In response to the 2.7 billion dollars cuts to Medicare that were passed by the U.S. House of Representatives in the Children's Health and Medicare Protection Act (CHAMP Act), the long term care provider community today initiated an aggressive TV and print campaign in Congressional districts across the country. The campaign warns that proposed cuts will jeopardize ongoing quality improvements in America's nursing homes, threaten thousands of local health care jobs, and irrationally return Medicare funding levels to those seen almost a decade ago.

"The long term care profession strongly supports expanding the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). However, this support should not be funded by raiding the Medicare funding that vulnerable seniors depend upon for quality nursing home care in facilities across the nation," warned Alan Rosenbloom, President of the Alliance for Quality Nursing Home Care ("the Alliance"). The Alliance is funding the ad campaign in conjunction with the American Health Care Association (AHCA). "Nursing homes have achieved significant quality improvements in recent years. Through this ad campaign, we are ensuring that lawmakers understand the House-passed SCHIP expansion plan would undermine and even reverse those quality improvements. This law would harm not only the 1.7 million Americans who rely on quality nursing home care, but also the hundreds of thousands of dedicated caregivers around the country who provide care and services."

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Dia-B Tech Limited (ASX:DIA) has achieved a major clinical milestone of its ISF402 diabetes drug development by confirming its detection in the bloodstream of trial patients. Peptides and proteins already existing in the bloodstream often mask small peptide drugs, making drug evaluation unreliable.

A robust procedure has been developed for measuring ISF402 in plasma. Development of the assay has advanced the clinical development of ISF402 by identifying a major clinically active metabolite (HTD-amide) and in animal studies determining the circulating concentrations of HTD-amide that improve insulin action. The assay can measure ISF402 and HTD-amide in plasma from humans and animals dosed orally with ISF402 and the results confirm that ISF402 enters the circulation after oral dosing.

An independently assessed analysis of interim data from the recently completed Phase Ia trial has shown pharmacologically relevant amounts of HTD-amide in plasma from trial subjects dosed orally with ISF402. The concentrations detected were similar to those achieved in rabbits given oral ISF402.

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Action Medical Research has announced that a new MRI scanning technique could mean life-changing curative surgery for more people with epilepsy.

The technique helps to pin-point the exact source of seizures in the brain and, where surgery is possible, the area may be removed. This can mean a future that is seizure free for those sufferers whose epilepsy cannot be controlled by drugs.

It has detected abnormalities in the brain that may give rise to epilepsy in 29% of patients whose brains appeared normal using conventional MRI scanning.

Around 450,000 -2 suffer from epilepsy in the UK, it is the most common serious brain disorder and is characterised by repeated seizures. These seizures are often spontaneous but can be caused by triggers such as lack of sleep, flickering lights or a high fever

Action Medical Research has supported the groundbreaking work of Professor John Duncan, Professor of Neurology at University College London, and Medical Director of the National Society for Epilepsy, for 16 years.

Previously Professor Duncan has worked with the charity to develop MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans that act as "windows on the brain" to understand what happens between seizures.

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Breakthrough Breast Cancer scientists have helped identify a critical role for a gene called Tip60 in breast cancer. The research, to be published in the scientific journal Nature on Thursday 30 August, shows for the first time that Tip60 is linked to breast cancer development, and is associated with more aggressive forms of the disease.

The team, at The Breakthrough Breast Cancer Research Centre at The Institute of Cancer Research in London, studied the Tip60 gene in breast biopsies. They discovered that the activity of this gene is significantly lower in breast cancer tissue compared with normal breast tissue. This discovery could have important implications for how some breast cancers are treated in the future.

Breakthrough's scientists, collaborating with a team in Italy, found that defects in this gene seem to appear at an early stage of breast cancer development, and are associated with aggressive cancers that are currently difficult to treat. Tip60 is a tumour suppressor gene, which helps to hold the growth of cells in check, and protects their DNA. Reduced activity of Tip60 contributes to uncontrolled cell growth, which allows breast cancers to develop. Unusually, they found that the reduced levels of Tip60 were caused by only one faulty copy of the gene.

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A successful HPV vaccination program requires more than just a series of injections, says a public health expert in this week's BMJ.

Careful planning, adequate education, and long term monitoring will be needed, argues Angela Raffle, a consultant in public health at Bristol Primary Care Trust.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted infection seen most often in young women and adolescents. There are more than 100 types of HPV, some cause only genital warts, but others cause cancers including cervical cancer.

Screening currently reduces deaths from cervical cancer by around 80% but a new jab can offer full protection against HPV strains linked to about 70% of cervical cancers. The UK government is now considering whether girls aged 11 or 12 should be vaccinated, before they become sexually active and can catch HPV.

Raffle believes that the only certain way of determining the long term impact of vaccination will be to follow vaccinated women for several decades, while an accompanying commentary warns that health inequality could increase in poorcountries if universal HPV vaccination is not adopted.

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Using magnetic resonance (MR) images of the brain, researchers have identified a new abnormality related to disease progression and disability in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a study published in the September issue of Radiology, published by the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

"Based on these findings, physicians may be able to diagnose multiple sclerosis more accurately and identify patients at risk for developing progressive disease," said the study's lead author, Rohit Bakshi, M.D., associate professor of neurology and radiology at Harvard Medical School and director of clinical MS-MRI at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Partners MS Center in Boston.

MS is a chronic, autoimmune disease characterized by the destruction of myelin, the protective layers that surround nerve cells. It can affect numerous body functions, and symptoms may include visual and speech impairment, memory loss, depression, muscle weakness, loss of coordination, numbness, pain, bowel and bladder problems and sexual dysfunction.

MS affects approximately 400,000 people in the United States and as many as 2.5 million worldwide, mostly women between the ages of 20 and 50, according to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

There are four classifications of MS, but the two most common types are relapsing-remitting and secondary-progressive. Patients with relapsing-remitting MS will experience symptom flare-ups followed by periods of no disease progression. Patients with secondary- progressive MS exhibit an initial period of relapsing-remitting MS, followed by steady disease progression.

Dr. Bakshi and colleagues retrospectively reviewed the T1 MRI data of 145 MS patients, including 112 women and 33 men. Ninety-two patients had relapsing-remitting MS, and 49 patients had secondary-progressive MS. The disease classification was unknown in four patients.

The researchers found that T1-weighted MR images of the brains of MS patients often depict bright areas called hyperintense lesions, also known as areas of "T1 shortening," and set out to determine if there was a relationship between the frequency and location of these lesions and disease progression, brain atrophy and disability in patients with MS.

The analysis uncovered 340 T1 hyperintense lesions in 123 patients. Lesions were more likely to be present in patients with secondary-progressive MS. In addition, 71 percent of patients with secondary-progressive MS had multiple T1 hyperintense lesions, compared with 46 percent of relapsing-remitting MS patients.

The total number of T1 hyperintense lesions was closely correlated with physical disability, disease progression and brain atrophy.

"The findings suggest that T1 hyperintense lesions commonly occur in patients with MS and that the presence of multiple lesions indicates a risk for an advancing disease course," Dr. Bakshi said. "These results further emphasize the importance of MR neuroimaging in the diagnosis and management of neurologic disorders such as MS."

Journal attribution required.

Radiology is a monthly scientific journal devoted to clinical radiology and allied sciences. The journal is edited by Anthony V. Proto, M.D., School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Va. Radiology is owned and published by the Radiological Society of North America, Inc. (http://www.RSNA.org/radiologyjnl).

The Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) is an association of more than 40,000 radiologists, radiation oncologists, medical physicists and related scientists committed to excellence in patient care through education and research. The Society is based in Oak Brook, Ill. (http://www.rsna.org).

"Multiple Sclerosis: Hyperintense Lesions in the Brain on Nonenhanced T1-weighted MR Images Evidenced as Areas of T1 Shortening." Collaborating on this paper with Dr. Bakshi were Vallabh Janardhan, M.D., and Sonu Suri, M.D.

http://www.rsna.org

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Lourdes Santos Tancinco, Aug 29, 2007
MAKATI CITY — After more than two years since the National Council of State Board of Nursing (NCSBN) began administering Nclex outside of the United States, it finally came to a decision to make the Philippines a venue for Nclex or the National Council Licensure Examination.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo inaugurated the testing center here and welcomed this recent development as a “great service” to the nursing professionals aspiring to work in the U.S.

While Filipino nurses are significant in number than any other foreign nationalities in terms of their migration to the U.S., the Philippines was not chosen right away as testing center. Since 2005, the Nclex has been offered abroad in other countries like London, England; Hong Kong; Sydney, Australia; Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver, Canada; Frankfurt, Germany; Mumbai, New Delhi, Hyderabad, Bangalore, and Chennai, India; Mexico City, Mexico; Taipei, Taiwan; Chiyoda-ku and Yokohama, Japan.

“Our recent decision to extend to the Philippines the opening of the Nclex testing center is consideration of many factors particularly the political situation and its ability to maintain the integrity of the examination,” said Casey Marks Ph.D, associate executive director for Business Operations of the National Council for State Board Nursing (NCSBN).

For a couple of years, advocates of the Philippine nursing professions, including the Commission of Filipino Overseas led by Secretary Dante Ang, made aggressive representations to convince the NCSBN to consider the Philippines as an Nclex testing center.

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A new study in the Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety highlights the role abbreviations play in medication errors.

According to researchers from Rutgers University who analyzed data on nearly 30,000 medication error reports contained in the United States Pharmacopeia's MEDMARX® database, nearly five percent were due to abbreviations problems.

Results showed:

-- The most common abbreviation resulting in a medication error was the use of "qd" in place of "once daily," accounting for 43.1 percent of all errors.
-- The other most common abbreviations resulting in medication errors were "U" for units, "cc" for mL, "MSO4" or "MS" for morphine sulfate, and decimal errors.
-- Eighty-one percent of the errors occurred during prescribing; errors during transcribing and dispensing represented 14 percent and 2.9 percent, respectively.
-- Abbreviation errors originated most often from medical staff.
-- The three most common types of abbreviation-related errors were prescribing, improper dose/quantity, and incorrectly prepared medication.

The authors conclude more abbreviations should be added to the standard "do not use" list. Top candidates for an expanded list include drug name abbreviations, such as PCN, DCN, TCN; stem abbreviations (amps, nitro, succs), µg (mcg), cc (mL); and dose scheduling (BID, TID, QID).

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A large new Japanese study suggests that middle aged men who drink heavily could see their blood pressure rise, regardless of whether their levels of "good" cholesterol also go up.

Study author Ichiro Wakabayashi also found that the older men who participated all in their 50s were more susceptible to the blood pressure-boosting effects of heavy drinking than younger men.

While there are signs that drinking can be good for the heart and boost good cholesterol levels, "this emphasizes that alcohol is not for everyone," said Kenneth Mukamal, M.D., an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School who is familiar with the study findings.

"This really fits well with the observation that the risk of stroke which is more sensitive to blood pressure than heart attack is not really substantially lower in moderate drinkers," Mukamal said. According to him, an increase in blood pressure might eliminate any benefit from higher levels of good cholesterol.

Wakabayashi, of the Hyogo College of Medicine in Japan, launched the study to explore whether high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol which is thought to protect the heart from disease might play a role in how drinking affects blood pressure in men.

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A new gene therapy technique has been shown to reduce the amount of amyloid-beta protein (which forms the plaques found in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease) in the brains of mice. In a paper published this week in the open access medical journal PLoS Medicine Matthew Hemming, Dennis Selkoe and colleagues from Harvard Medical School generated a secreted form of neprilysin, a protease that can break down amyloid-beta protein, and used primary fibroblasts to introduce this soluble protease into the brains of mice who had advanced plaque deposition.

The pathologic hallmarks of Alzheimer disease are extracellular plaques of amyloid-beta protein and intraneuronal neurofibrillary tangles of tau protein, both of which accumulate in the regions of the brain that mediate memory and thought. Current treatments for Alzheimer disease affect only the symptoms. Ultimately it is to be hoped that it would be possible to develop disease-modifying interventions that would lower the production of amyloid-beta protein or enhance its clearance.

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Female rhesus monkeys use special vocalizations while interacting with infants, the way human adults use motherese, or "baby talk," to engage babies' attention, new research at the University of Chicago shows. "Motherese is a high pitched and musical form of speech, which may be biological in origin," said Dario Maestripieri, Associate Professor in Comparative Human Development at the University. "The acoustic structure of particular monkey vocalizations called girneys may be adaptively designed to attract young infants and engage their attention, similar to how the acoustic structure of human motherese, or baby talk, allows adults to visually or socially engage with infants."

In order to determine if other primates also use special vocalizations while interacting with infants, researchers studied a group of free-ranging rhesus macaques, which live on an island off the coast of Puerto Rico. They studied the vocalizations exchanged between adult females and found that grunts and girneys increased dramatically when a baby was present. They also found that when a baby wandered away from its mother, the other females looked at the baby and vocalized, suggesting that the call was intended for the baby.

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What is Mesothelioma? -MESOTHELIOMA FACTS & FIGURES

# Each year 2,500 to 4,000 patients in the U.S. are diagnosed with mesothelioma and asbestos-related diseases.

# Mesothelioma has a long latency (inactive) period of anywhere between 15 – 50 years.

# Experts predict that mesothelioma diagnoses will continue to increase in the United States for at least another 10 to 20 years.

# While many countries have banned certain forms of asbestos, an estimated 5,000 asbestos-containing products exist today. (See a list of dangerous products)

Article/Commentary: A Ban on Asbestos Must be Based on a Comparative Risk Assessment. (Canada)

# As many as 8 million people in the U.S. have already been exposed to asbestos and it continues to pose a serious threat to workers in certain occupations. (Click here for a list of at risk occupations)

# One study of asbestos insulation workers reported a mesothelioma death rate up to 344 times higher than the general population.

# Most mesothelioma victims die within 18 months of diagnosis. Mortality is swift not because the cancer is fast-growing but because it usually is far advanced by the time it is detected.

Read about the development of a blood test for Mesothelioma diagnosis; Visit our Mesothelioma Articles.

#Poor prognostic variables include: nonepithelial histology, older age (greater than 75 years), pleural primary, chest pain at presentation, poor performance status, and elevated platelet count (greater than 400,000/mcL).

#By the year 2030 there are estimates that asbestos will have caused 60,000 instances of mesothelioma and around 250,000 other cancers that result in death.

# Over half a million asbestos and mesothelioma injury claims have been filed to date. Over 50,000 were filed in 1998 alone.

Read more about your legal rights and how to obtain a lawyer in our Legal Help section.

