住院患者对护理职业的认知调查

目的 了解住院患者对护理职业的认知状况,增强护士职业自豪感.方法 自行设计住院患者对护理职业认知调查问卷,对197例住院患者进行调查.结果 认为护理工作包括发药打针、健康指导和心理护理的患者占49.24%;认为护士在治疗康复中所起的作用重要和非常重要者占85.28%、一般和不重要占14.72%;认为护士学历应为大专及以上学历的患者占87.82%,中专占12.18%;认为医生和护士是平等关系的患者占76.65%、从属关系占18.78%;认为护理职业发展前途好和很好的患者占79.19%.不好和很差占5.58%.不同性别、年龄、文化程度住院患者对护理职业的评价比较,差异无统计学意义(均P>0.05);有选择护理职业意愿者56.85%.不愿意选择43.15%;112例住院患者愿意选择护理职业的主要原因是受人尊敬(66.96%)和工作稳定(29.46%).结论 住院患者正在逐步正视护理职业.护理工作者应提高职业自豪感,热爱护理工作,全心全意为人类的健康服务,为护理事业的发展做出贡献,以赢得应有的社会地位.     

Midazolam as a sole sedative for computed tomography imaging in pediatric patients

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and adverse effects of i.v. midazolam as a sole agent for sedation in children for computed tomography (CT) imaging. Materials and Methods: Prospective clinical trial in which 516 children under ASA classification II–IV (273 boys and 243 girls) in the age group of 6 months to 6 years for elective CT scan were enrolled over a 17‐month period. Patients were administered i.v. midazolam 0.2 mg·kg^?1 and further boluses of 0.1 mg·kg^?1 (total 0.5 mg·kg^?1) if required. Measurements included induction time, efficacy, side effects, complications, and degree of sedation. Sedation was graded on the basis of Ramsay sedation score (RSS) as over sedated (RSS 5–6), adequately sedated (AS, RSS 3–4), under sedated (RSS 1–2), or failed if the procedure could not be completed or another agent had to be administered. Results: Of the 516 procedures, 483 brains, 16 chests, and 17 abdomens were scanned with a mean duration of 4.75 ± 1.75 min with a mean dose of 0.212 mg·kg^?1 of i.v. midazolam. Four hundred and sixty‐five (90.12%) patients were AS in 5.9 ± 0.7 min while 40 (7.75%) patients required additional boluses. Of these 40 patients, 24 (4.65%) required a single bolus, 12 (2.32%) required two boluses, whereas the remaining four (0.78%) required three boluses. In 11 (2.13%; P < 0.0001) patients, the scan could not be completed satisfactorily. Side effects were seen in 46 (9.11%) patients in the form of desaturation, hiccups (seven patients, 1.38%), and agitation (four patients, 0.79%). Desaturation (SpO₂ 90–95%) was seen in 35 (6.93%) patients, which was corrected by topical application of oxygen. None of the patients exhibited any complications such as pulmonary aspiration or need to maintain airway. The patients were kept under observation for 1 h after the procedure. Conclusion: The level of sedation achieved in children with midazolam 0.2 mg·kg^?1 is adequate for imaging with minimal side effects, no airway complications, and fast recovery. It can be recommended as the sole agent for sedation in pediatric patients for CT imaging.     

A crucial role for TNF-α in mediating neutrophil influx induced by endogenously generated or exogenous chemokines,KC/CXCL1 and LIX/CXCL5

Background and purpose:

Chemokines orchestrate neutrophil recruitment to inflammatory foci. In the present study, we evaluated the participation of three chemokines, KC/CXCL1, MIP-2/CXCL2 and LIX/CXCL5, which are ligands for chemokine receptor 2 (CXCR2), in mediating neutrophil recruitment in immune inflammation induced by antigen in immunized mice.

Experimental approach:

Neutrophil recruitment was assessed in immunized mice challenged with methylated bovine serum albumin, KC/CXCL1, LIX/CXCL5 or tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α. Cytokine and chemokine levels were determined in peritoneal exudates and in supernatants of macrophages and mast cells by elisa. CXCR2 and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) expression was determined using immunohistochemistry and confocal microscopy.

Key results:

Antigen challenge induced dose- and time-dependent neutrophil recruitment and production of KC/CXCL1, LIX/CXCL5 and TNF-α, but not MIP-2/CXCL2, in peritoneal exudates. Neutrophil recruitment was inhibited by treatment with reparixin (CXCR1/2 antagonist), anti-KC/CXCL1, anti-LIX/CXCL5 or anti-TNF-α antibodies and in tumour necrosis factor receptor 1-deficient mice. Intraperitoneal injection of KC/CXCL1 and LIX/CXCL5 induced dose- and time-dependent neutrophil recruitment and TNF-α production, which were inhibited by reparixin or anti-TNF-α treatment. Macrophages and mast cells expressed CXCR2 receptors. Increased macrophage numbers enhanced, while cromolyn sodium (mast cell stabilizer) diminished, LIX/CXCL5-induced neutrophil recruitment. Macrophages and mast cells from immunized mice produced TNF-α upon LIX/CXCL5 stimulation. Methylated bovine serum albumin induced expression of ICAM-1 on mesenteric vascular endothelium, which was inhibited by anti-TNF-α or anti-LIX/CXCL5.

Conclusion and implications:

Following antigen challenge, CXCR2 ligands are produced and act on macrophages and mast cells triggering the production of TNF-α, which synergistically contribute to neutrophil recruitment through induction of the expression of ICAM-1.     

