Disadvantaged women and smoking

High rates of smoking are found among disadvantaged women, and there is a demand for cessation interventions specifically targeted to meet their needs. This project used a number of information sources to examine the factors associated with these women's smoking behaviours and the potential barriers and supports to cessation. Few of the women-centred cessation programs whose representatives were contacted were appropriate for, or available to, disadvantaged women in Canada. Interviews with 386 disadvantaged women revealed that their smoking was intimately linked with their life situation of poverty, isolation and caregiving; smoking was a mechanism for coping with the stress of their lives. Agencies outside traditional tobacco control organizations, such as women's centres, were well positioned to initiate or expand services that support smoking cessation for these women and were trusted by the women who used their services. The findings have implications for programs, research and policy.

Teens for healthy living

Improving the health and quality of life of adolescents is a fundamental aspiration of community health nurses. But developing health promotion programs that are attractive to young people can be a major challenge. In a rural Nova Scotia school district, this challenge has been met by bringing the teens themselves into the design and implementation of the program.

Exploring nursing outcomes for health promotion

The author examines nursing outcomes in relation to the aspect of nursing that deals with health promotion. The focus is on identifying factors that influence nursing outcomes and outcome selection, health promotion in the context of today's nursing practice, and the importance of nurses articulating their unique contribution to health promotion. The author also discusses measurement challenges inherent in outcome evaluation, and suggests future directions for enhancing outcome evaluation in health promotion.

Detection and differentiation of microbial siderophores by isoelectric focusing and chrome azurol S overlay

Siderophores are microbial, low molecular weight iron-chelating compounds. Fluorescent Pseudomonads produce different, strain-specific fluorescent siderophores (pyoverdines) as well as non-fluorescent siderophores in response to low iron conditions. We present an isoelectric focusing method applicable to unpurified as well as to purified pyoverdine samples where the fluorescent siderophores are visualized under UV illumination. Siderophores from different Pseudomonas sp., amongst which are P. aeruginosa, P. fluorescens and P. putida, including egg yolk, rhizospheric and clinical isolates as well as some derived Tn5 mutants were separated by this technique. Different patterns could be observed for strains known to produce different siderophores. The application of the chrome azurol S assay as a gel overlay further allows immediate detection of non-fluorescent siderophores or possibly degradation products with residual siderophore activity. The method was also applied to other microbial siderophores such as deferrioxamine B.

Oncogene rearrangements in chronic B-cell leukemia

Forty-four B-chronic lymphocytic leukemias (CLL) were studied by Southern blot analysis using probes for the Ig genes and bcl-1, bcl-2 (major, minor and 5' breakpoint region), bcl-3, c-myc, and retinoblastoma (Rb) loci. Eight cases had three or more rearranged JH bands, indicating oligoclonality, clonal evolution, or chromosomal translocation. One case had a rearrangement of the bcl-1 locus and three of the bcl-2 locus. In the first case, comigration of the rearranged bcl-1 and JH sequences indicated a t(11;14)(q13;q32) translocation, which, in contrast to previously described cases, seems to be completely reciprocal. One case with a bcl-2 rearrangement showed comigration of the bcl-2 major breakpoint region and a rearranged JH band. This indicates a t(14;18) (q32;q21). The two other cases showed rearrangements of the bcl-2 5' breakpoint region without apparent comigration. No rearrangements were detected of c-myc and bcl-3, located at chromosome 19, nor was a deletion of Rb found. All but three cases had CD5 expression. The exceptions included the t(11;14) and the t(14;18) cases. Our results confirm recent data on rearrangements at the 5' site of bcl-2 in CLL. Additionally, they corroborate the presumption that CD5-negative chronic B-cell leukemias should be considered apart from classical CLL.