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Reduce, recycle and rebuild is as important to the most basic component of the human body, the cell, as it is to the environment.

And a University of Florida study shows just how much the body benefits when it "goes green," at least if you're a rat: Cutting calories helps rodents live longer by boosting cells' ability to recycle damaged parts so they can maintain efficient energy production.

"Caloric restriction is a way to extend life in animals. If you give them less food, the stress of this healthy habit actually makes them live longer," said Christiaan Leeuwenburgh, Ph.D., chief of the division of biology of aging in UF's Institute on Aging.

Understanding how the process works at the cellular level in rodents could help scientists develop drugs that mimic the process in humans, Leeuwenburgh added.

How does it work? During the aging process, free radicals -- highly reactive byproducts of our cells' respiration -- wreak havoc on our cellular machinery. Mitochondria, the tiny power plants that keep a cell functioning, are especially vulnerable to this type of damage.

The effects can be disastrous -- if malfunctioning mitochondria aren't removed, they begin to spew out suicidal proteins that prompt the entire cell to die. Cell death, on a whole-body scale, is what aging is all about.

Fortunately, younger cells are adept at reducing, recycling and rebuilding.

In this process, damaged mitochondria are quickly swallowed up and degraded. The broken down pieces are then recycled and used to build new mitochondria. However, older cells are less adept at this process, so damaged mitochondria tend to accumulate and contribute to aging.

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Definitions of mesothelioma on the Web:

A benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous) tumor affecting the lining of the chest or abdomen. Exposure to asbestos particles in the air increases the risk of developing malignant mesothelioma.

www.stjude.org/glossary

Malignant tumor of the mesothelium caused by exposure to asbestos fibers.

www.mesotheliomahelp.net/mesothelioma_glossary.html

A tumor of the mesothelium, that can be benign (localized) or malignant (diffusely spread), and that is most commonly caused by the ingestion of asbestos particles.

www.mesothelioma-legal-resource.com/mesothelioma-medical-glossary.htm

A rare form of lung cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. Mesothelioma affects the pleura of the lungs, often over a period of many years.

www.lungcancerfyi.com/lung_cancer_glossary.html

A rare cancer, usually found in those exposed to asbestos, in the form of a malignant tumor in the mesothelium of the lungs and or abdomen. Symptoms of this incurable disease are persistent coughing or coughing of blood, chest or abdomen pain, fatigue, and weight loss.

www.mesotheliomafyi.com/glossary.html

(mez-uh-thee-lee-YOH-muh) — A tumor in the lining of the chest or abdomen (stomach area).

www.cdc.gov/cancer/lung/glossary.htm

A type of lung cancer that is closely associated with a history of asbestos exposure.

www.mountvernoncancernetwork.nhs.uk/glossary/m.htm

Type of cancer associated with exposure to asbestos

www.chemi-tek.com/dic_lista.asp

a cancerous tumor occurring in the lining of the lungs and chest cavity, often associated with exposure to asbestos dust

www.american-depot.com/services/resources_gl_m.asp

A cancer of cells similar to those forming the lining of the lungs, heart, the abdominal cavity and its organs.

www.dva.gov.au/health/HlthStdy/validation/glossary.htm

a rare form of carcinoma of the mesothelium lining lungs or abdomen or heart; usually associated with exposure to asbestos dust

wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

Mesothelioma is an uncommon form of cancer, usually associated with previous exposure to asbestos, which affects the pleura, a sac which surrounds the lungs, the peritoneum, the lining of the abdominal cavity, or the pericardium, a sac that surrounds the heart.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesothelioma

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What is Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is the term used to describe cancer of the mesothelium, a protective lining that covers many of the body's organs. Mesothelioma can be found in the sac lining the chest (pleura), the lining of the abdominal cavity (peritoneum), or the lining around the heart (pericardium). Mesothelioma is caused by the inhalation of asbestos fibers. These fibers irritate the mesothelial cells that form the mesothelium.

Prevalence of Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma cases in the U.S. have increased over the past 20 years, with approximately 2,000 new cases diagnosed each year. Mesothelioma occurs mostly in male adults who have worked closely with asbestos.

History of Mesothelioma

The first cases of mesothelioma were discovered in the "Asbestos Hills" in South Africa. Although the occurrence of mesothelioma in the U.S. is low, there has still been a threefold increase in mesothelioma cases due to exposure to asbestos in asbestos product plants and shipbuilding facilities.

Types of Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma can be classified more specifically based on where the cancerous tissue is found.

Pleural Mesothelioma affects of the lining of the lungs. It is the most common type of mesothelioma.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma affects the lining of the abdominal cavity

Pericardial Mesothelioma affects the heart and tissue surrounding the heart.

Cause of Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is caused by the inhalation of asbestos fibers. The asbestos fibers cause the cells of the mesothelium to become abnormal and begin to divide uncontrollably, forming a malignant tumor (cancer). These cells break off and spread to other parts of the body, causing further damage to organs and tissues.

Signs and Symptoms of Mesothelioma

Signs and symptoms of mesothelioma usually do not appear until 30+ years after exposure to asbestos. Early stages of mesothelioma are similar to pneumonia. The following is a list of the common signs and symptoms of mesothelioma:

Dyspnea

Swelling of abdomen/chest, neck or face

Chest pain

Persistent cough

Fever

Weight loss

Difficulty swallowing

The Development of Mesothelioma

Exposure to asbestos for as short a time period as one to two months may cause mesothelioma to develop 30+ years later. Exposure may have occurred in the workplace when handling asbestos fibers or materials composed of asbestos, or at home just by living in the close quarters with asbestos.

If you have been exposed to asbestos at any time, and you have any of the symptoms of mesothelioma, you should see your doctor for a definitive diagnosis.

Source: National Cancer Institute

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Wellcome Trust scientists have identified for the first time how our brain's response changes the closer a threat gets. Using a "Pac Man"-like computer game where a volunteer is pursued by an artificial predator, the researchers showed that the fear response moves from the strategic areas of the brain towards more reactive responses as the artificial predator approaches.

When faced with a threat, such as a large bear, humans, like other animals, alter their behaviour depending on whether the threat is close or distant. This is because different defence mechanisms are needed depending on whether, for example, the bear is fifty feet away, when being aware of its presence may be enough, or five feet away, when we might need to fight or run away.

To investigate what happens in the brain in such a situation, researchers at the Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging at UCL, London, created a game where subjects were chased through a maze by an artificial predator -- if caught, they would receive a mild electric shock. The researchers then measured their brain activity using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The results are published in the journal Science.

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The bacteria that cause brucellosis can sense light and use the information to regulate their virulence, according to a study in the journal Science. The discovery comes after 120 years of research into the disease, which causes abortions in livestock and fevers in humans. Researchers found that two other bacteria, including a species that attacks plants, sense light using the same type of protein structure, and at least 94 more species possess the code for it in their DNA.

"These bacteria have been very well studied for years, and no one knew they could sense light," said lead author Trevor Swartz, who initiated the study as a research scientist at the University of California, Santa Cruz. "Now it seems like it's a common thing rather than being an anomaly."

The ubiquity of the structure suggests that light may play a much more important role in bacterial life than has previously been recognized. And because the recurrent structure can be paired with a variety of signaling proteins, it gives organisms immense versatility in the ways they use light, Swartz said.

