The role of human papillomavirus in screening for cervical cancer.

PURPOSE: To review the options for effectively screening for cervical cancer, including human papilloma virus (HPV) identification, cytologic screening, colposcopy, or a combination approach. Current pathophysiology, diagnostic criteria, treatment approaches, and patient preparation and education related to cervical cancer screening and prevention are also included. DATA SOURCES: Comprehensive review of current literature, including research and review articles. CONCLUSION: Because the Papanicolau (Pap) smear is a screening tool, not a diagnostic tool, further studies must be done to identify the actual nature of discovered abnormalities. Of particular concern is the classification of atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS), which may simply indicate inflammation, or may be the first indicator of serious pathology. Following ASCUS Pap smears with HPV screening will allow for a clarification of the best approach to treatment. A screening algorithm supported by a review of the literature is proposed. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Cervical cancer is a preventable disease caused by certain forms of HPV. Current screening protocols are based on the use of the Pap smear; and in areas where this test is routine and available, morbidity and mortality rates have dropped dramatically. Many women throughout the world and in underserved regions of the U. S. do not have adequate access to routine screening with Pap smear technology. As long as women continue to die needlessly of cervical cancer, more comprehensive and accessible screening methods must be explored. (Cutting the unnecessary worldwide and in the U. S.).

Dysmenorrhea.

Dysmenorrhea is a common complaint that causes considerable disruption in a woman's life. Accurate diagnosis of primary and secondary causes with appropriate therapeutic intervention leads to significant improvements in quality of life.

Diagnostic evaluation for hypertension.

Evaluation and management of hypertension requires careful monitoring by the practitioner. A positive patient-provider relationship and an individualized approach to treatment are essential for a positive therapeutic outcome.

Congestive heart failure.

The differentiation between systolic and diastolic CHF is clinically important because it allows one to formulate an appropriate therapeutic regimen. As a rule, ACE inhibitors have become a major component in the treatment of systolic heart failure; diuretics, digoxin, and other vasodilators are used in conjunction with them. Optimal therapy for diastolic heart failure remains to be defined. Further research is required for this subset of patients. Numerous other support measures, such as counseling, activity, diet, patient knowledge of medications, and compliance, all affect the patient's outcome.

Clinical health problem: failure to thrive.

Families in which NOFTT is present need interventions that target behaviors and identify stressors that contribute to decreased caloric intake. A holistic approach to the situation is required, to deal with considering the problem which may stem from multiple sources. Maternal perceptions of health and diet can be influenced by the practitioner in a sensitive manner, encouraging balance. Infant feeding difficulties can be identified by the practitioner and appropriate referrals can be made to FTT clinics that are experienced in working with these infants and their caregivers. Public health nurses can be utilized to further assess families, follow up on health teaching, and provide referrals to community resources to alleviate stressors. Management of NOFTT by a practitioner in the primary care setting is feasible and cost-effective.

[Relationship between respiratory reserve in the flow-volume curve and the expected ergometric capacity]. / Zusammenhang zwischen der Atmungsreserve in der Fluss-Volumen-Kurve und der zu erwartenden Ergometrieleistung.

To evaluate the physical work capacity in patients with chronic obstructive lung disease (COLD) it was checked, if determination of breathing reserve can replace the exercise test with blood gas analysis. In 28 patients with lung disease and 7 healthy subjects the flow-volume-curve under resting conditions and during the forced breathing maneuver to measure the breathing reserve and the exercise test with blood gas analysis were examined. A correlation was found between both. Therefore, in patients with COLD the determination of breathing reserve is a practicable method for estimating the physical work capacity, especially in cases with absent breathing reserve. Nevertheless, for medical opinion exercise testing is necessary.

Microcirculation of the fingernail fold in CAPD patients: preliminary observations.

OBJECTIVE: To study changes in the peritoneal microcirculation during continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) by studying change in the microcirculation of the fingernails of CAPD patients. SETTING: A university department. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study of 10 nondiabetic patients on CAPD. INTERVENTION: Hemorrheological tests of fingernail microcirculation using equipment built at our university. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Microcirculation was characterized by estimation of capillary density, red blood cell (RBC) column diameter, torque index, and RBC flow velocity semiquantitatively using videocapillaroscopy at the fingernail fold and plasma viscosimetry. Findings were correlated with treatment duration, peritoneal clearance, state of capillary morphology and hemodynamics, and lipid and fibrinogen levels. RESULTS: Treatment duration was significantly correlated (p < or = 0.05) with low-density lipoprotein (LDL) (r = 0.776) and clearances of urea (r = -0.583), uric acid (r = -0.666), and potassium (r = -0.764). Changes in capillary morphology were correlated to clearances of urea (r = 0.643) and uric acid (r = 0.701). The fibrinogen concentration increases plasma viscosity (r = 0.799) and deteriorates the capillary state (r = -0.706). In addition, plasma viscosity correlates to cholesterol (r = 0.620, NS) and LDL (r = 0.781), but not to high-density lipoprotein and triglycerides. CONCLUSION: CAPD treatment results in lipid abnormalities and high fibrinogen levels that may cause microvascular damage and poor perfusion. These interactions may explain the deterioration of peritoneal transport in some CAPD patients.

