A Prospective Randomized Controlled Two-Arm Clinical Study Evaluating the Efficacy of a Bioelectric Dressing System for Blister Management in US Army Ranger Recruits.

This study focused on a clinically relevant healthcare problem in the military: acute soft tissue wounds, or blisters. The trial was a prospective, controlled, randomized two-arm study evaluating the efficacy of a bioelectric dressing, Procellera®, applied topically two to three times per week for 2 weeks to blisters developed in Ranger trainees during training at Fort Benning, Georgia. A total of 80 US Army Ranger recruits with blister wounds below the knee were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups (n = 40/group).

An Overview of the Efficacy of a Next Generation Electroceutical Wound Care Device.

Novel approaches including nonpharmacological methodologies for prevention and control of microbial pathogens and emerging antibiotic resistance are urgently needed. Procellera is a wound care device consisting of a matrix of alternating silver (Ag) and zinc (Zn) dots held in position on a polyester substrate with a biocompatible binder. This electroceutical medical device is capable of generating a direct current voltage (0.

Nurse of the year highlights the value of prison nurses.

The work of nurses with prisoners is often overlooked, so it is inspiring to read about nurse of the year Johanne Tomlinson's engagement with inmates at HMP Stafford (features October 10), a category C prison that houses up to 740 male offenders.

The self-care approach requires us to be skilled and confident.

Lynn Young's article on self-care (reflections July 18) was interesting and I agree that this is a subject nurses need to embrace.

Work-related allergies can be controlled and prevented.

Occupational allergies and irritants often fail to be recognised because many people do not want to admit that they have a problem that is being exacerbated by something they are working with. I am sure that nurses are no different to anyone else in this regard.

The future: a primary care-led NHS.

The NHS is becoming increasingly primary care and community focused and the role of the community nurse is becoming more significant, not just in managing long-term conditions and end of life but in providing vital help and education. Helping people become more knowledgeable about maintaining both their own health and that of their families at home or within the community is vital - the desired end being less need for expensive hospital care. As the demand to implement more complex services grows, so the need for nurses to contribute to the planning and delivery of services becomes more important.

Do emergency department attendances by homeless people increase in cold weather?

Background: Little is known about how and when homeless people use the emergency department. It might be anticipated that attendances would increase in cold weather as homeless people seek possible shelter. The authors aimed to describe emergency department attendances by homeless people and determine whether ambient temperatures affect attendance rates.

The impact of the 4 h target on patient care and outcomes in the Emergency Department: an analysis of hospital incidence data.

Background: Recent government initiatives in the NHS have seen patient care becoming increasingly target-driven. However, the impact of targets, particularly those based on a timeframe, have not been extensively studied, and concerns remain about unintended consequences for patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a 4 h target in the Emergency Department (ED) on patient care and outcomes.

Hamigerols A and B, unprecedented polysulfate sterol dimers from the Mediterranean sponge Hamigera hamigera.

Two novel polysulfate sterol dimers, hamigerols A (1) and B (2), have been isolated from the Mediterranean sponge Hamigera hamigera. Their structures and stereochemistry have been assigned from the analysis of spectroscopic data.

Modulation of CSF-1-regulated post-natal development with anti-CSF-1 antibody.

Colony-stimulating factor-1 (CSF-1) regulates the survival, proliferation and differentiation of macrophages. CSF-1-deficient mice are osteopetrotic due to a lack of osteoclasts, while their tissue macrophage deficiencies and an absence of CSF-1 regulation of CSF-1 receptor-expressing cells in the female reproductive tract contribute to their pleiotropic phenotype. To further understand CSF-1 regulation of macrophages in vivo, we developed a neutralizing anti-mouse CSF-1 antibody which was expressed as a recombinant Fab' fragment and coupled to 40 kDa polyethylene glycol.

The role of nurse-led care in allergy management.

Allergic diseases can cause increasingly complex problems and are increasing in prevalence. This article outlines recent policy for management of allergies and highlights the role that nurses can take in allergy management clinics.

Clinical management. Getting up to scratch.

Allergic disease accounts for 6 per cent of GP consultations and 0.6 per cent of hospital admissions. A highly critical report by the Commons health select committee called for the development of a national allergy service, but the government has failed to act.

Managing exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The worldwide incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is increasing and, in parallel, so is the social and economic burden. Mortality data underestimate COPD as a cause of death because the disease is more likely to be cited as a contributory rather than as an underlying cause of death, or may not be cited at all. By 2020, COPD is expected to be the third most common cause of death worldwide yet it receives less funding, publicity and fewer resources than is deemed necessary.

Halitunal, an unusual diterpene aldehyde from the marine alga .

Halituna(1), a novel diterpene aldehyde possessing a unique cyclopentadieno[c]pyran ring system, has been isolated from the marine alga . The structure of 1 was elucidated by spectroscopic techniques. Halitunal shows antiviral activity against murine coronavirus A59 in-vitro.

A nondisposable microplate for use with organic solvents.

A nondisposable, or "hard", multiwell microplate is described for use with small volumes of biological solutions containing organic solvents. The design of this teflon-coated, aluminum device resembles the 96-well layout of the disposable variety of tissue culture microplates. The reusable, hard microplate has been specifically developed to hold and evaporate volatile organic solvents from aliquots of crude sample extractions or partitions intended for testing in various in vitro biological screening assays.