"We have bumped into an entirely new family of light receptors in nature," said coauthor Roberto Bogomolni, professor of chemistry and biochemistry at UCSC.

The receptor molecule contains a light-sensing region known as an LOV domain because it resembles similar units in other proteins that sense light, oxygen, or voltage, said coauthor and longtime collaborator Winslow Briggs, of the Carnegie Institution of Washington. The structure crops up in a variety of proteins, where it lends its light-sensing ability to the whole molecule. The light-sensing structure is very different from either the light-harvesting molecules of photosynthesis or the light-gathering pigments in our own eyes.

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The president of the Philippine Nurses Association (PNA) made a personal appeal to Filipino doctors who want to take up nursing to be able to work abroad.

Dr. Leah Paquiz said the PNA cannot control the number of people who want to take up the nursing profession because it is the right of every individual.

She, however, said: " Makikiusap po ako sa kanila: Huwag na po kayong mag-nurse para naman po mayroong mga doktor na maiwan sa Pilipinas (I'm appealing to them: Please don't take up nursing. We need doctors in the Philippines).”

Paquiz admitted that more doctors are determined to leave the country to work overseas as nurses because of the bigger pay and incentives.

The PNA chief also said that she is concerned over the exodus of doctors to other countries to look for work as nurses.

“Madami kasi. Nawawalan na po tayo ng doktor. Iyon ang nakakalungkot, nawawalan na tayo ng doctor na titingin sa atin (They're too many. We're losing our doctors. It's sad because we're losing the doctors who should take care of us),” she added.

Paquiz appealed to the government to include health care in its list of priorities and look into the salaries of doctors and health workers to prevent them from going abroad.

The PNA official also urged the full-implementation of the nurses' Magna Carta as well as the Republic Act 9173 or the Nursing Act of 2002.

Paquiz said there is no rule barring the new nurses from taking up the National Council Licensure Examination, the test for those who want to work for hospitals in the United States.

"Pwede po silang mag-NCLEX pero kinakailangan naman po sana na magkaroon muna ng experience dito (Nurses can take the NCLEX immediately but they should at least obtain local experience)," she said

The Philippines began its maiden hosting of the NCLEX last week for nurses who are planning to work in the US. The exam is ongoing and the results have yet to be released, Paquiz said.

New nurses known
Paquiz's appeal came after the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) released the results Sunday of the 2007 Nursing Licensure Examinations (NLE).

A total of 31,275 students (48.18%) out of 64,909 examinees passed.

The Department of Labor and Employment said it will release the list of new nurses on Tuesday.

Darlene Chutuape of Our Lady of Fatima University topped the exams with 88 percent.

Close at second place was Romeo Pangilinan (87.8%) from De Ocampo Memorial College of Nursing. Pierre Florendo from Mount View College and Mona Lisa Pua from the Chinese General Hospital School of Nursing were tied at third place with 87.2 percent.
Last year, the nursing exams were marred with controversy after some of the review centers were found to have been involved in leaking the answers to some of the test questions.

Following almost a year of investigations, justice department prosecutors announced Thursday last week that they will file criminal charges against the officials of two nursing review centers linked to the June 2006 Nursing Licensure Examination test leakage.

Chief State Prosecutor Jovencito Zuño signed a resolution finding probable cause to indict George Cordero, Inress Review Center president; Ricarte Gapuz Jr., R.A. Gapuz Review Center director; Elena Gapuz-Altarejos, R.A. Gapuz Review Center vice-president; and Jonna Bucud, R.A. Gapuz drill master, for violation of Republic Act 8981 or An Act Modernizing the Professional Regulation Commission.

They could face imprisonment of between six and 12 years and be fined P100,000, or both, according to the Department of Justice. With a report from Ricky Velasco, DZMM

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Tonometry: normal (10-21 mm Hg)

PR Interval: normal (0.12-0.20 seconds)

Serum Amylase: normal (25-151 units/dL)

Serum Ammonia: normal (35 to 65 mcg/dL)

Calcium: adult (8.6-10 mg/dL)
child (8 to 10.5 mg/dL)
term<1week hg =" inadequate">11 mm Hg = too much fluid

Potassium: 3.5-5.0 mEq/L
Sodium: 135-145 mEq/L
Calcium: 4.5-5.2 mEq/L or 8.6-10 mg/dL
Magnesium: 1.5-2.5 mEq/L
Chloride: 96-107 mEq/L
Phosphorus: 2.7 to 4.5 mg/dL

PR measurements: normal (0.12 to 0.20 second)

QRS measurements: normal (0.04 to 0.10 second)

Ammonia: 35 to 65 ug/dL
Amylase:25 to 151 IV/L

Lipase: 10 to 140 U/L

Cholesterol: 140 to 199 mg/dL
LDL: <130>0.1 to 0.2 ng/mL = MI

Erythrocyte studies: 0-30 mm/hour

Serum iron: Male 65-175 ug/dL
Female 50-170 ug/dL

RBC: Male 4.5 to 6.2 M/uL
Female 4.0 to 5.5 M/uL



Theophylline levels normal (10 to 20 mcg/dl)




MOTOR DEVELOPMENT


Chin up
1 month

Chest up
2 month

Knee push and “swim”
6 month

Sits alone/stands with help
7 month

Crawls on stomach
8 month

Stands holding on furniture
10 month

Walks when led
11 month

Stands alone
14 month

Walks alone
15 month


AT THE PLAY GROUND

* Stranger anxiety: 0 -1 year
* Separation anxiety: 1 - 3 years
* Solitary play: 0 – 1 year
* Parallel play: 2 – 3 years
* Group play: 3 – 4 years


PSYCHOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT

AGE
ERIKSON
FREUD
PIAGET
Infant
0 – 1.5
Trust vs. mistrust Oral (trust & dependence
sensorimotor
Toddler
1.5 -3
Autonomy vs. shame Anal (holding vs. letting out)
preoperational
Pre-school
3 - 6
Initiative vs. guilt Phallic (Oedipus complex)
preoperational
School age
6 - 11 Industry vs. inferiority
latency
Concrete operational

11 - 20 Identity vs. role confusion
genital
Formal operational

20 – 25
Intimacy vs. isolation

25 – 50 Generativity vs. stagnation

50 - ?
Integrity vs.despair


LABORATORY VALUES

ELECTROLYTES

Sodium (Na+): 135 – 145 meq/L
(increase-dehydration; decrease overhydration)
Potassium (K+): 3.5 - 5.0 meq/L
Magnesium (Mg++): 1.5 – 2.5 meq/L
Calcium (Ca++): 4.5 – 5.8 meq/L
Neonate : 7.0 to 12 mg/dL
Child: 8.0 to 10.5 mg/dL
Phosphorus (PO4): 1.7 – 2.6 meq/L
Chloride (Cl-): 96 – 106 meq/L

COAGULATION STUDIES

Activated partial thromboplastin time(APTT): 20 – 36 seconds depending on the type of activator used
Prothrombin time(PT): male: 9.6 – 11.8 seconds
Female: 9.5 – 11.3 seconds
International Normalized Ratio(INR): 2.0 - 3.0 for standard Coumadin therapy
3.0 – 4.5 for high-dose Coumadin therapy
Clotting time: 8 – 15 minutes
Platelet count: 150,000 to 400,000 cells/Ul
Bleeding time: 2.5 to 8 minutes

