Lack of selectivity for ventricular and ischaemic tissue limits the antiarrhythmic actions of lidocaine, quinidine and flecainide against ischaemia-induced arrhythmias.

The antiarrhythmic effectiveness, electrocardiographic and haemodynamic properties of three representative class I antiarrhythmics have been investigated in anaesthetized rats. Quinidine, lidocaine and flecainide were chosen as representatives of class Ia, Ib and Ic, respectively. Lidocaine showed the greatest frequency and 'ischaemia' dependency and a high dose provided complete protection against ischaemic arrhythmias induced by coronary artery occlusion.

Some cases of human male infertility are explained by abnormal in vitro human sperm activation.

Objective: To determine if a human sperm activation assay can be used to evaluate males exhibiting otherwise unexplained infertility.

Design: Sperm from age-matched fertile and idiopathic infertile males were assayed in the human sperm activation assay and the results were compared. A portion of the sperm from the idiopathic infertile males also was used in assisted reproductive technology (ART) attempts at pregnancy.

Developing workplace advocacy behaviors.

In this article, the authors describe the concept of workplace advocacy, workplace hazards experienced by hospital nurses, methods for teaching workplace advocacy behavior, and strategies for controlling specific workplace hazards. Workplace advocacy is a universally applicable concept for maintaining professional nursing practice. Staff development educators are key in helping staff nurses achieve autonomous nursing practice.

The development of a sampler-sensor using a vanadium-oxinate-polymer film for the selective and direct determination of atmospheric ethanol.

The development of a sensor for the direct and selective determination of atmospheric ethanol is in the initial stages. The sensor takes advantage of the selective chemical reaction between ethanol and vanadium oxinate. This reaction occurs in an organic medium where a red colored complex is the product.

Meeting the challenge of mandatory continuing education.

A state's decision to institute mandatory continuing education has ramifications for individuals involved in staff development and inservice education. In collaboration with the University of Delaware College of Nursing along with the Medical Center of Delaware, the Delaware Nurses' Association in 1990 assessed the continuing education needs and interests of a convenience sample of 547 registered nurse Delaware Nurses' Association members. Analysis of the data revealed a variety of interests within practice, education, administration, and research.

Operative resection of 100 spinal lipomas in infants less than 1 year of age.

A retrospective analysis of 100 children followed at Children's Memorial Hospital, Chicago, who underwent surgery for a spinal lipoma was performed. The mean follow-up was 5 years. We found that an operation performed during the 1st year of life with the goal of untethering the spinal cord and debulking the spinal lipoma was safe and effective, whereas a cosmetic (nonuntethering) procedure always led to delayed postoperative deterioration (symptomatic tethered cord).

Identification of neuron-specific ivermectin binding sites in Drosophila melanogaster and Schistocerca americana.

High affinity avermectin binding sites have been identified and partially characterized in membranes from two insect species, Drosophila melanogaster and the locus Schistocerca americana. There is a 10-fold increase in the density of ivermectin binding sites associated with membranes isolated from Drosophila heads (a neuronally enriched tissue source) compared to the bodies (Bmax values were 3.5 and 0.

Relationship between QaT and RR intervals in rats, guinea pigs, rabbits, and primates.

The ECG is routinely used in many species to monitor effects of drugs. While it is relatively easy to measure both PR and QRS, measurement of QT is complicated by the fact that this interval can change with heart rate. In order to compensate for variations in QT due to variations in heart rate, various correction factors have been used, including those of Bazett and Hodges.

School nursing in America--1902-1994: a return to public health nursing.

In October 1902, Lina Lavanche Rogers began her work in the New York City schools as the first school nurse in the United States. The purpose of this research was to examine the evolution of school nursing as it exemplifies development of a public health nursing specialty. Historiographic methodology was used.

On being a mentor to nurse practitioner students: the preceptor-student relationship.

This article explores the identity of NPs as clinical practice preceptors and mentors for NP students, including the inherent conflict created for preceptors by these overlapping role expectations. Also examined is the nurse practitioner-student relationship with phases of the relationship between student and preceptor/mentor presented. Issues related to student and preceptor role development and personal characteristics of both impacting on the relationship are identified.

A membrane-mediated catalytic event in prothrombin activation.

Prothrombinase assembly takes place on the surface of unsaturated phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylserine (PS) membranes in the presence of Ca2+, through the rapid association of membrane-bound factor Va and factor Xa. The present study uses saturated PCPS (75:25, w/w) vesicles to study prothrombinase assembly and catalytic properties in order to differentiate the influences of the membrane upon catalyst assembly, substrate delivery, and peptide bond cleavage. In contrast to studies using unsaturated phospholipid, prothrombin activation studies using saturated PCPS (75:25, w/w) (C14:0, C16:0, and C18:0) revealed up to a 20-fold decrease in prothrombinase activity.

