The experiences of non-psychiatric trained nurses caring for mental health care users on 72 hour observations in a listed Hospital in the O R Tambo District

Nurses are an integral part of the health care system and their job encompasses a wide range of responsibilities including the promotion of health, prevention of illness and care for physically, mentally ill and disabled people. Nurses have a mandate to be responsible and accountable to the public they serve. For these reasons, it is crucial that nurses possess attitudes that allow them to provide optimal care in a supportive manner for patients. Despite the fact that considerable research on the experiences of nurses caring for the mentally ill in general hospitals has been done globally, none has been conducted in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Additionally, no studies could be obtained from anywhere in the world on the experiences of non-psychiatric trained nurses caring for mental health care users on 72 hour observations. Studies indicated that nurses have different experiences when caring for mental health care users. It was therefore considered necessary to find out how non-psychiatric trained nurses perceive the caring of mental health care users during the 72 hour observations. The research design used to explore and describe their experiences was qualitative, descriptive, explorative, phenomenological and contextual in character. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight (8) participants who were purposively selected. This was done after necessary permission from the Department of Health and informed consent from the research participants. Steps were taken throughout the course of the study to ensure trustworthiness. Data were analysed using Tesch’s methods and the services of an independent coder were used. The results indicate that there are different experiences with regard to the caring for mental health care users during the 72 hour observations. The major themes identified are: feelings experienced by these nurses, lack of knowledge, challenges and strategies used for coping with a violent user, need for support from security staff and lack of policies. v Guidelines as a supportive action are suggested. From the results of the study recommendations are made in the areas of nursing education, nursing practice and nursing research. It is concluded that for non-psychiatric trained nurses to provide optimal care to mental health care users, the nurses need knowledge and skills in order to facilitate the promotion, maintenance and restoration of mental health of these patients as an integral part of health

The Influence of Direct-to-Consumer Advertising: Who Will Talk to Their Doctor as A Result of Prescription Drug Advertisement?

OBJECTIVES: To identify the types of patients who talk with their physicians as a result of Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) advertising. METHODS: Data were taken from a national survey, Public Health Impact of Direct-to-Consumer Advertising of Prescription Drugs, July 2001- January 2002 , conducted by researchers from Harvard Medical School. Participants (n = 3000) were interviewed by telephone. We constructed a conceptual framework consisting of outcomes (3 types of physician visits), intervention (DTC experience) and five groups of explanatory factors (health beliefs, demographics, health status, socioeconomic status and market factors). Data were analyzed with three multivariate stepwise logistic regressions. The three dependent variables were whether an advertisement for a prescription drug had ever prompted the patient to: 1) visit to discuss prescription drug, 2) visit to discuss new condition, and 3) visit to discuss treatment change. RESULTS: Out of all independent variables, only six variables consistently showed significant effects on the three dependent variables after adjusting for other variables. They were: 1) taking medication on regular basis, 2) having anxiety, 3) having high advertisement attentiveness, 4) viewing media as the most important source prompting one to talk with physician, 5) believing that DTC advertisements increased awareness of new treatment, and 6) believing that DTC advertisements improved discussion with health professionals. The six variables were the strongest predictors for DTC-prompted physician visits.CONCLUSIONS: Our nationally representative study found multiple factors were associated with different types of physician visits prompted by DTC advertisements. This information could be used to target those patients most likely to talk to their physicians as a result of DTC advertisements

Effects of aqueous extract of Allium cepa (red onion) on ovalbumininduced allergic asthma in wistar rats

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of airways that involves inflammatory cells and mediators to elicit inflammatory response. Allium cepa is a common plant used as condiment and has anti–inflammatory, antifungal and antibacterial properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of aqueous extract of Allium cepa (EAC) on leucocytes infiltration and lung histology in Ovalbumin-induced allergic asthma in Wistar rats. Allergic asthma was induced in rats by systemic sensitization with ovalbumin (OVA) via intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections followed by intranasal (i.n.) challenge. Extract of Allium cepa at doses of 150mg/kg and 300mg/kg b.w. ; and dexamethasone (1mg/kg) were given to the treated groups. The asthmatic group showed a significant (p<0.05) increase in number of eosinophil and lymphocyte in the Blood and bronchoalveolar fluid (BALF), which was  significantly (p<0.05) decreased in Allium cepa treated groups. Histological assessment of the lung tissue showed various degrees of inflammation in all OVA-induced animals, but a decreased inflammation was observed in those treated with Allium cepa and dexamethasone. It is therefore, concluded that aqueous extract of Allium cepa reduced cellular infiltration and lung inflammation of allergic asthmatic Wistar rats.Key words: Asthma, Ovalbumin, Allium cepa, Leucocytes, Ra

