Evaluation of the CDC gravid trap for the surveillance of St. Louis encephalitis vectors in Memphis, Tennessee

Collections with CDC Gravid Mosquito Traps on 954 trap-nights from May through September 1983 are compared to 2,608 concurrent resting site collections made in the same area of Memphis, Tennessee. Gravid Traps yielded 88 times more Culex per collection and 96 times more Culex per man hour. The total Gravid Trap catch was 135,724 mosquitoes, 99% of which were either Culex pipiens or Cx. restuans, whereas these species comprised only 63% of the 6,613 mosquitoes collected from resting sites. Gravid Traps also collected significant numbers of Aedes aegypti and Ae. triseriatus. On most nights, more than 95% of mosquitoes in the Gravid Trap catch were gravid females. These results demonstrate that the trap is an effective and efficient device for collecting several important vector species. The preponderance of gravid mosquitoes should enhance the probability of encountering pathogens acquired by blood-feeding.     

Carboxyhemoglobin Sources in the Metropolitan St. Louis Population

The carbon monoxide (CO) sources of carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) in the St. Louis metropolitan population are primarily smoking (first) and industrial work exposure (second). The mean COHb saturations of the population studied were the following: total (16,649)–2.30%; smokers (6,492)–4.58%; nonsmokers (10,157)– 0.85%; smoking industrial workers (1, 738)–5.01%; nonsmoking industrial workers (1, 523)–1.38%; smoking other persons (4, 754)–4.42%; nonsmoking other persons (8, 634)–0.75%. Study samples were obtained from 16, 649 individual blood donors of the Red Cross blood program during a one-year period. The COHb saturation was correlated with smoking histories, travel, and socioeconomic data obtained during phlebotomy. Air-monitoring data were obtained from governmental agencies. Ambient air exposure produces very small increases in COHb levels in this regional population, as does increase in travel time or distance to donor site. These results indicate a need to reassess the environmental sources of CO in relation to national clean air standards.     

Perinatal mortality in the St. Louis metropolitan area

Statistical data in fetal, neonatal, perinatal, and infant mortality were collected from various sources for the St. Louis metropolitan area (St. Louis City and St. Louis County). The overall perinatal mortality rate of 25.8 for the St. Louis metropolitan area in 1973 compares favorably with the national rate of 25.5 in 1973. The prematurity rate at St. Louis City Hospital (SLCH) is almost three times that of St. Mary's Health Center (SMHC), 12.7 in contrast to 4.8. Both the neonatal and perinatal mortality rates at SLCH are about twice the rate of SMHC, neonatal 19.5 versus 7.4 and perinatal 31.7 in contrast to 19.6. Prematurity and its complications still seem to be the leading cause of neonatal mortality. With modern obstetrical and intensive neonatal care, the survival rates for low birth weight infants has improved markedly. The combined survival rates at SLCH and SMHC, 1972 through 1974 for infants weighing 501-1,000 gms 28 percent; 1,001-1,500 gms, 74 percent; 1,501-2,5000 gms, 95.5 percent; and greater than 2,500 gms. 99.7 percent. Recent studies have shown that the long-term prognosis for these low birth weight infants, in terms of neurological or intellectual sequelae is good. Thus, a more aggressive approach to the management of perinatal problems can be expected to yield excellent results.     

Smoking and Carboxyhemoglobin in the St. Louis Metropolitan Population

The most important source of carbon monoxide (CO) exposure is smoking. If a person smokes and inhales, the carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) level in his blood is due primarily to smoking, and other sources of CO exposure are relatively unimportant. The COHb data for smokers are analyzed by type of smoking, sex, and whether or not the subject has an industrial occupation. Data indicate that men and women who smoke at the same rate reach the same equilibrium level of COHb, but women achieve lower COHb levels after ceasing smoking for the day. Restriction or elimination of cigarette smoking makes the most sense for protecting the atherosclerotic population from chronic CO exposure.     

Taking chances: problem gamblers and mental health disorders--results from the St. Louis Epidemiologic Catchment Area Study.

OBJECTIVES: This study determined prevalence estimates of problem gambling and relationships to other psychiatric and substance use disorders. METHODS: In 1981, the Diagnostic Interview Schedule was used to collect epidemiological information on problem gambling and other disorders from 3004 adults in St. Louis, Mo. RESULTS: The lifetime prevalence of pathological gambling was 0.9%; 46% of those surveyed gambled recreationally. Problem gamblers (those reporting at least one gambling-related problem) were 9.2% of the sample and were predominately White (69%), male (78.2%), and young than nongamblers. They were at increased risk for several psychiatric diagnoses, especially for antisocial personality disorder, alcoholism, and tobacco dependence. CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians treating alcoholism and tobacco dependence may need to screen for problem gambling. Additional research in the context of increased gambling opportunities is needed.     

Target Population Involvement in Urban Ciclovias: A Preliminary Evaluation of St. Louis Open Streets

Ciclovias are active street events when roads are open to walkers, cyclists, and families and closed to automobiles. Over 70 cities in the USA have implemented ciclovias to promote physical activity. The authors evaluated four events during 2010 to determine what activities participants perform and who is attending. For two ciclovia events in St. Louis, Missouri, observation reports of activities, gender, and age of 1,452 participants were collected, and 82 adults were interviewed via direct approach. The survey covered six domains: physical activity, travel to event, sense of community, marketing, economic impact, and demographics. Each event occurred within the city, along multiple streets. Domains were selected from Ciclovia Recreativa developed by Ciclovia Bogota, Pan American Health Organization, and CDC. Additional questions addressed city-specific goals and matched similar evaluations in other cities. Over 50 % of participants met CDC-defined weekly minute thresholds for physical activity. Participants, primarily (>80 %) middle class, college educated, and white, were not representative of the majority minority city population, which has high rates of poverty, and low percentage of college graduates. Cities must work with residents to increase low-income minority population participation in ciclovia-based physical activity.