Perceptions and experiences that may influence consideration of breast imaging as a career option.

INTRODUCTION: Staff shortages and increasing workload raises concerns about maintaining breast services. Recruitment and retention of radiographic staff is vital. We explore views of UK undergraduate radiography students and breast radiographers to gauge how training experiences influenced their career choices on graduation. METHOD: Two questionnaires were distributed on line, one to female final year undergraduate radiography students, the second to screening and symptomatic breast units, targeting radiographers in post ≤10yrs. RESULTS: There were 133 student and 126 radiographer responses for analysis. Sixty nine per cent of student respondents were ≤25 yrs. Over 40% of radiographer respondents were ≥36 yrs Seventy five per cent of students and 70% of radiographers had a practice placement in breast imaging (BI), many commenting this should include positioning technique. Experiences during placement were more influential than academic content for career planning. Seventy per cent of students and 50% of radiographers felt BI suitable as a first post. Negative influences came from higher education institution staff and qualified radiographers. Ninety per cent of students intended working in general radiography first, 47% considering BI in future. Sixty nine per cent of radiographers did not choose BI for their first post. Interest and career progression influenced radiographers choosing to subsequently train in mammography. CONCLUSION: Most respondents took a non BI post first with later attractions into BI including interest and career progression. Practice placement was the most influential aspect of training for both groups citing a need for 'hands on' experience and positive engagement from mammographers.

Effect of salbutamol on specific airway resistance in infants with a history of wheezing.

The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of nebulized salbutamol in infants with a history of wheezing. Eighty-eight children aged 3-24 months with a history of wheezing were studied, in seven groups: I (n = 15) and I/A (n = 17) with elevated specific airway resistance (SRaw); II (n = 17) with normal SRaw; III (n = 23), III/A (n = 17), and IV (n = 18) with normal SRaw exposed to carbachol bronchial challenge (CBC); and V (n = 13) serving as control. Infants for groups I/A and III/A were selected to match by age and by baseline and post-carbachol SRaw values, respectively. Baseline airway resistance and thoracic gas volume (TGV) were measured plethysmographically. Specific airway resistance was selected as an index of bronchial function. Thereafter every child in groups I, I/A and II inhaled 200 micrograms of salbutamol by tidal breathing, and the children in groups III, III/A, and IV were exposed to CBC. Following positive reaction to carbachol, children of groups III and III/A inhaled salbutamol (200 micrograms, tidal breathing), and those of group IV received no drug. Controls from group V with normal SRaw received placebo (phosphate-buffered saline). Plethysmography was repeated in all children at 5 minute intervals. Following salbutamol SRaw was reduced in children with elevated and normal SRaw. In contrast, children not receiving salbutamol had unchanged SRaw value. The response to salbutamol measured by SRaw, Raw, and TGV was not significantly different in the spontaneously obstructed infants compared to those who received carbachol. In conclusion, infants with a history of wheezing do respond to inhaled salbutamol.

[Occurrence of Clostridium difficile in feces of children with dysfunction of the digestive tract and other disorders]. / Wystepowanie Clostridium difficile w kale dzieci z dysfunkcja przewodu pokarmowego oraz innymi zespolami chorobowymi.

Thousand and six hundred ninety two fecal samples from children of few weeks old up to over ten years were tested for the presence of Clostridium difficile. Most of them were treated with antibiotics and showed diarrhea symptoms. Hundred and twenty three strains of C-difficile were submitted to serological typing and their sensitivity to 10 selected antibiotics and chemotherapeutic agents was determined. Among 109 strains of C. difficile tested for enterotoxin production by latex test 82 strains (75.2%) were positive. Almost half (48%) of the isolated strains belonged to serotype C. Most of the strains were resistant to cefoxitin (88%) and clindamycin (76%). Over 90% of strains were sensitive to vancomycin and azlocillin and 86% to chloramphenicol and metronidazole. In the majority of patients with positive C. difficile cultures diarrhea was present, however, it was difficult to find a direct link between these symptoms and antibiotic therapy.

[Biochemical and serologic characteristics of Campylobacter jejuni/coli strains causing diarrhea in children]. / Biochemiczna i serologiczna charakterystyka szczepów Campylobacter jejuni/coli odpowiedzialnych za biegunki u dzieci.

One hundred strains of Campylobacter jejuni/coli isolated from faeces of children with diarrhoea were characterised. Frequency of isolation of these microorganisms from faeces of children with enterocolitis symptoms was evaluated. In this group Campylobacter jejuni/coli constituted 11.4% of all isolates, being the dominant etiologic agent of these infections. Biotype pattern of 100 Campylobacter jejuni/coli strains was determined. Biotype I C.jejuni prevailed and C. coli constituted as much as 35% of all isolated strains. All isolated strains were characterised serologically according to typing scheme of Lior. Seventy four strains were typed and 22 were untypable, out of which four were rough. Two new serotypes were isolated: LIO 71 and LIO 72, LIO 4 and LIO 72 serotypes were the most frequently isolated. Frequency of isolation of Campylobacter jejuni/coli strains were also determined in the period from january 1985 to august 1987.

Salivary theophylline monitoring in asthmatic children.

The usefulness of determination of salivary concentrations of theophylline for estimation of the serum concentration of the drug was tested in asthmatic children receiving daily 15-20 mg/kg of aminophylline. Theophylline was measured in saliva samples obtained after stimulation with citric acid and bromhexine, and in the blood serum, and the ratio of saliva: serum theophylline concentrations was calculated. The correlation between saliva and serum theophylline concentration was better for saliva samples obtained after bromhexine stimulation (r = 0.9496) than after citric acid stimulation (r = 0.8506). Using the mean value of the saliva: tissue theophylline concentration ratio of 0.6795, the serum theophylline concentration may be satisfactorily predicted (r = 0.9810). The stimulation of salivation with bromhexine is more suitable for the Abbott TDX Drug Monitoring System than the stimulation with citric acid, and the method is suitable for a routine monitoring of theophylline concentrations in the course of theophylline therapy.