Three-dimensional pulsatile flow simulation before and after endovascular coil embolization of a terminal cerebral aneurysm.

The effect of different percentages of coil mesh in a cerebral aneurysm on the pulsatile flow and pressure in the parent vessel and aneurysm lumen was evaluated. Geometric data on a basilar tip aneurysm and vertebrobasilar arteries after subarachnoid hemorrhage was obtained by computer tomographic angiography. Intraarterial pressure was measured at four vertebrobasilar points before and after treatment with detachable coils. Pulsatile flow was documented by transcranial ultrasonography. A three-dimensional computer simulation was created using a commercial fluid dynamics solver for four aneurysm conditions: (1) before intervention; (2) with a 20% filling showing a complete cessation of the inflow through the aneurysm neck; (3) with a 12% filling showing an incomplete deceleration of inflow through the aneurysm neck, with a remaining flow around the embedded platinum coils; and (4) with a 12% filling and simulation of clotted aneurysm dome, which did not inhibit persisting flow phenomena. The relative pressure amplitudes neither increased nor decreased under the different simulated aneurysm filling conditions. Inserted platinum coils can immediately and decisively relieve the influx of pulsating blood and allow for initial clotting. To reach this effect, a volume density of 20% platinum coil mesh in the aneurysm neck is needed.

cDNAs with long CAG trinucleotide repeats from human brain.

Twelve diseases, most with neuropsychiatric features, arise from trinucleotide repeat expansion mutations. Expansion mutations may also cause a number of other disorders, including several additional forms of spinocerebellar ataxia, bipolar affective disorder, schizophrenia, and autism. To obtain candiate genes for these disorders, cDNA libraries from adult and fetal human brain were screened at high stringency for clones containing CAG repeats. Nineteen cDNAs were isolated and mapped to chromosomes 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 16, 19, 20, and X. The clones contain between 4 and 17 consecutive CAG, CTG, TCG, or GCA triplets. Clone H44 encodes 40 consecutive glutamines, more than any other entry in the nonredundant GenBank protein database and well within the range that causes neuronal degeneration in several of the glutamine expansion diseases. Eight cDNAs encode 15 or more consecutive glutamine residues, suggesting that the gene products may function as transcription factors, with a potential role in the regulation of neurodevelopment or neuroplasticity. In particular, the conceptual translation of clone CTG3a contains 18 consecutive glutamines and is 45% identical to the C-terminal 306 residues of the mouse numb gene product. These genes are therefore candidates for diseases featuring anticipation, neurodegeneration, or abnormalities of neurodevelopment.

Job satisfaction of Canadian public health nutritionists.

This study investigated the job satisfaction of public health nutritionists employed in provincial and municipal/regional departments of health in Canada. 153 (78%) of all eligible Canadian public health nutritionists responded to a mailed questionnaire. 89% of respondents indicated that overall, they were very satisfied or satisfied with their jobs. Although only 5% were dissatisfied or very dissatisfied, 31% would have doubts about recommending the profession to young people today, and 30% would choose a different profession if they could start again. Nutritionists who would recommend the profession had significantly higher (p < .05) levels of overall job satisfaction. Analysis of 23 job dimensions showed that nutritionists were most satisfied with their professional independence and stimulation. They were least satisfied with financial rewards and opportunities for advancement. The study provides direction on actions that may be taken to increase job satisfaction among Canadian public health nutritionists.

Self-perceived competence of Canadian public health nutritionists.

This study investigated the self-perceived competence of public health nutritionists employed in provincial and municipal/regional departments of health in Canada. One hundred and fifty-three (78%) of all eligible Canadian public health nutritionists responded to a mailed questionnaire. Nutritionists were asked to rate their level of competence on 10 competency scales and to indicate sources of their knowledge and skill development. Respondents gave the highest ratings to their interpersonal and communication skills and the lowest ratings to their research and information management abilities. T-tests showed that nutritionists who had completed a postgraduate degree felt significantly more competent in their managerial and administrative (p less than .05), organizational (p less than .01), program planning/evaluation (p less than .001), research (p less than .001), and supervisory/leadership/facilitating skills (p less than .05) than those with only a bachelor's degree. One-way ANOVA revealed significant effects of geographical location for eight competency scales. The results of this study identify continuing education needs and have implications for the graduate education of public health nutritionists.

A demographic profile of Canadian public health nutritionists.

The purpose of this study was to obtain a comprehensive demographic profile of public health nutritionists employed in provincial and municipal/regional departments of health in Canada in 1988. One hundred and fifty three (78%) of all eligible Canadian public health nutritionists responded to a mailed questionnaire. Almost all (98%) respondents were female, with a mean age of 35.8 +/- 7.2 years. Most nutritionists (83%) worked full time, and had been employed in public health for a mean of six years and nine months. Seventy percent of respondents had worked in another profession(s) or other area(s) of nutrition prior to entering public health. Although 65% were members of the management team or represented by a nutritionist on the management team, 25% of nutritionists were not regarded as members of senior management in their health agency. While the majority of nutritionists in Ontario (84%) had completed a graduate degree, this was the case for the minority of respondents from British Columbia (35%), the Prairies (32%), Quebec (33%), and Atlantic Canada (27%).