Family medical leave. An employee benefit for working caregivers of elderly family members

Future trends include a decrease in the number of adult children, an increase in the number of individuals over age 65, single parent families, working women, and individuals with no health care insurance. As more women with multiple roles and responsibilities enter and continue as part of the work force, employers recognize the need for support of family issues. Currently many employers lack initiative to make these needed changes. The occupational health nurses' role in relation to future policy for working caregivers includes assessment of how employment and caregiving impact work performance, job satisfaction, and health; and participation in defining public policy issues.     

Paranasal sinus mucocele in cystic fibrosis

The relationship between cystic fibrosis, nasal polyposis and chronic sinusitis is clearly defined. Mucoceles of the paranasal sinuses, however, are a well-described complication of chronic sinusitis in adults; but they rarely occur in the pediatric age group. We report a three-year-old who presented with epiphora and fullness at the right medial canthus. Computed tomography confirmed a right ethmoid mucocele which was surgically drained, with resolution of symptoms. Approximately 12 other cases of mucoceles have been reported in the pediatric age group. Although many of these patients had recognized cystic fibrosis, some were previously undiagnosed. Only after presentation with a mucocele, did sweat testing reveal their underlying pathology. No pediatric patients in the literature were found with mucoceles and normal sweat tests. Paranasal sinus mucoceles may be diagnostic of cystic fibrosis and may be the presenting sign in some patients.     

Pediatric urology

Development of the genital and urinary systems is interwoven. Developmental abnormalities may cause problems in both systems, although the presenting problem may be ambiguous genitalia, hypospadias, undescended testis, or a urinary tract infection. The primary care physician must understand the underlying significance of pediatric urologic problems and seek appropriate consultation in a timely manner.     

Vestibular testing in comatose patients

The analysis of vestibular responses in a comatose patient often provides the critical information for making a correct preliminary diagnosis and directing the subsequent laboratory evaluation. Because of some uncertainties about what is being tested with the various bedside maneuvers that are used to elicit vestibular responses, we review the physiologic basis for the oculomotor responses that occur with head rotation or with caloric stimuli. We further urge precise and unambiguous terminology to describe both stimulus and response. We suggest using physiologically well-defined terms such as vestibulo-ocular reflex and cervico-ocular reflex and avoiding potentially misleading terms such as the doll's head and the oculocephalic maneuvers.     

Bacteriological study of drinking water during epidemic of cholera in Delhi

Sixty drinking water samples collected from various sources in different areas of Delhi during epidemic of cholera and gastroenteritis were analysed for bacteriological standards. Only 27 (45 per cent) samples were found to be satisfactory for human consumption. Remaining thirty-three (55 per cent) samples showed presence of coliform organisms with MPN value ranging from 10 to 1800+ per 100 ml. Among these positive samples, 31 (93.9 per cent) samples contained faecal coli. Twenty out of thirty (66.6 per cent) Hand pump, 9 out of 21 (42.8 per cent) Taps 2 out of 4 (50 per cent) Tube well and 2 out of 5 (40 per cent) of miscellaneous sources showed contamination with coliform organisms.     

The antecedents and benefits of achieving abstinence in opioid addicts: a 2.5-year follow-up study

This report examines long-term and short-term benefits of achieving abstinence from opioids in a sample of opioid addicts who were reevaluated 2.5 years following seeking treatment. Extensive assessment of drug use history and drug-associated problems had been obtained when the subjects applied for treatment. At follow-up evaluations, detailed information was obtained on intervening course of drug use, treatment, legal problems, psychological problems, social functioning, occupational functioning, and medical status. The results were as follows: (1) Achieving abstinence from illicit opioids was associated with concurrent improvement in other aspects of functioning including reduction of criminal activity, improved medical status, improved social functioning, and reduced abuse of other psychoactive substances. However, many of these improvements were reversed immediately if relapse to opioid use occurred. (2) Achieving abstinence was associated with being in drug treatment, especially treatment in a methadone maintenance program. (3) Achievement of abstinence was not successfully predicted by client characteristics measured at entrance into treatment. (4) Long-range benefits of abstinence were detectable in social functioning even for those who had relapsed at the time of follow-up reevaluation.     

Endurance training does not affect diaphragm mitochondrial respiration

We sought to determine if chronic endurance training would increase mitochondrial respiration or protein content in rat diaphragm muscle. To this end, 20 male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to control (C) or an 8-week endurance training (T) group, n = 10 per group. At the end of T, VO2 max was 13% greater in T (83.3 vs 73.8 ml X kg-1 X min-1) and peak max power output was 32% greater (2.63 vs 1.98 kg X m X min-1). Mitochondrial specific activities of pyruvate-malate and cytochrome oxidase (expressed per mg mitochondrial protein) in both plantaris and diaphragm were similar in C and T rats, as were ADP/O and respiratory control ratios. When expressed per gram wet weight, whole muscle homogenate oxygen uptake (pyruvate + malate) and cytochrome oxidase activity increased 36 and 23%, respectively (P less than 0.05) in plantaris from T rats but did not change in diaphragm. Control oxidative capacity and mitochondrial protein content in the diaphragm were ca. 2-fold those in control plantaris. Plantaris mitochondrial protein content increased ca. 50% with T while the diaphragm was unaffected. We conclude that: plantaris muscle oxidative capacity adapts to training by increasing mitochondrial protein content, since there was no evidence for functional improvement of existing mitochondria, and in the face of a substantial training effect in whole animal and plantaris, the T stimulus was not sufficient to induce mitochondrial protein changes in the diaphragm. This finding is the result of either a 'pre-adaptation' secondary to the diaphragm's high chronic activity, or a sub-threshold increase in diaphragm recruitment during the exercise conditions studied.     

Craniopharyngioma of the cranial base and nasopharynx

A rare case of craniopharyngioma extending to the cranial base and nasopharynx is reported and eight other cases in the literature are reviewed. The embryology and the clinical features of these tumors are discussed. Tomograms of the skull and computed tomography are the most useful radiological tools of investigation. A nasoseptal or transpalatal approach to surgery, which has been performed in reported cases of cystic nasopharyngeal craniopharyngiomas, was not performed on our patient because of the hard consistency and the diffusely infiltrating aspect of the tumor.     

Paratesticular desmoid tumor

A primary intrascrotal mass clinically mimicking a testicular tumor was found to be a desmoid tumor originating from the spermatic cord. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a paratesticular desmoid tumor.