The Role of Emergency Room Social Worker: An Exploratory Study

Research suggests the defined role of emergency room social worker is unclear among other professionals working in the emergency room (Cowles & Lefcowitz, 1992). Changes to the healthcare system including a decrease in resources, combined roles of emergency department personnel, and delivery of mental health treatment in emergency rooms has necessitated further investigation of the role of emergency room social worker. Using a qualitative design, seven participants from two Midwestern hospitals were surveyed in regards to how they defined their role as a social worker, barriers to their role, and demographic information was collected including licensure and years worked as an emergency room social worker. Findings of this study suggest the emergency room social worker is a valuable member of the interdisciplinary team in the emergency room, fulfilling multiple roles for the well being of patients. Study results indicated emergency room social workers may be underutilized as educators of mental health topics both within the hospital and in the community setting. Additionally, the role of emergency room social worker as a cultural broker may also be underutilized within the emergency room setting. This study also indicated significant barriers to the role of emergency room social worker, including lack of community resources. These findings demonstrate the need for future research in various areas relating to the emergency room social worker such as researching the emergency room social worker as an educator and as a cultural liaison

The Role of Emergency Room Social Worker: An Exploratory Study

Research suggests the defined role of emergency room social worker is unclear among other professionals working in the emergency room (Cowles & Lefcowitz, 1992). Changes to the healthcare system including a decrease in resources, combined roles of emergency department personnel, and delivery of mental health treatment in emergency rooms has necessitated further investigation of the role of emergency room social worker. Using a qualitative design, seven participants from two Midwestern hospitals were surveyed in regards to how they defined their role as a social worker, barriers to their role, and demographic information was collected including licensure and years worked as an emergency room social worker. Findings of this study suggest the emergency room social worker is a valuable member of the interdisciplinary team in the emergency room, fulfilling multiple roles for the well being of patients. Study results indicated emergency room social workers may be underutilized as educators of mental health topics both within the hospital and in the community setting. Additionally, the role of emergency room social worker as a cultural broker may also be underutilized within the emergency room setting. This study also indicated significant barriers to the role of emergency room social worker, including lack of community resources. These findings demonstrate the need for future research in various areas relating to the emergency room social worker such as researching the emergency room social worker as an educator and as a cultural liaison

Matrix metalloproteinases-2,-3,-7,-9 and-10, but not MMP-11, are differentially expressed in normal, benign tumorigenic and malignant human keratinocyte cell lines

In order to investigate the correlations between constitutive proteinase expression and the degree of tumorigenicity of cancer cells we have studied a model system of three keratinocyte cell lines. RT-PCR studies showed that the cell lines express the genes of matrix metalloproteinase-2, -3, -7, -9, -10 and -11, indicating that they are able to synthesize the corresponding enzymes. Actual MMP synthesis was proven by zymography and Western blotting. In conditioned media gelatinolytic activities or immunoreactive forms of MMP-2, -3, -7, -9, -10 and -11 were detected. The signal intensities showed that MMP secretion increases in the order HaCaT < A5 less than or equal to II-4RT, whereas only MMP-11 is secreted by all cell lines in equal amounts, Intracellularly, enhanced levels of one or both of the tumorigenic variants were only found for MMP-3 -9 and -10, suggesting special functions of these intracellular MMP pools for the tumorigenic cell lines. For MMP-11 exclusive expression in stromal fibroblasts of tumor tissues is widely accepted; however, our results and three other recent reports demonstrate that this concept is not generally valid. In conclusion, the three keratinocyte cell lines investigated here represent an excellent model for studying constitutive expression and secretion of MMPs in correlation to the degree of in vivo tumorigenicity

The impact of Fairtrade on the quality of life of workers on wine estates in the Western Cape Province, South Africa

Magister Economicae - MEconFairtrade is an international organisation aimed at creating empowerment, sustainable livelihoods and fair trading opportunities for small-scale producers and hired labourers in the Global South. The organisation Fairtrade International and its independent certification body FLO-CERT form part of the larger Fair Trade movement. As South Africa's wine industry is still characterized by oppression of its farm workers, the organisation urges for a profound transformation of the industry. Fairtrade's engagement in South Africa is unique as it emerged from an initiative of local producers seeking the certification in 2003. Since then, the number of Fairtrade grape and wine farms has steadily increased and expanded to other wine-producing countries. Thus, after more than ten years of Fairtrade operation in this industry, it is worthwhile evaluating the impact of this international initiative on local farm workers on wine estates. This study uses the capability approach as a theoretical platform from which to assess farm workers' quality of life. The investigation draws a comparison between conditions for workers on Fairtrade-certified farms and conditions for workers on non-certified wine estates. Quantitative research methods were used to gather relevant information. The findings prove the hypothesis of a positive impact of the Fairtrade intervention, but only in certain categories. Labourers on Fairtrade-certified farms were found to be better off concerning financial provision for retirement, contractual status and opportunities to participate in professional training and to join unions. The data furthermore supports the hypothesis that Fairtrade workers are more satisfied with their jobs on wine farms. For further research, longitudinal studies and participatory research approaches are recommended to obtain in depth-information about farm workers' views on Fairtrade

