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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1978

Social networks, the family, and the schizophrenic patient: introduction to the issue.

This article is an editor's introduction to the theme of a special issue of the Schizophrenia Bulletin. The origin of the social network concept is described. Ideology, morale, structure, and the larger social context are identified as aspects of the social network to be examined in future research. Consumer organizations of schizophrenics and their families are described, and their potential for network formation and cooperation with organized psychiatry is discussed.

Consumer Organizations↗
PubMed1992

Altered glutamine metabolism in rat portal drained viscera and hindquarter during hyperammonemia.

In normal rats, muscle is the major glutamine releasing organ and gut is the major glutamine consuming organ. It has been suggested that enhanced muscle ammonia detoxification and gut ammonia production occurs during liver insufficiency-induced hyperammonemia. Therefore, ammonia and amino acid fluxes across portal-drained viscera and hindquarter, and muscle concentrations were measured in portacaval shunted and acute liver ischemia rats. Arterial ammonia and most amino acids were increased after portacaval shunting and increased progressively during liver ischemia, but net hindquarter ammonia uptake was not observed. Net hindquarter glutamine efflux was increased during portacaval shunting, but it decreased during liver ischemia, while muscle glutamine concentrations increased. The comparable net portal drained viscera glutamine uptake in normal and portacaval shunted rats changed during liver ischemia from net uptake to release, coinciding with release of most other amino acids. These results cast doubt on the ammonia detoxifying role of muscle during acute liver ischemia-induced hyperammonemia in the rat. The portal drained viscera glutamine release during severe hyperammonemia could be due to intestinal damage.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1991

Grassroots strategies for promoting maternal and infant health.

For the past four years, grassroots organizing efforts in Rhode Island have been directed toward improving maternal and infant health. Coalitions of consumer organizations, health care providers, and activists have achieved important legislative initiatives, such as health insurance for uninsured pregnant women and promotion of midwifery services. This article examines the processes involved in organizing for improved maternal and infant health care, the dynamics involved in achieving a particular outcome, and the ways in which grassroots mobilization can affect public policy and contribute toward improved maternal and infant health.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Pharmaceutical regulation in the European Community: barriers to single market integration.

The European Community (EC) plans to create a single market for pharmaceutical medicines, but the drug industry is closely linked to cultural and societal values concerning health; to the national regulatory agencies responsible for the evaluation of safety, quality, and efficacy of new drugs; to multinational and domestic companies competing in national and international markets; and to varied interest groups of professionals and consumers organized along national and multinational lines. We review the history of the EC's policy proposals, examine reactions from all these interested parties, and assess the prospects for integration into a single market. The contentious debate that continues among the parties over national prerogatives, industrial interests, professional mandates, and consumer concerns clouds the prospects for a system of centralized drug registration that will be acceptable to all EC member states.

Community Participation↗
PubMed1992

Rapid detection of inducers of enzymes that protect against carcinogens.

Dietary composition is a major determinant of cancer risk in humans and experimental animals. Major and minor components of the diet may enhance or suppress the development of malignancy. Many dietary constituents also modify the metabolism of carcinogens by induction of enzymes involved in xenobiotic metabolism, and this is one well-established mechanism for modulating the risk of cancer. We have developed a simple system for rapid detection and measurement of the induction of enzymes that detoxify carcinogens (phase II enzymes), based on the direct assay of the activity of quinone reductase [NAD(P)H:(quinone-acceptor) oxidoreductase, EC 1.6.99.2] in murine hepatoma cells grown in microtiter plate wells. Survey of extracts of a variety of commonly consumed, organically grown vegetables for quinone reductase inducer activity identified crucifers (and particularly those of the genus Brassica) as singularly rich sources. It is therefore of interest that high consumption of these types of vegetables has been correlated with decreased cancer risk in humans. The assay system also measures toxicity, which was unrelated to inducer potency among the vegetable extracts examined. By use of mutant hepatoma cells (defective in regulation of certain cytochrome P-450 enzymes) selective (monofunctional) inducers of protective phase II enzymes can be distinguished from (bifunctional) inducers that also elevate cytochromes P-450 (phase I enzymes) and thereby pose the risk of carcinogen activation. The assay system therefore permits not only rapid detection of inducers of anticarcinogenic enzymes in the human diet but also elucidation of effects of storage and processing on inducer activities.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Influence of hydrogen-consuming bacteria on cellulose degradation by anaerobic fungi.

The presence of methanogens Methanobacterium arboriphilus, Methanobacterium bryantii, or Methanobrevibacter smithii increased the level of cellulose fermentation by 5 to 10% in cultures of several genera of anaerobic fungi. When Neocallimastix sp. strain L2 was grown in coculture with methanogens the rate of cellulose fermentation also increased relative to that for pure cultures of the fungus. Methanogens caused a shift in the fermentation products to more acetate and less lactate, succinate, and ethanol. Formate transfer in cocultures of anaerobic fungi and M. smithii did not result in further stimulation of cellulolysis above the level caused by H2 transfer. When Selenomonas ruminatium was used as a H2-consuming organism in coculture with Neocallimastix sp. strain L2, both the rate and level of cellulolysis increased. The observed influence of the presence of methanogens is interpreted to indicate a shift of electrons from the formation of electron sink carbon products to H2 via reduced pyridine nucleotides, favoring the production of additional acetate and probably ATP. It is not known how S. ruminantium exerts its influence. It might result from a lowered production of electron sink products by the fungus, from consumption of electron sink products or H2 by S. ruminantium, or from competition for free sugars which in pure culture could exert an inhibiting effect on cellulolysis.

