Age-Dependent Pharmacokinetic Changes of Ethylenediamine in Fischer 344 Rats Parallel to a Two-Year Chronic Toxicity Study

Age-Dependent Pharmacokinetic Changes of Ethylenediamine inFischer 344 Rats Parallel to a Two-Year Chronic Toxicity Study.YANG, R. S. H., TALLANT, M. J., AND MCKELVEY, J. A. (1984).Fundam. Appl. Toxicol. 4, 663–670. As part of a 2-yearchronic toxicity study, the phannacokinetics of ethylenediamine(EDA) was studied in Fischer 344 rats of both sexes at day zero(naive animals), 6 months (controls and high level animals),and 18 months (controls and high level animals). The rats, whichwere randomized along with the rest of the animals on the toxicitystudy, were taken for pharmacokinetic experiments at the specifiedtime. A single per os (po) dose of 50 mg [¹⁴C]EDA - 2HCI/kgwas given to each rat and the plasma kinetics was followed fora 24-hr period. Five pharmacokinetic parameters (absorptionrate constant, terminal half-life, area under the curve, volumeof distribution, and ^l4CO₂ production rate constant) were comparedwith respect to age, sex, and chronic dosing. There were noapparent age-, sex-, and/or chronic dosing-related differencesin absorption rate constant and terminal half-life. However,age-related changes in area under the curve (AUC) were evident.The older rats had higher values (generally two- to threefold)for AUC than the younger rats. This age-related difference inAUC is closely associated with the volumes of distribution (V_dof the animals of varying ages. On the basis of liters per kilogram,the V_d's of the older rats are approximately one-fourth to one-halfof those for the younger (zero day) rats. The ¹⁴CO₂ productionrate constant was derived from the rate of formation of ¹⁴CO₂as a result of [¹⁴C]EDA - 2HCl dosing. The comparison of thisconstant under the various experimental conditions suggestssex-related differences. The findings of this study demonstratedage-, and to a lesser extent, sex-related differences. Chronicdosing-related changes are minimal These results are discussedin light of the chronic toxicity findings.     

A research and journal club: a medium for teaching, professional development and networking

The establishment of a monthly Radiography Research and Journal Club has helped to meet the educational and professional development needs of students and qualified staff in a changing teaching and learning environment. The introduction of degree education presented opportunities for new, student centred learning styles within the pre-registration therapeutic radiography course offered by The Royal Marsden NHS Trust and Kingston University. At the same time the need to provide a forum for academic and clinical staff to learn about the research process in general and current work in radiography and oncology in particular was recognized. A varied, and practitioner-led, programme for the Club and a flexible approach ensures maximum participation. The review of a journal article about telephone counselling for cancer patients and the ensuing discussion is given as an example of the value of one such meeting. The topic raised issues related to current practice and the research methods used provoked a number of questions. As the result of the discussion two of the participants are involved in a research project on a related issue.     

Gardening as Therapy for Children with Behavioral Disorders

A gardening program was implemented by the nursing staff for in-patients on a children's psychiatric unit. By establishing and maintaining the garden and participating in garden group discussions, patients practiced teamwork, coped with delays in gratification, studied lie cycles and discussed topics of therapeutic significance. The success of this program provides anecdotal evidence for the efficacy of gardening as a supplemental therapy for children with behavioral disorders.     

Women doctors: productivity in Great Britain and the United States

There is a difference in the productivity of women doctors in Great Britain and the United States. Postulated reasons for this difference are discussed as well as the implications for medical education and meeting health manpower needs.     

Clinic Staffing Patterns and the Pregnant Adolescent

The special problems of meeting the needs of the pregnant adolescent were studied with 52 patients in three clinics with different staffing patterns. Data were obtained from medical records and a patient knowledge and satisfaction questionnaire. Results indicate significant differences among provider groups (clinics) in eliciting patient satisfaction, although no differences in quality of care or patient knowledge were detected. Of the 52 patients queried, those expressing the most satisfaction with care were from the clinic staffed by a multidisciplinary team and those expressing the least satisfaction with care were from the clinic staffed primarily by residents. The other clinic was staffed primarily by nurse-midwives     

Visual Defects of Children in Special Educational Facilities

The limitations of the present school visual screening systems for detecting children with visual defects that may influence school learning has been well documented but the vision of children in special educational facilities has received little formal attention. The visual examination results of 43 children receiving remedial reading tuition, 43 children in a control group and 20 children in special classes for backward children, were divided into three categories: vision, ocular motility/co-ordination, and organic/colour vision. A statistically significant difference was noted between the special educational groups and the control group for the results in the ocular motility/co-ordination category. The results indicate that the components of this category, (phorias, tropias, ductions, versions and vergences) need further investigation as to the nature of the relationships to learning difficulties. It is noted that enough evidence already exists in the literature to suggest that children placed in special educational facilities should receive a full clinical visual examination.     

