Adolescent and young adult perceptions of caffeinated energy drinks. A qualitative approach.

Understanding consumer attitudes towards foods remains critically important for manufacturers, retailers and governing bodies. Regulation within the food industry should therefore support food choice whilst protecting members of society. There have been concerns regarding beverages marketed as 'energy drinks' and the levels of caffeine in these drinks. Focus groups were used to assess participants' perceptions and understandings of caffeinated energy drinks across three demographic age groups: 16-21, 22-28 and 29-35 year olds with the narrow age range providing a focused investigation of the demographic group specifically targeted by industry. Thematic analysis revealed a number of differences in participants' perceptions of energy drinks between age groups in relation to themes of advertising, age, alcohol, brand, efficacy, energy seeking, gender, sugar, peer influence, product attributes, safety and taste. Future implications for the use of qualitative research within the health promotion industry are discussed.

Evaluation of plasma glutamate levels in normal tension glaucoma.

AIM/BACKGROUND: Abnormal metabolism of the neurotransmitter glutamate is implicated in a number of neurodegenerative conditions. Patients with migraine have been shown to have elevated plasma glutamate levels. Migraine is a risk factor both in terms of prevalence and progression in normal-tension glaucoma (NTG). The aim of this study was to determine whether or not plasma glutamate levels are also elevated in NTG. METHODS: Patients were recruited into 2 groups, NTG and control, according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. Patients with migraine were excluded from both groups. Fasting blood samples were collected in lithium heparin tubes, transported on ice, and centrifuged for storage at -21 degrees C. Plasma glutamate levels were measured by an amino acid analyser. Data for each group were compared by applying the Mann-Whitney test. Ethical approval and independent statistical advice for the study was obtained. RESULTS: A total of 27 subjects were recruited: 14 to the NTG group and 13 to the control group. No significant difference was found between the plasma glutamate levels in the 2 groups (p = 0.67). CONCLUSION: Although an association between normal tension and migraine is recognized, unlike studies in migraine sufferers, this study finds no evidence that patients with NTG have elevated plasma glutamate.

Late reactivation of thyroid associated ophthalmopathy causing optic neuropathy.

We describe a case of thyroid associated ophthalmopathy complicated by optic neuropathy presenting 18 years after the diagnosis of dysthyroidism, due to late reactivation of a previously stable ophthalmopathy.

Transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta) mediates Schwann cell death in vitro and in vivo: examination of c-Jun activation, interactions with survival signals, and the relationship of TGFbeta-mediated death to Schwann cell differentiation.

In some situations, cell death in the nervous system is controlled by an interplay between survival factors and negative survival signals that actively induce apoptosis. The present work indicates that the survival of Schwann cells is regulated by such a dual mechanism involving the negative survival signal transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta), a family of growth factors that is present in the Schwann cells themselves. We analyze the interactions between this putative autocrine death signal and previously defined paracrine and autocrine survival signals and show that expression of a dominant negative c-Jun inhibits TGFbeta-induced apoptosis. This and other findings pinpoint activation of c-Jun as a key downstream event in TGFbeta-induced Schwann cell death. The ability of TGFbeta to kill Schwann cells, like normal Schwann cell death in vivo, is under a strong developmental regulation, and we show that the decreasing ability of TGFbeta to kill older cells is attributable to a decreasing ability of TGFbeta to phosphorylate c-Jun in more differentiated cells.

Prolonged muscle weakness following emergency tonsillectomy in a patient with familial periodic paralysis and infectious mononucleosis.

A thirteen-year-old girl with normokalaemic familial periodic paralysis (FPP) suffered life threatening upper airway obstruction secondary to tonsillopharyngitis resulting from infectious mononucleosis (IM). Emergency tonsillectomy was performed, but her postoperative course was complicated by persistent muscle weakness requiring a very prolonged period of artificial ventilation.

A comparison of the forces exerted during laryngoscopy. The Macintosh versus the McCoy blade.

The forces exerted at laryngoscopy with the McCoy and Macintosh blades have been compared in 40 patients. The variables measured were the duration of laryngoscopy, the three maximally-applied forces and the mean force. The mean (SD) forces recorded were 18.9 (7.82) and 10.1 (5.33) N, respectively, with the Macintosh and the McCoy blades (p < 0.001) with a similar duration of laryngoscopy. There was a significant positive correlation between the mean force and patients' weight, height and body mass index for the Macintosh blade but only for weight and height for the McCoy blade. It is concluded that the use of the McCoy blade results in significantly less force being applied during laryngoscopy. This may be the reason for the reduction in the stress response reported previously with the use of the McCoy blade.

Effect of nebulized lignocaine on airway irritation and haemodynamic changes during induction of anaesthesia with desflurane.