SERUM GASTROINTESTINAL STUDIES

Albumin: 3.4 to 5 g/dL
Alkaline phosphatase: 4.5 to 13 King-Armstrong units/dL
Ammonia: 15 to 45 ug/dL
Amylase: 50 – 180 Somogyi U/dL in adult
20 – 160 Somogyi U/dL in the older adult
Bilirubin: direct: 0 - 0.3 mg/dL
Indirect: 0.1 – 1.0 mg/dL
Total: less than 1.5 mg/dL
Cholesterol: 120 – 200mg/dL
Lipase: 31 -186 U/L
Lipids: 400 – 800 mg/dL
Triclycerides: Normal range: 10 – 190 mg/dL
Borderline high: 200 – 400 mg/dL
High: 400 – 1000mg/dL
Very high: greater than 1000mg.dL
Protien: 6.0 – 8.0 g/L
Uric acid: male: 4.5 – 8 ng/dL
Female: 2.5 – 6.2 ng/dL


GLUCOSE STUDIES

Fasting blood sugar: 70 – 105 mg/dL
Glucose monitoring (capillary Blood): 60 – 110 mg/dL



RENAL FUNCTION TEST

Creatinine: 0.6 – 1.3 mg/dL
Blood urea nitrogen (BUN): 5 – 20 mg/dL

ERYTROCYTES STUDIES

Erytrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR): 0 – 30 mm/hr depending on age
Hemoglobin: male: 14 – 16.5 g/dL
Female: 12 – 15 g/dL
Hematocrit: male: 42% - 52% (increased in hemoconcentration, fluid loss and dehydration)
Female: 35% - 47% ( decreased in fluid retention)
Red blood cell (RBC): male: 4.5 to 6.2 million/uL
Female: 4 to 5.5 million/uL

White blood cell (WBC): 4500 to 11,000/uL
Erytrocyte Protoporthyrin (EP) : <9ug/dl>25 mg/dL

CRANIAL NERVES

MAJOR FUNCTIONS

I. Olfactory (S)
smell

II. Optic (S)
vision

III. Oculomotor (M)
IV. Trochlear (M)
Eye movement

V. Trigeminal (S-M) Facial sensation
Jaw movement

VI. Abducent (M)
Eye movement

VII. Facial (S-M) Taste
Facial expression

VIII. Acoustic (S)
Hearing and balance

IX. Glossopharyngeal (S-M) Taste
Throat sensation
Gag and swallow

X. Vagus (S-M) Gag and swallow
Parasympathetic activity

XI. Spinal Accessory (M) Neck and back muscles

XII. Hypoglossal (M)
Tongue movement

On Old Olympus’ Towering Tops, A Finn And German Viewed Some Hops
Some Says Marry Money, But My Brother Says Bad Business Marry Money

ARTERIAL BLOOD GAS (ABG)

pH: 7.35 – 7.45
PCO2: 35 - 45 mmHg
PO2: 80 - 100 mmHg
HCO3: 22 - 27 mEq/L
O2 saturation: 96% - 100%
Acid-base “RAMS”(Respiratory Alternate, Metabolic Same)

GLASGOW COMA SCALE

Eye opening response
Motor response
Verbal response

AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM

SYMPATHETIC/
ADRENERGIC PARASYMPATHETIC/
CHOLINERGIC

Heart Increased heart rate
Increased conduction
Increased force
Decreased heart rate

Bronchi
dilation
constriction

GI tract
Reduced motility
Increased motility

Rectum
Allows filling Empties rectum
Relaxes internal sphincter

Bladder
Allows filling Empties bladder
Relaxes internal sphincter

Erection
Maintains erection

Ejaculation
Triggers ejaculation

Pupils of eye
Big (mydriasis)
Small (miosis)

Salivary glands
Secretion

Blood vessels Depends on receptors
-a contrict
-b dilates






FLOW OF BLOOD THROUGH THE HEART

Inferior vena cava and superior vena cava – right atrium – tricuspid valve – right ventricle – pulmonic valve – pulmonary artery – lungs – pulmonary veins – left atrium – bicuspid valve (mitral) – left ventricle – aortic valve aorta – systemic circulation

CARDIAC IMPULSES

Sinoatrial (SA) node – right and left atria (atria contract) – atrioventricular (AV) node – bundle his – bundle brabches – purjinje’s fibers – ventricles contract.

Blood volume: 5000mL
Central venous pressure: 4 to 10 cmH2O (increased in cardiac overload; decreased in dehydration)
Pressure within the right atrium: 2 to 7 mmHg
Capillary refill time: <3 gr =" 60" gr =" 300" gr =" 1000mg" gr ="0.4" oz =" 30" dr =" 4" t =" 15" min =" 1" min =" 1mL" min =" 1" dr =" 1" qt =" 1000mL" qt =" 2" pt =" 16" oz =" 1" 2lb =" 1" 8 =" C" 32 =" F" q =" X" factor =" gtt" infuse =" Infusion">25 mg/dL
Urine specific gravity: 1.016 - 1.022 increase in SIADH; decrease in diabetes insipidus
Normal CSF protein: 15 – 45 mg/dL increase in Guillain-Barre syndrome
Normal CSF pressure: 5 – 15 mmHg
Normal serum osmolality: 285 – 295 mOsmlkgH2O increase in dehydration;
Decrease in over hydration
Normal scalp pH: 7.26 and above
Borderline acidosis: 7.20 to 7.25
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By RAYMUND F. ANTONIO

A total of 31,275 nursing examinees passed this year’s licensure examination administered by the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) to 64,909 board exam takers, the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) said yesterday.

The complete list of those who passed the licensure examination appears in Section G of this issue.

PRC Chairwoman Leonor Rosero said the nursing board exam passers constituted 48 percent of the examinees who took the tests on June 10-11 in various testing sites nationwide. The examinations were given by the Board of Nursing in the cities of Manila, Baguio, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Legazpi, Lucena, Tacloban, Tuguegarao, and Zamboanga last June.

On the board are Carmencita M. Abaquin, chairwoman, and Leonila A. Faire, Betty F. Merritt, Perla G. Po, Marco Antonio C. Sto.Tomas, Yolanda C. Arugay, and Amelia B. Rosales, members.

"Now the results of this year’s nursing licensure exam are finally out. This brings a closure to the leakage scandal of the June, 2006, nursing board exams," Rosero said.

"The results of examination with respect to two examinees were withheld in 2006 pending final determination of their liabilities under the rules and regulations governing licensure," she said.

Marco Sto. Tomas, member of the PRC Board of Nursing, said 248 or 73.8 percent out of 336 "retakers" as initiated by the decision of the Court of Appeals (CA) also passed the board exam.

"Retakers can check the results of Tests 3 and 5 (medical-surgical and psychiatric nursing) as required by the United States’ Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) on the website of the Labor Department," he said.