Environmental safety preparation for community-based nursing educational experiences: measurable indices.

Cities, formerly the hub of cultural activities and entertainment, are now more often associated with crime statistics and poverty. Students' emotional comfort and safety must therefore be prime considerations in planning community-based nursing education. This study piloted an instrument that promises to be useful in labeling situations that affect an individual's comfort level in an urban setting.

Immunoaffinity purification of avermectin-binding proteins from the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans and the fruitfly Drosophila melanogaster.

Avermectin-binding proteins from the free-living nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans and from the fruitfly Drosophila melanogaster were purified to homogeneity via a three-step procedure. The binding proteins were covalently labelled using a radioactive photoaffinity probe and then partially purified on a Sephacryl S-300 gel-filtration column. The radiolabelled binding proteins were then purified by immunoaffinity chromatography using a monoclonal antibody to avermectin covalently attached to Protein A-Sepharose beads.

Helping preceptors mentor the next generation of nurse practitioners.

At some point in their careers, nurse practitioners, as well as members of other clinical disciplines, may be asked to tutor a primary care student. First-time preceptors, even if they are mature clinicians and enthusiastic about their new role, may find themselves somewhat at a loss regarding faculty and program expectations for themselves and for students. There is little in the literature to guide them, and preceptors often cannot attend faculty-sponsored orientations because of clinical schedule constraints.

The reactivity of selected acrylate esters toward glutathione and deoxyribonucleosides in vitro: structure-activity relationships.

Acrylate esters are alpha,beta-unsaturated esters used as plastic monomers whose toxicity may involve reaction with tissue nucleophiles via Michael addition. Structure-activity relationships for reactivity of selected esters with glutathione (GSH) and deoxyribonucleosides were investigated in the present studies. The esters investigated were methyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, ethyl acrylate, ethyl methacrylate, butyl acrylate, butyl methacrylate, tetraethyleneglycol diacrylate, tetraethyleneglycol dimethacrylate, and ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate.

Long-term trends in blood lead levels among children in Chicago: relationship to air lead levels.

Objectives: To evaluate trends in blood lead levels among children in Chicago from 1968 through 1988, and to determine the impact of the changes in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) blood lead level of concern.

Methods: We reviewed a systematic sample of blood lead screening records of the Chicago Department of Health Laboratory for high-risk children aged 6 months to 5 years. Median blood lead levels for each quarter of the years 1974 through 1988 were determined and regressed against mean air lead levels recorded at air-monitoring stations in Chicago during the same period.

Development of a screening tool for prediction of children at risk for lead exposure in a midwestern clinical setting.

Objective: Universal screening for childhood lead poisoning is becoming quite common, with many states having legislation requiring screening. We set out to determine whether a questionnaire could be used to identify children at risk for exposure to lead to determine whether selective screening of those at risk was possible.

Methods: Parents of 370 children 12 to 36 months of age having well-child examinations completed a questionnaire and their children were screened by a fingerstick capillary blood lead test at two clinics.

Acute toxicity of tedisamil, a new potassium channel blocking drug.

The acute intravenous toxicity of tedisamil, a new potassium channel blocker, was assessed by infusing it at various rates (1.5 to 10 mg/kg/min.) to ventilated or spontaneously breathing rats subjected to blockade of their peripheral somatic and autonomic nervous systems.

Attributional theory applied to a baccalaureate nursing community experience.

This study reports on the effectiveness of the attributional approach for evaluating outcomes of bicultural nurse-client interactions. Data for retrospective analysis were drawn from junior baccalaureate nursing students' (N = 16) self-evaluations of a one-to-one experience with a low-income, elderly, minority, urban resident. This data collection site, a wellness center in the resident/participant's high-rise apartment building, was ideal because of the relative control of variables that tend to raise caregiver anxiety and confound outcomes of nurse-client bicultural interactions in community-based settings.

Managing job satisfaction for the long run.

Twenty senior nurse executives were surveyed to determine their perceptions of job satisfaction and reward systems among long-term, mid-career employees. These needs go beyond basic security and into higher levels of professionalism.

Affinity probes for the avermectin binding proteins.

The design and synthesis of a series of avermectin affinity probes used in the identification and purification of the avermectin binding proteins is described. These modified avermectins fall into two design classes: ligands to covalently modify specific avermectin binding proteins [an 125I-labeled aryl azide photoprobe (15) and a tritiated aziridine analog (6)] and ligands for affinity chromatography applications [three biotinylated compounds (10, 12, and 13) and one resin-bound derivative (9)]. The binding affinities of these compounds for the Caenorhabditis elegans avermectin binding protein is presented as well as their biological activities against C.