Preoperation interviews: a nursing intervention to reduce patients' anxiety.

A quasi-experimental study was conducted to evaluate the effect of preoperative interviews on patients' anxiety levels. A convenience sample of 60 was assigned between two groups of equal size: a treatment group in which subjects were interviewed by a perioperative nurse or a control group in which subjects were not interviewed. All subjects completed state-trait Anxiety Inventory questionnaires. Group comparison using analysis of covariance showed subjects who were interviewed by the perioperative nurse reported significantly less anxiety than control group subjects.     

To what extent does IQ 'explain' socio-economic variations in function?

Background  

The aims of this study were to examine the extent to which higher intellectual abilities protect higher socio-economic groups from functional decline and to examine whether the contribution of intellectual abilities is independent of childhood deprivation and low birth weight and other socio-economic and developmental factors in early life.     

Transmission of Syphilis by Solid Organ Transplantation

Two organ recipients developed serologic evidence of syphilis infection after renal transplantation from a common deceased donor with a history of treated syphilis. Testing of donor serum for syphilis, which occurred after transplantation, gave results interpreted as consistent with past infection. However, subsequent serologic results in the recipients suggested transmission of infection at transplantation due to active infection of the donor. This may be explained by recent donor re-infection in view of the current syphilis epidemic in the United Kingdom. An initial error in the treatment of recipients further served to highlight unfamiliarity in managing this resurgent infection in the context of organ transplantation.     

Analysis of selenium content in commercial dietetic products

Selenium (Se) is largely associated with the protein component of foods. The processing of elemental feeds and artificial formulations used in clinical dietetic practice can, therefore, result in significant losses of Se from these products and the Se status of patients consuming these feeds may be compromised. A selection of commercial formulas typically used for enteral feeding, and for patients with cystic fibrosis, phenylketonuria and maple syrup urine disease were analysed for Se micro-fluorimetrically. Low Se contents were found in all food supplements except for Peptisorbon (0.09 mg Se/2000 kcal) and Clinifeed Protein Rich (0.08 mg Se/2000 kcal) which contained adequate daily Se levels according to the American RDI. The results show that a number of feeds are low in Se, especially those used for patients with cystic fibrosis and maple syrup urine disease. An investigation of the Se status of patients on these formulations may indicate the need for Se supplementation.