Effect of partial urethral obstruction on force development of the guinea pig bladder

We created gradual partial urethral obstruction in 20 guinea pigs using silver jeweler's jump rings. After 4 or 8 weeks obstruction all animals underwent cystometry and were assigned to one of five urodynamic categories: normal, high pressure voiding, unstable, low compliance, or decompensated. After sacrifice, the contractile responses of bladder strips to electrical field stimulation of intramural nerves, direct electrical muscle stimulation, 0.1 mM carbachol, and high K + solution were sampled by computer for phase plot analysis. Following 8 weeks obstruction, the value of the phase plot parameter Fiso, indicative of the number of contractile muscle units, was reduced to 60% of the control response to nerve stimulation (P < 0.05) and to 77% of the control response to carbachol stimulation (P < 0.05). Parameter C, the slope of the phase plot (indicative of unit recruitment during force development), was unchanged for all forms of stimulation. Although in the latter case not statistically significant, obstruction affected responses to nerve and muscle stimulation similarly suggesting that muscle change may possibly be a common denominator of dysfunction. In view of the reduction in Fiso and the increase in bladder weight, instability may represent a more advanced form of dysfunction due to obstruction than high pressure voiding

Prevalence, evaluation and management of overactive bladder in primary care

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Patients with overactive bladder (OAB) are under-diagnosed in the primary care setting. Primary care physicians (PCP) approach to the patient and appropriate patient disclosure may contribute to under-diagnosis.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>An outpatient primary care setting was used to determine the prevalence and characteristics of OAB. Patients who visited the family medicine outpatient clinic were invited to answer a self-administered questionnaire. It included questions on evidence of lower urinary tract symptoms (modified Overactive Bladder-Validated 8-question Screener [OAB-V8]), relevant medical and surgical history, and demographic data. Relationship between OAB and other independent variables were analyzed using chi-square and risk ratio (RR) analysis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Of 325 questionnaires distributed, 311 were returned completed. Patients ranged from 18 to 97 years, the majority women (74.0%) and African American (74.3%). OAB was present in 60.5% of men and 48.3% of women (<it>p </it>= 0.058). OAB was significantly associated with obesity (BMI > = 30) in women (<it>p </it>= 0.018, RR = 1.72), specifically obese premenopausal women (age < 55 years) (<it>p </it>= 0.011, RR = 1.98).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>OAB prevalence is more than double and higher in men than previously reported. The relative risk for OAB is significantly greater in obese premenopausal women.</p

Identity Processes of the Selected Group of the post-World War II Polish Generation in the United States (Persons born between 1945-1959)

This is a study of the first generation of Polish-Americans born between 1945 and 1959 who have at least one parent born in Poland. The study focuses on the values of this selected group of 160 persons who responded to a mailed questionnaire. The research centers around four leading questions: What are the demographic characteristics of the group under study?2. What values did they inherit from their parents?3. What values did they adopt in America?4. What is their national identity? The most striking finding is the educational level of the respondents. Nearly 80% of them have higher education. The second highest frequency among the values inherited is the value of work. It carries an adjective: hard. This value of work also occupies the second place among the values adopted in America. It is mentioned together with the noun: ethic. It is not difficult to notice the difference between one-directional HARD WORK and two-directional WORK ETHIC which implies expectation of work well performed but also appreciated and well paid. Family, religion and tradition are high on the frequency list of the values inherited. High up on the frequency list of the values acquired in America there is value of achievement. Also frequently mentioned is the value of responsability, and competetiveness. Expressed as "wishes" there are values of work satisfaction, recogition, financial freedom and free time. Spiritual values are highly rated. The attitude of the respondents toward the future tends to by optimistic. Family, religion and tradition are high on the frequency list. This trio is joined by the values of Polish language, literature, and history; by the value of respect for older persons and that of hospitality. In America the respondents learned the values of open mindedness, self-sufficiency, self-respect and the value of achievement. The figures obtained from the study of the sample may indicate a changing trend in the value of identity. The new immigrant seems to be attracted to the Polish-American identity. The researcher observed (over the past 18 years) the steady growth of the Polish-American identity among the waves of immigrants she did study from 1970. In the present study 44% of the respondents identified themselves as Polish-Americans

