云南省2013－2017年农村地区育龄人群HBsAg筛查结果分析

目的 了解云南省农村地区育龄人群孕前HBV感染状况,筛查出HBV易感人群及高发地区,为孕前优生和科学干预提供依据。方法 研究对象为2013－2017年云南省农村地区接受国家免费孕前优生健康检查的18~49岁育龄人群。描述和分析不同特征育龄人群HBsAg阳性率及其差异。采用SPSS 22.0软件进行统计学分析。结果 农村育龄人群中,共筛查2 180 841例研究对象,HBsAg阳性率为3.13%（68 314/2 180 841）。男性HBsAg阳性率（3.56%,37 694/1 057 376）高于女性（2.73%,30 620/1 123 465）;41~49岁年龄组HBsAg阳性率最高（3.77%,3 126/82 931）;少数民族HBsAg阳性率（3.77%,27 974/742 518）高于汉族（2.81%,40 024/1 425 870）,瑶族HBsAg阳性率最高（8.20%,851/10 378）;小学及以下文化程度人群HBsAg阳性率最高,为3.97%（17 294/435 219）;西双版纳傣族自治州（西双版纳州）HBsAg阳性率最高（6.65%,3 875/58 232）;深度贫困地区HBsAg阳性率（3.32%,19 755/595 665）高于贫困地区（3.17%,29 750/939 101）与非贫困地区（2.91%,18 809/646 075）。不同特征育龄人群HBsAg阳性率的差异均有统计学意义（均P<0.001）。结论 云南省农村地区育龄人群HBsAg阳性率与其性别、年龄、民族、文化程度、筛查地区及地区经济发展水平等因素相关。育龄人群中,男性、年龄较大、文化程度较低、少数民族（尤其是瑶族）、来自西双版纳州和贫困地区HBsAg阳性率较高。     

中国健康人群水痘-带状疱疹病毒抗体水平的Meta分析

目的 本文旨在系统分析和评价中国健康人群水痘-带状疱疹病毒（VZV）IgG抗体水平。方法 系统检索CNKI、万方、CBM以及PubMed数据库有关中国健康人群VZV IgG抗体水平的研究,检索时限为2000年1月1日至2020年11月3日。使用澳大利亚循证卫生保健中心Joanna Briggs Institute（JBI）横断面研究评价工具对纳入的研究进行质量评价,使用Stata 14.0软件进行分析,并对不同年龄、省份、地区、性别、年代人群VZV IgG抗体水平进行分层分析。结果 共纳入59篇文献（中文51篇、英文8篇）。质量评分为8分的22篇,7分的16篇,6分的15篇,5分的6篇。Meta分析结果显示,中国健康人群VZV IgG抗体阳性率为64%（95% CI：60%~67%,I²=98.7%）。文献涉及国内22个地区的IgG抗体水平,其中云南省VZV IgG抗体阳性率最高（79%,95% CI：64%~93%,I²=94.7%）;内蒙古自治区最低（50%,95% CI：46%~54%）。从不同地理分区来看,东北地区VZV IgG抗体阳性率最高,为71%（95% CI：69%~73%）;华东地区最低,为62%（95% CI：57%~67%）。此外,城镇人口VZV IgG抗体阳性率高于农村人口（RR=1.08,95% CI：1.04~1.11）;女性VZV IgG抗体阳性率高于男性（RR=1.10,95% CI：1.08~1.11）。随着年龄增长,中国人群VZV IgG抗体阳性率在逐年增加;随着抽样时间变化,VZV IgG抗体阳性率也有所增加。结论 中国健康人群VZV IgG抗体阳性率相对较低,未来需要提高疫苗接种率以控制水痘暴发和降低发病率。     

