Treatment of Tobacco Use in Preconception Care

Maternal and Child Health Journal -     

The everyday realities of the multi-dimensional role of the high school community nurse.

The traditional role of the high school based community community health nurse has changed considerably over recent decades. This article describes a qualitative study, in which nine community health nurses from eight different high schools completed a diary of the interventions and events during the course of two working days in order to identify the dimensions of their role. A short demographic questionnaire was also completed by the nurses and included two open-ended questions concerning their main professional issues and concerns. The researchers sought verification of the interpretation of the data through a focus group interview with the high school nurses. Data analysis indicated that the role of the high school community health nurses (CHN) consisted of seven categories. These were provider of clinical care, counsellor/ mediator, advocacy and support, liaison/referral, health promotion/education and resource agent, and professional management and research role. The findings highlight the complex and demanding aspects of the role of the high school nurse and articulate the importance of describing the contribution of such practitioners in to the promotion of health among adolescents.     

Reassessment of CD62L as a marker of pre-effector T cells in the tumor draining lymph nodes of head and neck cancer patients.

OBJECTIVES: CD62L was evaluated as a determinant of human pre-effector T cells. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Phenotype and cytokine secretion profiles of CD62L cells were determined based on activation status. RESULTS: CD62L(Low) T cells demonstrated significantly higher secretion of interleukin (IL)-10 and interferon (IFN)-gamma than did CD62L(High) T cells. After activation, the majority of cells expressed high levels of the CD62L surface marker. Postactivation levels of IL-10 production remained elevated or unchanged. In a murine B16 melanoma model, freshly isolated CD62L(Low) tumor draining lymph nodes (TDLN) T cells showed increased secretion of IL-2 and IL-4 but not of IL-10 or IFN-gamma. The surface expression of CD62L and cytokine secretion patterns were maintained after activation with concomitant increases in IL-10. CONCLUSION: Our results provide evidence that CD62L(Low) T cells in TDLNs of progressively growing squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck differ phenotypically and functionally from those of mouse origin. SIGNIFICANCE: Characterization of this human CD62L(Low) T cell population provides initial insight regarding novel surface markers in TDLN T cells that might correlate with antitumor reactivity.     

Healthcare worker competencies for disaster training

Background  

Although training and education have long been accepted as integral to disaster preparedness, many currently taught practices are neither evidence-based nor standardized. The need for effective evidence-based disaster training of healthcare staff at all levels, including the development of standards and guidelines for training in the multi-disciplinary health response to major events, has been designated by the disaster response community as a high priority. We describe the application of systematic evidence-based consensus building methods to derive educational competencies and objectives in criteria-based preparedness and response relevant to all hospital healthcare workers.     

Update on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is one of the most significant chronic illnesses of adults. Comprehensive care of the affected patient requires the medical-surgical nurse to have knowledge of the disease process, collaborative management, and nursing care based on research and current practice guidelines.     

Effect of Glycemic Carbohydrates on Short-term Satiety and Food Intake

We examine the relationships between glycemic carbohydrate and its effects on short-term satiety and food intake. Both high- and low-glycemic carbohydrates have an impact on satiety, but their effects have different time courses. High-glycemic carbohydrates are associated with a reduction in appetite and food intake in the short term (e.g., one hour), whereas the satiating effects of lower-glycemic carbohydrates appear to be delayed (e.g., 2 to 3 hours). There is no consistent evidence that an increase in blood glucose, either acute or sustained, is the primary determinant of their effects on food intake and satiety. Many other preabsorptive and postabsorptive signals for satiety exist and may be the determining factors. Further studies are needed to delineate the role of glycemic carbohydrates and their mechanisms of action in determining satiety.     

Pyridoxal 5'-phosphate and pyridoxamine 5'-phosphate concentrations in blood and tissues of mice fed ethanol-containing liquid diets

The effects of chronic ethanol administration on vitamin B-6 metabolism were studied in female Long-Sleep (LS) and Short-Sleep (SS) mice. Animals were fed an ethanol containing liquid diet (AIN-76) for four weeks. Concentration of ethanol in the diet increased from 10 to 25% ethanol-derived calories (EDC) during weeks 1-3 and was maintained at 30% EDC for 1 additional week. We measured concentrations of pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) in plasma, erythrocytes and whole blood, and liver and brain PLP and pyridoxamine 5'-phosphate (PMP) in ethanol-fed and pair-fed control mice. Chronic ethanol administration significantly increased PMP and total (PLP + PMP) levels in the liver of SS mice. In LS mice ethanol feeding significantly decreased PMP and total (PLP + PMP) levels in the brain, but these values were still within normal limits. These results suggest that both control and ethanol-containing liquid diets are nutritionally adequate with respect to vitamin B-6, and that chronic ethanol administration does not adversely affect vitamin B-6 metabolism in adult mice.