Corrigendum for: Sex Differences in Blood Pressure, Free Radicals and Plasma Cholesterol Fractions in Ren-2 Transgenic Rats of Various Ages.

List of changes: On the basis of author's request the publisher of Physiological Research decided to change the license of the article to CC BY license.

Sex differences in blood pressure, free radicals and plasma cholesterol fractions in Ren-2 transgenic rats of various ages.

Sex-related cardiovascular differences were observed in humans as well as in experimental animals. Our previous study demonstrated a marked sexual dimorphism in blood pressure (BP) of 9-month-old heterozygous transgenic Ren 2 rats (TGR), in which mouse Ren-2 renin gene was inserted into the genome of normotensive Hannover Sprague-Dawley rats (HanSD). We found significantly elevated BP only in male TGR, whereas BP of TGR females was similar to that of HanSD females. The aim of our present study was to compare BP of 3- and 6-month-old heterozygous TGR with age- and sex-matched HanSD under the same conditions as we measured in 9-month-old rats. We also monitored the amount of oxidative stress marker, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), and a main intracellular antioxidant, reduced glutathione in the heart, kidneys and liver. We also measured plasma triglycerides and cholesterol levels. We found an increased mean arterial pressure in both female and male 3-month-old TGR (172±17 vs. 187±4 mm Hg, respectively) compared to HanSD (115±5 vs. 133±3 mm Hg, respectively) but there was a marked sexual dimorphism of 6 month-old TGR where only males were hypertensive (145±5 mm Hg) while females became normotensive (123±7 mm Hg). We did not find any relationship between BP values and concentrations of TBARS or glutathione or plasma lipid levels. Our results demonstrated that 6-month-old TGR exhibited a marked sexual BP dimorphism, which was not dependent on the abnormalities in oxidative stress or cholesterol metabolism.

Surface Modification and Planar Defects of Calcium Carbonates by Magnetic Water Treatment.

Powdery calcium carbonates, predominantly calcite and aragonite, with planar defects and cation-anion mixed surfaces as deposited on low-carbon steel by magnetic water treatment (MWT) were characterized by X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, and vibration spectroscopy. Calcite were found to form faceted nanoparticles having 3x (01̄14) commensurate superstructure and with well-developed {112̄0} and {101̄4} surfaces to exhibit preferred orientations. Aragonite occurred as laths having 3x (01̄1) commensurate superstructure and with well-developed (01̄1) surface extending along [100] direction up to micrometers in length. The (hkil)-specific coalescence of calcite and rapid lath growth of aragonite under the combined effects of Lorentz force and a precondensation event account for a beneficial larger particulate/colony size for the removal of the carbonate scale from the steel substrate. The coexisting magnetite particles have well-developed {011} surfaces regardless of MWT.

Informed choice of pregnant women in prenatal screening tests for Down's syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Although maternal serum screening (MSS) for Down's syndrome has become routinely available in most obstetric clinics in many countries, few studies have addressed the reasons why women agree to undergo the MSS test. OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to describe the circumstances in which MSS was offered to pregnant women and their reasons for undertaking it. METHODS: Participant observation and in depth interviews were used in this study; specifically, the experiences of women who had a positive result for MSS and who then followed this up with amniocentesis were examined. The interviewees were twenty six mothers aged between 22 and 35 years. The interviews were audio taped and transcribed for analysis. The results were analysed by the constant comparative method. RESULTS: This study identified the reasons on which pregnant women appeared to base their decisions when undergoing MSS. The reasons were first, the recognition that the procedure was a prenatal routine procedure; second, the need to avoid the risk of giving birth to a baby with Down's syndrome, and third, a trust in modern technology and in the professional authorities. CONCLUSIONS: This study offers insights into the informed choice made by women with a positive MSS result. The reasons for undergoing MSS might help health professionals and policy makers to reflect on their practice and this may, in turn, improve the quality of prenatal care during MSS.