Effect of resistance training on immunological parameters of healthy elderly women

PURPOSE: To determine the effect of a 12-month moderate resistance training program on phenotypic and functional immunological parameters of previously sedentary, clinically healthy, elderly women. METHODS: A total of 42 clinically healthy, sedentary females (aged 60-77 yr old) were randomly assigned to either a moderate-intensity resistance training program or a control group during a 12-month longitudinal, randomized, controlled, intervention study. Resistance training program consisted of three sets of 12 repetitions at 54.9 +/- 2.4% 1RM for five different exercises performed three times per week during 12 months. Natural killer cell cytotoxic activity (NKCA), lymphoproliferative response to the mitogen phytohemaglutinin (PHA), and quantification of the lymphocytes (CD3, CD3CD19, CD56) and subpopulations (CD4, CD8, CD56, CD56) as well as cellular expression molecules (CD25, CD28, CD45RA, CD45RO, CD69, CD95, HLA-DR) were determined by immunological assays. RESULTS: The experimental group increased muscle strength in 44% and 48% after 6 and 12 months, respectively (P < 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences between the groups or according to the time for quantitative (CD3, CD3CD19, CD56, CD4, CD8, CD45RA, CD45RO, CD56, CD56, CD95, CD28, CD25, CD69, HLA-DR) and functional immunological parameters (natural killer cell cytotoxic activity and lymphoproliferative response). CONCLUSION: A 12-month moderate resistance training program increases muscle strength, but it does not change immune phenotypic and functional parameters of previously sedentary, clinically healthy, elderly women.     

Validation of the Functional Status II questionnaire in the assessment of extremely-low-birthweight infants

Aim  The increased survival of infants born at extremely low birthweight (ELBW) has been associated with significant morbidity, including higher rates of neurodevelopmental disability. However, formalized testing to evaluate these problems is both time-consuming and costly. The revised Functional Status questionnaire (FS-II) was designed to assess caregivers' perceptions of the functional status of children with chronic diseases.
Method  We evaluated the reliability and validity of the FS-II for ELBW infants at 18 to 22 months corrected age using data from the US Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) Neonatal Research Network (NRN). Exploratory factor analyses were conducted using data from the network's first follow-up study of 1080 children born in 1993 to 1994 (508 males, 572 females [53%]), and results were confirmed using data from the next network follow-up of 4022 children born in 1995 to 2000 (1864 males, 2158 females [54%]).
Results  Results suggest that a two-factor solution comprising measures of general health and independence is most appropriate for ELBW infants. These factors differed from those found among chronically ill children, and new, more appropriate scales are presented for screening ELBW survivors. Both scales demonstrated good internal consistency: Cronbach's α=0.87 for general health and α=0.75 for independence. Construct validity of the scales was assessed by comparing mean scores on the scales according to scores on the Bayley Scales of Infant Development, second edition (BSID-II), and medical conditions.
Interpretation  As hypothesized, infants with greater functional impairments according to their BSID-II scores or medical conditions had lower scores on the general health and independence scales, supporting the validity of the scales.     

Ageing appearance in China: biophysical profile of facial skin and its relationship to perceived age

Background Perceived age is important to women and is a primary driver for topical product use and facial cosmetic surgery. Changes in facial features and biophysical skin parameters with chronological age and their associations with perceived age have not been described in Asian populations. Objective To investigate the relationship between biophysical properties of the skin, visual features of skin ageing and perceived facial age in Chinese women. Methods Facial photographs were collected of 250 Chinese women, aged 25–70 years in Shanghai, China. The perceived facial age was determined and related to the chronological age for each participant and to a range of visual assessments of skin appearance and objective biophysical measurements of the skin. The profile of changes in these parameters with age was investigated together with the differences in those parameters for women judged to look younger than their chronological age and those judged to look older than their chronological age. Results Large discrepancies in perceived age (up to 29 years) were found in women of the same chronological age. Each objective skin measure and visual assessment parameter had a stronger correlation with perceived age than with chronological age. The strongest relationships to perceived age were for wrinkles and hyperpigmentation. Skin colour, hydration and trans‐epidermal water loss (TEWL) had weaker associations with perceived age. Women judged to look older than their chronological age had significantly higher scores than those judged to look younger for coarse wrinkles and hyperpigmentation across all age groups. The appearance differences between these groups were evident in composite facial images of the same average chronological age. Conclusions We have identified the skin attributes which differ with perceived age in Chinese women. Perceived age is a better measure of the biological age of facial skin than is chronological age in this population.     

体外培养小鼠耳蜗Corti器对庆大霉素的吸收

目的 观察庆大霉素-德州红耦联物在体外培养小鼠耳蜗Corti器的分布情况,比较不同时间庆大霉素吸收的差异.方法 分离小鼠耳蜗Corti器,体外培养,培养液中加有庆大霉素-德州红耦联物,分别于培养后3 h、6 h、12 h、24 h、48 h、3 d.4 d和7 d收集标本,荧光染色后行激光扫描共聚焦显微镜观察基底膜庆大霉素的分布情况.结果 小鼠耳蜗Corti器在培养3 h后即可见外毛细胞的纤毛和胞体两侧的胞膜有庆大霉素分布;随着培养时间的延长,庆大霉素在Corti器中的所有细胞均见分布,尤以外毛细胞明显,主要聚集在毛细胞顶端纤毛的下方;培养24 h后庆大霉素在外毛细胞的聚集达到最高峰,而在支持细胞未见明显的聚集;体外培养7 d后在毛细胞胞质中仍可见庆大霉素分布.结论 小鼠Corti器体外培养可用来动态检测庆大霉素在耳蜗细胞的吸收和聚集情况.