Immunohistochemical localization and vascular effects of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide in skeletal muscle of the cat

Scattered vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)-immunoreactive nerves were found in the striated muscle of the hind limb of the cat, where they usually were associated with small blood vessels. VIP-immunoreactive nerves were also demonstrated in the sciatic nerve; after ligation an abundance of intensely immunoreactive VIP fibres were seen proximal to the ligation. Intraarterial infusion of VIP into isolated hind limb of the cat had dramatic effects on different sections of the vascular bed. Thus, VIP dilated the resistance vessels leading to a marked increment in muscle blood flow. VIP also relaxed the capacitance vessels causing regional pooling of blood; it increased the capillary surface area available for fluid exchange. Infusions of VIP at a dose of 8 microgram/min significantly inhibited the vasoconstriction, induced by electrical stimulation of the regional sympathetic nerves. It is suggested that local nervous release of VIP may act as a modulator of vascular tone in skeletal muscle

Role of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) in the neurogenic vasodilatation of the portal vein in the rabbit

A coarse network of nerve fibres displaying immunoreactivity for vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) was found in the wall of the hepatic portal vein of the rabbit. Electrical field stimulation of the rabbit portal vein in vitro, in the presence of adrenergic and cholinergic blockade, caused a marked relaxation of the vessel and a release of VIP into the perfusate. Addition of VIP to the tissue bath elicited a concentration-dependent inhibition of the mechanical activity of the portal vein. The results suggest that VIP containing neurones might participate in the non-cholinergic, non-adrenergic vasodilatation of the portal vein in the rabbit

Health-related quality of life in family members of patients with an advanced cancer diagnosis : A one-year prospective study

Background: Receiving a cancer diagnosis affects family members as well as the person diagnosed. Familymembers often provide support for the sick person in daily life out of duty and love, and may not always think of their own vulnerability to illness. To individualise support for them, family members who are most at risk for becoming ill must be identified. The aim of this study was to investigate health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in family members of patients with advanced lung or gastrointestinal cancer 3 to 15 months after diagnosis. Methods: Data on mental and physical dimensions of HRQOL were collected from family members of these patients in this prospective quantitative study. Five assessments using the Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) and EuroQol (EQ-5D) were conducted during a 1-year period starting 3 months after diagnosis. Thirty-six family members completed the study, i.e. participated in all five data collections. Results: No statistically significant changes in physical or mental HRQOL within the study group appeared over the 1-year follow-up. Compared with norm-based scores, family members had significantly poorer mental HRQOL scores throughout the year as measured by the SF-36. Family members also scored statistically significantly worse on the EQ-5D VAS in all five assessments compared to the norm-based score. Findings showed that older family members and partners were at higher risk for decreased physical HRQOL throughout the 1-year period, and younger family members were at higher risk for poorer mental HRQOL. Conclusions: It is well known that ill health is associated with poor HRQOL. By identifying family members with poor HRQOL, those at risk of ill health can be identified and supported. Future large-scale research that verifies our findings is needed before making recommendations for individualised support and creating interventions best tailored to family members at risk for illness

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continue or discontinue aspirin in the perioperative period: a randomized, controlled clinical tria

To continue or discontinue aspirin in the perioperative period: a randomized, controlled clinical trial