Down-regulation of basal Fos expression at nucleus tractus solitarii underlies restoration of baroreflex response after antihypertensive treatment in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Antihypertensive therapy not only normalizes the elevated blood pressure but also restores the reduced baroreceptor reflex response associated with hypertension, although the underlying mechanism is not fully understood. We assessed the hypothesis that a reversal of the enhanced basal Fos expression seen during hypertension in nucleus tractus solitarii, the terminal site of baroreceptor afferents, underlies the restoration of baroreceptor reflex sensitivity after antihypertensive treatment. Male adult spontaneously hypertensive or normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats received for 3 weeks captopril (100 mg/kg/day) added to their drinking water. Evaluated subsequently under pentobarbital anesthesia, captopril-treated spontaneously hypertensive rats exhibited significantly lowered systolic blood pressure and restoration of the sensitivity in baroreceptor reflex control of heart rate to levels comparable with Wistar-Kyoto rats. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis and immunohistochemical evaluation revealed concomitant down-regulation of basal expression in nucleus tractus solitarii of c-fos gene at both mRNA and protein levels. Captopril treatment, on the other hand, elicited no discernible effect on systolic blood pressure, cardiac baroreceptor reflex sensitivity or basal expression of Fos protein at the nucleus tractus solitarii of normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats. From these findings we suggest that a down-regulation of basal Fos expression in nucleus tractus solitarii may contribute to the restoration of baroreceptor reflex sensitivity in spontaneously hypertensive rats that received antihypertensive treatment such as captopril.

[The lived experience of secondipara in childbirth].

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore-the lived experience of secondipara and to understand the coping behavior dealing with these situations during the childbirth period. The researcher selected ten subjects by purposive sampling. During the course of labor, delivery and postpartum, the researcher served as a care-giver and nurse-participant observer. Data were collected by conducting one-hour in-depth interview, 8-24 hours after delivery. The verbal and non-verbal behavior expressed by the secondipara during interview were then recorded in a narrative process-recording. By means of content analysis, the verbal behavior of subjects was systematically analyzed and categorized. The results show that the lived experience of the secondipara can be categorized as follows: (1) sense of uncertainty about childbirth conditions; (2) threat to the sense of body boundary intactness; (3) trapped within bodily gird due to labor pain; (4) on the brink of losing control of body functions; (5) sense of mis-match about childbirth process; (6) achieving life satisfaction; (7) sense of becoming a new self. The coping behaviors expressed by these women can be categorized as follows: (1) trying to confirm and manage their own childbirth conditions; (2) striving to improve the process of labor and delivery; (3) engaging in equipping and maintaining self; (4) sticking it out by self-empowerment; (5) endeavoring to keep a sense of control; (6) establishing knowledge about the health condition of the newborn; (7) reviewing and integrating childbirth experience into self as a secondipara mother. The result of this study can be used as new knowledge and references for nurses in their actual care of women who are becoming mothers a second time.

Potentiation of baroreceptor reflex response by heat shock protein 70 in nucleus tractus solitarii confers cardiovascular protection during heatstroke.

BACKGROUND: Whereas hypotension and bradycardia seen during the onset of heatstroke may be protected by prior induction of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) in the brain, the underlying mechanism is not fully understood. We evaluated the hypothesis that HSP70 may confer cardiovascular protection during heatstroke by potentiating the baroreceptor reflex (BRR) control of peripheral hemodynamic performance. METHODS AND RESULTS: Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats subjected to a brief hyperthermic heat shock (HS; 42 degrees C for 15 minutes) induced discernible expression of HSP70 in the bilateral nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS), the terminal site in the brain stem for primary baroreceptor afferents. This HSP70 expression was detected at 8 hours, peaked at 24 hours, and returned to baseline by 48 hours after HS. Brief hyperthermia also significantly potentiated the BRR response in a temporal profile that correlated positively with changes in HSP70 expression at the NTS. Prior HS also appreciably alleviated hyperthermia, severe hypotension, and bradycardia manifested during the onset of heatstroke (45 degrees C for 60 minutes) elicited 24 hours later. Microinjection bilaterally of anti-HSP70 antiserum (1:20) into the NTS or denervation of the sinoaortic baroreceptor afferents significantly reversed the enhancement of BRR response and cardiovascular protection during heatstroke induced by prior HS. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that HS-induced expression of HSP70 in the NTS may alleviate severe hypotension and bradycardia exhibited during the onset of heatstroke by potentiating both the sensitivity and capacity of BRR response.

Nursing research in Taiwan.

Nursing research in Taiwan has evolved over the past 30 years. This review focused on refereed publications, research published in English, and specifically the 27 studies produced by doctorally prepared first authors. Most investigators used surveys and interviews. Designs were at the levels of description, association, and evaluation, not at the level of experiment. Problems are identified for this body of research. Further evolution of nursing science in Taiwan needs to incorporate the scientific and technologic resources of the world to develop nursing knowledge.

