Choice Of Dressings Research Articles

Revolutionary family life and the Self Respect movement in Tamil south India, 1926–49

During the second quarter of the 20th century, the Self Respect movement (cuyamariyatai iyakkam) introduced a programme of non-Brahmin uplift in Tamil south India that consisted of a radical critique of social, political and economic relations. By following the coverage of family and marriage in the Self Respect popular press (the weekly newspaper Kudi Arasu in particular), and through interviews with Self Respecters who lived through the period 1926–49, this article attempts to sketch out how and why the family was interpolated both as an object of criticism and as a site of struggle. That is to say, Self Respect was not only a set of arguments, but also a set of practical strategies for transforming everyday and ritual life into revolutionary propaganda through choice of dress, names, home décor and domestic ritual, as well as through attending public meetings and reading newspapers. In particular, ‘modern, Self Respecting Tamil couples’ were projected as a resolution to what the Self Respect movement high-lighted as the social, political and economic problems perpetuated by the traditional joint family. Yet, over the course of the 20th century in the Tamil south, marriage and family proved to be unstable vehicles for the revolutionary transformation of socio-political domains.

Bewährte und aktuelle Verfahren in der Wundheilung

Most chronic wounds are caused by arterial or venous vascular disease. Wound care is an interdisciplinary task and economic challenge. Numerous new wound dressings and treatment methods have been introduced recently. Basic research has enhanced our understanding of stimulation and inhibition of wound healing. Well-constructed clinical studies have shown some traditional approaches to be effective and others, less so. Successful wound healing requires treatment of the underlying disease as well as correction of local factors that may delay healing. The choice of dressings must be based on continuous re-assessment of the wound. Modern approaches for the most common types of chronic wounds, as well as options such as vacuum treatment and tissue-engineered skin are presented along with information on latest rules for reimbursement for wound care in Germany.

Wound healing and treatments for people with diabetic foot ulcers.

The factors that delay wound healing are multiple and relate both to diabetes and to the effect of its complications. Diabetic foot ulcers readily become chronic, and chronic ulcers have biological properties that differ substantially from acute ones. Much of the available information on the biology of wound healing relates to acute and experimental wounds and may not be directly relevant. It follows that there is limited evidence currently available to underpin protocols for the management of diabetic foot ulcers, or to guide choice of applications and dressings 1. Nevertheless, it is possible to define certain principles.GLYCAEMIC CONTROL: The first relates to glycaemic control. While chronic complications of diabetes such as peripheral vascular disease and neuropathy may be largely irreversible, aspects of structure and function of connective tissue and cells may be impaired by hyperglycaemia, and their function should be improved if normoglycaemia is achieved. PROMOTION OF HEALING: The second principle concerns attempts at active promotion of wound healing by (1) surgical revascularization, and (2) specific attempts to correct defined biological abnormalities thought to be hindering the healing process. These include the use of a variety of applications, dressings and technologies, which may stimulate healing by applying, or stimulating the release of, growth factors and cytokines. While this approach holds the greatest promise for the future, it will be dependent on defining defects which need correction in specific individuals, and having technologies available to address them. This field is in its infancy. WOUND CARE: The third broad principle concerns the management of the wound and its surrounding tissue in order to promote healing. This includes regular inspection, cleansing and removal of surface debris, elimination of pathogenic bacteria and creation of an appropriate environment to facilitate endogenous tissue regeneration. There are many applications and dressings that may be chosen to promote healing, but, whichever is selected, wound management has to be integrated into an effective programme of multidisciplinary care.

Effects of social interaction, physical environment and food choice freedom on consumption in a meal-testing environment

Consumption of pizza, salad and iced tea was assessed in four separate tests at a central location. Three aspects of context were added in successive tests—social interaction during consumption, the physical environment in which the food was consumed and choice among foods—so that the fourth test had all effects present. The proportion consumed averaged from 79 to 82% of the food presented and increased significantly in the presence of one or more of the context manipulations. Salad consumption was higher when there was a choice of dressings in an enhanced environment. Pizza and tea consumption were higher in an enhanced restaurant-like environment. Social interaction alone has no detectable impact on food consumption. It is concluded that people eat more in enhanced contexts and careful consideration should be given to the environment in studies of food consumption.

Nose and Eyes for Identity

Among the Muslim Jatha of Kachchh (western India), the differing practices of pastoral nomadism and settled agriculture create a division of the overall Jatha community into three subgroups. These differences are maintained and are projected within each subgroup of the community but find expression in its communal myths, history and ideology. Each subgroup symbolizes its identity, creating a non-verbal discourse made up of certain essential values. Within this discourse, the value of each subgroup’s individuality is important, but this individuality does not prohibit the integration of all the groups into one interdependent whole. For the Jatha, a material culture has been formed to sustain the cultural value, in relation to other communities, of being one distinct, ethnic group comprising separate subgroups. As an outcome of the Jatha interpretation of their history, mythology, and Islam, the whole community is bound together by the choice of dress, of ornament, and of each subgroup’s differing but interdependent economic practice. Through examining the ways in which subgroups within the Jatha community express their identities, and thereby contribute to the identity of the whole community, this article examines the forms and processes of materiality and the accoutrements of identity. It further considers the relationship between people and objects, and the connection between symbolism and materiality, which combine to construct a social entity.