广东省9个城市性病门诊男性就诊者生殖道沙眼衣原体感染危险因素分析

目的 了解性病门诊男性就诊者生殖道沙眼衣原体（genital Chlamydia trachomatis,GCT）感染现状及危险因素,加强该人群GCT监测,为针对该人群开展干预工作提供依据。方法 2015年4-6月结合HIV监测哨点开展研究,选取性病门诊男性就诊者为调查对象,开展匿名问卷调查及检测。结果 本次共纳入就诊者1 749例,平均年龄（39.53±14.36）岁,多数为已婚（73.87%,1 292/1 749）、广东籍（92.28%,1 614/1 749）、汉族（99.49%,1 740/1 749）;GCT阳性率、HIV阳性率、梅毒阳性率、HCV阳性率、淋球菌阳性率、尿常规白细胞阳性率分别为6.06%（106/1 749）、0.46%（8/1 749）、3.43%（60/1 749）、0.45%（7/1 550）、2.74%（48/1 749）、7.89%（138/1 749）。多因素logistic分析显示,GCT感染相关危险因素包括注射吸毒（OR=13.98,95% CI：3.35～58.38）、与男性发生过肛交（OR=3.11,95% CI：1.45～6.71）、淋球菌阳性（OR=9.64,95% CI：5.09～18.24）、尿常规白细胞阳性（OR=1.96,95% CI：1.08～3.55）。结论 广东省性病门诊男性就诊者GCT感染率较高,该人群为性病艾滋病防控的高危人群,应针对不同地区的人群特点,实施精准干预。     

梅毒螺旋体抗体血清学检测方法的临床应用价值探讨

目的 探讨5种常用的梅毒螺旋体抗体血清学检测方法的临床应用价值。方法 收集160例梅毒确诊病例血清标本作为试验组,非梅毒者200例血清标本作为对照组,两组血清标本采用梅毒螺旋体明胶颗粒凝集试验(TPPA)、化学发光微粒子免疫分析法(CMIA)、ELISA、乳胶法(TP-AD)和甲苯胺红不加热血清试验(TRUST)对梅毒螺旋体抗体进行检测,评价5种检测方法的敏感度、特异度,并比较5种方法对各期梅毒患者治疗前后检测的结果。结果 5种梅毒检测方法的敏感度和特异度:TPPA为100.00%和99.50%、CMIA为99.38%和99.00%、ELISA为98.12%和99.00%、TP-AD为94.38%和94.50%、TRUST为85.62%和95.50%。在一期梅毒和隐性梅毒患者中,TRUST法检测的梅毒螺旋体抗体阳性率低于TPPA、ELISA、CMIA和TP-AD法检测,差异有统计学意义(P<0.01);在二期、三期梅毒患者中,5种方法检测的梅毒螺旋体抗体阳性率差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);在各期梅毒患者中,ELISA或CMIA联合TRUST检测的梅毒螺旋体抗体阳性率均为100.00%。121例梅毒患者治疗前后,TRUST法检测的梅毒螺旋体阳性率差异有统计学意义(P<0.05),其他4种检测方法检测的阳性率差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论 TPPA、CMIA和ELISA法的敏感度和特异度较好,ELISA或CMIA联合TRUST是各期梅毒患者筛查的可靠方法,TRUST适宜梅毒活动期判定和疗效监测。     

四川省雅安市嫖客HIV和梅毒感染状况及相关行为调查

目的 了解四川省雅安市嫖客人群HIV和梅毒感染状况及相关危险行为。方法 2014年4月至2015年12月,在雅安市开展横断面调查,滚雪球法招募708例嫖客作为调查对象,通过面对面问卷调查收集嫖客基本人口学、艾滋病有关知识和行为学等信息,抽取调查对象5 ml静脉血进行HIV和梅毒抗体检测,利用SPSS 18.0统计学软件进行数据整理和分析。结果 708名嫖客中,≥50岁年龄组人数占51.27%（363/708）;汉族占99.72%（706/708）;初中及以下文化程度占90.11%（638/708）;在婚/同居占74.15%（525/708）;每次均使用安全套占27.40%（194/708）。HIV抗体阳性7例,其中4例年龄≥50岁;检出梅毒抗体阳性病例7例,年龄均≥50岁;HIV和梅毒抗体阳性率均为0.99%（95% CI：0.30%～1.70%）;未发现HIV和梅毒合并感染病例。多因素logistic回归分析显示,首次发生商业异性性行为年龄<30岁（OR=6.61,95% CI：1.09～40.18）的嫖客其HIV抗体阳性率较高。结论 雅安市嫖客人群安全套使用率较低,自我保护意识较弱,尤其是≥50岁的嫖客文化程度较低,其经商业性行为感染HIV和梅毒的风险较高,应给予足够的重视。     

