Group excellence: A model for the application of Japanese Management to Mental Health Centers

Mental health centers and other government sponsored service organizations need highly effective management techniques. In this era of tightening budgets, the Japanese Management System may be a way of increasing both excellence and employee satisfaction. Managers who choose to explore this system may need a concise, written model as a guide to the ingenious, extensive, and paradoxical Japanese Management System. The System centers around quality control circles—autonomous problem-solving groups that strive for excellence. Composed of hierarchically interlocking groups, it uses a wide selection of group cohesion techniques to inspire esprit de corps, and an interlocking set of rewards governs behavior at every level. Decision making is collective (although supervisors retain veto power), and execution of ideas, once agreed upon, is quick and consistent. The System operates holistically, enthusiastically, with a high degree of excellence and mutual concern.     

The use of benzodiazepines in the management of behavioral symptoms in demented patients.

Hard data on the efficacy of benzodiazepines in the treatment of behavioral disturbances in Alzheimer's disease are not available. Short-acting benzodiazepines, such as oxazepam, appear safer than long-acting benzodiazepines and more efficient than placebo in the short-term (4-8 weeks) treatment of behavioral disturbances in geriatric, psychogeriatric, and demented patients. It is unknown whether oxazepam is superior to neuroleptic drugs or other commonly prescribed sedatives in this context. To some extent these findings may apply to patients with Alzheimer's disease as well, but there are several arguments against an uncritical extrapolation of conclusions drawn from other geriatric populations to patients with Alzheimer's disease. When, despite the lack of well-founded knowledge in this field, such a treatment modality is chosen, short-acting benzodiazepines should be preferred over long-acting agents. Drug interactions and pharmacokinetic aspects of the specific agent in the individual patient should always be considered carefully. Future studies on the treatment of behavioral disturbances in Alzheimer's disease need to clarify which specific behavioral symptoms should be treated pharmacologically, which therapeutic agents have the most advantageous risk-benefit ratio in this context, and what is the optimal treatment duration.     

The challenge of care for the poor and underserved in the United States. An American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists perspective on access to care for underserved women

Access to pregnancy-related care for women and their infants and to reproductive health services for adolescents are significant concerns to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). Adolescent and young adult women are among those most likely to be uninsured and lack access to health care services. Adolescent pregnancy, low-birth weight, and infant mortality remain major national burdens. The ACOG has taken the position that quality health care should be accessible to all women. The ACOG recommendations regarding health services for adolescents and the ACOG Committee on Health Care for Underserved Women's statement of principles regarding universal access for pregnancy-related care, which includes the basic scope of benefits, the characteristics of the providers, and the organization of services are described.     

The impact of the Safe Kids/Healthy Neighborhoods Injury Prevention Program in Harlem, 1988 through 1991.

OBJECTIVES. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a community coalition to prevent severe injuries to children in Central Harlem, New York, NY. It was hypothesized that injury incidence rates would decline during the intervention (1989 through 1991) relative to preintervention years (1983 through 1988); that the decline would be greatest for the targeted age group (5 through 16 years) and targeted injury causes (traffic accidents, assaults, firearms, outdoor falls); and that the decline would occur in the intervention community rather than a control community. METHODS. Surveillance of injuries that result in hospitalization and/or death among children in the two communities has been under way since 1983. Data from this surveillance were used to test whether the incidence of severe injury declined during the intervention; other temporal variations were controlled by Poisson regression. RESULTS. The incidence of injury among school-aged children in central Harlem declined during the intervention. The decline was specific to the targeted age group and targeted causes. A nonspecific decline also occurred in the control community. CONCLUSIONS. The declining incidence rate in Central Harlem is consistent with a favorable program effect, but additional investigation of possible secular trend or spillover effects is needed.     

A double-blind combination study of clonazepam with sertraline in obsessive-compulsive disorder.

This double blind, randomized, parallel, placebo-controlled study investigates whether clonazepam accelerates and/ or increases the overall response in patients with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) who are treated with sertraline. Thirty-seven patients were randomized with 20 in the sertraline and clonazepam group and 17 in the sertraline and placebo groups. Male and female outpatients, age 18-65 years, met criteria for a primary diagnosis of obsessive compulsive disorder according to DSM-IV, as determined by the structured clinical MINI interview. Appropriate safety and efficacy parameters were measured throughout the study. The determination of efficacy was based primarily on changes from baseline to the last observation taken through week 12. Analysis revealed no significant difference between groups at endpoint on the main scale.     

Endocrine changes in Alzheimer's disease

In conclusion, at present, no consistent endocrine abnormalities can be detected in patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease. However, assessment of neuroendocrine function might help identify subpopulations of patients with particular neurotransmission abnormalities who are likely to benefit from a specific pharmacologic strategy. For example, patients in whom cholinomimetic drugs produce the greatest elevation in plasma cortisol concentration appear to derive the most symptomatic benefit from these drugs.     

Zygomycosis requiring amputation of the hand: an isolated case in a patient receiving haemodialysis

A case of zygomycosis due to Rhizopus microsporus variety microsporus in a patient who was receiving haemodialysis is described. This infection resulted in amputation of the right hand. Criteria to identify the fungus are presented. The pathogenesis and treatment of zygomycosis are discussed.