Fashion, Time and the Consumption of a Renaissance Man in Germany: The Costume Book of Matthäus Schwarz of Augsburg, 1496–1564

This article uses the perspective of cultural anthropology to consider the construction of an early modern perception of time and its relation to the dress and personal consumption of a male subject. It focuses on a costume book from the Renaissance compiled by Matthäus Schwarz, a member of the bourgeoisie, who lived in Augsburg from 1496 to 1574. The book contains a collection of 137 drawings, portraying Schwarz's personal choice of dress. It is also an account of Schwarz's life, beginning with his parents, then covering his life-stages from birth to old age. The relationships between body and dress and between the male subject and the world run as a major thread through the book. This article shows how closely connected Schwarz's body is with the life of commodities (dress) and consumption. The life-story of this Renaissance man is expressed in terms of changing fashions, which act as his subjective measure of time.

Dress, Gender and Cultural Change: Asian American and African American Rites of Passage

While African American dress has long been noted as having a distinctive edge, many people may not know that debutante balls - a relatively recent phenomenon within African American communities - feature young women and men dressed, respectively, in conventional symbols of female purity and male hegemony, and conforming to gender stereotypes that have tended to characterize such events traditionally. Within the Hmong American community, mothers and aunts of teenagers use bangles, lace and traditional handwork techniques to create dazzling displays reflecting the gender and ethnicity of their sons and daughters, nieces and nephews, as they participate in an annual courtship ritual. This book examines these events to show how dress is used to transform gender construction and create positive images of African American and Hmong American youth.Coming-of-age rituals serve as arenas of cultural revision and change. For each of these communities, the choice of dress represents cultural affirmation. This author shows that within the homogenizing context of American society, dress serves as a site for the continual renegotiation of identity - gendered, ethnic and otherwise.

Effect of semipermeable membranes on skin barrier repair following tape stripping.

Reports in the literature suggest that the permeability of a wound dressing to water transport is an important variable in the healing of superficial wounds. Factors that influence skin hydration during barrier repair, therefore, are important in the optimization of wound treatments. In this study, the effects of semipermeable films on human skin following a standardized wound (tape stripping) were evaluated using measurements of transepidermal water loss (TEWL), skin hydration, rate of moisture accumulation, and erythema. Wounds treated with semipermeable films underwent more rapid barrier recovery than either unoccluded wounds or wounds under complete occlusion. Barrier films that produced intermediate levels of skin hydration during recovery produced the highest barrier repair rates. The results support the hypothesis; that semipermeable wound dressings augment barrier repair and skin quality by providing an optimized water vapor gradient during the wound healing process. The choice of wound dressing is discussed within the larger context of the design of vapor-permeable fabrics (smart materials) and the new fields of corneotherapy and comfort science.

"On the Periphery of a Greater World": John Singleton Copley's "Turquerie" Portraits

A number of portraits that John Singleton Copley painted in the years prior to the American Revolution show women clad in turquerie. The appeal of fashion was strong, but the political, social, and sexual connotations of the costume complicate that explanation for the sitters' choice of dress. Ultimately, the paintings provide a rich opportunity to consider how portraiture-specifically women's portraiture-could become a vehicle for the expression of both colonial and national identities at a time when those identities were very much contested.

'Don we now our gay apparel': gay men's dress in the twentieth century

From publisher's description: Gay style actually sets trends. Its what straight people take fashion from. Tony Woodcock From the New Edwardians and muscle boys to Radical Drag and Genderfuck, gay mens dress has had a profound impact on fashion. However, it is easy to forget that, with few exceptions, gay men earlier in the century took great pains to conceal their sexual identity. Men such as Quentin Crisp, while highly influential, were far from the norm. Most gay men resorted to a number of subtle dress codes to identify themselves to other gay men -- from Oscar Wilde's famous green carnation, which was still being worn in the 1930s, through to suede shoes. Beginning with a look at the subcultural world of gay men in the early part of this century -- particularly in New York and London -- this fascinating book analyzes the trends in dress adopted by gay men as well as the challenge gay style has made to mainstream mens fashion. The importance of dress choice to the formation of sexual identity is highlighted, as is gay influence on punk and the fashion industry as a whole. The rise of new dress choices in the wake of gay liberation is analyzed with particular emphasis on the masculinization of gay dress. The importance of the body to gay culture is addressed, from the physique magazines of the 1950s, through to tattooing and body piercing, and their origins in the SM scene.

Book Reviews

This handbook is a comprehensive source of information concerning acute and chronic wounds with particular reference to patients with cancer. It covers the anatomy of the skin, the physiology of wound healing, patient assessment and record-keeping. Considerable detail is given of specific wound types and choice of wound dressings. The appendices include the functions of the various generic products cited. For nurses working in palliative care there is clear acknowledgement of the circumstances in which wound healing may not be a viable outcome for patients and principles of palliative care are outlined.

