A derivative of ammonia caramel colour (AC) is known to induce a selective lymphopenia in rats. Accordingly, the haematological effects were studied in mice of oral administration in drinking water of 2-acetyl-4(5)-tetrahydroxybutylimidazole (THI), the component of AC responsible for lymphopenia. Initially five groups of BALB/c mice (five mice per group) were given doses of THI ranging from 0 to 200 parts/10(6) and bled weekly. Doses of THI from 5 to 100 parts/10(6) had no effect on circulating leucocytes over 6 weeks, but lymphopenia occurred with 200 parts/10(6). An increase in the concentration of THI to 400 parts/10(6) in the group on the lowest dose resulted in lymphopenia. An increase in dosage in two groups of mice, to 1000 and 2000 parts/10(6), resulted in marked lymphopenia. The number of neutrophils, eosinophils and monocytes remained unchanged throughout the experiment. Measurement of the proportions of CD4(L3T4)+ and CD8(Ly2)+ lymphocytes in lymph nodes from mice on high doses of THI did not show a selective depression of either subset, although both were increased relative to non-T cells. THI causes a selective lymphopenia in mice, as in rats, but at relatively higher doses, and merits investigation in mice as an experimental treatment for states of lymphocyte excess or overactivity.

Animals↗

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Eyelid hypertrichosis associated with latanoprost is reversible.

A 56-year-old woman with primary open-angle glaucoma in an only eye presented with hypertrichosis after using Latanoprost to lower IOP. After trabeculectomy with adjunctive Mitomycin C, IOP was well controlled and antiglaucoma medications could be discontinued. At eight-month follow-up the abnormal eyelashes had disappeared.

Antihypertensive Agents↗

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Reliability and validity of critical care orientation tests.

The purpose of this study was to establish the reliability and validity of the multiple choice orientation tests used in one critical care unit. A criterion-referenced measurement framework was used to develop 10 orientation tests covering five content areas, two tests for each content area. A sample of 40 critical care nurses (CCNS) and 31 medical-surgical nurses completed the tests. Standard reliability and validity measures were performed including: test-retest, parallel forms, construct and decision validity and item analysis. Parallel form correlations ranged from .46 to .90 (P < .05). Test-retest correlations ranged from .56 to .93 (P < .01). A significant (P < .01) difference was found between the scores of the critical care nurses and medical-surgical nurses for nine of the tests. Reliability and validity were supported for the tests. This study identifies one process that can be used in test development.

Critical Care↗

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Practical tools for qualitative community-oriented primary care community assessment.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The evolution of managed care is creating a need for feasible methods for clinical practices to perform community assessments. Since some types of clinically useful data are best obtained through a qualitative community assessment, practical methods of carrying out this type of assessment are needed. Such practical methods are also important for community-oriented primary care, an attractive model for the marriage of population perspectives and clinical primary care. METHODS: Using methods suitable for busy clinical practices, qualitative data useful for clinical purposes were collected either by mail surveys, telephone surveys, or during focus group discussions in a low-income community. Characteristics of data obtained through each method, together with the costs, advantages, and disadvantages of each approach, were examined. RESULTS: All three methods revealed similar themes in their responses, though the range and emotional content of the responses varied by approach. Clinically useful data were obtained, although the potential for sampling and response biases must be considered. Costs, primarily related to professional time, varied by as much as 50% among the methods examined; telephone surveys were the least expensive per enrolled subject. CONCLUSIONS: The methods tested are potentially feasible in busy practices. However, practices should clarify their objectives and resources prior to using these methods.

Adult↗

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Dieting fads: the facts.

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Diet Fads↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Finishing first grade: a study of school achievement in very-low-birth-weight children.

Factors that influence school achievement in very-low-birth-weight (< 1,500 g) children were investigated at the completion of first grade. The subjects were 71 children and their primary caregivers. Thirty-nine children were very low birth weight (VLBW) and 32 were normal birth weight (NBW). After controlling for birth weight status, over one third of the variance in children's school achievement was accounted for by the age of the child's mother when she began childbearing. Birth weight status accounted for significant amounts of variance in information processing skills. Significantly more children in the VLBW group required special services and fewer were promoted to second grade, although the difference was not significant.

Achievement↗

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Vulnerability and temperament in very low birth weight school-aged children.

The purpose of this study was to investigate parental perception of vulnerability, parental subjective stress concerning children's premature birth, and child temperament in families of very low birth weight (VLBW) and normal birth weight (NBW) children. The subjects were 39 VLBW children and 30 NBW 7-year-old children and their caregivers. Data on child temperament and parental perception of vulnerability was provided by the 69 families. Families of the VLBW group rated their degree of current stress concerning their children's premature birth. There were no differences between the NBW and VLBW caregivers in their perceptions of their child's vulnerability status. Caregivers of VLBW children had significantly lower scores on degree of subjective stress specific to the premature birth than the value reported on the standardization population. Child temperament made a significant contribution to parental perception of child vulnerability status in both VLBW and NBW parents.

Birth Weight↗

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Comparisons of rectal, femoral, axillary, and skin-to-mattress temperatures in stable neonates.

The purpose of this study was to compare four sites for temperature recording in the neonate: rectum, femoral, axilla, and skin-to-mattress. Simultaneous measurements were made at the four sites in 99 stable, term neonates. Temperatures were recorded each minute for 15 minutes. The optimal temperatures (highest temperature recorded minus 0.2 degrees F) did not vary across the four sites, but there were significant differences in the mean times required to achieve optimal temperature and in the optimal placement times (time required for 90% of the subjects to reach optimal temperature). The rectal site required significantly less time than the other sites (M = 2.66 minutes, optimal placement time = 5 minutes). The femoral and axillary sites required significantly more time than rectal and significantly less time than skin-to-mattress (M = 6 minutes, optimal placement time = 11 minutes). The skin-to-mattress site required significantly more time than the other sites (M = 8.5 minutes, optimal placement time = 13 minutes).

Axilla↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Diabetes mellitus in an adult cystic fibrosis population.

Medical records of 132 patients attending an adult cystic fibrosis (CF) clinic were analysed to define the prevalence and clinical significance of diabetes mellitus (DM) in CF. Eighty four (63.6%) had normal blood glucose levels, 30 (22.8%) had hyperglycaemia only during intercurrent illness and 18 (13.6%) had DM. No significant differences were noted between the diabetic and non-diabetic groups for age, gender, height, weight, body mass index (BMI), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) and pancreatic supplementation. Patients with hyperglycaemia during intercurrent illness had significantly lower BMI, FEV1% and FVC% than those with normal blood glucose levels. Of the diabetics four were managed on diet, three received oral hypoglycaemic agents and eleven were insulin requiring. The prevalence of DM in CF is considerable, severity of CF does not correlate with development of overt DM, and CF patients should be screened for DM by an oral glucose tolerance test on reaching adulthood.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Diabetes mellitus in an adult cystic fibrosis population.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Nursing development units. Division of labor.

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Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Academic achievement and educational resource use of very low birth weight (VLBW) survivors.

Thirty-nine very low birth weight (VLBW) and 32 normal birth weight (NBW) elementary school children were studied prospectively to determine patterns of academic achievement and special education resource use during the elementary school years. Reading, spelling, and mathematical abilities were evaluated. Mean scores for the VLBW children were significantly lower on the mathematic subtests. VLBW study participants experienced more grade retention (43% vs. 23%) and required 2.8 times more special academic assistance than their NBW peers. Thus, providing special educational resources for VLBW children is essential.

Adolescent↗