Lauric acid alleviates inflammation and structural changes in the lungs of type II diabetic male Wistar rats

Lauric acid is a medium-chain fatty acid that has been reported to possess anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antibacterial properties. Diabetic complication in the lungs is characterized by infiltration of inflammatory mediators and structural alteration of the lung parenchyma. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of lauric acid on leucocytes infiltration in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), concentration of tumor necrosis factor-α and lung histology of type II diabetic male Wistar rats. A total of thirty-five male Wistar rats were randomly divided into seven groups of five rats each as follows: Group I served as normal control; group II were normoglycemic rats, administered 125 mg/Kg bwt lauric acid. Group III served as diabetic control. Groups IV, V, VI and VII were diabetic Wistar rats treated with 125 mg/Kg bwt, 250 mg/Kg bwt, 500 mg/Kg bwt lauric acid and 100 mg/Kg bwt metformin respectively. The results obtained, showed a significant (P ≤ 0.05) increase in total white blood cell count and differential count of lymphocytes, neutrophils and macrophages in blood and BALF of the diabetic control compared to the normal control. However, there was a significant decrease in total and  differential white blood cell count in blood and BALF of the diabetic groups treated with lauric acid compared to the diabetic control (P ≤ 0.05). The concentration of TNF-α was significantly higher in the lungs of diabetic rats compared to the normal control, but the concentration was significantly reduced after treatment with lauric acid (P ≤ 0.05). Lauric acid also reversed the reduced alveolar spaces in diabetic lungs. These results indicate that lauric acid reduced inflammation and reversed the histoarchitectural alterations in the lungs of type II diabetic male Wistar rats.Keywords: Lauric acid, Type II diabetes, Hyperglycemia, Lungs, Pneumopathy,Leucocytes infiltration, Inflammation, Wistar rat

Situación agrometeorológica en 25 de Mayo

La producción agropecuaria es la actividad económica más importante del Partido de 25 de Mayo. El éxito de ésta depende, entre otros factores, de las condiciones del tiempo, que afectan positiva o negativamente su evolución. Para la campaña 2021-22, los indicadores del océano Pacífico y la atmósfera mostraron condiciones Niña, entre débil a moderada. Al momento, el período de escases de precipitaciones más significativo se produjo entre la segunda quincena de diciembre y la primera de enero.EEA PergaminoFil: Zanettini, Jorge Luis. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Pergamino. Agencia de Extensión Rural 25 de Mayo; ArgentinaFil: Dubo, Gabriela. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Pergamino. Agencia de Extensión Rural 25 de Mayo; Argentin

Modulatory role of lauric acid supplement on lipid peroxidation and some antioxidant enzymes activity in high fat diet, streptozotocin-induced type 2 diabetic male wistar rats

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a major health challenge in the world and is diagnosed by the presence of sustained hyperglycemia (high glucose levels in the blood). Oxidative stress is known to be actively involved in the onset and progression of diabetes and its complications. Antioxidants have important roles in biological systems by scavenging free radicals which may result in oxidative damage of biological molecules such as lipids, proteins and DNA.Aim: This study was designed to evaluate the effect of lauric acid on lipid peroxidation (serum malondialdehyde concentration) and some antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase and Catalase) activities in high fat diet/streptozotocin-induced type 2 diabetic male wistar rats.Study Design: Thirty-five apparently healthy male wistar rats aged 6-8 weeks, weighing between 70-90 g were assigned into seven groups of five animals each (n=5) and administered graded doses of lauric acid supplement after validation of diabetes for a period of twenty-one (21) days.Methodology: Group 1: (Normal control), Group 2: (Diabetic control untreated), Groups 3: (Normoglycemic) received 125 mg/kg Lauric acid, Group 4, 5 and 6 were administered 125, 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight of lauric acid, Group 7: (Standard control) received metformin 100 mg/kg. At the end of twenty-one (21) days, rats were anaesthetized using ketamine and xylazine at 75 and 25 (mg/kg). Blood samples were taken from all treated groups for evaluation of serum MDA, SOD and CAT level.Results: Serum malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were significantly (P < 0.05) reduced (1.32±0.04, 1.40±0.04 and 1.42 ± 0.06 nmol/l) respectively when compared with the diabetic control (untreated) group with a value of (2.25±0.10 nmol/l), while there was up-regulated activities of serum endogenous antioxidant enzymes: SOD (1.97±0.08, 2.02±0.16, 1.98±0.12 IU/L), CAT (44.5±0.64, 43.2±0.85, 43.7±0.85 IU/L) relative to diabetic control (untreated) (1.35±0.02 and 34.0±0.91 IU/L) respectively.Conclusion: In conclusion, lauric acid decreases lipid peroxidation while increasing serum antioxidant activity in high fat diet/streptozotocin-induced type 2 diabetic male wistar rats after 21 days oral administration.Keywords: Lipid peroxidation; antioxidant enzymes; lauric acid; metformin; type 2 diabete