新疆维吾尔自治区疏附县中小学生病毒性肝炎血清流行病学调查

目的 了解新疆维吾尔自治区（新疆）疏附县中小学生甲、乙、丙型病毒性肝炎流行情况及评估免疫接种效果。方法 2015年2-5月通过整群随机抽样方法对疏附县4个乡镇中小学生进行病毒性肝炎血清流行病学调查,检测HAV-IgG、HBsAg、HBsAb和HCV-IgG。结果 疏附县4 830名中小学生HAV-IgG阳性率为99.75%,男生为99.92%,女生为99.57%,差异有统计学意义（χ²=5.798,P=0.016）;HBsAg阳性率为3.02%,男生为3.55%,女生为2.47%,差异有统计学意义（χ²=4.782,P=0.029）;各年龄组的HBsAg阳性率差异有统计学意义（χ²=71.990,P=0.000）,农村地区（3.28%）高于城镇地区（1.61%）,差异有统计学意义（χ²=6.019,P=0.014）;HBsAb阳性率为38.84%,各年龄组的HBsAb阳性率差异有统计学意义（χ²=837.699,P=0.000）,城镇地区（42.36%）高于农村地区（38.20%）,差异有统计学意义（χ²=4.598,P=0.032）。HBsAg和HBsAb均为阴性的学生有2 815人,占总人数的58.28%。HCV-IgG阳性率为0.19%,阳性者均为维吾尔族农村学生。结论 疏附县中小学生甲型肝炎疫苗的免疫效果较好,处于乙型肝炎免疫空白状态的学生较多,丙型肝炎感染率较低,应及时对适龄儿童进行免疫接种和查漏补种。     

山东省青岛市2006－2015年暗娼人群行为变化及流行因素研究

目的 分析山东省青岛市暗娼人群行为变化特征和艾滋病性病流行因素,为制订艾滋病防治对策和干预措施提供依据。方法 2006-2015年在哨点监测期4-7月按《全国艾滋病哨点监测实施方案》要求收集当地暗娼人口学特征及相关行为信息,并采集静脉血进行艾滋病、梅毒检测。结果 连续10年调查样本显示,年龄≥ 30岁、已婚/同居和应召暗娼所占比例呈增长趋势;梅毒感染率从2006年1.0%（4/420）上升至2015年13.3%（53/400）（趋势χ²=54.22,P<0.001）;吸食合成毒品率在12.0%（48/400）和55.5%（222/400）之间波动;最近1个月与客人发生性行为坚持安全套使用率呈下降趋势（趋势χ²=170.62,P<0.001）;艾滋病知识得分≥ 6（趋势χ²=152.96,P<0.001）和最近1年做过艾滋病检测比例（趋势χ²=114.87,P<0.001）呈上升趋势;2009-2015年分年度分层分析,吸食毒品与不吸食毒品的暗娼相比有更高的梅毒感染率和不安全性行为（P<0.05）,应召暗娼梅毒感染率高于场所招募暗娼（P<0.05）。结论 青岛地区暗娼人群梅毒感染率呈上升趋势,吸食合成毒品是影响青岛市性病艾滋病传播重要危险因素,建议加强对吸毒暗娼人群监测力度,开展有针对性干预措施。     

中国2007-2016年59岁以下普通人群HBsAg阳性率的Meta分析

目的 采用Meta分析方法系统评价2007-2016年中国59岁以下普通人群HBsAg阳性率的变化趋势。方法 通过中国知网（CNKI）、维普中文科技期刊全文数据库（VIP）及PubMed,系统检索2007年1月至2016年8月中国59岁以下普通人群HBsAg阳性率的文献,采用comprehensive Meta-analysis 2.2软件,运用固定效应模型和随机效应模型合并分析59岁以下普通人群HBsAg阳性率。结果 共纳入文献46篇,总样本量625 053例,Meta分析结果显示中国59岁以下普通人群HBsAg阳性率为5.7%（95%CI：4.8%~6.6%）。中西部地区59岁以下普通人群HBsAg阳性率为6.3%（95%CI：4.9%~8.0%）,高于东部地区的5.5%（95%CI：4.4%~6.8%）。59岁以下男性人群HBsAg阳性率为6.1%（95%CI：5.3%~7.0%）,高于女性人群的4.8%（95%CI：4.2%~5.5%）。2007-2009年的59岁以下普通人群HBsAg阳性率为6.3%（95%CI：5.5%~7.2%）,2010-2012年为5.9%（95%CI：4.4%~8.0%）,2013-2016年为3.5%（95%CI：2.0%~6.1%）。结论 2007-2016年中国59岁以下普通人群HBsAg阳性率呈现下降趋势,已经从乙型肝炎高流行区转变为乙型肝炎中流行区。     

