Alterations in rat liver microsomal enzymes following exposure to carbaryl and malathion in combination

Pesticides are a part of man's and animal's diet. The air we breathe and the water we drink also provide us with added measurable doses. Pesticides produce changes in -glucuronidase (-glu) content, which is highly concentrated in the liver. A study was conducted to examine the effect of carbaryl and malathion in combination on liver microsomal enzymes. In vitro studies which incubated rat serum, rat liver homogenate or purified -glu enzyme with 2 or 4 mM carbaryl and/or malathion had no effect on the -glu activity.Treatment with 50 mg/kg carbaryl daily for one week produced a significant 40% decrease in whole liver homogenate -glu activity. A single administration showed only a slight decrease through the 24-hr period examined. Rat liver subcellular fractionation studies revealed a significant decrease of 50% in microsomal -glu content one hr after a single administration of 50 mg/kg carbaryl. This decrease was correlated with a subsequent decrease in the microsomal -glu levels and was noted after daily treatment for one week with 50 mg/kg carbaryl.Incubation of 4 mM carbaryl with microsomal suspensions revealed a release of the microsomal -glu enzyme, whereas 4 mM malathion exerted an inhibition on the release of this enzyme. The combination of carbaryl and malathion (4/4 mM) produced an effect between that caused by either pesticide alone. This effect was not significantly different from the vehicle control until 30 min after the addition of the pesticide combination. To further exemplify an effect on the endoplasmic reticulum, it was observed that 25 mg/kg carbaryl, as well as 25/ 25 mg/kg carbaryl/malathion induced the UDP-glucuronyl transferase activity following daily treatment for seven days. These results revealed a decrease in microsomal -glu activity and calcium was correlated with their respective increases observed in the serum.     

Financial “Rules” for Child and Youth Care Managers

Contemporary realities demand that child and youth care managers cast off their traditional avoidance of all things financial. This article offers a jargon-free list of twelve financial rules for thriving in turbulent times. Grounded in a concept of client-centered, results-based agency performance, rules include promoting an entrepreneurial spirit throughout the organization, destroying the taboo on open discussion of financial matters, slashing program development time, and spending lavishly on recruitment and universal staff training.     

“In vitro” measurements of spontaneous smooth muscle contractions: A screening method for “invivo” exposure

Conclusion The in vitro recording of spontaneous contractions was selected as a neuromuscular screening method for in vivo exposure to pollutants. The rate of contraction was determined by interval histogram measurements. The method was assessed for effects of age, sex, pH, Ca⁺⁺ concentration, temperature, and circadian rhythm. Male rats were shown to develop a slower rate of contraction with age. The rate of contraction was temperature and pH dependent. An effect was demonstrated for in vivo exposure to Baygon and Carbaryl at a level which did not produce overt symptoms.     

Reliability of Birth Certificate Data: A Multi-Hospital Comparison to Medical Records Information

Objective: To examine the reliability of birth certificate data and determine if reliability differs between teaching and nonteaching hospitals. Methods: We compared information from birth certificates and medical records in 33,616 women admitted for labor and delivery in 1993–95 to 20 hospitals in Northeast Ohio. Analyses determined the agreement for 36 common data elements, and the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of birth certificate data, using medical record data as a gold standard. Results: Sensitivity and positive predictive value varied widely (9–100% and 2–100%, respectively), as did agreement, which was almost perfect for measures of prior obstetrical history, delivery type, and infant Apgar score ( = 0.854–0.969) and substantial for several other variables (e.g., tobacco use ( = 0.766), gestational age ( = 0.726), prenatal care ( = 0.671)). However, agreement was only slight to moderate for most maternal risk factors and comorbidities ( = 0.085–0.545) and for several complications of pregnancy and/or labor and delivery ( = 0.285–0.734). Overall agreement was similar in teaching (mean = 0.51) and nonteaching ( = 0.52) hospitals. Although agreement in teaching and nonteaching hospitals varied for some variables, no systematic differences were seen across types of variables. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that the reliability of birth certificate data vary for specific elements. Researchers and health policymakers need to be cognizant of the potential limitations of specific data elements.     

