THE IMPACT OF DIABETES MELLITUS ON THE PROGNOSIS OF ALCOHOLICS

In this study, the mortality of clinically treated Japanesealcoholics with diabetes mellitus was analysed. Fifty-one diabeticalcoholics without liver cirrhosis (DM), 23 diabetic and cirrhoticalcoholics (DM LC), 44 cirrhotic alcoholics without diabetes(LC), and 354 alcoholics without either complication (AL) admittedto the National Institute on Alcoholism in 1985 were studied.Thirty-seven diabetics required insulin treatment, and 12 oralhypoglycemic agents. The 4.4-year survival and drinking statusafter discharge were studied in 1990. Stepwise logistic regressionanalysis showed that the estimated odds for death increased8.10, 4.38, 3.70, and 3.27 times for the subjects with the alcoholmisuse after discharge, DM, DM LC, and LC, respectively. The4.4-year survival rate of alcoholics who continued misusingalcohol was much lower in DM (26%, P < 0.0005) and LC (35%,P < 0.0001) than in AL (73%). The survival rate of thosewho stopped misusing alcohol was significantly higher in DM(90%, P < 0.0001), LC (88%, P < 0.0001) and AL (94%, P< 0.0005) than those who continued misusing alcohol. Therewas no significant difference in the survival rate between thealcoholics with DM LC who continued misusing alcohol (50%) andthose who stopped misusing alcohol (73%). In the dead patients,56% of DM died unexpectedly or suddenly, whereas 71% of LC diedof liver failure after hospitalization. These results suggestthat diabetic alcoholics should be intensively educated forabstinence.     

Expected roles and utilization of specialist nurses in Japan: the nurse administrators’ perspective

onishi m. & kanda k. (2010) Journal of Nursing Management 18, 311–318
Expected roles and utilization of specialist nurses in Japan: the nurse administrators’ perspective Aim This study explored (1) expected roles for specialist nurses in Japan and (2) nurse administrators’ experience-based management strategies for effective implementation of these roles. Background In Japan, specialist nurses have begun to be recognized as valuable human resources. However, managerial issues in utilizing specialist nurses, including unclear roles and lack of reports on effective management strategies, remain. Method Three focus-group discussions were conducted. Nine nurse administrators participated. Data were analysed using qualitative content analysis techniques. Results The expected roles for specialist nurses were: (1) facilitating general nurses’ learning; (2) monitoring and improving the patient care standard; and (3) developing new roles for nursing. Two management strategies were: (1) enhancing specialist nurses’ influence, and (2) enhancing specialist nurses’ motivation. Conclusions Specialist nurses are important human resources able to assume responsibility for process improvement in nursing care. Effective ways to enhance specialist nurses’ influence and motivation include developing their management and communication skills, and coordinating their workload and relationships with other health care professionals. Implications for Nursing Management Process improvement indicators may be useful for evaluating specialist nurses’ work. Nurse administrators can contribute to effective implementation of specialist nurses’ roles not only by clarifying their roles but also by empowering them to keep up with changing organizational needs.     

Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis associated with Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection

An 8 year old girl with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is described. Elevated serum antibody titers suggested recent Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection. T2-weighted image of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) disclosed multiple lesions of high signal intensity in bilateral basal ganglia and thalami as well as in the white matter. Postcontrast T1-weighted image revealed an enhanced lesion in the deep white matter. She showed rapid clinical improvement in response to corticosteroid therapy. The lesions had disappeared completely on MRI performed 10 weeks after the onset. ADEM is believed to be a demyelinating disorder of probable autoimmune etiology. MRI findings in this case may support the hypothesis that the primary pathological event is vascular injury and demyelination occurs only as a secondary phenomenon.     