The successful examinees who garnered the 10 highest places are Darlyn Lubang Chutuape of Our Lady of Fatima University-Valenzuela, with a rating of 88 percent; Romeo Carandang Pangilinan of De Ocampo Memorial Colleges, 87.80 percent; Pierre Creed Garin Florendo, Mountain View College, 87.20; Mona Lisa Uy Pua, Chinese General Hospital College of Nursing & Liberal Arts, 87.20; Jayson Libao Co, University of Santo Tomas (UST), 87; Jemie Serrano Koon, UST, 87; Ivy Joy Tugas Casis, De Los Santos College (De Los Santos School of Nursing), 86.80; Jundell Andrade Castardo, University of Cebu, 86.80; Michelle Ancho Corpus, Saint Dominic Savio College, 86.80;

Mel Antonette Mendoza Lucero, Bataan Polytechnic State College-Balanga, 86.80; Mark Rodelio Macaraeg Marcos, UST, 86.80; Ma. Priscille Tubianosa Ogena, Bicol University — Tabaco, 86.80; Shalymar Santiago Zabala, University of Luzon (formerly Luzon College), 86.80; Nicole Jan Arrojado Cabrera, UST, 86.60; Cecilia Arceo Dacanay, Baguio Central University, 86.60; Julie Anne Paule Pineda, Our Lady of Fatima University-Valenzuela, 86.60; Aynne Tumolva Taguba, Southeast Asian College (UDMC), 86.60; Yasmin Michelle De Ramos Umali, UST, 86.60;

Imelda Teresita Pasia Celestino, Philippine College of Health & Sciences, 86.40; Patriuss Dionisio Cruz, Far Eastern University -Manila, 86.40; Hilarious Evangelista De Jesus, UST, 86.40; Leah Tupino Quijance, Saint Dominic Savio College, 86.40; Claudine Marie Llave Reniedo, UST, 86.40; Danielle Ritz Escopete Shala, UST, 86.40; Haidee Alejandro Wasan, UST, 86.40; Ma. Azucena Lacson Abella, West Negros College, 86.20; Raymund John Yelo Ang, University of Saint La Salle, 86.20; and Hanni Mae Sibucao Daduyo, UST, 86.20; Bren Lester Villafuerte Isip, UST, 86.20; Onelia Ruby Cataluña Jose, Dr. Yanga’s Francisco Balagtas College, 86.20;

April Candy Uy Yap Kong, Cebu Normal University (Cebu State College), 86.20; Jaimie Rizza Santos Mislang, UST, 86.20; Happy Lynn To Ong, Chinese General Hospital College of Nursing & Liberal Arts, 86.20; Santonin Duarte Yu, University of Cebu in Lapu-Lapu & Mandaue, 86.20; Mae Aileen Valdez Agustin, UST, 86; Arian Joy Oliva Andong, Centro Escolar University — Manila, 86; Tracy Joanna Anarcon Biazon, Manila Doctors College, 86; Forencia Campos Campos, Arriesgado College Foundation Inc., 86; Michael Louise Alpuerto Cervantes, Cebu City Medical Center (Cebu City General Hospital), 86;

Divina Zuerte Pasetes Diomampo, Pines City College (PCEC), 86; Mark David de Guzman Francisco, Our Lady of Fatima University — Valenzuela, 86; Ma. Asuncion Quito Hipolito, Perpetual Help College of Manila, 86; Jennielyn Ong Nuez, Velez College, 86; Anne Christine Aglipay Rebadulla, Dr. Yanga’s Francisco Balagtas College, 86; Froila Bagting Reyes, Manuel S. Enverga Univiversity Foundation-Lucena City, 86; Carielle Joy Vingno Rio, Central Philippine University, 86; Vanessa Lucas Santos, Far Eastern University-Manila, 86; Brian Martin Chua Tan, Velez College, 86; Maria Regina Merza Tiru, UST, 86; Jewey Ann Regner Torrefranca, Southwestern University,86;

Maria Christabelle Mendoza Vinarao., Manila Central University-Caloocan City, 86; Maureen Manalang Zabala, Our Lady of Fatima University-Valenzuela, 86; Kino Xandro Gonzales Anuddin, Ateneo de Zamboanga, 85.80; Franco Asuncion Baiñgan, Arellano University-Manila, 85.80; Marie Joy Gundran Bordeos, Manila Doctors’ College, 85.80; Gilbert Calzada Endriga, Velez College, 85.80; Roanne Manzon Mendoza, Far Eastern University-Manila, 85.80; Cyrus Man Gonzaga Paalisbo, Southwestern University, 85.80; Mary Anne Real Reynes, Riverside College, 85.80; Crystal Gayle Guinto Sarmiento, Dee Hwa Liong College Foundation, 85.80; and Cheryl Roque Villanueva, Manila Doctors College, 85.80.

The schools that topped the nursing licensure exam with 100 and more examinees were Trinity University of Asia, 99 percent; Saint Louis University, 99 percent; Saint Paul University-Iloilo; 99 percent; and University of Sto. Tomas (UST), 98 percent.

Among schools with 30 to 99 examinees, the top schools are University of the Philippines-Manila, 100 percent; Philippine Christian University–Manila (PCU), 100 percent; and University of Cebu in Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue, 92 percent; and Universidad de Manila (UDM) with 90 percent.

PRC announced that nursing examinees who failed to pass the test may retake the exam in December but have to apply anew from Sept. 17 to Sept. 28 this year.

It scheduled the oath-taking ceremony of the successful nursing exam board passers as well as the previous ones who have not taken their professional oath will be held before the Board on Oct. 2 at the Araneta Colisuem in Cubao, Quezon City.

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UroToday.com- Dr Edward Giovannucci from Harvard Medical School published an editorial in the July 2007 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute that responded to a report in the same issue from the FDA that stated that a "very low level of comfort" existed with tomato and tomato product consumption decreasing the risk of prostate cancer.

The essence of Dr. Giovannucci's argument that this conclusion may be flawed is that studies on lycopenes, tomatoes, and CaP risk are influenced by PSA screening. He focused on how PSA screening influences the diagnosis and epidemiology of CaP and when during prostate carcinogenesis this is a factor. Prior to PSA most CaP patients had advanced cancers at diagnosis. However, in the PSA era, many diagnosed prostate cancers are low risk and indolent and likely would not have been detected in the pre-PSA era. In the absence of PSA screening, the diagnosis of CaP follows a period of tumor proliferation that was stimulated by an internal or external factor. However, in the PSA era he argues, the diagnosis of CaP often signifies that a man just happened to have a PSA test.

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WASHINGTON - The pool of Filipino nurses for US jobs is projected to grow when the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) for nurses is held in Manila for the first time ever starting Aug. 23.

For Filipinos it will be cheaper to take the test in Manila than overseas as was previously the case while for the Chicago-based National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) which administers the process it could mean more candidates from the Philippines who previously were inhibited by travel costs.

The NCLEX fee for all candidates is $200 (about P9,200). Add travel and accommodation costs and total expenditure becomes prohibitive.

NCSBN spokeswoman Dawn Kappel said it was a win-win for both sides.

She said 15,171 Filipinos took the test last year mostly in Hong Kong.

From Jan. 1 to June 30 this year, 9,944 have so far taken the exams but with the proximity of the testing center in Manila the 2007 turnout is projected to be higher than in 2006.

The test is a requirement for obtaining the license to practice nursing in the United States where demand is strong.

Cristina Godinez of the National Alliance for Filipino Concerns, umbrella group of Filipino American organizations, said a testing center in Manila was a positive development as Philippine-educated nurses comprise more than 30 percent of first time NCLEX test takers since 2003.

Citing NCLEX statistics ending March 2007 Godinez, a lawyer based in New York, said the Philippines leads the top five nurse-sending countries to the US which includes India, South Korea, Canada and Cuba.

Filipino nurses have always been drawn to the United States because they earn salaries they can only dream about at home.

Godinez estimates Filipinos constitute about 80 percent of all foreign-educated nurses in the US.