Plasminogen Activator in Differentiating Mouse Keratinocytes

The activity of the serine protease plasminogen activator (PA) was measured in cell lysates from primary mouse keratinocyte cultures as well as from a number of established mouse keratinocyte lines. Enzyme activity was generally higher in the transformed lines than in the primary cultures; however, among the lines tested, those that expressed the highest degree of morphologic differentiation had the highest levels of cell-associated PA. In both the normal (primary) and transformed (established) keratinocyte cultures, PA activity increased when cultures reached confluence and morphologic evidence of differentiation was noted. The highest specific activity of the enzyme was found in cells shed from differentiating cultures, which consisted predominantly of detergent-resistant cornified envelopes. As the cultures differentiated and these cells were shed from the culture surface, the total cell-associated PA activity of the culture decreased accordingly. In both the normal and transformed keratinocyte cultures, peak PA activity occurred at a time when DNA synthesis was declining. These findings indicate that as keratinocytes differentiate, their intracellular levels of PA increase. The modulation of this endogenous keratinocyte enzyme may play an important, although as yet undefined, role in the normal maturation and terminal differentiation of these cells

The specialized tomograph rotary table design in the T-Flex CAD system

Статья "Проектирование поворотного стола специализированного томографа в T-Fleх CAD" посвящена актуальной проблеме обеспечения правильного расположения объектов контроля в томографических комплексах. Представлен вариант конструкции поворотного стола, спроектированный в среде T-Fleх CAD.The article "Designing of the Rotary Table of the Specialized Tomograph in the T-Flex CAD system" is devoted to the urgent problem of the object correct arrangement control in a tomographic complex. The rotary table embodiment is designed with the T-Flex CAD system

Organotypic cocultures as skin equivalents: A complex and sophisticated in vitro system

To assess the role of genes required for skin organogenesis, tissue regeneration and homeostasis, we have established in vitro skin equivalents composed of primary cells or cell lines, respectively. In these organotypic cocultures keratinocytes generate a normal epidermis irrespective of the species and tissue origin of fibroblasts. The combination of cells derived from mouse and human tissues facilitates the identification of the origin of compounds involved in epidermal tissue reconstitution and thus the precise analysis of growth regulatory mechanisms

Regeneration of Organized Epithelial Structure

The role of connective tissue in facilitating and directing the growth of epithelia during adult life is uncertain. The basic processes associated with maintenance of epithelial structure and previous work concerning the role of mesenchyme in this process in the embryo and adult are reviewed. A series of experiments examining the role of connective tissue in facilitating epithelial growth and development in vitro and after transplantation in vivo is described, These confirm the requirement for dermal elements if normal structure is to be reestablished and point to the requirement of dermal, as opposed to deep, connective tissues for facilitation of the growth of adult epithelia in vivo, The in vitro experiments suggest the presence of diffusible dermally produced factors that facilitate epithelial growth

The Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor PAI-1 Controls in Vivo Tumor Vascularization by Interaction with Proteases, Not Vitronectin: Implications for Antiangiogenic Strategies

The plasminogen (Plg)/plasminogen activator (PA) system plays a key role in cancer progression, presumably via mediating extracellular matrix degradation and tumor cell migration. Consequently, urokinase-type PA (uPA)/plasmin antagonists are currently being developed for suppression of tumor growth and angiogenesis. Paradoxically, however, high levels of PA inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) are predictive of a poor prognosis for survival of patients with cancer. We demonstrated previously that PAI-1 promoted tumor angiogenesis, but by an unresolved mechanism. We anticipated that PAI-1 facilitated endothelial cell migration via its known interaction with vitronectin (VN) and integrins. However, using adenoviral gene transfer of PAI-1 mutants, we observed that PAI-1 promoted tumor angiogenesis, not by interacting with VN, but rather by inhibiting proteolytic activity, suggesting that excessive plasmin proteolysis prevents assembly of tumor vessels. Single deficiency of uPA, tissue-type PA (tPA), uPA receptor, or VN, as well as combined deficiencies of uPA and tPA did not impair tumor angiogenesis, whereas lack of Plg reduced it. Overall, these data indicate that plasmin proteolysis, even though essential, must be tightly controlled during tumor angiogenesis, probably to allow vessel stabilization and maturation. These data provide insights into the clinical paradox whereby PAI-1 promotes tumor progression and warrant against the uncontrolled use of uPA/plasmin antagonists as tumor angiogenesis inhibitors