BECOMING BICULTURAL: CHINESE AMERICAN WOMEN AND THEIR DEVELOPMENT

Ethnic and racial diversity in the United States has led to increasing interest in research on biculturalism, yet the meaning and underlying processes of biculturalism in the context of development in young adults are not well understood. Fifteen interviews were conducted with second-generation Chinese American women to explore how being bicultural fit into their lives. Data analysis yielded a developmental map that reflected their experiences throughout life as minority women. Findings suggest that biculturalism is more than being functionally competent in two cultures, it is both a behavioral and psychological orientation in life. From the findings of this study, we have increased our knowledge of Asian American women's development and provided a foundation for nursing research with minority women.     

Medical management of Cushing’s disease

Cushing’s disease (CD), caused by excess adrenocorticotropin secretion from tumorous pituitary corticotrophs, is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. The primary, definitive therapy for patients with CD is selective pituitary adenomectomy, generally performed via a transsphenoidal approach. Medical therapy has an important adjunctive role in the management of patients with CD, including preoperative patient preparation in patients with severe disease, and temporizing management of hypercortisolism while awaiting the effects of radiation therapy to occur in patients who are not in remission postoperatively. Medical therapy can also be used in patients with hypercortisolism of unclear origin or in the few patients who decline or are unfit for surgery. Available medical options for patients with CD include centrally acting agents (cabergoline and pasireotide), steroidogenesis inhibitors (ketoconazole, metyrapone, mitotane and etomidate) and a glucocorticoid receptor antagonist (mifepristone). Pasireotide and mifepristone have been recently granted regulatory approval in some countries for use in patients with CD, whereas other medications are used “off label” in this patient population. As clinical trials using comparator agents have not been reported, the choice between different medications is based on patient characteristics and preference. Despite impressive advances in pharmacotherapy for patients with CD, much remains to be done. The long term efficacy and safety of medical therapies for hypercortisolism need to be evaluated and the role of combination therapy must be further characterized. As the pathogenesis of CD becomes better understood at the molecular level, it is likely that novel, targeted medical therapies will be developed to treat CD.     

Relationship of glucose regulation to changes in weight: a systematic review and guide to future research

Although weight gain and obesity are risk factors for poor glucose regulation, the relationship, if any, of glucose regulation to changes in weight is not well understood. The purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic review of research examining the relationship of glucose regulation to changes in weight in human‐based studies and to provide guidelines for future research in this area. We searched electronic databases and reference sections of relevant articles, including both diabetic and non‐diabetic populations, to locate all the literature published before February 2010, and then conducted a systematic review across studies to compare the research designs and findings. The 22 studies meeting our criteria for review generally supported the relationship of glucose regulation to changes in weight. Three studies reported that poor glucose regulation is associated with weight gain; 12 studies concluded that poor glucose regulation is associated with weight loss; 5 showed complex relationships depending on age, sex, or race/ethnicity; and 2 suggested no relationship. The diverse findings may imply that the direction (negative or positive) of the relationship may depend on specific conditions. More research focused on different subpopulations may provide more definitive information supplemental to the current preliminary findings. Recommendations regarding future research in this particular area are provided in the discussion. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Anti-Bg Antibodies in Sera Used for Red Cell Typing

S ummary . A number of sera used to type red cells for various blood group antigens have been examined for the simultaneous presence of anti-Bg antibodies. Of 65 scra prepared from single donor sources 15 (23%) have been shown to contain anti-Bg. Of 62 reagents purchased commercially 21 (33.8%) have been shown to contain anti-Bg. The significance of the presence of these antibodies is discussed.     

The Incidence of β-Thalassaemia in Greek and Italian Migrants in Australia and its Effects in Pregnancy

C onsiderable interest and attention has been manifested during the last decade in the distribution and incidence of the various types of abnormal haemoglobins and a large body of evidence relating to the haemoglobins S, C, D and E has been accumulated. The difficulty in establishing a definite diagnosis of the thalassaemia trait has, however, largely excluded this condition from the statistical studies.
In our investigation into the incidence of thalassaemia in the Greek and Italian population of South Australia we have used two approaches to the problem. Firstly, we estimated the haemoglobin A₂ levels in the pregnant population at a maternity hospital on the assumption from previous work of our own and other workers (Josephson, Masri, Singer, Dworkin and Singer, 1958) that raised haemoglobin A₂ levels are found only in thalassaemia of the β type, in some patients with megaloblastic anaemia and in congenital spherocytic anaemia. These two latter conditions are relatively easy to differentiate on routine haematological grounds. Secondly, the bloods of all pregnant women with haemoglobin values of less than 11.O g. per 100 ml. were surveyed in an attempt to find any cases of thalassaemia with normal haemoglobin A₂ values on the grounds of microcytic anaemias with normal serumiron levels and showing no response to iron therapy.
Apart from selected case reports there are few factual data available in the literature on the overall effects of pregnancy on the haematological status of the patient with thalassaemia. This aspect has been investigated in conjunction with the studies of the incidence of the β type of thalassaemia trait.