Alcohol and malt liquor availability and promotion and homicide in inner cities

We investigated the role of the alcohol environment in explaining disparities in homicide rates among minorities in 10 cities in the United States using 2003 data from the Malt Liquor and Homicide study. We hypothesized that (a) higher concentrations of African Americans would be associated with higher homicide rates, as well as higher alcohol and malt liquor availability and promotion, and (b) the relationship between neighborhood racial/ethnic concentration and homicide would be attenuated by the greater alcohol and malt liquor availability and promotion in African American neighborhoods. Hypotheses were tested using separate Poisson, linear, and logistic regression models that corrected for spatial autocorrelation. Census block groups served as the unit of analysis (n = 450). We found that higher concentrations of African Americans were associated with higher homicide rates as well as greater alcohol availability, especially malt liquor availability. The promotion of malt liquor on storefronts was also significantly greater in African American than in other neighborhoods. However, none of the measures representing alcohol or malt liquor availability and promotion variables changed the effect of neighborhood racial/ethnic concentration on homicide. Limitations and implications of our findings are discussed.     

Exploring the intersection of neighborhood racial and economic composition and individual race on substance use among male adolescents

This article examines how Blacks and Whites living in neighborhoods with divergent racial and income profiles differed in early onset (by age 14 years) and adolescent lifetime prevalence (by age 18 years) of substance use, with longitudinal data from 473 high-risk boys (58% Black). A latent profile analysis identified four neighborhood classes: Black, lower-income; racially mixed, middle-income; White, middle-income; and White, upper-income. Bivariate analyses showed that Blacks living in racially mixed, middle-income neighborhoods reported the lowest rates of tobacco and marijuana use. Whites living in White, upper-income neighborhoods reported higher substance use prevalence, particularly marijuana. Findings suggest that substance use prevention efforts are critical for Whites in upper-income communities.     

Effects of policies to restrict malt liquor sales on neighborhood crime

We examined the effectiveness of malt liquor sales restrictions adopted in 2005 in three liquor stores in a large Midwestern U.S. city. We hypothesized that the restrictions would be associated with crime reductions in adjacent neighborhoods. Using Poisson regression modeling, we compared crime rates two years prior to, and two years following policy adoption. Findings were mixed; malt liquor restrictions were associated with reductions in disorderly conduct citations, but increases in larceny/theft, beyond citywide trends. Limitations and implications of our study are discussed, and further research suggested. The study was funded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.     

Malt liquor use, heavy/problem drinking and other problem behaviors in a sample of community college students

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the prevalence of malt liquor use and its relationship with heavy or problem drinking, other substance use and other problem behaviors in a sample of 1,029 (58% female) students attending a community college in California. METHOD: Data were collected using anonymous surveys that were administered during daytime classes. Bivariate analyses were conducted to examine relationships between malt liquor use and demographic characteristics, heavy/problem drinking and other types of substance use and problem behaviors. Logistic regression analyses also were conducted to determine whether malt liquor use was predictive of problem drinking, drug use and other problem behavior after adjusting for background variables. RESULTS: Malt liquor use was most prevalent among male, white and Latino students. Compared with nonmalt liquor drinkers, malt liquor drinkers consumed significantly more alcohol, engaged in heavy drinking more often and experienced intoxication more often. Malt liquor drinkers scored significantly higher on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test than nonmalt liquor drinkers. Malt liquor drinkers were more likely than nonmalt liquor drinkers and abstainers to report use of cigarettes, marijuana and illicit drugs and to exhibit problem behaviors. Malt liquor use was predictive of problem drinking, drug use and other problem behavior after adjusting for demographics and alcohol use in regression analyses. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study suggest that malt liquor use is associated with heavy and problem drinking, other drug use and behavioral problems among community college students.     

The role of marketing in pharmaceutical research and development

Pharmaceutical marketing, which is primarily targeted at physicians, has been criticised because it may distort physician prescribing and thus potentially raise costs and/or worsen health. An alternative view, presented in this paper, is that successful marketing of pharmaceuticals can improve consumer welfare by increasing incentives for research and development (R&D) investment and by providing guidance to R&D to make it more consistent with consumer preferences. There are a number of arguments that support this view, despite impediments to pharmaceutical marketing such as the prohibited dissemination of off-label information in the US, difficulties in estimating potential pharmaceutical demand, and the long time lag between demand assessment and the introduction of new drugs. For example, physicians are often slow to modify their prescribing practices, even when new evidence-based practice guidelines are issued by prestigious organisations. Pharmaceutical promotion is likely to be particularly valuable because information plays a key role, is highly technical, and can change rapidly. Even consumer advertising can potentially improve health, for example, by improving patient compliance with drug therapy. In addition to disseminating information about the benefits of new therapies, an essential (and perhaps unique) role for pharmaceutical promotion is to encourage physicians and payers to pay closer attention to consumer needs (i.e. willingness to pay) for new medical technology. Moreover, successful marketing of pharmaceuticals increases the returns from R&D, thus increasing incentives to explore consumer demand and to contribute to basic research on the role of drug therapy. Consumer benefits from this process may be very large.     