Goals and potential career advancement of licensed practical nurses in Japan

Aim To investigate the effects of personal and professional variables on career advancement intentions of working Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs). Background In Japan, two levels of professional nursing licensures, the LPN and the registered nurse (RN), are likely to be integrated in the future. Therefore, it is important to know the career advancement intentions of LPNs. Method Questionnaires were sent to a sample of 356 LPNs. Analysis of variance (anova ) and discriminative analysis were used. Results We found that those who had a positive image of LPNs along with a positive image of RNs were identified as showing interest in career advancement. The results of anova showed that age had a negative effect; however, discriminative analysis suggested that age is not as significant compared with other variables. Conclusion Our results indicate that the ‘image of RNs’, and ‘role‐acceptance factors’ have an effect on career advancement intentions of LPNs. Implications for nursing management Our results suggest that Nursing Managers should create a supportive working environment where the LPN would feel encouraged to carry out the nursing role, thereby creating a positive image of nursing in general which would lead to career motivation and pursuing RN status.     

Utility of immunohistochemical detection of prostate-specific Ets for the diagnosis of benign and malignant prostatic epithelial lesions

BACKGROUND: Human prostate-specific Ets (hPSE) belongs to the Ets family. It regulates the proliferation, differentiation, and development of prostate epithelial cells. A recent study showed that hPSE can be detected in normal glands but not in cell lines established from prostate cancer (PCA), suggesting a translational disorder of hPSE from mRNA to protein in PCA. Immunohistochemical detection of hPSE could therefore be another method of differential diagnosis of PCA from other proliferative conditions in the prostate. METHODS: An immunohistochemical detection of hPSE was carried out on the whole mounted prostatectomy specimen obtained from 19 cases with PCA. RESULTS: Basal and secretory luminar cells showed a diffuse cytoplasmic staining for hPSE in normal glands, hyperplastic glands, and prostate intraepithelial neoplasia lesions. Whereas approximately 30% of PCA lesions showed a negative staining for hPSE, the positive rate for hPSE between PCA and benign glands or prostate intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN), was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Staining intensities in normal glands, hyperplastic glands, and PIN lesions were similar, but generally stronger than those in PCA lesions. CONCLUSIONS: Negative immunoreactivity for hPSE strongly suggests malignancy in the prostate glands. Decreased immunoreactivities of glands for hPSE could suggest PCA.     

‘Atypical adenomatous hyperplasia’ in liver cirrhosis: low-grade hepatocellular carcinoma or borderline lesion?

Adenomatous hyperplasia, defined as a sizable parenchymal nodule in cirrhosis, was examined morphologically. Ninety-seven nodules of adenomatous hyperplasia were obtained from 47 cirrhotic livers and were divided into 'ordinary' (44 nodules) and 'atypical' (53 nodules) types. The former consisted of hepatocytes similar to those of the surrounding liver, and showed regularly distributed portal tracts. The latter type was composed of hepatocytes showing nuclear atypia, relative to the surrounding liver, and showed irregular or sparse portal tracts. Atypical nodules were histologically heterogeneous, possessing areas of normo-trabecular, compact, pseudoglandular and/or scirrhous patterns. Several cytological changes, such as clear cell change, small or large cell change and fatty change, were intermingled variably within a given nodule. Atypical nodules showed expansive and/or replacing growth into the surrounding liver. Atypical hepatocytes also infiltrated into the fibrous septa and portal tracts. Foci of overt hepatocellular carcinoma were found in 11 of the 53 atypical nodules. These findings suggest that ordinary adenomatous hyperplasia may be a large-sized regenerative nodule, while atypical adenomatous hyperplasia may be a hepatocellular neoplasm, a peculiar form of low-grade hepatocellular carcinoma or borderline lesion, in which overt hepatocellular carcinoma is likely to evolve through multiple steps.     

