The prevalence of carboxyhemoglobinemia in New Yorkers and its effects on the coronary and systemic circulation.

Carboxyhemoglobin saturations ranging from 8.11 to 1.56% were found in a sample of more than 1,000 individuals engaged in various activities in New York City. The difference from lowest to highest carboxyhemoglobin in nonsmokers was 1.58%; in smokers it was as great as 5.0%. Experimental elevation of carboxyhemoglobin to levels similar to that seen in cigarette smokers produced a decrease in arterial and venous oxygen tensions and an increase in cardiac output and coronary blood flow. In contrast to the effect on the systemic vascular bed, carbon monoxide inhalation produced a decrease in myocardial oxygen extraction. These observations suggest that changes in coronary blood flow are a useful indicator of the effects of carbon monoxide when hemodynamically significant coronary artery disease prevents the expected increase in myocardial blood flow.     

The Impact of Traumatic Experiences on Risky Sexual Behaviors in Black and White Young Adult Women

Background

Trauma exposure has been linked to risky sexual behavior (RSB), but few studies have examined the impact of distinct trauma types on RSB in one model or how the association with trauma and RSB may differ across race.

Frozen stored Leishmania tropica vaccine: the effects of dose,route of administration and storage on the evolution of the clinical lesion. Two field trials in the Israel Defense Forces

The first field trial of frozen vaccine against cutaneous leishmaniasis yielded a 100% take rate and a high ulceration rate at a dose of four million units. Two further trials were designed to investigate differences in response rates on the basis of duration of storage, sex of vaccinee, vaccination dose and method of administration.257 soliders (151 males and 106 females) were inoculated in 1978 with an isolate of Leishmania tropica major that had been stored at the temperature of liquid nitrogen for 11 months before use. Those inoculated with an intradermal jet injector and those receiving half a million units by conventional injection yielded very low take rates. For those receiving two million and one million units, no difference in response was demonstrated between males and females or between doses. The over-all take rate for these groups after six months of follow-up was 71·6% with an ulceration rate of only 23·7%.In a subsequent trial in 1979, 131 men were inoculated with one of two frozen isolates of L. tropica major that had been stored for 11 and 18 months, respectively, at doses of either two million or four million units. The take rate after 12 months of follow-up was 91% and 93% for the four and two million units dose, respectively. The corresponding ulceration rates were 39·5% and 25%. The lesions produced by the higher dose developed more rapidly than those produced by the lower dose. The ability of the parasites to produce lesions rapidly with high ulceration rates appears to decline during prolonged storage, even in the frozen state.     

Hepatic structure and function in Papua New Guineans with leprosy

Hepatic function, including plasma bromsulphthalein (BSP) clearance was studied in 20 Papua New Guineans with leprosy: 11 lepromatous (LL) (6 had erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL)) (group A), and 9 tuberculoid or borderline (BT or BB) (group B); 12 controls (group C) were also studied. Four of five with abnormal BSP results had significant complicating or additional factors (hepatic amyloidosis, pustular ENL, hepato-cellular carcinoma and a pyogenic abscess), compared with two of 15 with normal results (tuberculous osteitis and pyogenic osteomyelitis). In nine (five from group A, and four from group B) needle liver biopsy histology was assessed: foci of vacuolated phagocytes and histiocytes, and tuberculoid granulomata were the most frequent lesions; none had cirrhosis.Leprosy is not associated with impaired hepatocellular function unless a severe complication or coincident disease is concurrently present. In this limited study therapeutic agents were not associated with abnormal liver structure or function. When liver function is abnormal in leprosy, another cause (e.g. secondary amyloidosis, sepsis or malignancy) should be searched for.     

Epidemiological characteristics and clinical findings in patients with serologically proven toxocariasis.

The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using Toxocara canis larva-specific antigens was used to confirm a presumptive clinical diagnosis of visceral larva migrans in patients whose serum specimens were submitted to the Center for Disease Control. The clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients with diagnostic ELISA titres (greater than or equal to log2 5) were compared with patients who had less or no detectable antibody. The typical patient with serologically confirmed toxocaral visceral larva migrans was about five years of age and resided in the southern half of the USA. Clinical findings were likely to include leucocytosis, eosinophilia, an increased anti-A or anti-B isohaemagglutinin titre, and an elevated serum IgG level. Pica, as ascertained by a physician questionnaire, was not a consistent finding and both sexes were nearly equally represented.     

Casual blood pressure: Its relationship to several cardiovascular risk factors in middle-aged men

The relationship between casual blood pressure and other cardiovascular risk factors in presumably healthy middle-aged men (in the age range of 50–60 years) was investigated in a cross-sectional study. It was found that people with high casual blood pressure (> 160 and/or > 95 mmHg) and who have no history of previous cardiovascular disease were older, heavier, had higher heart rates and blood glucose, smoked more and had more evidence of L.V.H. on E.C.G. than a control group who had normal or borderline casual blood pressure. It was concluded that even casually found hypertension in seemingly healthy individuals is associated with higher prevalence and degree of certain behavioral, physical and biochemical parameters frequently seen in people with ischaemic heart disease.