORDS: Chest radiograph, HIV infection, Pulmonary tuberculosis     

A conceptual clarification of respect

The concept of respect, while frequently used in nursing literature, has not been extensively defined conceptually or empirically from a nursing perspective. This paper develops a conceptual definition of respect as a phenomenon in the domain of nursing action. Respect emerges as a primary nursing ethic that serves as the basis for our attitudinal, cognitive and behavioural orientation toward people. A comparison of respect to related nursing concepts reveals that respect is a component of and antecedent to caring, presence, confirmation and humanized care. A set of operational definitions of respect is proposed for use in research, education and practice. Potential methods for measuring respect as a nursing action or attitude are discussed. Several applications of respect for nursing are addressed, including the impact of lack of respect on patient-provider interactions, consideration of respect in a cultural context, and identification of client groups for which respect may have particularly significant implications. The paper concludes with recommendations for further research, with emphasis on the meaning and implications of respect for clients.     

A critical analysis of attenuation effects of different types of ear protective devices

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the noise attenuation characteristics of different types of Ear protective Devices which are commonly used. 20 healthy normal subjects’ open and closed hearing thresholds (with the usage of ear protective device) were recorded in an anechoic chamber and the attenuation charactaristics at 8 discrete frequencies were analysed and compared. Though the attenuation given by different types of ear protective devices are variable and not the ideal, still the present generation of devices have shown satisfactory attenuation characteristics, It is important that proper selection, fitment and usage of these devices should he carefully thought of prior to its usage.     

牛膝多糖的化学研究

我国传统的中草药牛膝经沸水提取,去游离蛋白质,透析,沉淀,依次进行Cellex D和Sephadex G-150柱层析,得到有免疫活性的肽多糖ABAB,分子量2.3×10⁴。是由D-葡萄糖酸,D-半乳糖,D-半乳糖酸,L-阿拉伯糖和L-鼠李糖组成,摩尔比为12:2:3:1:1。经羧基还原,甲基化反应,过碘酸盐氧化,Smith降解,IR分析,证明它有(1→4)-D-葡萄糖酸和(1→4)-D-半乳糖酸残基组成的主链。ABAB中肽的含量为24.7%,主要有甘氨酸,谷氨酸,门冬氨酸和丝氨酸组成。     

The doctor-nurse relationship: an historical perspective

The purpose of this historical research was to explore the evolution of the doctor-nurse relationship. Specifically, older nurses were interviewed regarding their nursing interactions with physicians approximately 50 years ago. A grounded theory approach was employed to analyse the data. Inherent to the difficulties nurses experienced was the dominant power position assumed by doctors in the health profession. The data give added insights into the development of this relationship. It was found that because nurses were educated primarily by doctors and because they were hired by doctors if they were considered to be 'good' nurses, a sex role stereotype of the nurse emerged. Historically these roles have influenced and continued to influence the nursing profession.     

Identification of monoclonal antibodies that inhibit the function of protein C inhibitor. Evidence for heparin-independent inhibition of activated protein C in plasma

Monoclonal antibodies specific for protein C inhibitor (PCI) partially blocked the inactivation of activated protein C (APC) in plasma, whereas in a purified system, the PCI activity could be completely blocked. The inactivation of APC in normal and in PCI-depleted plasma was similar in the absence of heparin. The addition of heparin did not change the rate of inactivation of APC in PCI-depleted plasma, whereas in normal plasma a rapid phase of inhibition of APC was followed by a slower phase of inhibition. The slower phase was identical to the rate of inhibition of APC in the absence of heparin. After incubation of normal plasma with a monoclonal antibody specific for PCI that blocked its activity, there was no difference in heparin-dependent or heparin- independent inhibition of APC. These results indicate that in the absence of heparin PCI is unable to inactivate APC in a plasma environment.     

Amphetamine actions on pre- and postpubertal rat hippocampal dentate granule neurons

Clinical evidence suggests different actions of amphetamine (AMPH) in children and adults. Using intracellular recording techniques, the actions of AMPH at 10 and 40 microM were investigated in granule neurons of hippocampal slices from pre- and postpubertal rats. AMPH (10-40 microM) caused depolarization of most postpubertal neurons, often with increased spontaneous activity, whereas most prepubertal neurons were hyperpolarized. In both age groups, AMPH caused increased neuronal excitability by reducing spike threshold, attenuating the postspike train afterhyperpolarization, reducing spike frequency adaptation, and potentiating excitatory postsynaptic potentials. Changes in cell input resistance were variable and Ca2+ currents were unaffected. AMPH actions took 10-15 min to appear and became maximal 30-55 min after application. The effects were reversible at 10 microM, but at 40 microM, prolonged washout for up to 2 h did not completely reverse these actions. The beta-adrenergic blocker, propranolol, partially blocked AMPH actions. The dopamine (D2) blocker, haloperidol, did not block AMPH actions. Mature neurons were also tested with 2.5 microM AMPH showing similar but more reversible effects as the higher concentrations. Depleting catecholamines by reserpine partly attenuated the effects of 40 microM AMPH in mature neurons. Perfusion of neurons with 10 and 20 microM cocaine did not produce effects similar to those of AMPH. It is suggested that AMPH produces its effects on granule neurons only in part through the release of norepinephrine. The involvement of other neurotransmitters and/or neuromodulators released by AMPH, or direct postsynaptic actions of AMPH are also possible.     

Caring and nursing: a dilemma

The history of caring is intertwined with the history of women and thus with nursing Although nurses have a professional mandate to provide care, the significance, meaning and function of care and caring remains undefined and intangible within nursing Many factors contribute to a dilemma that requires the professional responsibility to care while withholding recognition from those who provide such care Caring is often hailed as the hallmark of nursing This paper considers some of the questions and permutations related to the concept of caring in nursing