Nursing and the Research Assessment Exercise: past, present and future

In this paper we examine approaches to undertaking nursing research and building research capacity in higher education institutions in the United Kingdom (UK). First we review some of the main responses in the literature to the last two Research Assessment Exercises (RAE), then we report findings from a small study of nursing departments which entered the last RAE and finally we speculate on the likely future of nursing research in the light of recent education and health policy. We suggest that many of the difficulties experienced are an effect of contradictory health and education policies and rival ways of assessing research performance. Nursing education is caught in the 'pincer movement' of stringency in both sectors. In addition, the challenges of the RAE and the necessity to earn income from contracting with National Health Service (NHS) education and training consortia for teaching represent an outworking of two rival views of the role of higher education, broadly an elitist view and one that sees higher education as a supplier of the workforce needs of industry. In addition to this, the NHS R&D (research and development) strategy provides an alternative arena for collaboration, funding and reputation to that constructed by the RAE.     

Adrenal masses: characterization with T1-weighted MR imaging

The ability of a T1-weighted spin-echo magnetic resonance (MR) sequence to allow differentiation of benign from malignant adrenal masses at 0.5 T was investigated in 28 patients with 35 adrenal masses. All nine lesions with an adrenal mass-liver signal intensity ratio of 0.71 or less were metastases, and all 15 with a ratio of 0.78 or more were adenomas. Eleven masses (31%)--including six adenomas, three metastases, a pheochromocytoma, and a neuroblastoma--had ratios between these values. Nine of ten masses with adrenal mass-fat intensity ratios of 0.35 or less were metastases, and all 12 with ratios of 0.42 or more were benign. Eleven masses (31%), four malignant and one benign, had ratios between these values. The ratios for two masses could not be calculated due to lack of fat. The specificity of T1-weighted MR imaging in differentiating benign from malignant adrenal masses appears similar to that reported for T2-weighted imaging. However, significant overlap occurred, as has also been reported for T2-weighted imaging. While both imaging sequences may help distinguish benign from malignant adrenal masses in some cases, biopsy is still necessary when an accurate histologic diagnosis is essential.     

非酒精性脂肪性肝炎的病理临床观察

目的 观察非酒精性脂肪性肝炎的病理及临床特点。方法 经血清学、肝组织免疫组织化学和原位杂交检测，排除甲一戊型肝炎病毒感染的不明原因肝炎患者对其肝组织进行光镜观察，并对相应的临床资料进行了分析。结果 97例不明原因肝炎患者肝组织中检出非酒精性脂肪性肝炎15例(15．5％)。病变的特点是小叶内3区为主的大泡性脂肪变性，邻近的肝细胞呈气球样变。小叶内有弥漫的单个核和分叶核细胞浸润，以及窦周纤维化。肝组织的病变按Brunt标准进行了分级和分期后，计有7例GlS1，3例G2S2，4例G1S1，1例G3S2。其中14例患者有轻—中度的转氨酶升高，10例有高脂血症，8例患有糖尿病，9例于B超下检出脂肪肝。结论 非酒精性脂肪性肝炎是一种较为常见的、具有一定临床病理特点的原因不明性慢性肝病。     

An exploration of nurses' attitudes to the nursing care of the suicidal patient in an acute psychiatric ward

Suicidal patients admitted to hospital following a suicidal attempt or expressing suicidal ideation present a real challenge to health professionals with regard to their therapeutic Co. Antrim care. This study was undertaken to explore the attitudes of psychiatric nurses caring for such patients. Results reveal that psychiatric nurses do hold positive views on caring for potentially suicidal patients, contradicting previous studies where more negative feelings were expressed by nurses, especially those with initial contact. Findings also show that some nurses experience an element of distress, and the length of experience within such a working environment does not affect the nurses' level of satisfaction gained on caring for the suicidal patient. This study also identifies an expression of need for further education and practice in interpersonal skills and therapeutic modalities to enhance and develop a more effective delivery of care for this group of patients.     

Overview and critique of judgement and decision making in health care: social and procedural dimensions

This paper presents an outline of the scope for the application of decision theory to health care. Firstly, the main approaches to and assumptions of decision theory are discussed. Secondly, health care decision making is reviewed. It is noted that decision theory can be applied to either the health care professional or to the lay person. Applications of decision theory to clinical practice, to the management of care and to resourcing are considered. Thirdly, some areas which would repay further research are identified. These include social processes in individual and group decision making, the temporal distribution of outcomes and the development of techniques capable of dealing with the complex and dynamic features of decisions. On the basis of the foregoing, some conclusions are drawn.     

Protection of mice against lethal effects of sodium arsenite--a quantitative comparison of a number of chelating agents

The LD50 of NaAsO₂ was found to be 0.129 mmol/kg, sc, using white mice. The ip administration of the sodium salt of 2,3-dimercapto-1-propanesulfonic acid (DMPS) or meso-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) (0.80 mmol/kg) immediately after and 90 min after NaAsO₂ increased the LD50 of NaAsO₂ about 4.2- and 4.4-fold, respectively. Neither d-penicillamine nor N-acetyl-dl-penicillamine affected the LD50 of NaAsO₂ under the same conditions. The LD50 of DMPS and DMSA in mice was found to be 5.22 and 13.58 mmol/kg, ip, respectively. The effective dose 50 for treating mice 10 min after receiving and LD100 of NaAsO₂ (0.15 mmol/kg) was 0.066 mmol/kg for DMPS and 0.065 mmol/kg for DMSA. The therapeutic index of DMSA against 0.15 mmol/kg NaAsO₂ was found to be 209. This was 2.6 times greater than that of DMPS. The explanation for this difference is that although DMSA was as effective as DMPS, it is less toxic. The LD50 of NaAsO₂ was not increased by sodium diethyldithiocarbamate, α-mercaptopropionylglycine, dl-N-acetylhomocysteinethiolactone, or monomercaptosuccinic acid. A series of polymercapto compounds, some having as many as four mercapto groups per molecule, also did not protect against the lethality of NaAsO₂. There is extensive experimental and clinical information about DMPS and DMSA available in the Soviet and Chinese literature where these agents are known as Unithiol or Unitiol and succimer, respectively. It would appear that DMPS and DMSA warrant further experimental studies and eventually clinical trials for the treatment of intoxication by arsenic as well as by certain other heavy metals.     

Evaluation of a low-threshold clinic for opiate-dependent drug users

This study reports on the development and outcome of a Low Threshold Clinic (LTC) for opiate-dependent drug users. The service originated as a nursing initiative within an inner city Drug Dependency Centre (DDC) and its rationale and treatment approach are explored in relation to the literature and local circumstances. Client baseline and outcome data were systematically gathered to assess service uptake and service efficacy in terms of client outcome. Data are presented for the first two years of operation during which a total of 59 clients entered the LTC. The sociodemographic characteristics and patterns of drug use among this group suggest the service was successful in targeting clients who previously failed to enter traditional treatment programmes despite initial referral to the DDC. Outcome data indicate a tendency for clients to inject less frequently, engage in less criminal activity and, by 12 months, to reduce their dose of prescribed methadone whilst attending the LTC. Tentative conclusions are drawn concerning the value of this service for 'hard-to-reach' drug users and those who may be at a precontemplation stage of change. Recommendations are made for a more comprehensive evaluative study that involves comparison with other treatment approaches.