An evaluation of psychometric properties of the client's questionnaire of the Wisconsin Quality of Life Index-Canadian version (CaW-QLI)

Psychometric properties of Client's questionnaire from the Canadian version of the Wisconsin Quality of Life-Index (CaW-QLI) were assessed with two groups, 89 English (E) and 94 French (F) individuals with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. Sub-samples of 40E and 36F were re-interviewed within a 2-week period. Spearman correlations-SC between each domain and CaW-QLI global Score ranged from 0.39 to 0.76, while inter-domain correlations were low, confirming the multidimensional properties of the scale. Cronbach's (internal consistency) were 0.78(E) and 0.70(F) for the CaW-QLI global scores and, from 0.45 to 0.88 among seven of eight domains. Test–retest (Concordance Correlation Coefficient-CCC) ranged from 0.36 to 0.80 among the domains, and from 0.80(E) and 0.85(F) between CaW-QLI global scores. Regarding convergent validity, SC between CaW-QLI global score and Spitzer's QOL-Index were 0.72(E) and 0.58(F). As hypothesized, there were higher correlations between CaW-QLI global scores (E and F) and SF-36 scales related to mental health than those related to physical health. Minor changes in the scoring are proposed to enhance face and content validity.     

A crisis intervention model for a population of mothers who encounter neonatal death

The article focuses on the specific psychological tasks of mothers who encounter neonatal death and on their adaptive and maladaptive coping patterns. Crisis intervention protocols are also discussed. These protocols, designed to minimize the emotional sequelae of pregnancy loss, are implemented by professional caregivers in charge of the target population in the general hospital setting.Ciporah S. Tadmor is with the Department of Obstetrics A at the Rambam Medical Center and the Samuel Neaman Institute for Advanced Studies in Science and Technology, Haifa, IsraelI thank Professors Brandes and Timor, as well as the other obstetricians and nurses in the Obstetric department A at Rambam Medical Center for their support and active participation in the formulation and implementation of the Crisis Intervention Program.     

Comparative disappearance of dioxathion,malathion, oxydemetonmethyl and dialifor from Florida citrus leaf and fruit surfaces

Surface residue disappearance rates of dioxathion, malathion, oxydemetonmethyl, and dialifor were the same for fruit and leaves, and they increase with temperature. Disappearance rates were in the order of malathion Oxydemetonmethyl dialifor dioxathion. Malaoxon was present in relatively constant amounts under dry, cool, clear conditions but was not detected under wet, hot, cloudy conditions.Florida Agricultural Experiment Stations Journal Series No. 2098.     

Association study of proposed candidate genes/regions in a population of Spanish asthmatics

A number of genes/regions have recently been reported to be linked to asthma or its related phenotypes (i.e. atopy and bronchial hyperresponsiveness), by genetic linkage and allele-sharing methods. We have performed a case–control study comparing the allelic distribution of nine microsatellite markers and two genetic variants in a group of patients attended at emergency room departments because of an acute attack of asthma with respect to an external healthy population of controls. A total of 146 asthmatic subjects and 50 population controls from Barcelona, Spain, were genotyped for nine microsatellite markers from some asthma/atopy candidate genes/regions: the -subunit of the high-affinity IgE receptor (FcRI-) located on chromosome 11; the 5q31–32 candidate region; the T-cell receptor genes, TCR- on chromosome 14 and TCR- on chromosome 7. Two genetic variants of the -subunit of the high-affinity IgE receptor (FcRI-) gene were also analyzed. None of the asthmatic or control individuals carried the Ile181Leu variant. There were no significant differences between asthmatic and control subjects neither for the polymorphic markers nor for the other variant of the -subunit of the high-affinity IgE receptor (FcRI-) gene. No association could be observed in this sample of Spanish asthmatics with the genes/regions studied.     