At its February meeting the NCSBN selected Manila as its newest site for the administration of NCLEX examinations following a government commitment to a secure test center.

Other international testing sites for NCLEX are Hong Kong, Taipei, London and Sydney; Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver in Canada; Frankfurt in Germany, Mumbai, New Delhi, Hyderabad, Bangalore, and Chennai in India, Mexico City, and Chiyoda-ku and Yokohama in Japan.

There is an urgent need to address the shortage of nurses in the United States estimated to peak to peak to between 340,000 and one million by 2020 depending on which resource material you consult or whom you talk to.

In April 2006 the Health Resources and Services Administration of the US Department of Health and Human Services released projections that the nation’s nursing shortage would grow to more than one million by the year 2020. It said all 50 states would experience a shortage of nurses to varying degrees by the year 2015.

In its January/February 2007 issue Health Affairs a leading journal of health policy thought and research reported that the US shortage of registered nurses would increase to 340,000 by the year 2020, significantly less than earlier projections for a shortfall of 800,000 made back in 2000.

But the American Association of Colleges of Nursing said whatever the real figure the shortage is expected to intensify as baby boomers age and the need for health care grows.

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I want to congratulate the following Successful Examinees in the
NURSE LICENSURE EXAMINATION held on JUNE 10 & 11, 2007

3482 BANDOY, HERNANI CAMACHO
8410 CUNANAN, ARNOLD TIOZON
9088 DE GUZMAN,MONICA LUNA
11364 ESGUERRA, AMANTE LAYUGAN (ADMIN)
20100 MONTAÑA, ARTURO CORNELIO JR MAESTRO
20279 MORANTE, KENNETH ASPA
25053 RIGOR, EIREEN TUPAZ
29252 TRIA, RUZEL ANN CANADA
29746 VALDEZ, ARES JAMES FONTANILLA
30862 YACUB, LADYLEN ASPER

AND ALSO TO VISAPINOY....CONGRATS BRO..NATAPOS DIN PAGHIHINTAY :)


AND TO ALL NEW REGISTERED NURSES...CONGRATS

GREET YOUR FRIENDS...WE WILL POST HERE..EMAIL US: PHILIPPINENURSING@GMAIL.COM

>CLICK HERE...JUNE 2007 NLE RESULT (COMPLETE) MS WORD FORMAT...CLICK HERE

>CLICK HERE...JUNE 2007 NLE RESULT (COMPLETE) PDF FORMAT...CLICK HERE

>CLICK HERE...RESULTS of the June 11, 2007 DOLE-initiated voluntary retake examination of Tests III and V of the June 2006 Nursing Licensure Examination (NLE) -MS WORD FORMAT...CLICK HERE



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DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc., has announced a new option for restoring hip mobility in patients who require total hip replacement: the Pinnacle® Acetabular Cup System AltrX™ hip bearing. This system provides advanced technology for recreating the natural ball and socket joint of the hip to help increase joint stability, range of motion and longevity.1,2

The AltrX polyethylene bearing is used with DePuy's exclusive Pinnacle Acetabular Cup System the only product available that provides surgeons with the option of choosing a polyethylene or metal insert for use with the same outer titanium cup that replaces the socket of the natural hip.

"The Pinnacle cup exhibited 99% survivorship at five years," said William P. Barrett, MD, Valley Orthopaedic Associates/Proliance Surgeons, Renton, WA. "And, significantly, differences between patients, surgeons, femoral stems, head size, and articulation types did not affect survival." 3

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More bad news for the CNMI's tourism industry.

Starting this week, Filipino nurses seeking jobs in the United States began taking the National Council Licensure Examination in their own country.

Instead of the past practice of coming to Saipan or going to Hong Kong and other Asian countries for the NCLEX, Filipino nurses now have the option of taking the licensure exam at the Pearson Professional Center in Makati City.

It is estimated that some 4,000 Filipino nurses will take the NCLEX until December this year.

"The nursing shortage is still significant and research still indicates that there is a future anticipated shortfall of more than a million nurses in the U.S.," said Casey Marks, associate executive director for business operations of Pearsonvue, told the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

The shortage is worldwide, according to Marks. In the U.S.-a preferred destination of many Filipino nurses-“there is certainly a significant demand for a long period of time," he said.

"That’s one of the reasons we are here," said Robert Whelan, president of Pearson Vue, which owns and operates NCLEX testing centers in various parts of the world.

A significant number of Filipino tourists in the CNMI are nurses taking the NCLEX exam, which would enable them to find jobs in the United States and other countries.

Dante Ang, chief of the presidential task force on NCLEX, told the Manila Bulletin that at least 90 Filipino nurses took the exam Thursday, the first day it was administered at the test site.

"Our Filipino nurses can save a lot now that the NCLEX will be held here in Manila. This great opportunity comes a great responsibility for us to maintain the integrity of the exam. We should not endanger the credibility of NCLEX here," he said.

Ang said Filipino nurses can save as much as $2,000 each because they don't have to fly to other NCLEX international sites abroad such as Hong Kong, Singapore, and Saipan where most nurses had earlier taken the test.

"They have to pay only the examination fee and an additional fee when they schedule their examination, unlike before when the transport cost was included in their expenses in taking the NCLEX," he said.

Marks said he the first NCLEX in Manila was successful and left nothing to chance.

"The U.S. nursing board places a high value on security and the integrity of its testing program. We were very thorough in our decision to expand testing to the Philippines and are able to do so by utilizing the latest in biometric technology through the Pearson Professional Center," he said.

The United States' National Council of State Boards of Nursing board of directors had chosen Manila as an international NCLEX site last February, following the Philippine government's request to host the NCLEX. (Saipan Tribune)

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(News Abroad)

Yesterday, Senator John Edwards continued his four-day Fighting for One America bus tour covering New Hampshire. He talked about a plan to offer universal health care for everyone as well as his commitment to add 100,000 nurses within five years.

John Edwards said "Elizabeth and I are really enjoying our tour of New Hampshire. People have been asking excellent questions and we are having detailed discussions about how we are going to build one America together. One of the most important issues we hear about is health care," Edwards continued. "That is why I am proud that I was the first candidate to announce a health care plan and to have the only plan that is truly universal. But to ensure every person gets quality care, we also need to address our nursing crisis. Nurses are the backbone of our health care system, but we're facing a serious shortage with dire consequences for patients and for our health care system. I will fix this crisis so every American gets quality care."

According to John Edwards, New Hampshire, which boasts the highest per capita population of nurses in the USA, will find itself seriously short of nurses by 2020 - about 27% short. He pointed out that even today, just 62% of nurses in New Hampshire work full-time. While all Washington can do is provide rhetoric, empty talk and half measures, Edwards says he is offering courage, conviction and bold ideas to build one America.

Edwards says America has too few nurses, even though they are the backbone of the country's health care system. He added that as Americans pay more and more for their health care they are receiving less and less.

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Nursing Board Exam Result June 2007
PRC NURSE LICENSURE EXAMINATION
Held on JUNE 10 & 11, 2007
Link Here

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Two substances that occur naturally in the brain act to protect the brain during a stroke. This is the conclusion of a dissertation published at the Sahlgrenska Academy, and the discovery may lead to new treatments for stroke patients.

Stroke is the result of an infarction, or bleeding, within the brain, and it may lead to impaired movement, impaired sensation, and difficulties in cognitive function and speech. Approximately 30,000 people are affected by stroke each year in Sweden, and it is the most common cause of long term dependence on care.

