Nasal carriers of coagulase-positive staphylococci in a Nigerian hospital community

Nasal swabs taken from 324 subjects in a Nigerian hospital were examined for the presence of coagulase-positive staphylococci. The subjects used in this study included the patients, staff and “auxiliaries” aged from one day to 70 years. The results obtained show that approximately 50% of all the subjects were nasal carriers of Staphylococcus aureus and that age, occupation and length of the subjects' stay in hospital had a significant effect on this figure. It was also found that there is no significant difference between the prevalence of nasal carriage of S. aureus amongst the hospital staff and the patients.     

Calcium intake in preschool children--a study of dietary patterns in a low socioeconomic community.

BACKGROUND: There is a lack of published data on sources and quantity of calcium intake in preschool children. STUDY OBJECTIVES: To assess calcium intake compared with the Dietary Reference Intake (DRI), to identify major food sources of calcium, and to compare dietary patterns of healthy preschool children who do and do not meet the calcium DRI. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Primary care pediatrics practice at a large urban medical center. SUBJECTS: A group of 228 children aged 44 to 60 months in a low socioeconomic community. METHODS: Diet was assessed using three or four 24-hour recalls administered approximately three months apart to the parents. Nutrient values were computed using a dietary analysis program based on USDA values. RESULTS: Mean daily calcium intake was 852 mg/day (S.D., 271) and 44% reported mean calcium intake less than the DRI of 800 mg/day. Milk consumption accounted for 64.3% and cheese for 6.7% of the daily calcium intake. Multiple linear regression analysis adjusting for age, sex, race, body mass index, and total caloric intake confirmed the main contribution of mainly milk and, to a much lesser extent, cheese consumption, as determinants of calcium intake. All of the children who consumed less than 1.2 servings of milk (288 ml) milk per day reported mean daily calcium intake below the DRI. CONCLUSIONS: Calcium intake below the DRI may be common in preschool children in low socioeconomic communities, and is associated primarily with lower milk intake. These findings indicate the need to promote the consumption of low-fat milk in preschool children.     

Managing eczema in children--a treatment update

What's the best way to manage pediatric atopic dermatitis? Do alternative remedies work? This evidence-based review--and easy-to-use treatment formula--answers these questions.     

Nasal mucosa in workers exposed to formaldehyde: a pilot study.

This study evaluates the histological changes, especially the presence of possible precancerous lesions, in the nasal mucosa of workers exposed to formaldehyde. Nasal biopsies of 37 workers occupationally exposed to formaldehyde for more than five years and 37 age matched referents showed a higher degree of metaplastic alterations in the former group. In addition, three cases of epithelial dysplasia were observed among the exposed. These results indicate that formaldehyde may be potentially carcinogenic to man. Combination of this finding with the inconclusive epidemiological studies suggests that formaldehyde is a weak carcinogen and that occupational exposure to formaldehyde alone is insufficient to induce nasal cancer.     

Nasal ventilation.

Intermittent positive-pressure ventilation through a nasal mask is an effective, simple, non-invasive method of domiciliary ventilatory support in patients with chronic respiratory disease. It has recently been used in other situations, including intensive care, and can considerably improve the management of patients with chronic respiratory failure.     

Some clinico-epidemiological aspect of bronchiolitis among infants and young children--a hospital based study

A hospital based prospective study was carried out from 1st October 1998 to 30th September 1999 on children with clinical diagnosis of bronchiolitis in OPD and indoor patients of the Department of Paediatric Medicine, Medical College Kolkata. The objective of the study was to find out the proportional case rate and clinico epidemiological features of the disease. The effectiveness of nebulized salbutamol among bronchiolitis children was also looked into. The proportional case rate was found to be 4.65%. Low birth weight (LBW)/premature babies (51.11%) malnutrition (40%), nonimmunization (55.55%) & non breastfeeding practices (48.88%) were significant risk factors for severe bronchiolitis. Response to nebulized salbutamol was remarkably higher (70%) in 6m to 12m age group.     