西藏自治区2015年暗娼等7类艾滋病重点人群HIV、梅毒和HCV横断面调查

目的 了解2015年西藏自治区暗娼等7类艾滋病重点人群HIV、梅毒和HCV的流行现状及其相关行为因素。方法 2015年6-12月对西藏自治区的拉萨市、昌都市、林芝市、日喀则市、山南市、阿里地区、那曲地区共7个市（地区）及25个县（区）的暗娼等7类艾滋病重点人群开展横断面调查。样本量分别为暗娼人群2 000人、MSM人群200人、注射吸毒者200人、男性流动人群1 200人、青年学生5 600人、医院就诊人群为2015年6-12月在综合医院就诊者、孕产妇为2015年6-12月在综合医院和妇幼保健机构首次接受孕期和围产期检查的门诊或住院孕产妇。收集人口学和行为学信息,进行HIV、梅毒和HCV血清学检测。计数资料采用率或构成比进行统计描述。结果 7类艾滋病重点人群共调查20 597人。暗娼人群HIV和梅毒抗体阳性率分别为0.05%（1/2 133）和5.81%（124/2 133）;MSM的HIV和梅毒抗体阳性率均为9.80%（10/102）;吸毒人群、男性流动人群及青年学生中未检出HIV抗体阳性,梅毒阳性率分别为4.00%（4/100）、0.33%（4/1 297）和0.08%（4/5 095）;医院就诊人群HIV和梅毒抗体阳性率分别为0.04%（2/5 565）和1.64%（91/5 565）;孕产妇中HIV和梅毒抗体阳性率分别为0.11%（7/6 305）和1.19%（75/6 305）。HCV抗体阳性率,吸毒人群为1.00%（1/100）,其他6类人群均低于0.50%。各类人群坚持使用安全套率均较低。结论 西藏自治区的HIV感染主要集中在MSM人群,梅毒感染主要集中在MSM人群和暗娼人群中,HCV感染主要集中在吸毒人群中,各人群对艾滋病和性病防治知识的知晓率、接受干预服务比例均低。     

上海市艾滋病自愿咨询检测门诊男男性行为者HIV与梅毒、单纯疱疹病毒2型共感染状况调查

目的 了解上海市艾滋病自愿咨询检测（VCT）门诊就诊MSM人群HIV与梅毒、单纯疱疹病毒2型（HSV-2）共感染情况及其可能影响因素。方法 采用横断面研究设计,用方便抽样法选取上海市与普陀区的2个VCT门诊,于2015年3-8月招募≥ 18岁、最近1年发生过同性插入性性行为的MSM作为调查对象,招募756名MSM,使用χ²检验和logistic回归法分析。结果 共调查732名MSM,调查对象HIV与梅毒共感染率为3.3%（24/732）,HIV与HSV-2共感染率为1.9%（14/732）,HIV与梅毒、HSV-2共感染率为0.7%（5/732）。梅毒感染者的HIV感染率45.3%（24/53）显著高于非梅毒感染者7.2%（61/679）（χ²=63.11,P<0.001）;HSV-2感染者的HIV感染率34.1%（14/41）显著高于非HSV-2感染者10.3%（71/691）（χ²=21.49,P<0.001）。多因素logistic回归分析显示,调查对象HIV与梅毒共感染的可能危险因素包括外地户籍（OR=3.50,95% CI：1.01~12.17）、初中及以下文化程度（OR=4.46,95% CI：1.54~12.87）和曾使用毒品（OR=4.25,95% CI：1.67~10.82）;HIV与HSV-2共感染的可能危险因素：高中及以下文化程度（OR=6.87,95% CI：1.86~25.42;OR=9.82,95% CI：2.25~42.85）。结论 上海市VCT门诊就诊的MSM中存在一定比例的HIV和梅毒、HIV和HSV-2共感染情况。应关注外来务工人员、文化程度低者和使用毒品者。     

