Abuse assessment screen-disability (AAS-D): measuring frequency, type, and perpetrator of abuse toward women with physical disabilities.

An interview questionnaire was presented to a multiethnic sample of 511 women, age 18-64 years, at public and private specialty clinics to determine the frequency, type, and perpetrator of abuse toward women with physical disabilities. The four-question Abuse Assessment Screen-Disability (AAS-D) instrument detected a 9.8% prevalence (50 of 511) of abuse during the previous 12 months. Using two standard physical and sexual assault questions, 7.8% of the women (40 of 511) reported abuse. The two disability-related questions detected an additional 2.0% of the women (10 of 511) as abused. Women defining themselves as other than black, white, or Hispanic (i.e., Asian, mixed ethnic background) were more likely to report physical or sexual abuse or both, whereas disability-related abuse was reported almost exclusively by white women. The perpetrator of physical or sexual abuse was most likely to be an intimate partner. Disability-related abuse was attributed equally to an intimate partner, a care provider, or a health professional. This study concludes that both traditional abuse-focused questions and disability-specific questions are required to detect abuse toward women with physical disabilities.

Flexible estrogen receptor modulators: design, synthesis, and antagonistic effects in human MCF-7 breast cancer cells.

Although many series of estrogen receptor antagonists continue to be produced, the majority are direct structural analogues of existing modulators. To examine the tolerance of the estrogen receptor toward flexible ligands, a series of novel flexible estrogen receptor antagonists were prepared and their antiproliferative effects on human MCF-7 breast tumor cells investigated. Each of these compounds deviated from the traditional triphenylethylene backbone associated with common tamoxifen analogues through the introduction of a flexible methylene (benzylic) spacing group between one of the aryl rings and the ethylene group and through variations in the basic side chain moiety. The compounds prepared, when assayed in conjunction with a tamoxifen standard, demonstrated high potency in antiproliferative assays against an MCF-7 human breast cancer cell line with low cytotoxicity and high binding affinity. A computational study was undertaken to investigate the compounds' potential interactions with specific residues within the human estrogen receptor alpha ligand-binding domain (ER-LBD), predicting these compounds bind in an antiestrogenic fashion within the ER-LBD and interact with those important residues previously identified in the structures of ER-LBD agonist/antagonist cocrystals. These compounds further illustrate the eclectic nature of the estrogen receptor in terms of ligand flexibility tolerance.

Ethyl side-chain modifications in novel flexible antiestrogens--design, synthesis and biological efficacy in assay against the MCF-7 breast tumor cell line.

To examine the efficacy of ethyl side-chain modifications in a family of flexible non-steroidal modulators of the estrogen receptor, a series of novel compounds was prepared and their antiproliferative effects on human MCF-7 breast tumor cells evaluated. These flexible antiestrogens consisted of members wherein the ethyl portion of the parent compound, a flexible analogue of tamoxifen, had been modified so as to introduce halogens or a nitro group, or to extend the side-chain length from ethyl to propyl or butyl. The compounds demonstrated potency at low micromolar concentrations in antiproliferative assays against an MCF-7 human breast cancer cell line with low associated cytotoxicity. Tested compounds exhibited nanomolar binding affinity (Ki) for the estrogen receptor (ER) as determined through displacement of radiolabelled estradiol. Semiempirical calculations predict an inherent lower oxidative potential at the allylic position, similar to that calculated for the established analogue toremifene, indicating a lesser propensity of such compounds towards metabolic oxidative carbocation generation and consequent DNA adduct formation. Computational studies predict these compounds to bind in a typical estrogen antagonist mode within the ER-ligand binding domain (LBD). Ethyl side-chain modification in this compound class is well tolerated within the ER and is not detrimental to compound efficacy, with additional potential anti-carcinogenic properties imbued to the molecule.

A phenomenological study of breastfeeding WIC recipients in South Carolina.

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the phenomenon of breastfeeding in a low-income group of mothers and to determine its meaning to the mothers. Eleven mothers who had breastfeeding experience were interviewed. The focal meaning of support as related to breastfeeding emerged during data analysis from the participants' lived experience. In all participant interviews the recurring concept was support. Major themes included informational support, emotional support, and instrumental support. The article suggests implications for advanced practice.

Creativity, depression, and circannual variation.

Verbal creativity has been linked to personal and family histories of bipolar depression. The present studies investigated the relationship between creativity and atypical symptoms of bipolar depression such as seasonal mood variations. Although more creative individuals, as measured by scores on the Remote Associates Test and a writing sample, perceived seasonal fluctuations in their creativity, no significant differences in performance were found.

Back pain in children.

Back pain in children may be due to many causes, both orthopaedic and nonorthopaedic. As with adults, underlying pathophysiology is frequently multifactoral and includes both physiologic and psychologic components. Assessment should include a thorough age-appropriate history and physical examination, based on presenting symptoms. The nurse should be aware of the child's perception of pain and its meaning, as well as that of the family. Management of back pain in children should include not only referral to appropriate specialists as indicated, but also should include involvement of the family unit in the treatment plan.

Nursing management of a child with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is an incurable chronic disease of childhood which involves connective tissue in the joints. Treatment aims are supportive and directed toward pain management, alleviation of inflammation, and optimization of joint function. A multidisciplinary team approach is helpful, with nursing care an essential part of the treatment plan.

The nurse extern practicum: a new partnership between education and service.

An externship was developed for academic credit but also offered financial remuneration for students. It is believed that a partnership between an educational institution and a health-care institution might offer students the opportunity not only for reality-based clinical practice, but also to enhance their education. Benefits to the agency include recruitment of students for future employment; benefits to the university include additional credit generation without additional revenues, because instructional costs are borne by the contracting health-care agency. Evaluations of this joint endeavor have been enthusiastic, with positive outcomes for all.

Success in baccalaureate nursing programs: a matter of accommodation?

This article explores student learning styles as an important variable in four-year baccalaureate nursing programs. Student learning styles were assessed by Kolb's Learning Style Inventory-1985 (LSI-1985), which identifies the accommodator, diverger, assimilator, and converger learning styles. The authors examined the relationship between learning style and academic performance as measured by grade-point ratio (GPR) and studied behaviors and attitudes as measured by Brown and Holtzman's (1964) Survey of Study Habits and Attitudes. Analysis indicated that this sample (N = 100) included mainly assimilators and divergers, making reflective observation the most common mode of learning. Compared to the accommodator/converger group, the assimilator/diverger group earned a significantly higher GPR, significantly better scores on the study habits variable of Work Methods (WM), and moderately better scores on the study attitude variable of Educational Acceptance (EA). Accommodators were identified as the most at-risk learning style group, and specific interventions were suggested to assist accommodators in adapting to the academic rigors of a nursing curriculum.

Increased safety and specificity in the thin-layer chromatographic identification of marihuana.

We are reporting what we believe to be a safe, rapid TLC system and spray for the identification of marihuana. The use of Fast Blue 2B salt greatly enhances the specificity of the TLC analysis of suspected marihuana samples.