Nursing's values from a Confucian perspective.

Confucius' sayings-derived from his 450 recorded brief conversations and observations-colourfully expound such basic virtues as a child's duty toward his/her parents, love between brothers, devotion to family tradition, reliability in friendships, loyalty to superiors and justice to all men. How five major values of Confucian beliefs fit into nursing practices are elaborated below.

A quality study of a computerized medical birth registry.

Processed by a computerized medical birth registry system, the birth records of 20,103 deliveries, from February 1992 to February 1993, were digitized with medium registry. From January 1, to February 28, 1993, the original records (n = 2,840 cases) of all 10 collaborative hospitals were requested for assessment of the data quality. Thirty-six items were scored, data of poor quality was found in 8 items; acceptable quality in 4 items; and good quality in 28 items. The feasibility of data transfer by floppy disc and per modem was evaluated. This registry system had shortened data processing time effectively and improved mutual feedback between data center and delivery units. Errors resulting from technical faults originating in preparation of the data for computerizing at hospital level could be effectively reduced. The validity of diagnosis remained as the major source of errors.

A comparative study of health care for children with cancer in 1981 and 1991 in Taiwan.

This study compared the differences in health care for children with cancer in 1981 and 1991 in Taiwan. The concept of a well-established health care delivery system, including accessibility, continuity, efficiency, dynamism, and integration, served as the conceptual framework for the study. The results showed that: (a) medical care improved--the length of time between symptom and diagnosis was shorter, the number of clinic visits before diagnosis decreased, and the length of time for hospitalization was much shorter with most children receiving their health care in the hospital near their home town; (b) pain control at the terminal stage improved with 70% of mothers stating that their child's pain had received appropriate care; and (c) the role and function of the physician and the nurse were more recognized by parents. The results of the study will assist program planners who are helping children with cancer to improve their health care system.

Developing national health policy in Taiwan.

Since 1987 ICN has been actively encouraging national nurses' associations (NNAs) and their members to play a more active role in health policymaking at the local, national and international levels. Below the author offers her first-hand experience in developing national health policy since 1988, when she became deputy director and then director of the Bureau of Health Promotion and Protection at Taiwan's Department of Health.

A unique concept of nursing care.

The form of caring may vary across cultures; but the perception of the caring by the receiver is universal. The patient knows what hurts, what problems are crucial and what experiences have been deeply buried. As a Chinese from Taiwan, raised in Japan and educated in the US, the author provides a unique concept of nursing care that relies on the patient for direction.

Promoting health care for children with cancer in Taiwan.

In Taiwan cancer has become the second leading cause of death of children, subjecting healthcare professionals to new challenges in carrying out their duties. Not only is the treatment long, but relapses often occur, requiring expensive, repeated hospitalization and appropriate care. To help families cope with the financial burden of long treatments, nurse researchers involved in a study of the cost pressures of such treatment literally went to the streets--including a TV programme on the plight of these children and their families--and collected financial contributions from both the public and medical professions. Thanks to their efforts a Childhood Cancer Foundation is now aiding these children and their families both financially and morally. Below, a report on how the nursing profession took action to involve the community and government in a collective effort.

Conceptual behaviour of Chinese mothers in relation to their newborn infants.

A study of 20 mothers was conducted to determine the cognitive operations used by Chinese mothers in conceptual behaviour toward their newborn infants. Mothers' spontaneous speech, referring to the newborn infants during the feeding sessions, comprised the data for analysis. A total of 2300 records of behaviour were produced as mothers used orienting, evaluating and delineating operations in conceptualizing their newborn infants. Four aspects of the newborn infant namely, appearance, physical state, body function and social characteristics were important to these new mothers. Mothers tended to use orienting behaviour more frequently (P less than 0.001) than both evaluating and delineating behaviours as they conceptualized infants' body functions and physical state. Delineating behaviour was significantly (P less than 0.001) more important in relation to infants' appearance than to other aspects of the infants. Mothers' parity seemed to be a significant variable (P less than 0.05) only when mothers evaluate the infants' appearance. Comparison between Chinese and American maternal conceptual behaviour revealed that American mothers, in general, tended to use evaluating and delineating behaviour more frequently than Chinese mothers; but no significant difference in using orienting behaviour was found. As for the four aspects of the infant, there was no significant difference in two groups as they conceptualized infants' appearance and social characteristics. However, a significant difference (P less than 0.05) was found in relation to infants' physical state and body functions.