BACKGROUND: Targeted health promotion requires an identifiable subpopulation which is accessible, at increased risk, receptive to input, and receptive to change. Relatives of recently diagnosed cancer patients may meet these criteria and have not previously been investigated as recipients of preventive education regarding smoking and diet. METHODS: This study investigates these factors, beliefs regarding perceived susceptibility to cancer, and attitudes toward behavior change in 101 relatives of 50 patients with smoking-related cancers, breast cancer, and other diet-related cancers. Congruence of attitudes between patients and relatives, another possible factor in changing health behaviors, also was assessed. RESULTS: Access to relatives of patients was very high, as was their willingness to discuss these issues (99% of relatives contacted participated in the survey). Relatives' ratings of relevant risk factors were generally higher than those of patients; ratings of their own vulnerability were moderate. Within diagnostic groups, there was high concordance of belief between patients and relatives for certain types of risk, such as heredity for breast cancer (r = 0.81) and smoking for smoking-related cancers (r = 0.52), but not for dietary factors. CONCLUSIONS: The high level of access suggests that relatives may be receptive to discussing issues of behavior risk and change. They are at least as aware as patients of cancer risk factors. Spontaneous behavior change was very low. They may therefore be good candidates for targeted health promotion regarding cancer risk.

Adult↗

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Optimal conditions for the fusion of lymphoid cell lines.

A series of hydrolytic enzymes were compared with lysolecithin, glycerol monooleate, and inactivated Sendai virus for their ability to bring about the fusion of several human and mouse lymphoid cell lines. The agents were tried alone and in various combinations, and a variety of incubation conditions were tested to determine those optimal for fusion. Sendai virus was found to produce the best results with the mouse lymphoid cells; lysolecithin plus glycerol monooleate was slightly superior with the human lymphoid cells. A mixture of hyaluronidase plus collagenase produced low (2 to 6%), but significant, fusion of the human lymphoid cells; both the human and mouse lymphoid cell lines were found to contain relatively high amounts of prolyl hydroxylase, the enzyme which forms collagen from protocollagen. The maximum fusion obtained with the human cells was 16%; with a mouse plasmacytoma line, the maximum was 7.5%; and with a mouse leukemic line derived from L5178Y, the maximum was 60%.

Bicarbonates↗

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Resuscitation training for cardiac patients and their relatives--its effect on anxiety.

It is feared by many doctors that teaching basic life support (BLS) to high risk cardiac patients or a member of the family increases their anxiety. We trained a group of patients with recurrent ventricular tachycardia in BLS together with a friend or family member. Measurement of anxiety before and three months after training demonstrated a reduction in anxiety in both groups. This suggests that basic life support training can be targeted to high risk groups without fear of increasing anxiety.

Anxiety↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Self-motivation: a driving force for elders in cardiac rehabilitation.

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Aged↗