Wake-up call: a bioterrorism exercise.

Operation Wake-Up Call was a simulated bioterrorism exercise conducted in Waukesha County, Wisconsin (Metropolitan Milwaukee) on November 6, 1999. The purpose of the exercise was to test and evaluate the emergency response capability of local municipal, county, state, federal, and reserve military agencies to a weapons of mass destruction terrorist act. The exercise simulated a biological agent (Bacillus anthracis spores) release, a hostage-taking event, and the management of multiple biological and conventional weapons casualties that overwhelmed local first responders' capability.

The outcome status of chronic pain patients 4 years after multidisciplinary care.

Thirty-three patients previously treated for a variety of chronic pain syndromes (largely non-surgical back problems) were selected for study on the basis of 2 years or greater post-discharge status. A patient profile was developed revealing an 86% successful return-to-work rate and minimal use of narcotics 4 years after discharge. In addition, there was relatively low use of either inpatient or outpatient medical services after treatment.

Improved obstetric outcomes using hypnotic analgesia and skill mastery combined with childbirth education.

The benefits of hypnotic analgesia as an adjunct to childbirth education were studied in 60 nulliparous women. Subjects were divided into high and low hypnotic susceptibility groups before receiving 6 sessions of childbirth education and skill mastery using an ischemic pain task. Half of the Ss in each group received a hypnotic induction at the beginning of each session; the remaining control Ss received relaxation and breathing exercises typically used in childbirth education.