The relationships between physical activity and health-promoting behaviours in mid-life women

The purpose of this study is to examine the inter-relationships among participation between physical activity, perceived well-being, self-esteem, health status, health locus of control and health-promoting lifestyle activities of middle-aged women in a rural context. Since women comprise the largest (living) segment of the older population, it is extremely important to study the predictors of health promoting activities in this age group prior to old age. Recent research has noted that participation in physical activity acts as an entry point to reflect on health behaviour practices, creating a ripple effect to other areas of lifestyle behaviours. The research questions were framed within the Health Promotion Model. The study utilized a longitudinal experimental design. The findings of this study contribute to the small, but growing, research base on physical activity as a health-promoting lifestyle behaviour and physical activity as a lifestyle practice of women in the mid-life years. Findings also provide a base for the development of community physical-activity programmes and other intervention strategies to enhance the health and well-being of women, particularly those residing in a rural setting.

Beyond the rhetoric: benefits of a baccalaureate education for nursing

This article examines the benefits and value of expanding the educational base for nursing. It argues that if nursing is to accept a broader mandate for the promotion of health, the educational preparation of the nurse must focus as much on the development of the nurse as a person, as on the knowledge, skills and attitudes that are specific to the profession. It suggests that to effect the changes required in the health care system nurses require increased levels of autonomy. A professional liberal education will contribute to a strong sense of professional autonomy and self-actualization; both are essential qualities for today's contemporary nurse.

Promoting health among teenagers

The need for health promotion programmes geared to adolescents has never been more acute. Today's youth lives in a "throw away society" characterized by an impermanence of both objects and human relations--which works counter to traditional health values and practices. The result has been a rise in teenage drug-addiction, suicide, abortion, delinquency and alcoholism. How can we make nurses and health services more accessible to adolescents? Below, Angela Gillis describes a model for adolescent health promotion and provides some practical suggestions for dealing more effectively with this age group.

Management of hypercholesterolemia: evaluation of practical clinical approaches in healthy young adults

A work site-located clinic screened 6,000 employees (91 percent participation) and identified 146 hypercholesterolemic subjects (100 percent initial participation, 12 percent subsequent dropout rate). The subjects, aged 20 to 50 years, were randomly classified into four groups: Group A, treatment in a lipid intervention clinic with diet for 6 weeks, then diet plus clofibrate for the subsequent 18 weeks; Group B, diet treatment from a clinic nutritionist with the cooperation of the subject's private physician; Group C, referral for treatment by a private physician; and Group D, no intervention. Initial mean cholesterol was 294 mg/100 ml. At 24 weeks, all intervention groups had decreases in serum cholesterol (Group A, 12 percent; Group B, 15 percent; Group C, 17 percent; P less than 0.001). The control group (D) had a small decrease in cholesterol (4 percent). Decreases in cholesterol were correlated with weight loss and decrease in fasting serum triglycerides but not with the use of clofibrate. Serum cholesterol can be reduced in healthy young adults by several practical methods.

Management of type IV hyperlipoproteinemia. Evaluation of practical clinical approaches

A lipid intervention clinic screened 4000 employees (89% participation) and identified 150 type IV subjects (top 5 percentile triglyceride values, 100% initial participation, 6% drop out). The 150 healthy type IV subjects, ages 20 to 49, were randomly divided into treatment subgroups: A, treatment by clinic nutritionist and physician with the National Heart and Lung Institute's type IV diet for 6 weeks, then diet plus clofibrate for 18 weeks; B, same treatment by private physician; C, no intervention for 24 weeks, subjects advised of abnormality. The group A mean fasting serum triglyceride of 407 mg/dl declined 50% at 6 weeks, 61% at 12 weeks, and was unchanged at 24 weeks (P less than 0.0005 at 6, 12, 24 weeks). Group B triglyceride decreased 42%, 50%, 41% (P less than 0.0005 at 6, 12, 24 weeks). Group C triglyceride declined 20%, 1st to 24th week. Body weight decreased 8% (A) and 4% (B) at 6 weeks (P less than 0.0005) and was unchanged at 24 weeks. The maximum cholesterol decrease (A) was 11% (P less than 0.0005). Type IV hyperlipoproteinemia can readily be identified in a working population; treatment by clinic or private physician will markedly lower fasting serum triglyceride values in apparently healthy type IV subjects for at least 24 weeks.