Metabolic crisis: hyperemesis gravidarum.

Nausea and vomiting during pregnancy affect approximately 50% to 70% of all pregnant women. Although most cases of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy resolve spontaneously and are not associated with compromised nutritional status, a small percentage of cases progress to hyperemesis gravidarum (severe nausea and vomiting during pregnancy). Hyperemesis gravidarum is a serious disorder that can lead to weight loss, dehydration, electrolyte disturbances, and occasionally death if improperly treated or left untreated. The article summarizes recent research on hyperemesis gravidarum, focusing on the definition, etiology, epidemiology, and current treatment of symptoms.

Occupational exposure to extreme temperature and risk of testicular cancer.

A study of 250 patients with pathologically confirmed testicular cancer diagnosed between January 1977 and June 1980 and 250 population controls matched for age and residence was carried out to investigate risk factors for testicular cancer. This paper reports results of risk associated with occupational exposure to extreme (< or = 60 degrees F or > or = 80 degrees F), high (> or = 80 degrees F), and low (< or = 60 degrees F) temperature. Interviews of approximately 1.5 h duration were conducted by trained male interviewers, using a standardized interview schedule. Mantel-Haenszel methods and logistic regression models were employed to estimate these temperature effects on risk of testicular cancer. The estimated adjusted odds ratios of testicular cancer, when 16 potential confounders were controlled for, were 1.71 (95% Cl: 1.13-2.60) for occupational exposure to extreme temperatures; 1.70 (1.04-2.78) for low temperature; and 1.20 (0.80-1.80) for high temperature. The findings suggest that occupational exposure to extreme, low, and high temperature may increase risk of testicular cancer, independent of other potential risk factors.

Self-efficacy and confidence in outcomes as determinants of self-care practices in inner-city, African-American women with non-insulin-dependent diabetes.

The purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which perceived self-efficacy and confidence in outcomes, selected demographic variables, and disease characteristics (age, duration of diabetes, presence of documented complications) affect an individual's adherence over time to a diabetes regimen of home glucose testing, medication/insulin administration, diet, and exercise. A convenience sample of 118 inner-city, African-American women with type II, non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus receiving outpatient care at a large urban hospital were asked to complete measures of each of the psychosocial variables on two occasions, separated by an interval of 4 to 5 months, and coinciding with their next scheduled clinic visit. Bivariate and multivariate analyses at Times 1 and 2 demonstrated the ability of self-efficacy alone to explain diet, exercise, and home-testing behaviors while suggesting variability within individuals in sense of self-efficacy over time.

Evaluating quantitative research designs: Part 1.

This article has provided an overview of the three major types of quantitative designs commonly used in nursing research, as well as some criteria for evaluating the designs of published research. The next column will include additional criteria for critiquing quantitative research designs.

A longitudinal study of nurses' attitudes toward caring for patients with AIDS in Erie County.

The purpose of this study was to examine nurses' attitudes toward caring for patients with AIDS in a longitudinal context. Results of the 1990 survey were compared with those of a survey conducted in 1986 for the purpose of examining changes in attitudes over time. Findings indicated that there were no significant differences between the 1986 and 1990 scores on the attitude scales. The results of the study indicated that many nurses still have fears and concerns about caring for patients with AIDS.

Alcohol consumption and lung cancer in white males.

Experimental and epidemiologic investigations in alcoholic and nonalcoholic populations have suggested a role of alcohol in lung carcinogenesis. The association between alcohol consumption and lung cancer was investigated among 280 White males with histologically confirmed, primary lung cancer and 564 White male controls, participants in the Western New York Diet Study (United States). Among heavy smokers (over 40 pack-years), total alcohol consumption was associated with an increased risk of lung cancer with adjustment for age, years of education, pack-years of cigarette smoking, and intake of carotenoids and fat. In this group, the odds ratio for drinkers of more than 24 drinks per month was 1.6 compared with those who drank less. Drinkers of more than 12 beers per month were 1.6 times more likely to develop lung cancer than nondrinkers of beer after controlling for age, years of education, and cigarette smoking (95 percent confidence interval = 1.0-2.4, P for trend = 0.003). Occupational and dietary factors did not seem to explain these findings. Although cigarette smoking is the major cause of lung cancer, the role of alcohol, independent or in interaction with cigarette smoking, deserves further investigation.