Background: Major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) are a common cause of deathafter non-cardiac surgery. Despite evidence for the benefitof aspirin for secondary prevention, it is often discontinuedin the perioperative period due to the risk of bleeding. Methods: We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlledtrial in order to compare the effect of low-dose aspirin withthat of placebo on myocardial damage, cardiovascular, and bleedingcomplications in high-risk patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery.Aspirin (75 mg) or placebo was given 7 days before surgery andcontinued until the third postoperative day. Patients were followedup for 30 days after surgery. Results: A total of 220 patients were enrolled, 109 patients receivedaspirin and 111 received placebo. Four patients (3.7%) in theaspirin group and 10 patients (9.0%) in the placebo group hadelevated troponin T levels in the postoperative period (P=0.10).Twelve patients (5.4%) had an MACE during the first 30 postoperativedays. Two of these patients (1.8%) were in the aspirin groupand 10 patients (9.0%) were in the placebo group (P=0.02). Treatmentwith aspirin resulted in a 7.2% absolute risk reduction [95%confidence interval (CI), 1.3–13%] for postoperative MACE.The relative risk reduction was 80% (95% CI, 9.2–95%).Numbers needed to treat were 14 (95% CI, 7.6–78). No significantdifferences in bleeding complications were seen between thetwo groups. Conclusions: In high-risk patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery, perioperativeaspirin reduced the risk of MACE without increasing bleedingcomplications. However, the study was not powered to evaluatebleeding complications.  This is a pre-copy-editing, author-produced PDF of an article accepted for publication in British Journal of Anaesthesia following peer review. The definitive publisher-authenticated version:Anna Oscarsson Tibblin, Anil Gupta, Mats Fredrikson, Johannes Järhult, Matti Nyström, Eva Pettersson, Bijan Darvish, Helena Krook, Eva Swahn and Christina Eintrei, To continue or discontinue aspirin in the perioperative period: a randomized, controlled clinical trial, 2010, British Journal of Anaesthesia, (104), 3, 305-312.is available online at: http://dx.doi.org/doi:10.1093/bja/aeq003Copyright: Oxford University Presshttp://www.oxfordjournals.org

Application of Ergonomic Principles and Communication Skills in the Process of Relocating Patients

Maģistra darba tēma ir ”Ergonomikas principu un komunikācijas prasmju pielietošana pacientu pārvietošanas procesā”. Tēmas aktualitāti nosaka tas, ka māsas ir pakļautas dažādiem fiziska rakstura apdraudējumiem. Lai veiktu pacienta kvalitatīvu un sekmīgu ārstēšanas procesa gaitu, māsai, balstoties uz savām zināšanām, nepieciešams ievērot ergonomikas principus. Ievērojot ergonomikas principus, ir iespējams mazināt traumu un arodslimību skaitu māsām, līdz ar to arī pacients tiks mazāk pakļauts kaitīgās vides riskiem. Maģistra darba pētījuma mērķis ir novērtēt māsu zināšanas par ergonomikas principiem un komunikācijas prasmju pielietošanu guļošu pacientu pārvietošanas procesā. Pētniecības uzdevums ir izstrādāt anketu un novērojuma protokolu, apkopot un analizēt iegūtos rezultātus, veikt secinājumus un izstrādāt ieteikumus. Maģistra darbs sastāv no ievada, literatūras apskata un analīzes, rezultātu apkopojuma, secinājumiem un ieteikumiem. Pētniecības instruments: aptaujas anketa un novērojuma protokols. Pētniecības metode: kvantitatīva un kvalitatīva. Atslēgvārdi: ergonomika, komunikācija, darba vide, māsu zināšanas, pacientu pārvietošanaThe theme of Master’s Thesis is ”Application of Ergonomic Principles and Communication Skills in the Process of Relocating Patients”. Nurses are subjected to various physical hazards and that determines topicality of the theme. In order to provide patients with a qualitative and successful process of care, the nurse, basing on her knowledge, needs to follow the principles of ergonomics. If principles of ergonomics will be taken into account, it is possible to reduce the number of traumas and occupational diseases for nurses, thus, the patient will be less exposed to risks due to harmful environment. The aim of the Master’s Thesis is to evaluate knowledge of the nurses about the principles of ergonomics and the application of communication skills in the process of relocating patients. The research task is to develop a questionnaire and observation protocol, collect and analyze the results, draw conclusions and make recommendations. Master’s Thesis consists of introduction, literature review and analysis, summary of results, conclusions and recommendations. Research instrument: questionnaire and observation protocol. Research method: quantitative and qualitative. Keywords: ergonomics, communication, working environment, knowledge of nurses, patient relocation