Epidemiological follow-up study of Japanese thorotrast cases.

The authors conducted a follow-up study on 243 Thorotrast-administered war-wounded ex-servicemen in 1975, after a lapse of 30 to 38 years from Thorotrast injections, and found 18 cases of malignant hepatic tumor, 15 cases of other malignant tumors, 2 cases of blood diseases, and 9 cases of liver cirrhosis in 224 cases who had been given Thorotrast intravascularly. The incidence of hepatic and other malignant tumors, blood diseases, and liver cirrhosis was significantly higher than in the controls. The total number of deaths in the Thorotrast-administered cases was also significantly higher than in the controls. In the remaining 19 cases who had been given Thorotrast by a route other than intravascularly, no fatal case related to Thorotrast administration was discovered. In the living cases, however, one sarcoma was observed to have developed at the site of the Thorotrast injection.     

深圳地区耐甲氧西林葡萄球菌的耐药变迁研究

目的　了解深圳地区近年来耐甲氧西林葡萄球菌的耐药变迁情况。方法　收集 2 0 0 1～ 2 0 0 3年深圳地区各级医院临床标本分离的耐甲氧西林葡萄球菌 ,按Kirby Bauer纸片扩散法进行药敏试验 ,并对结果进行分析。结果　 84 8株耐甲氧西林葡萄球菌中 ,13 92 %为金黄色葡萄球菌 ,86 0 8%为凝固酶阴性葡萄球菌。耐甲氧西林葡萄球菌对庆大霉素的耐药率 2 0 0 1、2 0 0 2、2 0 0 3年分别为 5 8 97%、6 0 0 5 %、73 0 4 % ,2 0 0 3年明显高于 2 0 0 1年 (P <0 0 5 )和 2 0 0 2年 (P <0 0 1) ;对环丙沙星的耐药率 ,2 0 0 3年 (6 1 78% )高于 2 0 0 2年 (5 1 2 9% ) (P <0 0 1) ;对复方新诺明的耐药率 2 0 0 2年 (40 4 6 % )和 2 0 0 3年 (41 36 % )均高于 2 0 0 1年 (2 6 92 % ) (均P <0 0 5 ) ;对克林霉素的耐药率 ,2 0 0 3年 (39 0 1% )较 2 0 0 2年 (5 1 0 3% )低 (P <0 0 1)。结论　在所测的 16种抗生素中 ,耐甲氧西林葡萄球菌仅对庆大霉素、环丙沙星、复方新诺明的耐药率有逐年升高趋势。     

Nasal cytology in southwest metropolitan Mexico City inhabitants: a pilot intervention study.

Southwest metropolitan Mexico City (SWMMC) inhabitants have been exposed several hours per day for the last 6 years to photochemical smog, ozone being the most important oxidant pollutant. Subjects exposed to the SWMMC atmosphere develop several histopathological changes in their nasal mucosa: dysplasia is the most significant, affecting 78.72% of adult individuals within 60 or more days of residence in SWMMC. This study was originally designed to explore whether chemical intervention could modify nasal dysplasia, as determined by nasal cytology, in a defined adult population. In a placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind trial, 177 healthy male subjects were divided into 5 groups to whom 5000 IU of vitamin A, 100 IU of vitamin E, a combination of vitamins A and E (5000 IU + 100 IU), 16 mg of beta-carotene, or placebo were administered daily for 4 months. Sixteen clinical and cytological variables were monitored. No effect on dysplasia was seen at the end of the 4-month trial; however, an apparent reversibility as well as progression of the dysplastic nasal lesions and high correlation coefficients between dysplasia and nasal cytology of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs; 0.85), squamous metaplasia (SM; 0.50), and nasal mucosa atrophy (NMA; 0.41) were found. A mathematical theoretical nasal dysplasia (tD) predictor equation for SWMMC adult male inhabitants is proposed (tD = 0.85 delta PMNs + 0.50 delta SM + 0.41 delta NMA + 0.98), in which PMNs are the best single dysplasia predictor, and all variables are independent.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)