Anaerobiosis↗
PubMed1991

States' strategies for promoting supported housing for persons with psychiatric disabilities.

Survey data were used to analyze state government efforts to promote supported housing for persons with psychiatric disabilities in five states--Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, and Wisconsin. States worked to increase mental health service consumers' access to affordable housing by increasing the number of state staff who address housing issues, by developing housing units, and by increasing consumers' income. Legislative mandates and financial incentives were used to encourage service providers to offer more flexible support services. States promoted consumers' involvement in the mental health system by encouraging their participation in state-level decision making and by providing financial support to consumer organizations.

Community Mental Health Services↗
PubMed1992

Cholesterol consensus: a trans-Atlantic perspective. Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 31-October-1 November 1991.

This consensus document has been drawn up following the round-table conference 'Cholesterol Consensus: a Trans-Atlantic Perspective', Amsterdam, 31 October and 1 November 1991. Its recommendations are as follows. Elevated plasma cholesterol level should be viewed as one of a number of important risk factors that contribute to the high incidence of coronary heart disease in industrialized societies. Control of lipid abnormalities forms an essential part of an overall preventive strategy of risk factor reduction. Both population and individual strategies are required. To reduce the mean plasma cholesterol levels of populations, a multidisciplinary approach is needed, involving the health-care professions, government, food manufacturers and distributors, community and consumer organizations, and the media. While it is desirable for all individuals to know their plasma cholesterol level, universal screening is recommended only where resources for treatment and follow-up are sufficient to cope with the case load detected. As an interim measure, screening should be focused on individuals at special risk. The recommendations of the European Atherosclerosis Society and the U.S. National Cholesterol Education Program should be followed with regard to thresholds for treatment by dietary counselling and pharmacological methods, and targets for cholesterol reduction. These recommendations should be periodically reviewed as new research data becomes available. A number of key areas for research are listed.

Cholesterol↗
PubMed1979

The Clearinghouse for Environmental Carcinogens of the National Cancer Institute, USA.

The NCI Clearinghouse for Environmental Carcinogens acts as an advisory body to the Carcinogenesis Testing Program of that Institute. It consists of 30 members, from academic institutions, labour organizations, consumer groups and industry. They are divided into three groups: the Chemical Selection group establishes priorities for compounds to be tested; the Experimental Design group decides on the test procedures and parameters to be used; and the Data Evaluation/Risk Assessment group review data from completed tests, for deficiencies in experimental design or conduct, the nature of the lesions produced and the statistical analysis of the results, and gives a critical opinion of the test.

Carcinogens, Environmental↗
PubMed1979

International efforts in independent living.

Several nations currently share a major concern for provision of services to severely disabled persons. The focus of this concern has been upon those services which promote maximum integration and independence of severely disabled individuals in the community. Recent efforts in this direction by governments, private citizens, and handicapped-consumer organizations in Sweden, The Netherlands, Denmark, England, Canada, and Australia are discussed. Developments in housing and environmental modification, transportation, and self-help training are reviewed for their potential interest to advocates and practitioners of rehabilitation for independent living.

Australia↗
PubMed1979

Children's car seat restraints: when top-tether straps are ignored, are these restraints safe?

Children's car seat restraints are impact sled-tested to evaluate their safety qualities. To determine whether these restraints can protect the child, it is necessary to test in two different ways those restraints that require a top-tether strap: (1) installed in accordance with the manufacturer's directions; and (2) installed in the manner they are actually used. In this study the five children's car seat restraints top-rated by a leading consumer organization were impact sled-tested with a top-tether strap in use. They were then tested without the top-tether strap--the way such restraints are often being used as indicated by an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety survey. In addition, two leading restraints not requiring a top-tether strap, but secured by the auto lap belt, were tested. This study shows that the five top-tethered restraints, when installed with top-tether and lap belt, and the two restraints not requiring a top-tether give good protection in a frontal crash. It also shows that, with one possible exception, the five restraints that require a top-tether strap do not provide adequate protection if the top-tether strap is not used.

Accident Prevention↗
PubMed1976

Use of automated, on-line pyruvate analysis.

Normothermic blood perfusions of isolated canine liver were undertaken to determine the most sensitive and reliable indicators of viability. Perfusate flow rates and arterial and portal venous pressures were monitored. Arterial and venous concentrations of potassium, pyruvate, serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, and oxygen were monitored and the values stored on magnetic tape for computerized calculation of outputs. Continuous evaluation of taurocholate concentration in the perfusate allowed adjustment of infusion rate to provide a constant flow of bile across the hapatocytes. Pyruvate output, portal venous resistance, serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase output and potassium output provided the earliest indices of deterioration. Bile flow and oxygen consumption remained constant until irreversible outflow block had occured. The earliest and most constant parameter signaling deteoration of the ex vivo liver was pyruvate output. The deteriorating liver released pyruvate into the perfusate, while the functioning organ consumed or maintained the available substrate. Since pyruvate output occurs before the onset of irreversible damage, measures can be enacted to reverse the deterioration. Restoration of the preparation can be evaluated through the cessation of pyruvate output.

Animals↗