This study was designed to assess the effect of nebulized lignocaine or saline given before induction on the quality of induction of anaesthesia with desflurane in unpremedicated, young, adult males. Of the first six patients, five developed laryngospasm, breath-holding, coughing and increased secretions. In four patients oxygen saturation decreased to 92% or less. Significant tachycardia and hypertension occurred in four patients, and bradyarrhythmia after induction occurred in three patients. Hiccups and bronchospasm occurred in one patient. Because of the unacceptably high incidence of complications, the study was discontinued. The incidence and severity of complications were not decreased by administration of nebulized lignocaine and were higher than those reported by other workers. We conclude that in unpremedicated, young, adult males, induction of anaesthesia with desflurane and nitrous oxide in oxygen was associated with a high incidence of respiratory irritant effects, tachycardia, hypertension and post-induction bradyarrhythmia. We also found that lignocaine, as used in this study, did not appear to obtund the cardiovascular and respiratory complications during inhalation induction using desflurane.

Comparison of the haemodynamic effects of mivacurium and atracurium during fentanyl anaesthesia.

We have measured the haemodynamic effects of mivacurium 0.15 and 0.2 mg kg-1, and atracurium 0.5 mg kg-1 administered over 10-15 s in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery under fentanyl anaesthesia. There were no significant haemodynamic changes in the atracurium group, other than a transient decrease in pulmonary arterial wedge pressure. Changes in heart rate were small in all three groups. Mivacurium 0.15 mg kg-1 produced changes of only small magnitude (12% decrease in mean arterial pressure and 16% decrease in systemic vascular resistance index) however, mivacurium 0.2 mg kg-1 produced a 25% reduction in mean arterial pressure, a 14% increase in cardiac index and a 35% decrease in systemic vascular resistance index. Erythema developed in two, three and seven patients after atracurium, mivacurium 0.15 mg kg-1 and mivacurium 0.2 mg kg-1, respectively. One patient exhibited a 54% decrease in mean arterial pressure, generalized erythema and bronchospasm after mivacurium 0.2 mg kg-1. The haemodynamic changes with mivacurium suggested histamine release.

Postoperative analgesia after co-administration of clonidine and morphine by the intrathecal route in patients undergoing hip replacement.

Postoperative analgesia after intrathecal co-administration of clonidine hydrochloride (75 micrograms) and morphine sulfate (0.5 mg) was compared with analgesia produced after either intrathecal morphine (0.5 mg) or 0.9% sodium chloride in 90 patients undergoing total hip replacement under bupivacaine spinal anesthesia. Patient-controlled morphine requirements were significantly reduced (P < 0.001) postoperation by both clonidine/morphine (median 5 mg/24 h) and morphine (median 7 mg/24 h) compared with control (saline) (median 28 mg/24 h). However, no significant additional reduction in postoperative analgesic requirements was shown with the clonidine/morphine combination compared with morphine alone. Visual analog pain scores, although good in all groups at all times, were significantly poorer in the control group at 2 h (P < 0.04) and 4 h (P < 0.001) after operation compared with both treatment groups, and significantly poorer than the clonidine/morphine group at 6 h (P < 0.002) and 24 h (P < 0.009) postoperation. Mean arterial blood pressure was significantly lower in the clonidine/morphine group than in the two other groups (P < 0.001) between 2 and 5 h after operation. The incidence of emesis was similar in the clonidine/morphine and morphine groups and was significantly more than in the control group.

Assessment of intubating conditions in children after induction with propofol and varying doses of alfentanil.

We have assessed tracheal intubating conditions in 60 ASA I or II children, aged 3-12 yr, after induction of anaesthesia with alfentanil 5, 10 or 15 micrograms kg-1, followed by an induction dose of propofol. Neuromuscular blocking agents were not given. Three aspects of intubating conditions were assessed on a four-point scale: ease of laryngoscopy, vocal cord position and degree of coughing on insertion of the tracheal tube. The number of patients in whom each component of the assessment was satisfactory increased significantly as the dose of alfentanil increased (ease of laryngoscopy P = 0.003; vocal cord position P = 0.0004; degree of coughing P = 0.018). Intubation was successful in 70%, 95% and 95% of patients after alfentanil 5, 10 or 15 micrograms kg-1, respectively, and conditions were considered to be excellent in 20%, 70% and 80% of patients, respectively. Side effects included pain on injection of propofol (27%), excitatory movements (5%) and bradycardia (1.7%).

A comparison of diclofenac and ketorolac for postoperative analgesia following day-case arthroscopy of the knee joint.

Seventy-one patients presenting for day-case arthroscopy were randomly allocated to receive either intramuscular diclofenac 75 mg or ketorolac 30 mg immediately after induction of anaesthesia. One hour after operation visual analogue pain scores were significantly lower in the ketorolac group compared with those receiving diclofenac. Pain scores at 2 and 4 h postoperatively were not significantly different between the two groups although six of those receiving diclofenac required opioid analgesia compared with only one in the ketorolac group. Discomfort in the operated knee was similar for both groups on the day following surgery, but pain from the intramuscular injection site was significantly greater in the diclofenac group. Intramuscular ketorolac 30 mg provided better postoperative analgesia and less pain at the injection site than diclofenac 75 mg.

The law and planned parenthood case report. 1942.

The brief case report summarizes facts associated with death from self-induced abortion of a mother of four children whose husband's earning of $25 a week made it undesirable for them to have more children. Unable to continue to secure contraceptive equipment, the patient resorted to the procedure directly responsible for her death.