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This study explores 178 low-income, abused African American women's readiness to change abusive relationships and achieve safety. We explore stages of change using Prochaska and DiClemente's transtheoretical model (TM; Precontemplation, Contemplation, Action, Preparation, and Maintenance). Results reveal that: for abused women, the stages fall along a continuum (versus discreet and linear stages); abused women are primarily in the Contemplation stage; and multiple factors (perception of current abuse, number of children in her home, symptoms of general anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD], substance use, spiritual well-being, self-esteem, and social support) affect women's total readiness to change intimate partner violence (IPV). Current IPV, anxiety, PTSD, substance abuse, and spirituality were positively correlated with readiness to change, and children in the home and self-esteem were negatively correlated with readiness to change. Multiple regression analysis revealed that PTSD and spiritual well-being are positive predictors of readiness to change. Findings contribute to the growing body of literature supporting the TM as applied to IPV. Results are discussed in terms of applicability to interventionists, policy makers, and community leaders as they consider the plight of abused women and their efforts towards violence-free relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses the life and influence of Canadian physician Sir William Osler. Biographical information; His book 'The Principles and Practice of Medicine'; Osler's love of the medical profession; How Osler was seen by his generation as the greatest physician that ever lived; Achievements in medicine and writing.

This study examines the extent of childhood sexual abuse and its relationship to risky sexual and drug-using behaviors, condom use, and lifetime sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in women volunteering for the WINGS intervention in New York City, Baltimore, and Seattle. Responses to structured interviews from 825 eligible women recruited from the community, clinics, and drug programs in 1995 and 1996 were analyzed. Thirty-eight percent to 66% of women across sites reported childhood sexual abuse before age 18. Q statistics and t tests measured the bivariate relationships between sexual abuse and outcomes. Then regression analysis was used to control for ethnicity and race, age, age at first intercourse, and site in predicting the adjusted effects of sexual abuse. Compared to nonabused women, abused women reported more lifetime partners, more episodes of different STDs, lower odds of using condoms at most recent sexual intercourse with main partners, and increased odds of using drugs or alcohol before sex. Researchers need to develop and test STID and HIV interventions tailored for victims of early sexual abuse and compare them with more general interventions for at-risk women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As networks have proliferated, questions have arisen regarding which structure is optimal. To obtain an answer from the hospital perspective, the authors conducted a survey of New York State hospitals to determine how network integration, complexity, and financial risk sharing relate to measures of financial performance during the period of 1991-1995. Of the 64 hospitals indicating a network affiliation by 1995, 67.2 percent listed some network risk-sharing activity. The least integrated networks were associated with the smallest improvements in throughput, and the most complex were associated with the largest negative changes in operating margins. During the first 2 years of network membership, hospitals joining risk-sharing networks experienced operating margin gains averaging 12 percentage points higher than hospitals joining networks without risk sharing; however, this difference dissipated in later years. Networks with higher levels of integration, lower levels of complexity, and which involve some risk-sharing between affiliates are most likely to experience improved hospital financial performance during the network's initial years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In view of recent investigations suggesting that the circadian rhythm of urine output is reversed in the elderly, the present study was designed to see if increased urine flow at night may be related to change in posture. Urine flow, urea and electrolyte excretion were measured 4-hourly for 6 consecutive days and nights in four catheterized female patients, mean age 83 years. Two were nursed in chairs for 8 h daily for 3 days, followed by total bed-rest for 3 days, and the other two in reverse order. None of the patients showed the morning rise of water and electrolyte excretion which has been described in young people. On full bed-rest, there was no significant day-night difference in water, sodium, potassium, urea or creatinine excretion. Chair nursing produced a negative mean day-night difference in water excretion (−321 ml: <0.001) and in sodium (−11.7 mmol: <0.002), urea (−26.6 mmol: =0.005) and creatinine excretion (−0.6 mmol: =0.008), but had no significant effect on potassium excretion. These results suggest that sitting upright may have important effects on water and electrolyte balance in elderly patients and may contribute to nocturia and nocturnal incontinence. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

One hundred consecutive patients admitted to an acute geriatric unit were examined for evidence of peripheral arthritis with recognised criteria used to define osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, pyrophosphate arthropathy, gout, and disorders of the shoulder joint. The presence of arthritis and its severity were related both to functional independence and to a recognition by the patient that joint problems were impairing independence. Seventy six patients had clinical peripheral arthritis; 48 had arthritis contributing to loss of function, and 19 of these did not volunteer evidence of their joint disease. The common occurrence of arthritic conditions in the elderly, with consequential disability and dependency, suggests that increased medical awareness may be required to prevent unnecessary morbidity. Our findings need confirmation in community based studies. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Cimetidine absorption after a single 300 mg oral dose was evaluated in six normal subjects in the absence or presence of sucralfate. Sucralfate was ingested four times a day for 2 days prior to and for two additional doses on the day of cimetidine ingestion. Sucralfate coadministration had no statistically significant influence on the rate or extent of cimetidine absorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on the developing the port of vancouver’s port noise rating methodology. It discusses the increase in the urban densification near port operations which has the potential for port-related noise to disturb nearby communities. It mentions the installation of several noise monitoring terminals at the port for the noise measurement.

Cadmium tungstate (CWO) films on glass substrate have been first prepared by hydrothermal method at temperatures ranging from 120 to 180 °C from cadmium nitrite and tungstic acid in hydrogen peroxide solution. Crack free and dense CWO films with textured structure and thickness up to 8 μm were formed at 150 and 180 °C as revealed by x-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studied. Photoluminescence (PL) measurements revealed that highly textured CWO thick films possess better PL property. The growth mechanism and preferred orientation or textured structure as well as the relations between textured structure and PL property have been discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cimetidine does not slow the disappearance of ibuprofen from the serum after a single dose in healthy male volunteers. This suggests that no change in ibuprofen dosing is necessary when cimetidine is co- administered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]