Views of problem drinking among Native American,Hispanic, and Anglo children

Native American, Hispanic, and Anglo sixth graders reacting to an example of teenage problem drinking expressed similar beliefs and attitudes in many respects. However, Native American children viewed the problem as less serious, subscribed more to a disease theory of alcoholism, attributed less causal responsibility to the individual, and adopted a less aggressive approach toward treatment than did Hispanic, and especially Anglo, children. Their less conventional value orientations accounted for all these differences except their stronger endorsement of a disease theory of problem drinking.     

Indomethacin promotes germinal matrix microvessel maturation in the newborn beagle pup.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Although indomethacin has been demonstrated to prevent germinal matrix and intraventricular hemorrhage in clinical and animal studies, the mechanism of action of this agent to prevent hemorrhage remains unclear. Previous studies have demonstrated both that the microvessels in the germinal matrix of newborn beagle pups undergo basement membrane maturation during the first 4 postnatal days and that indomethacin may promote laminin deposition in tumor cell culture systems. METHODS: We employed the newborn beagle pup model to test the hypothesis that indomethacin may stimulate laminin deposition in germinal matrix microvessels. Newborn pups were randomized to receive either 0.1 mg/kg/dose i.p. indomethacin or an equal volume of saline diluent. Pups received doses of study medication once a day for 1, 2, or 3 days and were studied on postnatal days 1, 2, 3, or 4. Pups were anesthetized and systemically perfused with buffered formalin; the brains were removed and prepared for immunohistochemical study. RESULTS: Sections stained with Bandeiraea lectin demonstrated that there was no difference in germinal matrix vessel density among the postnatal ages studied; similarly, there were no differences in vessel density between saline- and indomethacin-treated animals at any postnatal age. Quantification of germinal matrix stained intensity by confocal microscopy demonstrated significant increases in indomethacin-treated pups for both laminin staining at postnatal days 2 (p = 0.05) and 3 (p = 0.0009) and type V collagen staining at postnatal day 2 (p = 0.011). Although staining for beta 1 integrins increased across postnatal ages, there were no differences between saline- and indomethacin-treated animals. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that indomethacin may stimulate basement membrane deposition in the germinal matrix microvessels of newborn beagle pups to prevent germinal matrix and/or intraventricular hemorrhage.     

Acute volaemic changes modify the gastroduodenal resistance to the flow of saline in anaesthetized dogs

The effect of acute and sequential volaemic changes on the gastroduodenal flow of saline was assessed in 23 anaesthetized dogs following two different experimental protocols. Hypervolaemia, by i. v. infusion of saline, induced a gradual decrease on gastroduodenal flow which amounted to 76% below control values (P < 0.001) when volaemic expansion attained 5% of body weight. This effect was volume dependent (17% increase on gastroduodenal flow per volume of infused saline equivalent to 0.5% of body weight, P < 0.001), lasted for at least 90 minutes after infusion was completed and was also obtained by expanding previously bled animals. Hypovolaemia due to bleeding was followed by an increase on gastroduodenal flow of about 88% above control values (P < 0.05) when haemorrhage was equal to 3% of body weight. This effect was also volume dependent (23 % increase on gastroduodenal flow per volume of blood shed equivalent to a 0.5% of body weight, P < 0.01) and was reversed after blood volume was restored. These modifications in the resistance of the gastroduodenal segment to the flow of liquid due to acute volaemic changes suggest that the extracellular fluid volume modulates the contractile activity of the gastroduodenal portion of the gut possibly to set a gastroduodenal handling of liquid adequate to cope with volaemic imbalances.     

The use of 5-fluorouracil in patients following combined trabeculectomy and cataract extraction

We studied the effect of postoperative administration of subconjunctival 5-fluorouracil in maintaining postoperative filtration following combined trabeculectomy and extracapsular cataract extraction with posterior chamber lens implantation. Three months postoperatively, the mean intraocular pressure in 15 patients who had received 5-fluorouracil was 13.1 +/- 3.2 mm Hg; in 17 control patients, it was 13.0 +/- 3.0 mm Hg (P greater than .05). The mean number of postoperative medicines in the study patients was 0.7; in the control patients, 0.8 (P greater than .05). Bleb appearance and improvement in visual acuity were similar in the two groups. This study does not support the routine use of 5-fluorouracil in patients who have undergone combined trabeculectomy and extracapsular cataract extraction.     

Measurement of faecal ammonia.

A modified end-point enzymatic method for the measurement of ammonia in stool water is presented. A protein precipitation step was included in order to inactivate urease and faecal enzymes, which oxidise NADH. The modified method is reliable, with acceptable precision and accuracy, and is linear up to a concentration of 1.5 mmol/l.     

Developing the future nurse leaders of Fiji.

BACKGROUND: Nurse leaders in Fiji are currently involved in meeting the challenges of being at the forefront of an AusAID supported Health Sector Improvement process. Fiji is experiencing the same shortages of health professionals (including nurses) as is occurring internationally, while simultaneously striving to improve the quality of its health services. PRIMARY ARGUMENT: This paper provides information about the current situation in relation to health services in Fiji, and describes strategies being undertaken by the nurse leaders of Fiji to meet the challenge of leading an exciting reform process. James Cook University, School of Nursing Sciences, has been privileged to support the provision of contemporary leadership and management education for current and future nurse leaders in the Fiji Health Sector as a component of a current education program to educate registered nurses to bachelor level. This paper will provide an overview of the current Fiji Health Sector Improvement Program, with a particular focus on the preparation of nurse leaders. CONCLUSION: There is an ongoing need to understand beliefs and values, and styles of interaction and communication, and indeed, ideas about time. With collaboration between Australian academics and Fiji tutors from the Fiji School of Nursing, the program appears to be remarkably successful.