Psychotropic prescribing patterns of nonpsychiatric residents in a general hospital in 1973 and 1982

The findings of a study of the frequency and type of psychotropic drugs that nonpsychiatric residents prescribed for nonpsychiatric patients in a teaching hospital in 1982 were compared with the findings of a similar study in the same hospital nine years earlier. The overall percentage of patients receiving psychotropic drugs remained almost the same, at less than 10 percent. However, in 1982 residents prescribed antidepressants almost four times as often as in 1973, and the use of antianxiety agents decreased. Deficiencies in chart documentation of psychotropic prescribing and the tendency to use conservative dosages remained unchanged from the earlier study.     

Effects of tumor necrosis factor alpha on parathyroid hormone-induced increases in osteoblastic cell cyclic AMP

Summary Tumor necrosis factor α (10⁻¹⁰–10⁻⁸M) had no effects on cyclic AMP production by the osteoblastic osteosarcomal cells, Saos-2 and G292, or normal rat calvarial cells. The cytokine did, however, inhibit the parathyroid hormone (PTH)-induced effect on cyclic AMP in the Saos-2 and normal rat osteoblastic cells. This inhibitory effect did not occur on prostaglandin E₂-induced cyclic AMP increases in the osteoblastic cells. Interleukin-1 (10 U/ml −100 U/ml) did not produce any effect on basal levels or PTH-induced cyclic AMP increases in these cells.     

Creating empowering meaning: an interactive process of promoting health with chronically ill older Canadians

Many health promotion approaches afford education about disease prevention and enhancement of one's health status. But strategies for enabling older people with chronic illness to better mobilize their resources for everyday living still require development. This practical action research study explored the experiences of 13 purposefully selected older persons who participated in a health promotion intervention premised on the adult education theory of perspective transformation. Findings illuminate health promotion through a holistic interactive process in which professional and chronically ill older person together evolved a caring relationship and enhanced conscious awareness of life and health experiences. Five health-promoting strategies were identified: building trust and meaning; connecting; caring; mutual knowing; and mutual creating. Researchers suggest several important directions to refine professional practice approaches and health care delivery systems in order to promote the health of older persons with chronic conditions.     

Drug Education: Supporting Parents to Support Children

Such research evidence as exists on effective drug strategies in prevention and education draws attention to the importance of involving parents along with other community agencies and school governors. Much depends nevertheless on the way in which 'involvement' is interpreted and the assumptions that are made about parents' knowledge of drugs and drug education as well as their attitudes to drug issues. As the age of initial experimentation and contact with drugs continues to fall, the importance of enskilling parents to support drug education programmes for 5 year olds and upwards continues to rise. This paper reports the first wide ranging survey of parents' knowledge of drugs and drug issues across an entire English county embracing younger as well as older children. The need for more coordinated, informed and systematic guidance to parents is established.     

Mediation of bradykinin-induced contraction in canine veins via thromboxane/prostaglandin endoperoxide receptor activation

1. Canine jugular and femoral veins were studied to determine the possible importance of thromboxane (TXA2) and prostaglandin endoperoxides (prostaglandin H2, PGH2) in mediating bradykinin(BK)-induced contraction. 2. Isolated vein rings incubated in modified Krebs solution contracted to TXA2/PGH2 analogs SQ26655 and U44069 with potency of contraction exceeding that for BK. The potency ranking for both veins was SQ26655 greater than U44069 greater than BK greater than PGF2 alpha greater than TXB2 much greater than PGD2. 3. The cyclo-oxygenase inhibitors indomethacin (3 x 10(-7) M) and flufenamic acid (10(-5) M) reduced BK contractions without affecting those induced by noradrenaline (NA). 4. TXA2/PGH2 receptor antagonists SQ29548 (10(-8) M) and BM13177 (10(-6) M) strongly inhibited BK-induced tension. The action of antagonists was reversible with negligible influence on NA-elicited contraction. Selective removal of endothelium had no effect on BK-induced contraction or the action of the antagonists. 5. The thromboxane synthase inhibitors dazoxiben (10(-4) M) and CGS 12970 (10(-5) M) had no significant inhibitory effect on BK-induced tension. 6. These results suggest that in canine jugular and femoral vein, the action of BK is largely dependent upon stimulation of the cyclo-oxygenase pathway to produce PGH2 and possibly TXA2, which can activate a smooth muscle TXA2/PGH2 receptor to elicit vasoconstriction.     

Parish nursing: renewing a long tradition of caring.

Parish nurses are experienced registered nurses committed to helping people meet the health needs of their body, mind, and spirit. To fulfill this goal, parish nurses must be health educators and counselors, referral sources, facilitators, patient advocates, healthcare plan interpreters, and multitalented coordinators. The parish nurse uses the skill of nursing assessment of individual and congregational needs and matches the assessment findings to available resources. The parish nurse also advocates increased awareness of health-related issues that lead to earlier and more effective treatment and care. All ages benefit within a context of personal caring and attention offered by a parish nursing model that is often lacking from healthcare delivery systems. Congregations of all sizes, both urban and rural, have successfully started parish nurse programs. Parish nursing programs are a religious response to help bring wholeness and healing to the faith community. The purpose of this article is to explore parish nursing as it has evolved into a model of health care delivery contributing to the empowerment and health of both the individual and the community.