Wykorzenienie i obawa

Artykuł niniejszy zajmuje się wykorzenieniem jako możliwym źródłem obaw u pierwszego pokolenia imigrantów. Aczkolwiek analiza ograniczona jest do grupy, którą najlepiej znam, do polskich emigrantów przybyłych do USA po II wojnie światowej. Mam jednak nadzieję, że analiza ta uczuli pracowników służby społecznej, zajmujących się zdrowiem psychicznym, na postawy, obawy, priorytety i wartości, które są nie tylko kulturowymi cechami charakterystycznymi dla danej grupy narodowej, z której jakaś osoba pochodzi, lecz także wyłaniają się jako funkcja konfrontacji z nową kulturą i dążeniem do przystosowania się do tej nowej kultury. Takie cechy kulturowe — zmodyfikowane, osłabione lub zaostrzone przez szok przesiedlenia w inne środowisko, oderwania od kraju pochodzenia i wpływ nowego środowiska — stały się specyficzne dla tej grupy imigrantów. Skupię uwagę nie na dających się zauważyć cechach charakterystycznych etniczności, lecz na trudnych do uchwycenia czynnikach w procesie przystosowania, które mogą rozwinąć się w problemy emocjonalne, i jeśli będą nierozwiązane, mogą zagrażać zdrowiu psychicznemu osoby

Ethnic Identity in the Emigrant's Psyche

Having psychological, psychiatrical, biological, anthropological, sociological and philosophical data, the author attemps to develop the structure of an individual identity, and to come up with a definition which would answer the question: who am I? Different descriptions of identity found in American authors have been presented in this article. The author takes advantage of them in order to give her own complete holistic definition of identity. She delineates four elements present in the identity of every individual: 1) genetically inherited characteristies;2) characteristies acquired through family socialization;3) characteristies acquired through re-socialization;4) self-evaluation reganding one's own status, role, potential, priorities of values, obligations, abilities, group solidarity, nationality, religion and ethnic belonging. The author regards the ethnic identity as an integral element of the individual's identity which is especially active in his or her psyche on account of emigration. The article introduces and explains among others the notion of psychical immunology. It allows to analyse the process of emigrant's acceptance or rejection of the culture of the new environment. This notion provides for a better understanding of the processes which take place in emigrant's psyche and lead to changes of his or her identity and to the development of a "third value". In her conclusion the author states that she regards ethnic identity as a special "colouring" of the emigrant's identity. She considers it also as an element which deeply infiltrates the whole psychical structure of an emigrant and the creative processes which take place in it

Wielowymiarowy model pracy z rodziną

Niniejszy artykuł opisuje i analizuje wyspecjalizowany model pracy z rodziną, który jako ram teoretycznych używa pojęć z zakresu teorii systemów ogólnych, a jako instrumentu — interwencji w „jednostkę społeczną nakierowaną ku zadaniu”. Interwencja dotyczy przede wszystkim rodziny jako grupy, ale ponadto każdy członek tej grupy ma swojego terapeutę, który prowadzi terapię indywidualną

W poszukiwaniu etnicznej tożsamości

Celem tego artykułu jest umożliwienie działaczom społecznym dokładniejszego spojrzenia na problem zabezpieczenia tożsamości, co Freud nazwał „bezpiecznym odosobnieniem wspólnej umysłowej konstrukcji” grupy ludzi oderwanych od swego podłoża. Mamy nadzieję, że studium to pomoże lepiej zrozumieć tych podopiecznych, którzy nie urodzili się w USA lub którzy są dziećmi imigrantów. Będziemy rozważać zmiany w procesie tożsamości etnicznej w grupie imigrantów z Polski, przybyłych do USA po drugiej wojnie światowej. Podamy przykłady wewnętrznych zmian, wywołanych kryzysem z powodu zmiany miejsca. Będziemy też dociekać, jakie ślady pozostawia proces społecznego przystosowania się w świadomości osoby zmieniającej swe środowisko

Social Work Intervention with Families in Crises of Change

Tłum. z ang. Ł. Czum

Family mental health in a pluralistic society and the values of the ethnic families

The purpose of this paper is to rediscover some of the available yet overlooked or fergotten resources which may contribute to the study of family mental healt. The author, professor of family mental health, sees these resources in the values of the ethnic families which challenged and threatened by the social change of our time, still persist safeguarded by the family. Dr. Mos- twin looks beyond the presumed American homogeneity into the deeper and more complicated areas of person’s cultural uniqueness. One of these areas is a „Third value”, a form of cultural identity which integrates the persisting, selective cultural patterns with new behavioral strategies developed in the process of inner change and of sociocultural adjustment. Concentrating on the families of Eastern and Central European background, the author subsumes their leading values under two rubrics: The Golden Rule and The National Myth. The values of the Myth are not as clear in their purpose as the values of The Golden Rule. They are nationalistic in their character and more emotionally loaded than the former. The author who believes that „we are embarking on a Century of the Family”, concludes by four suggestions how the available knowledge about the family’s ethnic values can be used in the field of family mental health. She states: „The family, as an emotional unit responsible for the mental health of an individual, cannot be disregarded in any form of treatment of this individual, nor can it be bypassed in any form of planning for society’s improvement or reorganizations”