The aging, the aged, and the very old: women the policy makers forgot

The nation's policy on aging has not adequately addressed the disjuncture between the compelling increase in the number of aged and the changing family and social roles of women. There is a continuum of mid-life, aged and very old women engaged in inter-generational exchange of care, who have unmet needs both as care givers and care receivers. Shortcomings in public policy arrangements are discussed, along with proposals for a national policy on aging that focuses on the family as a caring unit.     

Fluoroscopic peroperative cholangiography: technique and associated radiation hazards

The techniques specific to peroperative fluorocholangiography are discussed based on an experience of 632 cholangiograms and an estimation has been made of the associated radiation doses to staff and patients. Rapid and accurate information can be obtained during fluorocholangiography using appropriate techniques with acceptably low radiation hazards.     

Endothelial cell loss after phacoemulsification and insertion of silicone lens implants

Central corneal endothelial cell loss was compared following primary insertion of folded posterior chamber silicone intraocular lenses (IOLs) in 29 eyes and Sinskey-style polymethylmethacrylate posterior chamber IOLs in 20 eyes. Cataracts were removed by phacoemulsification and sodium hyaluronate was used in all cases. The mean follow-up time was greater than seven months. The average cell loss was 9.6% and 10.9%, respectively. There was no significant difference in cell loss or visual results in the two groups. The amount of cell loss compares favorably with other series in which cell loss was determined following cataract surgery with and without IOL implantation.     

Academic,community and state mental health program collaboration: The Oregon experience

The authors review the relationship that has evolved over the years between the Department of Psychiatry at Oregon Health Sciences University and Oregon's community and state mental health programs. They describe the compatibility that exists between the basic requirements of academic psychiatry departments and public mental health programs and demonstrate how these organizations have been able to fulfill one another's needs in Oregon. Specific examples of successful collaborations in the areas of education, administration, research, and service are presented to illustrate how relationships that have been designed to meet specific requirements of one organization can fulfill many requirements of both. Suggestions are provided for those organizations contemplating similar collaborative endeavors.     

Anulus fibrosus in bulging intervertebral disks

In this investigation the association of radial tears of the anulus fibrosus and bulging of the intervertebral disk was studied. An index of disk bulging was measured in sagittal anatomic sections in 149 lumbar disks from 31 cadavers. The indexes of disk bulging were correlated with stages of disk development and the presence of an annular tear. The largest disk-bulging indexes were always associated with radial tears of the anulus. Eighty-four percent of the disks with radial tears had disk-bulging indexes greater than 2.5 mm. Most normal adult disks had an index of less than 2.5 mm. The results challenge the concept that the anulus fibrosus is intact in bulging disks, although ruptured in herniated disks.