Putting some PEP into pulmonary rehabilitation.

By focusing on quality of life through education and ongoing support, the pulmonary rehabilitation staff at Little Company of Mary Hospital in Torrance, Calif, gives hope to respiratory patients and teaches them to become partners in the management of their disease.     

Determinants of elderly residential mobility in Southern China: Exploration and implications

It is a widely accepted observation that many older Hong Kong residents have lived periodically on the Chinese mainland since the relaxation of restrictions on cross-border mobility and the closer connection between Hong Kong and the mainland. This paper explores and compares the determinants of various modes of residential mobility by Hong Kong retirees to the Pearl River Delta based on the data of two samples—one from Hong Kong and the other from the mainland. The findings support those of studies in Western societies that the decision of elderly residential mobility can be effectively predicted by the personal attributes, place ties, and person ties of the retirees, and that the effects of these factors vary with different modes of retiree mobility. The implications of these findings for the formulation of migration and housing policies for the older population and the economic development of amenity communities are discussed. He is also a Research Associate at the Joint Centre of Excellence for Research on Immigration and Settlement in Toronto, Canada. His research interests are elderly residential mobility, gerontology and geriatrics education, and the help-seeking behavior of older people. Dr. Ma’s latest study concerns the utilization and accessibility of human services for older residents in Hong Kong. He is also a reviewer of several international journals. Dr. Chow’s research interests are social security policies and practice, social policies and services for older people, and family support. The focus of his latest research project is the service needs of new immigrants to Hong Kong.     

A longitudinal study of mental health consumer/survivor initiatives: Part 3—A qualitative study of impacts of participation on new members

This article examines the outcomes of participation in mental health Consumer/Survivor Initiatives (CSIs) and identifies helpful qualities of CSIs through a longitudinal, qualitative study that involved in‐depth interviews of people who experienced severe mental health challenges in Ontario, Canada. We used a nonequivalent control group design in which we compared active participants in CSIs ( n = 15) with nonactive participants ( n = 12) at baseline and at 9‐ and 18‐month follow‐up intervals. Compared with non‐CSI participants, CSI participants reported more stable mental health, enhanced social support, sustained work, stable income, and participation in education and training at 9‐ and 18‐month interviews. The helpful qualities of CSIs that participants reported were (1) safe environments that provide a positive, welcoming place to go; (2) social arenas that provide opportunities to meet and talk with peers; (3) an alternative worldview that provides opportunities for members to participate and contribute; and (4) effective facilitators of community integration that provide opportunities to connect members to the community at large. The findings are discussed in terms of previous research in self‐help and consumer‐run organizations in mental health. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Anaesthetic agents decrease the activity of nitric oxide synthase from human polymorphonuclear leucocytes

Nitric oxide (NO) inhibitors reduce the threshold for anaesthesia. We have investigated the action of anaesthetic agents on human nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity. Thiopentone reduced mean NOS activity to 36.6 (SD 8.9) % of control at 100 mumol litre-1 (P < 0.001) and 50.9 (20.3) % at 1 mmol litre-1 (P < 0.05). Ketamine showed similar effects, with activity reduced to 67.0 (17.6) % (P < 0.05) and 57.7 (8.5) % (P < 0.001) at 100 mumol litre-1 and 1 mmol litre-1, respectively. Etomidate 100 mumol litre-1 did not significantly alter activity (88.2 (8.1) %) but 1 mmol litre-1 did (60.6 (10.4) %, P < 0.005). Halothane also caused a significant decrease in NOS activity at all concentrations. This effect was specific as other enzymes were unaffected. We conclude that anaesthetic agents have a profound effect on NOS activity and as inhibition of NO release augments anaesthesia, we suggest that this may play a role in the mechanism of anaesthesia in humans.      

Nine Years of the Freebase Cocaine Epidemic in the Bahamas

Nine years after the beginning of the epidemic of freebase (crack) cocaine abuse in the Bahamas, this historical study was done to characterize the natural course of the epidemic and to estimate the effectiveness of control measures. The authors' data include the incidence of new cases at the only psychiatric hospital in the Bahamas and at the primary community psychiatric clinic in the nation. The Bahamian response included 1) demand reduction, 2) supply reduction, and 3) reduction of money laundering. The annual number of new cases of crack abuse presenting for treatment declined from 1987 to mid-1991 in both facilities, but in 1992 it began rising again in the inpatient setting only. The changes in recent years have been accompanied by an increase in violent crimes against persons, especially robberies. (American Journal on Addictions 1994; 3:14–24)