Benzo(a)pyrene enhances atherosclerosis in White Carneau and Show Racer pigeons.

Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), a major environmental pollutant and component of cigarette smoke, is both carcinogenic and atherogenic in experimental models. We investigated the effect of long-term administration of BaP on atherogenesis in both atherosclerosis-susceptible White Carneau (WC) and atherosclerosis-resistant Show Racer (SR) pigeons. The number and size of arterial lesions in the brachiocephalic arteries in WC and SR females but not males were significantly enhanced after long-term dosing with BaP. Metabolic activation appears to be required for BaP atherogenicity, since benzo(e)pyrene (BeP), a noncarcinogenic analogue of BaP, did not enhance lesion development. Studies with 3H-BaP revealed no significant differences between male and female or between WC and SR pigeons in the arterial distribution of BaP and/or its metabolites. There were no consistent differences in blood pressure or plasma cholesterol levels between breeds or sexes. However, chronic administration of BaP did result in complete infertility in female birds, concomitant with grossly visible changes in ovarian appearance. These results clearly show that long-term dosing with BaP alters ovarian structure and function in treated birds, at the same time aggravating the development of arterial lesions. Thus, BaP-induced atherogenicity in female pigeons may be a consequence of an alteration in estrogen production or of antiestrogenic properties of BaP at the level of the arterial wall and may serve as a highly useful animal model to examine the well-known rapid development of atherosclerosis in postmenopausal women.

Nursing group practices in hospital settings.

As hospitals continue to face problems with nursing shortages and difficulty in retaining experienced nurses, they are forced to examine the environment of nursing practice to determine how that environment can be improved. At Henry Ford Hospital, a planning process is underway to establish a more truly professional practice environment for nursing. This professional practice environment is based on a group practice model for inpatient nursing. The group practice model offers the potential for greater clinical and administrative autonomy and collaborative practice with physicians, but may require significant changes in internal budgeting and accounting systems. Several different inpatient group practice models and their implications are discussed.

Evaluating the quality of education-practice relationships.

Parameters for comprehensive evaluation of the education-practice collaboration project were evaluated. Cell six and nine were identified as being the most important foci for evaluating the process of collaboration. Groups that used the process to evaluate collaboration can use the information both for decision making and for data collection in the evaluation effort. Objectives of the project frame the purposes of the evaluation. In this case, the purposes were to evaluate effectiveness of the collaboration process/model for both education and practice, and to make recommendations for the next steps. In the best of circumstances, process evaluation should occur at the same time that the process is taking place. Sometimes this approach is not feasible when there is insufficient time or resources, and then alternative designs need to be developed. For example, it is conceivable that a retrospective descriptive survey could capture the essence of the communication, mutuality, and shared resources experience. Hypothetical statements or predictions assist in the process of maintaining clarity about what one really wants to measure or study to ensure that the focus and purposes are commonly understood, measureable, and worthwhile. Objective evaluation is facilitated when the level of measurement is appropriate and the results generated are in concert with the intended purposes. The use of this framework proved its worth after the data were collected and analyzed. It was found that the collaborative process was worthwhile, and that the outcomes of the collaboration were appropriate and meaningful and the goals had been achieved. Recommendations for follow-up flowed neatly from the data analysis and from a general discussion by participants.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)