"Researchers all over the world are intensively searching for new treatments. One interesting possibility is that of activating stem cells in the damaged brain such that the brain can be repaired and regain its function", says stem cell researcher Jonas Faijerson.

Stem cells are immature cells that reside in selected regions of the adult brain. These cells can develop either into nerve cells or into other cells that are important in the brain, such as astrocytes. Astrocytes are the most abundant cell type in the brain, and they play an important role when the brain is damaged.

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Sports scientist Peter Krustrup and his colleagues from the University of Copenhagen, the Copenhagen University Hospital and Bispebjerg Hospital have followed a soccer team consisting of 14 untrained men aged 20 to 40 years. For a period of 3 months, the players have been subjected to a number of tests such as fitness ratings, total mass of muscles, percentage of fat, blood pressure, insulin sensitivity and balance.

Surprising results

- 2-3 weekly rounds of soccer practise, of the duration of app. 1 hour, released massive health and training benefits. Their percentage of fat went down, the total mass of muscle went up, their blood pressure fell and their fitness ratings improved significantly. Everything we tested improved, says Peter Krustrup. In parallel with the soccer-experiment, the research group did the same tests on a group of joggers as well as on a passive control group. The joggers also trained 2-3 times a week, but their efforts showed smaller effect than that of the soccer players.

- It is healthy to run long distances in a moderate speed, but the results show that soccer practise is better in a number of ways. The improvement in fitness rating and the increase in total muscle mass were greater in the soccer players, and during the last 8 weeks of the experiment, only the soccer-players showed any improvement, Peter Krustrup says.

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Losing weight is hard to do. Anyone who has tried knows it is true. For most of us, the thought of dropping that extra 20 or 30 pounds of padding seems like an insurmountable goal. Imagine the need to drop 100 pounds or more.

That's just what 118 men and women did. Those 63 men and 55 women were part of a nine year study led by Dr. James Anderson, head of the UK College of Medicine Metabolic Research Group. The average beginning weight of study participants was 353 pounds. The average weight loss was 134 pounds in 44 weeks.

"Many severely obese persons, needing to lose more than 100 pounds, become frustrated and turn to surgery," Anderson said. "This study shows that one in four persons who participate in an intensive weight loss program for 12 weeks can go on to lose over 100 pounds. This program has much lower risks than surgery and can lead to similar long-term weight loss."

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Diabetics who need to switch from oral medications to insulin could reduce their annual healthcare costs up to $17,000 by using an insulin pen instead of a syringe to deliver their daily dose of medication.

A new study found that using an insulin pen may result in fewer trips to the emergency department and to the doctor's office, resulting in substantial savings to diabetics and their insurers.

"For one, there is less chance of getting the wrong dose of insulin," said Rajesh Balkrishnan, the study's senior author and the Merrell Dow professor of pharmacy at Ohio State University. "Diabetics who use syringes must carefully measure their insulin, so there is a risk of getting too much or too little."

The pen contains a pre-measured dose of insulin in a disposable cartridge. Users simply push a button on the pen, and the proper dose of medication is injected through a needle. A syringe user must extract the exact dose of insulin from a vial.

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People who have had heart attacks are at higher risk of developing both new-onset diabetes and the pre-diabetes condition impaired fasting glucose (IFG), conclude authors of an Article published in this week's edition of The Lancet.
Dr Dariush Mozaffarian, Harvard Medical School and Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, USA, Dr Roberto Marchioli, Consorzio Mario Negri Sud, Italy and colleagues studied 8291 Italian patients who had had a heart attack within the previous three months, and were free of diabetes. Incidence of new-onset diabetes and IGF were measured at 0•5, 1•0, 1•5, 2•5, and 3•5 years follow-up. Data for body-mass index, other risk factors, dietary habits, and medications were updated during the follow up, and a Mediterranean diet score was given to each patient based on their consumption of raw and cooked vegetables, fruit, fish and olive oil.

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Physicians treating patients who have suffered tympanic membrane perforation as a result of blast should also look for signs of comcomitant brain or neurologic injury, according to a study published in the August 23 edition of the New England Journal of Medicine.

Air Force Lt. Col. (Dr.) Michael Xydakis, assistant professor of surgery at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU), along with a team of military physicians who were based at the Air Force Theater Hospital in Balad, Iraq, studied 210 male U.S. soldiers who were victims of blast injury and discovered a significant association between ruptured ear drums and loss of consciousness. Thirty-five percent had perforated tympanic membranes and 36 percent suffered a loss of consciousness. Those findings suggest a close link and offers hope for early detection of possible brain injury.

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The diverse and complex female endocrine disorder polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which affects 1 in 15 women worldwide, is a major economic health burden that is likely to expand together with obesity, conclude authors of a Seminar in this week's edition of The Lancet. Dr Theresa Hickey and Prof Robert Norman, University of Adelaide, Australia, and colleagues, reviewed published literature on PCOS up to November 2006 to prepare the Seminar.

Many body systems are affected in PCOS, resulting in several health complications, including menstrual dysfunction, infertility, hirsutism (excessive body hair growth), acne, obesity, and metabolic syndrome. Principal symptoms of PCOS are polycystic ovaries shown by ultrasonography, irregular ovulation, and excessive amounts or activity of male hormones (hyperandrogenism). Type 2 diabetes is also more common in women with PCOS. Two differing definitions of PCOS, one from 1990 and the other from 2003, lead to differing statistics and consequences for studies depending on which definition is selected.

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The reported failure of vitamin E to prevent heart attacks may be due to underdosing, according to a new study by investigators at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

The findings, published early online in Free Radical Biology and Medicine, suggest that these earlier studies all had a fundamental flaw the doses used weren't high enough to have a significant antioxidant effect. In fact, no studies have ever conclusively demonstrated the dose at which vitamin E can be considered an antioxidant drug, the researchers report.

Oxidant injury, or oxidative stress, occurs when highly reactive molecules called free radicals attack and damage cellular proteins, lipids (fats) and DNA. Free radicals, which are byproducts of normal metabolism, are produced in excess in certain disease states, including heart disease.

Epidemiological data and animal studies suggested that antioxidant compounds like vitamin E, vitamin C and beta-carotene might offer some protection against heart attack in individuals at risk.

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In the first study of its kind, researchers have discovered that in autistic individuals, connections between brain cells may be deficient within single regions, and not just between regions, as was previously believed.

Tony Wilson, Ph.D., lead researcher and assistant professor of neurology at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, said he hopes this study will eventually lead to earlier diagnosis and more targeted medications for autism.

Using magnetoencephalography (MEG) brain imaging technology to measure brain electrical activity, the researchers administered a test called the 40 hertz (cycles per second) auditory steady-state response test. The test measures electromagnetic wave cycles and indicates brain cell discharges at the 40 hertz frequency.

"This test measures the brain's capacity to mimic what it's hearing। A healthy brain's cells will fire back at 40 hertz," said Wilson. "We chose this test because it is a robust metric of how well individual circuits are functioning."

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Hypertension, or high blood pressure, remains the most common reason for office visits to physicians for non-pregnant adults in the United States. Some 50 million Americans are believed to have hypertension. Despite its prevalence and the complications associated with it, control of the disease is far from adequate. As a result, hypertension will likely remain the most common risk factor for stroke, heart failure, and kidney disease for years to come.

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