Clinical and laboratory evidence of the importance of the tick D. marginatus as a vector of B. burgdorferi in some areas of sporadic Lyme disease in Bulgaria

56 adult ticks D. marginatus and 38 adult ticks H. punctata were sampled by the flagging method, transferred to the laboratory, dissected and tested for infection with Lyme disease spirochetes. 3 (7.9%) of the adult H. punctata and 2 (3.57%) of the adult D. marginatus were infected with B. burgdorferi (Bb). This report also presents the case of a patient, who developed Lyme disease symptoms after he had been bitten by a D. marginatus tick. The clinical diagnosis was confirmed by serological testing and by a biopsy, taken from the patient's skin lesion. The skin biopsy was examined under an electron microscope and Bb was found in the sections of the deeper strata of the dermis in two structural forms: (a) cylindrical bodies (protoplasm cylinder) with circular ends covered with a three-layered membrane; (b) granules, situated among the collagenous fibres either closely adhered to them or covered with a membrane. The result of the study demonstrates that in single cases in some ecosystems, ticks D. marginatus might be implicated in Bb transmission to humans as secondary vectors.     

Absorption,metabolism and elimination of N,N-dimethylformamide in humans

Summary Excretion of N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) and DMF metabolites N-hydroxymethyl-N-methylformamide (MF), N-hydroxymethyl-formamide (F) and N-acetyl-S-(N-methylcarbamoyl)cysteine (AMCC) has been monitored in the urine of volunteers during and after their 8-h exposure to DMF vapour at a concentration of 10, 30 and 60 mg · m^–3. The pulmonary ventilation in these experiments was typically about 101 · min^–1 and the retention in the respiratory tract was 90%. After exposure to 30 mg DMF · m^–3, the yield of compound determined in the urine represented 0.3% (DMF), 22.3% (MF), 13.2% (F) and 13.4% (AMCC) of the dose absorbed via the respiratory tract. The excretion curves of the particular compounds attained their maximum 6–8h (DMF), 6–8h (MF), 8–14h (F) and 24–34h (AMCC) after the start of the exposure. The half-times of excretion were approximately 2, 4, 7 and 23 h respectively. In contrast to slow elimination of AMCC after exposure to DMF, AMCC was eliminated rapidly after AMCC intake. This discrepancy could be explained by rate-limiting reversible protein binding of a reactive metabolic intermediate of DMF, possibly methylisocyanate.     

The impact of needle-exchange programs on the spread of HIV among injection drug users: A simulation study

Objective. To determine the impact of the implementation of a needle-exchange program (NEP) on the spread of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in an injection drug user (IDU) community. We conducted a Monte Carlo simulation study of a theoretical population of 10,000 IDUs. The population was followed monthly from 1984 to 2000. HIV was assumed to be transmitted only by needle sharing. The NEP was introduced in 1989 and evaluated over a period of 11 years. The impacts of the proportion of the population attending the NEP, the risk level of IDUs attending the NEP, the reduction in needle-sharing frequency, and the number of new needle-sharing partners acquired at the NEP on prevalence and incidence of HIV were determined. Increasing the proportion of the population who always attend the NEP and eliminating needle-sharing incidents among IDUs who always attended the NEP were the most effective ways of reducing the spread of HIV. Attracting high-risk users instead of lower risk users to the NEP also reduced the spread of HIV, but to a lesser extent. NEPs are effective at reducing the spread of HIV; even under the worst case scenario of low risk users more likely to attend the NEP, one additional partner per month as a result of attending the NEP, and poor NEP attendance, the estimated prevalence was still less than that from the scenario without an NEP. Under our model, NEPs were shown to reduce the spread of HIV significantly. Efforts should be focused on getting as many IDUs as possible to become regular NEP attenders and stop sharing needles rather than partially reducing the frequency of sharing by a larger number of IDUs.     