Electrophysiologic Evaluation of Asymptomatic Patients with the Wolff-Parkinson-White Pattern

In the past 4 years, 34 asymptomatic patients with the Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) pattern underwent electrophysiologic study. The effective refractory period (ERP) of antegrade conduction over the accessory pathway was 288 +/- 29 msec. In three asymptomatic patients (9%), the antegrade ERP of the accessory pathway was shorter than 250 msec. The antegrade ERP of the accessory pathway became shorter than 250 msec in an additional 12 of 22 (55%) patients after isoproterenol administration. Nineteen (56%) of the asymptomatic patients showed the absence of retrograde conduction over the accessory pathway even after isoproterenol administration. The rate of induction of orthodromic reciprocating tachycardia in the asymptomatic WPW patients was 15% (5/34), which was significantly lower than that in the symptomatic patients. These data suggest that in the asymptomatic patients, the absence of retrograde conduction over the accessory pathway is the reason they remained asymptomatic, free of reciprocating tachycardia. However, even in the asymptomatic patients, some had the accessory pathway in which antegrade ERP was shorter than 250 msec. They may result in rapid ventricular conduction over the accessory pathway when atrial fibrillation develops.     

Immunohistochemical demonstration of epidermal growth factor and c-myc oncogene product in normal, benign and malignant thyroid tissues

The expression of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and c-myc oncogene product was studied immunohistochemically in 65 benign and malignant human thyroids. Normal thyroid tissues were usually negative with each antibody. Benign and malignant neoplastic thyroid tissues demonstrated a high percentage of stained cells. However, there was no significant difference in positivity between benign and malignant neoplastic tissues. In Graves' disease 25% of the cases were positive for EGF, and 100% for c-myc product. The effect of EGF or c-myc expression on prognosis was also examined in 42 patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma. When the cases were divided into two groups with regard to their EGF staining score (highly-expressed and poorly-expressed groups), the frequency of highly-expressed tumours was significantly higher in the recurrence-positive group compared with the recurrence-free group (86% vs 57%), but there was no significant difference between the groups in respect of c-myc expression.     

Experimental Study About Removal of the Implanted Tined Polyurethane Ventricular Lead by Radiofrequency Waves Through the Lead

Polyurethane pacemaker leads are widely used nowadays. However, only a few studies have been done to investigate the fixation mechanism of polyurethane leads. To elucidate how pacemaker leads are fixed at the early phase after implantation, polyurethane-insulated tined ventricular leads were implanted in seven mongrel dogs. One to 4 months later, tips of the leads were anchored among the trabeculae and the distal part of the leads were encapsulated by whitish fibrous tissue. It was found that not organized thrombi, but cell reaction with various stages of inflammatory cells was responsible for forming the fibrous tissue. We attempted to remove the lead by delivering radiofrequency wave through the lead. However, no lead could be removed.     

Stromal Cell‐Derived Factor 1α Induces Accumulation of Intraveneously Administered Marrow‐Derived Stromal Cells in the Partially Obstructed Rat Bladder

Objectives: We investigated the time course of the stromal cell‐derived factor 1α (SDF1α) expression and behavior of intravenously administered bone marrow‐derived stromal (BMS) cells in the urinary bladder of partial bladder outlet obstruction (PBOO) rats. Methods: Study 1: Recombinant SDF1α or saline was directly injected into the bladder wall of female rats followed by intravenous administration of BMS cells isolated from green fluorescent protein (GFP) transgenic rats. The bladder was examined with immunohistochemistry to determine whether SDF1α would enhance migration of BMS cells to the bladder. Study 2: Following surgery of PBOO or sham in female rats, bladders were removed on days 1–14, and expression of hypoxia inducible factor 1α (HIF1α) and SDF1α were examined with real‐time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to determine if PBOO preferentially increased their expression. Study 3: Female rats underwent PBOO or sham surgery followed by intravenous administration of GFP‐positive BMS cells. Bladders were examined with immunohistochemistry on days 1–14 to determine whether BMS cells preferentially accumulated in the bladder. Results: BMS cells were accumulated in the injection site of SDF1α but not saline in the bladder. SDF1α and HIF1α increased at day 1 after PBOO compared to sham. More BMS cells accumulated in the bladder of PBOO on day 1, and some BMS cells expressed smooth muscle phenotypes by day 14. Conclusion: SDF1α induced with ischemia/hypoxia due to PBOO is implicated in the accumulation of BMS cells in the bladder and regeneration of the bladder for PBOO.