Variation of ewe olfactory secretome during a ram effect.

Introduction: Under temperate latitudes, reproduction in displays a marked seasonality, governed by the photoperiod. In natural conditions, the transition between sexual rest and sexual activity in both sexes is induced by the decrease of day light. Meanwhile, specific odors emitted by a sexually active male are able to reactivate the gonadotropic axis of anovulatory ewes.

Arts and cultural activity: A vital part of the health and care system.

This article discusses how the arts and cultural activities are a vital part of a health and care system and have potential to fulfil the theme of active ageing. The changing nature of care provision in response to demographic change, fiscal pressure and increasingly consumerist attitudes on the part of care users, is considered. Selected examples of how participation in arts and cultural activities increases not only well-being but also health outcomes are then outlined.

Pain in older adults should not be seen as part of ageing.

A life in pain is something no one should have to face but a new report from Help the Aged shows how many older people are doing just that. Giving dignified, high quality care should be the first priority of all working in the care sector. The role pain management plays in delivering this goal is essential.

Holding a spotlight to an ageing society.

In May 2008 Help the Aged published its 3rd annual Spotlight Report. The report highlights the stark realities facing older people in the UK today and gives detailed statistical data on how the lives of some have improved but many are still being left behind.

Information, social support and anxiety before gastrointestinal endoscopy.

Objectives: To examine Lazarus and Folkman's (1984) stress theory regarding the effects of the stress mediators information and perceived social support on anxiety (as the stress response) regarding gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy (as the stressor) in male and female patients of various age groups.

Design: Non-experimental design.

Methods: Structured interviews were conducted with 113 hospital out-patients about to undergo GI endoscopy.

Influence of illness script components and medical practice on medical decision making.

Illness scripts are knowledge structures composed of consequences, enabling conditions, and faults. The effects of illness script components--consequences and enabling conditions--and physician factors on referral decisions for gastrointestinal disorders were investigated. The hypothesis that consequences and enabling conditions increase the likelihood of referral was confirmed and several interactions between consequences and enabling conditions were found.

A special case.

The traditional boundaries between professional groups are under scrutiny in response to practice development, local service needs and national policy objectives. This has implications for the roles, work patterns and education of all health and social care staff and may even offer a new career option for nurses working with older people - an older people's specialist nurse role (OPSN).