Comparison of three methods of measurement of pulmonary artery catheter readings in critically ill patients.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary artery catheter readings are critical for clinical decision making and therapeutic intervention in critically ill patients. Research data of digital display versus graphic strip chart recording of hemodynamic pressures during spontaneous breathing and mechanical ventilation are inconclusive. OBJECTIVES: To compare three methods of measurement of hemodynamic pressure readings from the pulmonary artery catheter in critically ill patients during mechanical ventilation and spontaneous breathing. METHODS: A nonrandomized, repeated-measures design was used to compare hemodynamic pressures (right atrial, systolic, diastolic, and wedge pressures) from the pulmonary artery catheter in cardiovascular patients during mechanical ventilation (n = 25) and again during spontaneous breathing (n = 19). RESULTS: Using repeated measures analysis of variance, statistically significant differences were noted in the pulmonary artery diastolic, wedge, and right atrial pressure during mechanical ventilation. During spontaneous breathing, significant differences occurred in pulmonary artery systolic and wedge pressures only. No statistically significant difference occurred in the systolic pressure during mechanical ventilation, or the pulmonary artery diastolic and right atrial pressures during spontaneous breathing. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicate that graphic recording is the most reliable means of measuring hemodynamic pressure at end-expiration. Further research is needed to validate these findings with other models of monitoring equipment and other patient populations.

Enhanced role opportunities available to the CNS/nurse practitioner.

Role possibilities that could result from the proposed CNS-nurse practitioner merger into an advanced practice nurse role are examined in this article. A brief history of the movement to merge the two roles is reviewed, followed by a review of arguments for and against merging. Role opportunities are explored for nurses with advanced practice preparation, including case management, expanded roles in acute care, practice in nurse-managed clinics, and collaborative private practice.

The effect of environmental lighting on the oxygen saturation of preterm infants in the NICU.

The premature infant is more vulnerable to the NICU environment than a full-term infant due to neurologic immaturity and physiologic instability. Studies have been done on the effects of long-term decreases in environmental light, but none have been done on the immediate effects. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between immediate changes in environmental illumination and oxygen saturation in preterm neonates and whether these were affected by gestational and postnatal age. The oxygen saturations of 27 sleeping infants (2 to 56 days of age) between 26 and 37 weeks gestation were continuously recorded for 40 minutes utilizing a Nellcor N200 oximeter. After recording baseline saturations for 5 minutes with the room lights at 100 footcandles, the illumination level was lowered to 5 footcandles. At the end of 30 minutes, lights were increased to the previous level. Oxygen saturations were recorded at one and five minutes after illumination decreases and increases. There was a statistically significant interaction between repeated measures of saturation at baseline and one and five minutes after lights were increased and covariates gestational, corrected gestational, and postnatal age (p = .02, p = .008, p = .005). Repeated measure analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) revealed no statistically significant changes in oxygen saturations after the lights had been lowered for babies who were younger in gestational or postnatal age. The results of this study suggest that rapidly increasing illumination may be a cause of stress to the younger gestationally and postnatally preterm neonate.

Determination of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) on two consecutive days using inulin in a single-sample plasma clearance method.

Reliable estimation of the GFR is essential in nephrological practice for the early recognition and follow-up of latent or residual renal disturbance. The GFR of ten healthy volunteers on two consecutive days and of 40 patients with different renal diseases were investigated by means of a plasma slope clearance technique. After injection of 5 g/50 ml inulin solution, eight plasma samples were taken at 10, 20, 30, 40, 120, 180, 240, 300 min p.i. and analyzed with the aid of a fully enzymatic method. The results were correlated on the basis of 1- and 2-compartment models (1 CM, 2 CM) and the one-sample method (1 S), using only the plasma inulin concentration of the 240 min p.i. sample. The accuracy of the GFR data of volunteers estimated in these models was checked by comparison with the standardized agewise normal values, while for the patient group we found in terms of equations of correlation: 1. GFR (2 CM) = 4.46 + 0.763*GFR (1 S), n = 31, r = 0.985 2. GFR (2 CM) = 1.27*GFR (1 CM)0.9, n = 40, r = 0.996 3. GFR (1 CM) = 0.568*(GFR[1 S] + 5.85)1.11, derived The single-sample method using inulin is closely correlated to multi-sample methods but much more suitable for patients and staff. Therefore, it is recommended for clinical use.

The competitive effects of horizontal mergers in the hospital industry: a closer look.

Woolley (1989) attempted to analyze the competitive impact of horizontal hospital mergers using the 'event study' method. Woolley characterized his results as consistent with traditional 'oligopoly' theories of market behavior. We scrutinize in detail a large number of his events, however, and find that most either generated concentration increases too small to plausibly produce market power, or could not have conferred monopoly returns on firms improperly characterized as rivals. Accordingly, any observed abnormal returns are likely attributable to some other cause; we suggest some alternative interpretations of his results. Our paper highlights the need for care in the selection of events and the identification of rivals when applying the event study method to the analysis of mergers.