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Several surveys of the Australian human resources and compensation professionals are conducted to examine the various programs and policies used by them for informing the employees regarding their rewards. Rewards communication is shown to be an extremely aspect for enhancing employee satisfaction, performance and retention in an organization.

A survey of human resources management professionals conducted by the Hay Group indicated the emergence of a compensation and benefits management design cycle that starts with business issues, determines and creates HR programs that address these issues, and then implements measures needed to achieve the HR objectives. Among the trends in compensation and benefits management that were identified were the increasing use of variable pay as well as the introduction of innovative pay schemes, such as noncash recognition, spot cash awards, lump-sum rewards, group incentives, pay for competencies, and pay for knowledge/skills. With regard to executive compensation, the emergent trends include the use of employment contracts that protect executives during mergers and acquisitions and the use of nonqualified plans for executives whose income exceeds the IRS limit.

Methotrexate (MTX) is a drug originally used to treat cancer, but in low doses, it has been an effective treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). RA is an autoimmune disease, which occurs when the body inappropriately makes antibodies against its own tissues. The basis for the effect of MTX on RA has been attributed to cytotoxic (cell-killing) effects on immune cells, since high doses of MTX suppress immune function. However, other studies indicate that low-dose MTX may act by decreasing inflammatory processes in the body. To better the establish the basis of MTX action in RA, the effects of MTX on neutrophils (inflammation-linked white blood cells) from six RA patients were evaluated. Neutrophil production of leukotriene B4 (LTB4), an inflammatory agent produced from the dietary fatty acid arachidonic acid, was significantly decreased in patients after MTX treatment. This was not due to increased breakdown of LTB4. Rather, one or more of the enzymes that change arachidonic acid into LTB4 is apparently inhibited by MTX. Further research is needed to determine if these processes are involved in the therapeutic effect of MTX in patients with RA. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Formerly the clinician diagnosed and treated the shock complex on the basis of hemodynamic principles. For example, subjective findings exemplifying peripheral vasoconstriction and the objective signs of blood pressure, pulse, and central venous pressure were essential in determining his course of action. Today the accelerated pace of biochemical research and development of new instrumentation has imparted a new philosophy to shock therapy: the treatment of the cell. Since shock is a disorder of the molecules of cells, the physician must understand the effects of low perfusion on the breakdown and repair of the cell.The following is a review of the function and chemistry of the cell in health, progressive shock, and its response to adequate therapy.The Cell.—Organelles are specific functional components or bodies in a cell (Fig 1). (1) The nucleus controls cell function. (2) The mitochondria produce energy, adenosine triphosphate (ATP), from breakdown of sugars, fats,

CASES of traumatic1,2 and spontaneous3,4 rupture of the pathological spleen are frequently encountered.5,6 Rupture of the spleen has been reported with acute7 and chronic8 pancreatitis, acute sepsis9,10 (typhoid fever, typhus), viral hepatitis,11 infectious mononucleosis,12 the parasites causing malaria,9 kala-azar,10 and echinococcosis; the spirochetal diseases of leptospirosis, syphilis, and yaws, in tuberculosis, in sarcoidosis,13 in Gaucher's disease,14 amyloidosis, in thrombocytopenic purpura, acute and chronic leukemia,15 erythroblastosis fetalis,16 in autohemolytic anemia,1 congestive splenomegaly,17 infarcts, splenic congenital anomalies, and also during labor.18,19We were able to find only one proven case of spontaneous rupture of the spleen due to actinomycosis found at the Mayo Clinic.20 Harrison21 previously stated that actinomycosis is encountered in the spleen, however, a review of Harrison's references reveal a case produced by Actinobacillus22 and another produced by Actinomyces graminis

• Hemangiopericytoma is a vascular tumor that typically occurs in the soft tissues of the extremities and trunk, and only rarely occurs in the paranasal sinuses and nasal cavity. We report a case of hemangiopericytoma of the maxilla and review the pertinent literature.Based on a propensity for local recurrence and occasional metastasis, a radical excision was performed.(Arch Otolaryngol 102:49-50, 1976)

Presents several letters to the editor referencing articles and topics discussed in previous issues. Report on the opening of a store by Target Corp.; Discussion on ways to avoid monotony of Interstate 55 and to draw more visitors to the Lincoln Library; Information on Resurrection Health Care Corp.'s charity care practices.