Prácticas profesionalizantes virtuales. El rol de los tutores

Todos los años, estudiantes de diferentes instituciones, realizan sus prácticas profesionalizantes en agencias de extensión, estaciones experimentales e institutos de INTA, acompañados por los técnicos de la institución. Durante el año 2020 y ante la imposibilidad de realizar prácticas profesionalizantes de manera presencial por el COVID 19, el equipo de PROCADIS, los Centros Regionales, Centros de investigación y responsables de la Educación Técnico Profesional de los Ministerios de Educación, desarrollaron una propuesta para que se puedan realizar en forma virtual. Ese año se implementaron en algunas provincias y en el 2021 se extendió a todo el país.Estación Experimental Agropecuaria General VillegasFil: Coliqueo, Mariana A. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria General Villegas. Agencia de Extensión Rural Pehuajó; ArgentinaFil: Solignac, Julián. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria General Villegas. Agencia de Extensión Rural Pehuajó; ArgentinaFil: Passone, Paz de las Mercedes. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria General Villegas. Agencia de Extensión Rural Pehuajó; ArgentinaFil: Dubo, Gabriela. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Pergamino. Agencia de Extensión Rural 25 de Mayo; Argentin

An empirical investigation of the psychosomatogenic family model

This study evaluated the psychosomatogenic family model as an etiological theory of psychosomatic symptomatology among chronically ill asthmatic children. The model postulates that four family transactional characteristics--enmeshment, overprotectiveness, lack of conflict resolution, and rigidity--nurture psychosomatic symptoms among chronically ill children. These four characteristics were measured in the families of 42 asthmatic children, and the severity of each child's asthmatic condition was assessed through parents' ratings, medical records, and physicians' clinical judgements. Factor analysis was used to create composite variables of severity, and multiple regression analysis was used to assess the relationships between the four family characteristics and six dimensions of severity of the asthmatic condition. No evidence was found to support the psychosomatogenic family model, and an inverse relationship was discovered between the four family characteristics and parents' views of severity. Implications of these findings are discussed along with the importance of multidimensional ratings of severity in future research on the psychosomatic aspects of childhood asthma.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/23716/1/0000688.pd

Early rise in central venous pressure during a spontaneous breathing trial: A promising test to identify patients at high risk of weaning failure?

Background The spontaneous breathing trial (SBT) assesses the risk of weaning failure by evaluating some physiological responses to the massive venous return increase imposed by discontinuing positive pressure ventilation. This trial can be very demanding for some critically ill patients, inducing excessive physical and cardiovascular stress, including muscle fatigue, heart ischemia and eventually cardiac dysfunction. Extubation failure with emergency reintubation is a serious adverse consequence of a failed weaning process. Some data suggest that as many as 50% of patients that fail weaning do so because of cardiac dysfunction. Unfortunately, monitoring cardiovascular function at the time of the SBT is complex. The aim of our study was to explore if central venous pressure (CVP) changes were related to weaning failure after starting an SBT. We hypothesized that an early rise on CVP could signal a cardiac failure when handling a massive increase on venous return following a discontinuation of positive pressure ventilation. This CVP rise could identify a subset of patients at high risk for extubation failure. Methods Two-hundred and four mechanically ventilated patients in whom an SBT wa