Fall risk assessment measures: an analytic review.

BACKGROUND: Clinicians are often unaware of the many existing scales for identifying fall risk and are uncertain about how to select an appropriate one. Our purpose was to summarize existing fall risk assessment scales to enable more informed choices regarding their use. METHODS: After a systematic literature search, 21 articles published from 1984 through 2000 describing 20 fall risk assessments were reviewed independently for content and validation by a panel of five reviewers using a standardized review form. Fourteen were institution-focused nursing assessment scales, and six were functional assessment scales. RESULTS: The majority of the scales were developed for elderly populations, mainly in hospital or nursing home settings. The patient characteristics assessed were quite similar across the nursing assessment forms. The time to complete the form varied from less than 1 minute to 80 minutes. For those scales with reported diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity varied from 43% to 100% (median = 80%), and specificity varied from 38% to 96% (median = 75%). Several scales with superior diagnostic characteristics were identified. CONCLUSIONS: A substantial number of fall risk assessment tools are readily available and assess similar patient characteristics. Although their diagnostic accuracy and overall usefulness showed wide variability, there are several scales that can be used with confidence as part of an effective falls prevention program. Consequently, there should be little need for facilities to develop their own scales. To continue to develop fall risk assessments unique to individual facilities may be counterproductive because scores will not be comparable across facilities.     

Effects of terazosin on serum lipid levels in hypertensive blacks

The effects of terazosin, a new, selective, alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonist, on the serum lipid levels were examined in 103 black patients with uncomplicated, mild to moderate essential hypertension in six randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials conducted in the United States. Terazosin produced statistically significant (P less than 0.05) reductions in total serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels and a marginally significant (P = 0.080) reduction in the combined low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C) and very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL-C) cholesterol fraction when compared with placebo. We conclude that terazosin, unlike thiazide diuretics, has a favourable effect on the serum lipid profiles of hypertensive blacks.     

Über eine der Röntgenwirkung ähnliche Chromosomenschädigung in den Epidermiszellen von Amphibienlarven nach Behandlung mit Neutralrot

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Antisense oligonucleotide inhibition of Bcl-xL and Bid expression in liver regulates responses in a mouse model of Fas-induced fulminant hepatitis

Activation of the cell-surface receptor Fas can lead to apoptosis in parenchymal cells in the liver, and if severe enough, result in fulminant hepatic failure and animal death. In the present study, we have examined the roles played by the Bcl-2 family members Bcl-xL and Bid in regulating this response. To do this, we have developed chemically modified 2'-O-(2-methoxy) ethyl antisense inhibitors of both Bid and Bcl-xL expression. In Balb/c mice, dosing with these antisense oligonucleotides reduced expression of the targeted mRNA by greater than 80% in the liver. This reduction was highly dependent upon oligonucleotide sequence and oligonucleotide dose. Reduction of Bcl-xL expression resulted in a potentiation of Fas-mediated apoptosis in liver and significant increase of the lethality of Fas-mediated fulminant hepatitis (p < 0.0001). In contrast, reduction of Bid expression protected the animals against Fas-mediated fulminant hepatitis and death (p < 0.0001). Simultaneous dosing of mice with Bcl-xL and Bid-targeting antisense oligonucleotides resulted in an inhibition of expression of both targeted proteins and protection of the animals from Fas-mediated apoptosis. These results demonstrate, for the first time, the role of Bcl-xL in regulating responses to proapoptotic Fas signaling in mouse liver. In addition, this is the first reported example demonstrating the ability of antisense inhibitors to reduce expression of multiple proteins in animals by simultaneous dosing.