大麦芽的化学成分

目的研究大麦芽的化学成分。方法通过乙醇提取、反复柱色谱、重结晶等分离纯化手段分离纯化了麦芽中的化学成分,并应用UV、MS、NMR等波谱解析和化学方法确定其结构。结果从生麦芽中分离得到6个化合物,分别鉴定为Nbenzoylphenylalanine2benzoylamino3phenylpropylester(1)、豆甾5烯3β醇7酮(2)、5羟甲基糠醛(3)、麦黄酮(4)、β谷甾醇(5)和胡萝卜苷(6)。结论以上所有的化合物均首次从中药麦芽中分离得到;1为首次从该属植物中分离得到。     

Serum albumin-alginate coated microspheres: role of the inner gel in binding and release of the KRFK peptide

In continuation with our previous study using fluorescein-isothiocyanate (FITC)-Lys-Arg-Phe-Lys (KRFK) peptide, the aim of this work was to study the interaction of the unlabelled KRFK with calcium alginate gel microspheres coated with a serum albumin (HSA)-alginate membrane prepared using a transacylation method. Coated microspheres were prepared with two main sizes and two gel strengths. Control microspheres made of cross-linked alginate-HSA without calcium alginate gel were also prepared. A series of loading and release assays conducted with methylene blue showed the requirement of inner gel for binding the cationic molecule. Release experiments were performed in different media using unlabelled KRFK and coated microspheres. A plateau was reached within 1h, in contrast with the slow release of the FITC-peptide observed in our previous work. This discrepancy was attributed to modified properties of the labelled peptide. Adsorption assays of KRFK on coated microspheres were performed in the presence of growing concentrations of NaCl or imidazole. The ions were able to displace the peptide from the particles, which demonstrated ionic interactions, probably involving carboxylate groups of alginate. Adsorption isotherms showed that gel strength influenced affinity (4x10(5) L/mol or 8x10(5) L/mol for gelation with 5% or 20% CaCl(2), respectively). Binding site number doubled (from 2.6x10(-7) mol/mg to more than 5x10(-7) mol/mg) when microsphere size decreased from 450 microm to 100 microm. Binding sites were assumed to be located in the gel underneath the membrane.     

The role of pharmaceutical marketing and other factors in prescribing decisions: The Yemeni experience

BackgroundPrescribing decisions are a complex phenomenon and influenced by many pharmacological and non-pharmacological factors. Little is known about the actual prescribing behaviors of physicians or the factors behind their prescribing decisions.ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to explore the factors that influence physicians' prescribing decisions and the role of the marketing activities by pharmaceutical companies in this decision-making process.MethodsA semi-structured interview with the critical incident technique method was used to encourage physicians to describe the particular situations of prescribing for specific newly marketed drugs. All interviews were transcribed verbatim and thematic content analysis with systematic and comprehensive coding was employed to identify categories of physicians' reasons for either prescribing or not of the study drugs.ResultsFactors that influence prescribing of the study drugs (223 critical incidents) were categorized in six major themes. Drug characteristics, the most frequently mentioned by physicians as reasons of prescribe, were implicated in 70 (31.4%) incidents, followed by pharmaceutical company mentioned in 53 (23.8%) incidents, indications, 31 (13.9%) incidents, and patient contexts, 26 (11.7%) incidents. Environmental factors as information and evidence were implicated in 22 (9.9%) incidents, and physician factor, 21 (9.4%) incidents.ConclusionPrescribing is a complex process and physicians integrate different factors. Although physicians make a considerable on patient contexts and treatment outcomes, they still rely on their personal experiences when making prescribing in addition to firms' source of information and firms' marketing activities.     

Topological structure and chemical composition of inner surfaces of borosilicate vials

The use of atomic force microscopy (AFM) and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) is described to characterize the inner surfaces of pharmaceutical vials. The two type I borosilicate glasses included in this study slightly differ in their amounts of alkaline oxides. The topography and chemistry of the inner surfaces of vials are predominantly caused by the forming process. A structural and chemical modification of the inner surface of vials was also observed when exposing the surface to different pH conditions and special treatment like washing and sterilization, which are routine operation steps during galenical manufacturing.     

Racial differences and the role of neighborhood in the sequencing of marijuana and tobacco initiation among urban youth

ABSTRACT

Background: With patterns of initiation of tobacco and marijuana changing, there is increasing evidence that marijuana use may serve as an antecedent to tobacco use among adolescents. However, studies have not fully characterized the prevalence of these patterns among vulnerable youth and have rarely examined the factors that predict the sequencing of onset of tobacco and marijuana use. Methods: Utilizing longitudinal data from a sample of urban youth followed from age 6 to age 18, the authors identify the sequencing of initiation of tobacco and marijuana and test whether race and 5 neighborhood factors (i.e., perceived disorder, drug activity, drug access, exposure to violence, and exposure to violent victimization) predict onset sequencing. Results: Various sequencing patterns were observed, with 12.4% of the sample initiating marijuana use before tobacco use was initiated. In adjusted logistic regression models, black youth were 2.66 times as likely as whites to initiate marijuana before tobacco compared with initiating tobacco before marijuana (P = .032). Youth with greater exposure to violent victimization were 3.89 times as likely to initiate marijuana first than initiate tobacco first (P = .002). Other neighborhood factors were not statistically significantly associated with sequencing. Conclusions: Black youth and youth with greater exposure to victimization had an increased risk of initiating marijuana before tobacco, which suggests that this pattern may be rooted in specific risk factors. Substance use prevention efforts should consider taking into account that marijuana use may put certain youth at risk of initiating tobacco. Future research needs to monitor sequencing, as well as risk factors for and consequences of the various patterns, particularly since marijuana use and the mixing of tobacco and marijuana use are gaining acceptability in general populations.     

营销工程在医药营销决策中的应用探讨

营销工程是研究开发和使用交互式、定制化的计算机决策模型用于分析、规划、实施市场营销战略和策略,属于营销的定量分析工具,其理论依据是传统的市场营销理论.本文以STP战略决策模型为例,阐述营销工程在医药营销决策中的具体应用.