Chemopreventive activity of oltipraz against induction of glandular stomach carcinogenesis in rats by N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine [published erratum appears in Carcinogenesis 1998 May;19(5):955]

The modifying effects of oltipraz on induction of glandular stomach carcinogenesis by N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) were investigated in a total of 120 male 6-week-old Wistar rats, divided into six groups. Groups 1-3 (30 animals each) were given 100 p.p.m. MNNG in their drinking water for 10 weeks as an initiation treatment for gastric cancer induction and respectively fed diets supplemented with 0.04%, 0.02% and 0% oltipraz for 12 weeks, starting 1 week before and finishing 1 week after the carcinogen exposure. Groups 4-6 (10 animals each) were similarly treated without the application of MNNG. At the end of the 80th experimental week, all surviving animals were autopsied and examined histopathologically for the existence of gastric proliferative lesions. The incidence and multiplicity of adenocarcinomas were significantly (P < 0.01) lower in group 1 than in group 3. In addition, the multiplicity of atypical hyperplasias in the pyloric region was significantly (P < 0.05) decreased in group 1 as compared with the group 3 value. No gastric proliferative lesions were found in groups 4-6. In an additional short-term experiment, oltipraz significantly reduced cell proliferative activity (P < 0.01) and elevated glutathione levels (P < 0.05) in the glandular stomach mucosa of rats treated with MNNG. Thus our results clearly indicate that oltipraz can inhibit induction of proliferative glandular stomach lesions by MNNG in the rat.      

Child-OIDP index in Brazil: Cross-cultural adaptation and validation

Background  

Oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) measures are being increasingly used to introduce dimensions excluded by normative measures. Consequently, there is a need for an index which evaluates children's OHRQoL validated for Brazilian population, useful for oral health needs assessments and for the evaluation of oral health programs, services and technologies. The aim of this study was to do a cross-cultural adaptation of the Child Oral Impacts on Daily Performances (Child-OIDP) index, and assess its reliability and validity for application among Brazilian children between the ages of eleven and fourteen.     

Anomalous unilateral single pulmonary vein: Two cases mimicking arteriovenous malformations and a review of the literature

Total anomalous pulmonary venous drainage is a rare congenital anomaly. It usually involves a pulmonary to systemic venous shunt and most cases have a septal defect in order to survive. Anomalous pulmonary venous drainage with pulmonary venous shunting is an extremely rare and entirely benign entity. We present two such cases, in which there was atresia of the left superior pulmonary vein and drainage via a tortuous collateral vein to the left inferior pulmonary vein. This collateral was mistaken on plain film and CT for a pulmonary arteriovenous malformation. Awareness of this anomalous unilateral single pulmonary vein and its radiological appearances may help in avoiding unnecessary pulmonary angiography.     

Development,adaptation and psychometric assessment of the extended brisbane practice environment measure for nursing homes (B-PEM-NH) for use in the Norwegian setting

Care workers’ work environment is known to be associated with patient and nurse outcomes. To our knowledge no questionnaire is available for assessing this environment for all care workers in the Norwegian nursing-home setting. This paper describes the development, adaptation and assessment of such a questionnaire: the extended Norwegian version of the Brisbane Practice Environment Measure for Nursing Homes (B-PEM-NH). This version was developed and assessed using semistructured interviews, a reference group meeting, translation, adaptation, and pretesting, and psychometric assessment including exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, and retest. We tested hypotheses to assess relations to other variables. The final factor solution comprised 41 items and 9 factors: interpersonal leadership, professional development, resources, professional leadership, input and acknowledgement, patient and next-of-kin focus, multidisciplinary collaboration, language misunderstandings, and feeling unsafe. The assessment showed that the B-PEM-NH had good psychometric properties, suggesting that the questionnaire is suitable for application in similar settings.     

Feeling trapped and being torn: Physicians' narratives about ethical dilemmas in hemodialysis care that evoke a troubled conscience

Background  

This study is part of a major study about difficulties in communicating ethical problems within and among professional groups working in hemodialysis care. Describing experiences of ethically difficult situations that induce a troubled conscience may raise consciousness about ethical problems and thereby open the way to further reflection.