Three steps to effective wound care.

Optimal care of leg ulcers and pressure sores does not depend simply on the choice of dressing. The cause of the wound must be investigated, and other systemic factors related to wound healing must be assessed, then the wound environment can be evaluated and the most suitable dressing applied. Georgina Casey looks at these three steps to good wound care.

Applying the principles of infection control to wound care.

Human skin in healthy adults is inhospitable organisms. A wound may occur from any accidental or deliberate trauma that breaks the surface of the skin. Once this line of defence is broken there is a risk of infection. All soft tissue injuries, whether chronic, traumatic or surgical, involve the same basic biochemical and cellular processes. This article looks at the risk factors associated with healing of such wounds. The principles of asepsis, wound cleansing agents, choice of dressings and the taking of wound swabs are considered.

Chronic wound management

SYNOPSIS The cause of a chronic wound must be identified before treatment can begin. This assessment includes an evaluation of the patient’s general health, nutrition and medication. The cause of the wound dictates the management including the choice of dressing. Moist wound dressings are now preferred. As ulcers may take months to heal prevention is important. Patients with diabetes particularly need instruction on how to take care of their feet. A multidisciplinary approach is recommended. Index words: diabetes, dressings, ulcers, infection. (Aust Prescr 2000;23:6–9)

A Randomised Trial of Different Compression Dressings following Varicose Vein Surgery

Objective: TED antiembolism stockings, Panelast self-adhesive elasticated bandages and Medi Plus class II stockings are three different dressings commonly used to provide compression following surgery for varicose veins. The aim of this study was to determine which of the three dressings was most acceptable to patients. Design: Forty-two patients undergoing bilateral varicose vein surgery were randomised to receive a different dressing on each leg in order to determine if a particular type of dressing was superior in its ability to reduce postoperative pain and provide adequate comfort without reducing mobility. The dressings were worn for 1 week, during which daily pain scores were recorded for each leg followed by a simple questionnaire to determine comfort and mobility. Results: There was a significant reduction of mobility experienced by patients wearing Panelast bandages compared with the other two dressings ( p<0.05). However, there were no significant differences between the dressings with regard to the degree of postoperative pain experienced, and in all other respects the dressings were equally tolerated. Conclusion: The choice of compression dressings used for varicose vein surgery should depend primarily on the personal preference of surgeons as well as financial considerations.

Three steps to effective wound care

Optimal care of leg ulcers and pressure sores does not depend simply on the choice of dressing. The cause of the wound must be investigated, and other systemic factors related to wound healing must be assessed, then the wound environment can be evaluated and the most suitable dressing applied. Georgina Casey looks at these three steps to good wound care.

Three steps to effective wound care.

Optimal care of leg ulcers and pressure sores does not depend simply on the choice of dressing. The cause of the wound must be investigated, and other systemic factors related to wound healing must be assessed, then the wound environment can be evaluated and the most suitable dressing applied. This article looks at these three steps to good wound care.

Metastasis to skin

To provide a review of the incidence, presentation, and nursing care of people with cutaneous metastatic disease. Published articles and book chapters that describe incidence, presentation, and nursing care. The dermatologic literature provides the best descriptions of cutaneous metastasis. Limited material is published on treatment methods. Nursing care is best abstracted from wound care publications, although these do not directly address the complexity of the issues involved in cutaneous metastatic disease. Oncology nurses are challenged with pain management, infection control, choice of appropriate dressings, and odor elimination. Skilled assessment of skin problems can lead to earlier detection and prompt intervention with treatment before the tumor has ulcerated and created the emotional challenge that patients and their families then must face.

Which dressing for diabetic foot ulcers?

AbstractA wide variety of different dressings are used on diabetic foot ulcers and it is difficult to know how the choice of dressings is made. A questionnaire was sent to 250 diabetes specialist nurses and 249 state registered chiropodists in different parts of the United Kingdom and Ireland asking which dressings they would use on various categories of ulcer in a person with diabetes. A total of 192 questionnaires (38.5%) were returned, of which 188 (37.7%) were complete. There was no consensus at all on the choice of dressings in any ulcer category and, for most types of ulcer, between five and eight dressing types were used by respondents. In no category did a dressing achieve more than a 30% preference rating. Respondents also varied widely in their use of other types of ulcer treatment such as lowpower laser therapy. The findings suggest that either there is a great deal of ignorance about the best dressing to use, or it does not matter which dressing is used. As dressings vary widely in cost, it is likely that the best policy is to use the safest, simplest and cheapest dressing.

Lymphedema following skin avulsion injury of the male genitalia

A case of skin avulsion injury of the penis and scrotum complicated by lymphedema of the foreskin is described. The general principles are discussed, especially regarding debridement, choice of reconstruction, foreskin preservation and dressing.