Breast Cancer Risk Assessment and Counseling: A Clinician's Guide

Abstract: Most individuals concerned about hereditary breast cancer risk will neither order nor benefit from genetic testing at the present time. Many will, however, seek information about their risk and testing. Risk assessment services, in addition to providing information about hereditary risk and genetic testing, need also to include assessment of non-hereditary risks, information about how to evaluate risks, early detection modalities, the etiology of cancer, and assistance in devising follow-up health care plans. Psychosocial factors, particularly those pertaining to the individual's past history with illness and beliefs about causes and prognosis, must be taken into account to provide relevant information that is understood. A case history with examples of some of the types of information that lead to informed consent in a cancer risk assessment setting is provided.     

Prevalence of mental illness and its impact on the use of home care and nursing homes: a population-based study of older adults in Manitoba.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of mental illness in older adults and its effect on home care and personal care home (PCH) use. METHODS: Using nonidentifying administrative records (fiscal years 1997-1998 to 2001-2002) from the Population Health Research Data Repository housed at the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, we determined the 5-year period prevalence for individuals aged 55 years and over (119 539 men and 145 752 women) for 3 mental illness categories: cumulative mental disorders (those having a diagnosis of depression, anxiety disorder, personality disorder, schizophrenia, and [or] substance abuse), any mental illness, and dementia. We calculated age-specific and age-adjusted rates of home care and PCH use and the prevalence of mental illness in PCH residents. RESULTS: From the group aged 55 to 59 years to the group aged 90 years or older, the prevalence of mental illness increased with the population's age. The prevalence of any mental illness rose from 32.4% to 45.0% in men and from 42.6% to 51.9% in women, and dementia prevalence rose from 2.0% to 33.6% in men and from 1.3% to 40.3% in women. The age-adjusted annual rates of open home care cases per 1000 population aged 55 and older varied by mental illness grouping (no mental disorder, 57 for men and 91 for women; cumulative mental disorders, 162 for men and 191 for women; dementia, 300 for men and 338 for women). The age-adjusted rates of PCH use per 1000 population aged 75 years and older also varied by mental illness grouping (no mental disorder, 53 for men and 78 for women; cumulative mental disorders, 305 for men and 373 for women; dementia, 542 for men and 669 for women). Among patients admitted to (or resident in) a PCH in 2002-2003, 74.6% (87.1%) had a mental illness, and 46.0% (69.0%) had dementia. CONCLUSIONS: Mental illness affects the use of home care and nursing homes profoundly. Individuals with dementia used home care at 3 times the rate of those having no mental illness diagnosis, and they used PCHs at 8 times the rate.     

Clinical trial of a prevention and treatment protocol for skin breakdown in two nursing homes.

OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to assess the effectiveness of skin care protocols, including a body wash and skin protectant, on skin breakdown in 2 nursing homes. DESIGN: This was a quasi-experimental pretest/posttest design study.Setting and subjects Adult residents (n = 136) of 2 skilled nursing homes consented to participate in this study. Seventy percent were women; the sample average age of 82 years. INSTRUMENTS: A researcher-designed data recording form documented resident demographics, incidence and type of skin breakdown or pressure ulcer, presence of urinary or fecal incontinence, and assessment of the effectiveness of body wash and skin protectant. METHODS: Baseline data on prevalence of pressure ulcers and skin protocol were collected weekly for a 3-month period followed by a week-long educational program by the researchers about skin care and the body wash and skin protectant. During the 3-month trial with the body wash and skin protectant incorporated into routine care, research assistants recorded resident data weekly and researchers again assessed prevalence and incidence of pressure ulcers and skin breakdown weekly. RESULTS: Incorporation of a body wash and skin protectant into a skin care prevention and early intervention protocol in 2 nursing homes documented a decrease in skin breakdowns from 68 pre-intervention to 40 postintervention; the decrease in agency B was statistically significant. There was a statistically significant decrease in stage I and II pressure ulcer incidence overall (pre-intervention = 19.9%, postintervention = 8.1%). Nurses evaluated the body wash and skin protectant as effective for 98% of the time used. CONCLUSION: Implementation of a protocol for skin care along with staff education, including the prophylactic use of a body wash and skin protectant, reduced the incidence of skin breakdown, including pressure ulcers and perineal dermatitis, in 2 long-term care facilities.     

Adsorptive stripping voltammetry of F(ab')2 and Fab fragments of anti-mouse immunoglobulin G

The adsorptive stripping voltammetric behaviour of F(ab')2 and Fab fragments of anti-mouse immunoglobulin G is described. Conditions were optimized for the determination of these fragments with respect to accumulation potential, accumulation time, scan rate, pulse amplitude, drop size and electrolyte composition. The F(ab')2 and Fab fragments gave rise to behaviour similar to that reported previously for the intact immunoglobulin.     

Behaviour problems in adult women with Rett syndrome

Background Despite considerable interest in the genetic, physical and neurological aspects of Rett syndrome (RS), there have been few studies of associated behavioural and emotional features. Furthermore, few case studiesor surveys have included adult women with RS. The main aim of the present study was to compare behaviour problems in a sample of women with RS against data from normative samples. Methods The primary carers of 50 women with RS completed the community version of the Aberrant Behavior Checklist. Results Women with RS were rated as having lower levels of irritability, hyperactivity and inappropriate speech behaviours than normative samples of adults with intellectual disability. Conclusions A number of factors may affect the presentation of behaviour problems in women with RS (e.g. cognitive impairments or physical disabilities). Therefore, more research is needed in order to generate information about the behavioural phenotype of RS. The implications of the present data for future research are also discussed.     

Intussesception after jejunoileal bypass as diagnosed by ultrasound

Eighty patients who had undergone jejunoileal bypass for morbid obesity were examined by ultrasound at their routine follow-up visits to the clinic. Ultrasonographic evidence of intestinal intussusception was found in 15 patients (19%). Two of these patients were asymptomatic. Ultrasonographic findings were confirmed by operation in 6 patients (5 with intussusception, 1 negative).