Re-assessment of the influence of polymorphisms of phase-II metabolic enzymes on renal cell cancer risk of trichloroethylene-exposed workers

Problem Individual differences in susceptibility to trichloroethylene-induced nephrocarcinogenicity may be conferred by genetic polymorphisms of glutathione S-transferases (GST), because enzymes of this group are pivotal for the metabolic activation of trichloroethylene. Because of a potential involvement of N-acetylation in the detoxication of reactive trichloroethylene metabolite(s) to N-acetyl-cysteine derivatives, polymorphisms of the NAT2 gene may also be relevant. Methods The primary collective used for a re-investigation of these questions was that of a hospital-based case-control study by Brüning et al. (Am J Ind Med 43:274–285, 2003) of 134 renal cell cancer cases (20 cases exposed to trichloroethylene) and 401 matched controls. Genetic polymorphisms of GSTT1, GSTM1, GSTP1 and NAT2 were studied. Additional control collectives of non-diseased persons were used for comparison of allele frequencies. Results No genetic influences on the development of renal cancer due to trichloroethylene were apparent, related to the deletion polymorphisms of GSTT1 and GSTM1, as well as to the NAT2 rapid/slow acetylator states. However, renal cell cancer cases displayed a somewhat higher proportion of the homozygous GSTP1 313A wild type (GSTP1*A), although this was not statistically significant (χ² test: P = 0.1071, when using only the original controls of Brüning et al. (2003); P = 0.0781 with inclusion of the additional controls). Conclusion The re-investigation does not confirm the working hypothesis of an influence of the deletion polymorphisms of the glutathione S-transferases GSTT1 and GSTM1 on renal cell cancer development due to high occupational exposures to trichloroethylene.     

Screening of the municipal water system of La Plata, Argentina, for human intestinal parasites

The La Plata River, though severely contaminated by intestinal parasites through the discharge of tons of crude fecal material from a main sewage channel, nevertheless provides drinking water to two-thirds of La Plata, Argentina, after conventional purification at a processing plant. With intestinal parasitosis being endemic here, we investigated the importance of this water in transmitting such pathogens to the city's populace by means of standard methodology for sample acquisition and processing involving filter-concentration of waterborne particulates. Of 14 tap-water samples collected from the distribution network, 12 pertained to four zones (A-D) within the city center; while the remaining 2 were obtained near the processing plant, 15 kilometers outside the city. Although parasites were found within the samples derived from the four urban zones, none were detected in the specimens obtained near the plant. The four downtown areas differed from each other as to the quantity and nature of the parasites present in their water: whereas zones A and B registered similar lower levels of contaminants, C and D exhibited higher values significantly different from the former two and from each other. Given an average parasite count/l citywide of 0.38 and a probability of encountering a parasite within 11 of water of 0.32, the municipal network is seen to contribute to the transmission of intestinal parasites. A routine system of water-quality control is therefore needed throughout the city along with the establishment of infrastructures for locating and eliminating peripheral sources of contamination.     

Seroepidemiology of rickettsial infections in Morocco

The prevalence of antibodies reactive withRickettsia conorii, Rickettsia typhi, Coxiella burnetii andEhrlichia chaffeensis was investigated using indirect immunofluorescence (IFA) test on human sera obtained from 300 blood donors in Casablanca and 126 sera obtained from clinical laboratories in Fez. In sera from Casablanca, antibodies reactive at titers >=1: 32 were found againstR. conorii (7%), andR. typhi (1.7%), but not againstE. chaffeensis. In the sera from Fez, antibodies were also detected againstR. conorii (5.6%),R. typhi (4%), but not againstE. chaffeensis. By Western immunoblotting, seroprevalence forR. conorii was in Casablanca and 4.8% in Fez. Antibodies reactive at titers >=1:50 againstC. burnetii (phase II) were present in sera from Casablanca (1%) and Fez (18.3%).Abbreviations IFA Immunofluorescence assay - MSF Mediterranean spotted fever - PBS Phosphate-buffered saline     

