FEASIBILITY OF CONDUCTING CARDIOVASCULAR OUTCOME RESEARCH IN AUSTRALIAN GENERAL PRACTICE: RESULTS FROM THE ANBP2 PILOT STUDY

1. The present study aimed to determine the feasibility of conducting a 5 year cardiovascular outcome trial of the treatment of 6000 elderly hypertensive patients in Australian general practices. 2. General practitioners (GPs) were invited to participate by mail and personal follow-up. Patient records were reviewed to identify subjects for a blood pressure (BP) screening programme. Blood pressure was measured on three occasions and eligible subjects were included if the average BP was 160 mmHg systolic or 90 mmHg diastolic if systolic BP was 140 mmHg. 3. Seven hundred and forty-one GPs were approached and 89 were enrolled in the study (12% of mail invites and 75% of those receiving a personal contact). In 16 practices where screening was completed, 82 000 records were reviewed to identify 4% patients eligible for screening. Twenty-two per cent of eligible subjects attended screening. Of 1938 subjects screened, 180 (9%) had BP 5=160/90 mmHg. Forty-seven percent of subjects (n = 916) were receiving antihypertensive therapy and 184 (20%) were withdrawn from therapy. One hundred and sixteen (63%) of these subjects had BP return to study entry levels within 6 weeks. Fifty-seven newly diagnosed and 81 previously treated subjects were randomized (7% of the screened population). 4. Based on the high participation rate of GPs, the response rate of patients to attend a BP screening programme and the 7% randomization to screening ratio for entry into the study, the ANBP2 pilot study has demonstrated that it is feasible to recruit subjects from Australian general practices to a cardiovascular outcome trial.     

'This isn't very typical I'm afraid': observing community care complaints procedures

The new complaints procedures which local authority social services departments have been required to introduce represent an important mechanism for managing the change of culture associated with recent community care reforms. They also represent a new genre in mechanisms of redress for welfare recipients. This paper reports the findings of a study which has observed considerable diversity in the ways in which local authorities are interpreting the nature and purposes of the new procedures and, in particular, the functions of review panels established under those procedures. Variations in the composition of panels, in the style of review panel proceedings, in perceptions of the panels' powers, and in the ways that complaints and complainants are constituted are all discussed. Attention is drawn to four competing interpretations of the review panels' role and to the need for these to be clarified and prioritised.     

Needs and needs assessment: their components and definitions with reference to dementia

The concept of need and the practice of needs assessment are both subject to a wide range of interpretations, to the likely detriment of individual assessments and to multidisciplinary working. Clear definition is important for individual assessment, for the development of multidisciplinary tools and in gathering planning information. The concept of need is clarified, firstly by distinguishing between need and the difficulties that engender it, and secondly through a taxonomy of need. These assist clear definitions of both need and needs assessment when linked with a consideration of the current help a person receives and a specification of the type of help required by a person to meet their needs. Such definitions have implications for the role of needs assessment in individual assessment, service evaluation, service management and planning and in the development of multidisciplinary needs assessment tools.     

THE TREATMENT OF ACUTE AND CHRONIC VAGINAL CANDIDOSIS

Vaginal candidosis is one of the most common infections of the vagina and the first accredited record of the disease appeared in 1849. Over the years the terms ‘candidiasis’ and ‘candidosis’ have been used, but it is generally accepted now that the terms are synonymous, and the term most commonly in use today is ‘candidosis’. Mainly caused by the yeast Candida albicans, the condition is characterised by intense inflammation of the vaginal mucosa and a curdy, off-white discharge; it is often associated with severe vulval itching and possibly burning pain. The severity of symptoms seems to vary greatly from patient to patient and the reason for this is unclear. It is suggested that in some patients there may be an element of hypersensitivity. Vaginal candidosis may occur in children but is most common in adults and only sometimes affects the elderly. The majority of women will suffer at least one attack of vaginal candidosis during their lifetime, and there are several predisposing factors such as diabetes, pregnancy and antibiotics. Some authorities consider the condition more frequent in those taking oral contraceptives or other hormones.     

5km重复低压缺氧对小鼠肝脏及脾脏中微量元素的影响

目的 探讨5km重复低压缺氧对小鼠肝脏及脾脏中微量元素的影响。方法 将小白鼠分为5km重复低压缺氧实验组及地面对照组。实验组每天进行5km重复低压缺氧30min,连续7d后，处死小鼠，取肝脏、脾脏烘干至恒重，采用火焰原子吸收法测定锌、铜、铁。结果 5km重复低压缺氧小鼠肝脏中Cu、Fe含量与对照组比较有显差异(P＜0．05)；脾脏中微量元素Fe的含量与对照组比较有显性差异(P＜0．05)。结论 5km重复低压缺氧，使肝脏中Fe、Cu含量降低，脾脏中Fe含量升高。     

毛喉萜对人肝癌细胞增殖影响的实验研究

目的　探讨毛喉萜 (Forskolin)的抗肝癌作用。方法　采用克隆形成、MTT比色法观察毛喉萜对SMMC 772 1细胞的作用 ,并利用免疫细胞化学方法检测其对rasp2 1、p5 3蛋白表达的影响。结果　毛喉萜可明显抑制SMMC 772 1细胞的增殖 ,其抑制率与剂量呈正相关 (P <0 .0 1 ) ,经毛喉萜处理后 ,rasp2 1、p5 3蛋白表达均有明显下降。结论　毛喉萜能明显抑制肝癌SMMC 772 1细胞增殖 ,其作用可能与降低rasp2 1、p5 3蛋白表达有关。     

超声心动图房室平面位移法对高血压病早期患者左室舒张功能的评价

目的:探讨超声心动图房室平面位移(AVPD)法评价高血压病早期患者(HT)左室舒张功能的可行性。方法:分别记录200例HT患者左房射血所致AVPD(AVPDa)值、AVPD与二尖瓣环4个位点上的AVPD均值(AVPDmean)比值,并与二尖瓣口E/A比值法(E/A分析法)进行对比。结果:200例HT患者AVPD法测值:AVPDmean值为(0·66±0·15)cm,AVPDa为(0·79±0·46)cm,E/A分析法:E/A最大峰值速度分别为(75·38±11·66)cm/s,(82·36±16·82)cm/s。根据AVPD方法诊断163例舒张功能异常,E/A分析法诊断171例舒张功能异常,二者之间差异无显著性意义(χ2=1·78,P>0·05)。结论:AVPD方法与E/A分析法有较好符合性,为一无创性评价HT患者左室舒张功能的新方法。