Planning for Health for All: international experience in setting health goals and targets

In recent years several countries and regions within countrieshave developed national health goals and targets in order tomake explicit the achievements they expect from their investmentin health, as a guide to health policy development, and/or toassist in decisions about resource allocation. These healthtargets have been developed using different conceptual frameworks,and widely differing mechanisms for implementation and monitoringhave been adopted. This review examines experience in settingand using national health goals and targets in five developedcountries and regions about which published information is available.Overall, it appears that the potential of health goals and targetsto influence national health policy, resource allocation andpopulation health outcomes has not yet been achieved fully inthe countries and regions examined. Most have achieved importantsuccesses in re-orienting health systems and in increasing healthpromotion activity. To date, only the US has had experiencein using targets to guide public policy over an extended period,and here the evidence of effect is encouraging. In the 1990sa more systematic approach to the achievement of targets hasbeen adopted, particularly in the US, the UK and Australia.In each case more explicit steps have been taken to link theachievement of targets to health system planning, managementand, to a lesser extent, funding, and greater emphasis has beengiven to the need for all sectors of government to contributeto improving health of the population. Progress will need tobe carefully monitored in these countries to identify the strengthsand weaknesses of these approaches.     

Effects of absenteeism feedback and goal-setting interventions on nurses’ fairness perceptions,discomfort feelings and absenteeism

Aim A longitudinal field experiment was conducted to test the effects of absenteeism feedback and goal-setting interventions on nurses’ (1) fairness perceptions, (2) discomfort feelings and (3) absenteeism. Nurses’ obstacles to reducing absenteeism were also explored. Background Absenteeism is a significant issue in health care and there is a need to avoid interventions that are seen to be negative, punitive or lead to sick nurses coming to work. Method Sixty-nine nurses working in a hospital in Eastern Canada received either: (1) absenteeism feedback with individual goal-setting, (2) absenteeism feedback with group goal-setting, or (3) no intervention, and were asked questions about how they could reduce their absenteeism. Results There was a significant decrease in the total number of days absent but no decrease in absent episodes, and a significant effect on fairness perceptions and discomfort feelings for the nurses in the absenteeism feedback conditions. Six categories of obstacles to reducing absenteeism were identified. Conclusions The interventions made nurses feel their absence rate was less fair and to experience greater feelings of discomfort. Implications for nursing management The study’s interventions may lead to a reduction in absence without the negative outcomes of a harsh absenteeism policy.     

Burr Erosion in Rotational Ablation of Metallic Coronary Stent: An Electron Microscopic Study

Background: Rotational atherectomy is used to penetrate resistant coronary lesions from standard balloon dilatation. These lesions may contain heavy calcification or metallic components from previously implanted stents. When the rotablator ^® device is utilized to ablate an undilatable lesion containing metallic stent component, what happens to the rotablator^® burr after grinding through metal? Are there additional technical considerations of rotational atherectomy when used in metallic “ablation”? Methods: A challenging case of rotational ablation of a freshly placed coronary stent is presented requiring 2 burrs to penetrate the undilatable lesion overlaid by the stent. Comparative scanning electron microscopic (SEM) evaluations of 3 rotablator ^® burrs are presented including the 2 used burrs and 1 brand new burr as control. SEM analyses including gross observations and detailed account of the diamond chips (DC) on the burr‐surfaces were performed. Results: The results showed that the 1st used burr received most of the damage and erosion from the high‐speed impact with the metallic stent struts. Significant scratch marks were observed on the surface of the 1st used burr. Also, a significant number of the DC on the surface of the 1st used burr were found missing, as compared to the 2nd used burr or the brand new burr. Conclusions: The SEM findings of the rotablator ^® burrs in this study suggest a mechanism for burr erosion when used in ablating metallic coronary stents. Also based on the SEM results, technical recommendations are discussed when the rotational atherectomy device is used to ablate metallic struts of coronary stents. (J Interven Cardiol 2010;23:233–239)