Percutaneous absorption of N,N-dimethylformamide in humans

Summary Skin penetration fo N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) liquid or vapour was studied in volunteers. Exposure to liquid DMF was performed in two ways: in a dipping experiment, one hand was dipped up to the wrist in DMF for 2–20 min, while in a patch experiment, 2 mmol DMF was applied to the skin and allowed to be absorbed completely. The period of exposure to DMF vapour (50 mg · m^–3) was 4 h. The DMF metabolites N-hydroxymethyl-N-methylformamide (MF), N-hydroxymethylformamide (F), and N-acetyl-S-(N-methylcarbamoyl)cysteine (AMCC) were monitored in the urine. Liquid DMF was absorbed through the skin at a rate of 9.4 mg · cm^–2 · h^–1. Percutaneous absorption of DMF vapour depended strongly on ambient temperature and humidity and accounted for 13%–36% of totally excreted MF. The results suggest that skin absorption of liquid DMF is likely to contribute to occupational exposure substantially more than penetration of DMF vapour. The yield of metabolites after transdermal DMF absorption was only half of that seen after pulmonary absorption. Elimination of MF and F but not that of AMCC was delayed, which supports the contention that AMCC should be used instead of MF as the most suitable biomarker of DMF in cases where percutaneous intake can occur.     

A vulnerable population in a time of crisis: Drug users and the attacks on the World Trade Center

In this article, we present preliminary findings from a qualitative study focused on the impact of the World Trade Center attacks on New York City residents who are current or former users of heroin, crack, and other forms of cocaine. In it, we present data describing their responses to and feelings about the attacks, changes in drug use after the attacks, and factors affecting changes in use. Our analysis is based on 57 open-ended interviews conducted between October 2001 and February 2002. The majority of study participants reported that the attacks had a significant emotional impact on them, causing anxiety, sadness, and anger. Several described practical impacts as well, including significant reductions in income. On September 11th and the weeks and months that followed, several participants who had been actively using did increase their use of heroin, crack, and/or other forms of cocaine. Reductions in use were, however, as common over time as were increases. There was some relapse among former users, but this was limited to those who had stopped using drugs within the 6 months immediately preceding the attacks. A diverse set of factors interacted to control use. For some participants, these factors were internal, relating to their individual motivations and drug use experiences. Other participants were essentially forced to limit use by marked reductions in income. For others, access to health and social service professionals, as well as drug treatment, proved to be key. Department of Family Medicine and Community Health at Montefiore Medical Center     

Selenium content of Portuguese unifloral honeys

The selenium contents of a total of 62 unifloral honeys from Erica spp., Castanea sativa, Eucalyptus spp., Lavandula stoechas, Citrus spp. and Echium plantagineum honeys collected in Portugal were determined by fluorometry after reaction with 2,3-diaminonaphthalene. The selenium levels of the honey samples studied were low, ranging from <1.0 to 2.91 μg/100 g fresh weight. The honeys from Erica spp., C. sativa and E. plantagineum presented the highest selenium values from all the honeys studied (median values 1.69, 1.51 and 1.51 μg/100 g fresh weight), and the honeys from Eucalyptus spp., L. stoechas and Citrus spp. presented the lowest values (median values 1.33, 1.28 and 1.20 μg/100 g fresh weight). The selenium content of Erica spp., was significantly higher than that observed for the Eucalyptus spp., L. stoechas and Citrus spp. and the selenium level of the Eucalyptus spp., was also significantly lower than that observed C. sativa and E. plantagineum honeys. From these results it can be concluded that honey is a marginal source of Se for the Portuguese population.     

Brucella phagotypes : Their relation to the spread of infection in Italy

The spread of Brucella infection in man in Italy during the last three years is briefly reviewed with reference to the Brucella strains collected and typed.The strains were tested by H₂S production, dye-inhibition, agglutination by monospecific sera, and sensitivity to a phage set. From 108 tested strains, 91 have been identified by means of the traditional tests as Br. melitensis, sometimes with some irregularities, 10 as Br. abortus, while 7 were not typable.It was possible to recommend some phage sensitivity patterns of Br. melitensis for epidemiological purposes: one phagotype is much more frequent in the north, another in the south of Italy.However, the currently recommended phagotypes must be considered provisional and will be modified in the light of more extensive studies.Corresponding author.