Cervical mobilisation: concurrent effects on pain, sympathetic nervous system activity and motor activity.

Recent findings that spinal manual therapy (SMT) produces concurrent hypoalgesic and sympathoexcitatory effects have led to the proposal that SMT may exert its initial effects by activating descending inhibitory pathways from the dorsal periaqueductal gray area of the midbrain (dPAG). In addition to hypoalgesic and sympathoexcitatory effects, stimulation of the dPAG in animals has been shown to have a facilitatory effect on motor activity. This study sought to further investigate the proposal regarding SMT and the PAG by including a test of motor function in addition to the variables previously investigated.

Report of the Council on Scientific Affairs: preventing needlestick injuries in health care settings.

Needlestick injuries continue to pose a significant risk to health care workers; however, appropriate use of needlestick prevention devices, especially in comprehensive prevention programs, can significantly reduce the incidence of such injuries. Cost analyses indicate that use of these devices will be cost-effective in the long term. To provide more scientific and cost data on the efficacy of needlestick prevention devices, recording of needlestick injuries must be improved.

Effects of ammonia nitrogen of H2 and CH4 production during anaerobic digestion of dairy cattle manure.

A number of researchers have verified the inhibitory effects of elevated H2 concentrations on various anaerobic fermentation processes. The objective of this work was to investigate the potential for using hydrogen gas production to predict upsets in anaerobic digesters operating on dairy cattle manure. In an ammonia nitrogen overload experiment, urea was added to the experimental digesters to obtain increased ammonia concentrations (600, 1,500, or 3,000 mg N/l).

Pressure pain thresholds of upper limb peripheral nerve trunks in asymptomatic subjects.

Background And Purpose: Palpation of peripheral nerve trunks has been advocated as a method of assessing the presence of hyperalgesic nerve tissue as a contributing factor to pain syndromes in musculoskeletal disorders of the upper quadrant. This study investigated, in the first instance, the pressure pain thresholds of the median, radial and ulnar nerve trunks of the upper limb in healthy, asymptomatic subjects.

Method: Forty-five male and 50 female healthy volunteer subjects participated in this study which involved measurement of pressure pain thresholds by use of pressure algometry bilaterally over the three peripheral nerve trunks in the upper limbs.

Leukocystatin, a new Class II cystatin expressed selectively by hematopoietic cells.

We describe a new cystatin in both mice and humans, which we termed leukocystatin. This protein has all the features of a Class II secreted inhibitory cystatin but contains lysine residues in the normally hydrophobic binding regions. As determined by cDNA library Southern blots, this cystatin is expressed selectively in hematopoietic cells, although fine details of the distribution among these cell types differ between the human and mouse mRNAs.

Pretreatment with methylprednisolone to prevent ERCP-induced pancreatitis: a randomized, multicenter, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Objective: Pancreatitis remains the major complication of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Uncontrolled data suggest a lower incidence of pancreatitis in patients with a history of iodine sensitivity when given pretreatment with corticosteroids. We conducted a clinical trial to assess the efficacy of a commonly prescribed corticosteroid, methylprednisolone, to prevent ERCP-induced pancreatitis.

Pemoline-induced autoimmune hepatitis.

We present a case of pemoline-induced autoimmune hepatitis in a 46-yr-old woman who received the drug for management of her multiple sclerosis. The autoimmune nature of the hepatitis is based on elevation of her anti-nuclear antibodies, anti-thyroid antibodies, IgA, and IgM globulins. These features of autoimmunity disappeared with normalization of her liver-associated enzymes and have remained negative for at least 6 months after completion of prednisone therapy.

Competency-based education: implications and application in perioperative education.

This article discusses the differences of competency-based education (CBE) compared with traditional staff development activities in the perioperative setting. The impact of a CBE-based educational program is detailed. Brief explanation of the methods a surgical department can apply and implement in a CBE training program is also shown.

How to clean and maintain urinary leg bags: 'easy on the nose'.

People with a dysfunctional bladder may have to wear a urinary collection bag. The authors found that the current practice of rinsing leg bags with water and cleaning them in the Cidamatic washer did not fully clean the bags. A trial of cleaning with Urolux showed that the bags were cleaner, smelled better and lasted longer, as well as that the procedure was easy and cost effective.

The effect of corticosteroids and other antineoplastic agents on the generation of leukocyte migration inhibition factor.

We have shown that hydrocortisone in physiological concentrations can inhibit the production of leukocyte migration inhibition factor (LMIF), but does not diminish the action of this lymphokine. Other agents tested failed to influence LMIF production. Inhibition of LMIF production by corticosteroids was influenced by the nature of the stimulus used for the production as an effect could be seen with PHA or Con A, but not Staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA).

The ontogeny of a natural food aversion in domestic rats (Rattus norvegicus) and house mice (Mus musculus).

During a 1-hr feeding test, hungry domestic rats (Rattus norvegicus) that had been reared individually from weaning with a domestic house mouse (Mus musculus) were less likely (p less than .05) to feed on the intact carcass of a freshly sacrificed mouse than were rats that had been reared individually with another rat. Likewise, hungry mice that had been reared individually with a rat were less likely (p less than .

Phencyclidine intoxication: clinical experience in 27 cases confirmed by urine assay.

Medical records of 107 consecutive patients with a diagnosis of phencyclidine (PCP) intoxication were reviewed and in 27 of these the diagnosis was confirmed by positive urine assay. In the 27 confirmed cases, the most common abnormalities present on physical examination were mental/behavioral (89%) and nystagmus (85%). Elevations in blood pressure, temperature, and heart rate that were statistically significant when compared with an age-matched control group also were noted.

Toxicity with intravenous injection of crude marijuana extract.

Intravenous injection of crude marijuana extract led to development of an acute illness with multisystem involvement. Gastrointestinal manifestations consisted of severe vomiting, diarrhea, and crampy abdominal pain. Hypotension, tachycardia, and peripheral vasodilation constituted the main cardiovascular manifestations of the disease.

Ineffectiveness of intravenous ascorbic acid as an acidifying agent in man.

The acidifying effect of intravenous (IV) ascorbic acid was studied in seven healthy adult volunteers. After obtaining baseline urine and blood samples, 2-g IV doses of ascorbic acid were administered to each subject during a 20-minute period. Venous blood samples were obtained at times 0.

Rhabdomyolysis and acute renal failure associated with phencyclidine intoxication.

Rhabdomyolysis can occur with phencyclidine hydrochloride (PCP) intoxication. However, to our knowledge acute renal failure with phencyclidine-induced rhabdomyolysis has not been reported previously. Therefore, we describe two patients with this condition.

Visiting aides training program.

This article describes a hospital-sponsored service program in which mature members of the community are given a course of supervised field training in the home care of recently discharged patients. The program benefits the trainee, the patient, and the general taxpayer.