“I never thought I'd make it quite this far”: A personal journey in international understanding

The author provides a brief account of her travel and experiences in several developing countries and explores some of the resulting personal transformations in her attitudes, assumptions and understandings. Persons working with children and youth can learn much from those countries which are economically under-developed, but which retain a simplicity in daily life and a commitment to the central importance of family and community.     

“Primary” Rationing of Health Services in Ageing Societies—A Normative Analysis

While most of the debate on rationing in health care focusses on the distribution of scarce medical resources among competing needs, which we propose to call secondary rationing, this paper is concerned with primary rationing, i.e., the conscious decision by society to limit the amount of resources devoted to a collectively financed health care system. Based upon a number of transparent normative criteria, we analyze whether primary rationing should be performed and, if so, what type should be chosen (hard vs. soft, explicit vs. implicit). Finally we discuss whether age should be used as a criterion in any systematic attempt at primary rationing of health care.     

Effects of herbicides on streamAufwuchs productivity and nutrient uptake

The effects of atrazine and a combination of alachlor, atrazine, metolachlor, and metribuzin on the productivity and nutrient uptake rates of native streamAufwuchs communities were investigated in two separate artificial stream experiments. After an 8-day colonization period, the first experiment employed constant doses of atrazine at 0 g/L (control), 24 g/L and 134 g/L. The second experiment employed a pulsed dose having maximum concentrations of 35 g/L alachlor, 109 g/L atrazine, 90 g/L metolachlor, and 21 g/L metribuzin. Each 20-day experiment was run at both 10C and 25C. Constant exposure to 24 g/L atrazine yielded a significant reduction in both ash-free dry weight (AFDW) and chlorophylla at 25C but not at 10C. Constant exposure to 134 g/L atrazine yielded significantly less AFDW and chlorophylla at both temperatures. The pulsed exposure to four herbicides yielded significantly less AFDW at both temperatures, while chlorophylla was significantly less only at 10C. During continual exposure to 134 g/L atrazine, both NO₂ + NO₃ and silica uptake rates appeared to be reduced at both temperatures, although the differences were generally not statistically significant. At 10C uptake rates of soluble reactive phosphorus and NO₂ + NO₃ were depressed temporarily by exposure to the pulse of four herbicides, recovering to control rates within a few days, while no effect on uptake rates was discerned at 25C. The temperature difference between experimental runs had a greater effect on nutrient uptake rates than did the herbicide treatments during a run. The results indicate thatAufwuchs growth and nutrient uptake rates may be reduced temporarily by herbicide exposures in agricultural streams. However, greater effects on these processes may be exerted by other factors accompanying storm events, such as reduced temperatures.     

A professional support program for families of handicapped preschoolers: Decrease in maternal stress

This study investigated the effects of long-term social agency support for families with disabled preschoolers. The hypothesis that stress would be greater for mothers of children with a severe rather than mild disability was supported. Mothers caring for an infant under two years with a disability reported more stress than mothers of preschool age children, but sex of child was not related to maternal stress. Married mothers reported higher stress than single parents. Agencies may need to tailor program supports more specifically for fathers. Maternal stress was modified by program support regardless of high or low SES or Welfare recipient status or extent of personal support network. Maternal responses on the Questionnaire on Resources and Stress (QRS-F) revealed that the total sample of mothers of disabled preschoolers reported low stress as tallied by the Perception of the child as the cause of family problems and Perception of the child as burden subscores. Mothers of more severely disabled preschoolers accurately appraised the greater severity of handicap compared with mothers of mildly disabled children. The greater the proportion of the child's life that support was provided, the lower the QRS-F pessimism scores. Low SES mothers who were single seemed to profit especially from sustained professional supports from the time of the baby's birth.Paper presented at the 22nd Annual Training Conference of the National Head Start Association, Washington, DC, April, 1995.     

Measurement of manganese amelioration of cadmium toxicity inChlorella pyrenoidosa using turbidostat culture

Cadmium (Cd) toxicity and amelioration of Cd toxicity by Mn were measured inChlorella pyrenoidosa, using turbidostat culture. The responses were measured in terms of the maximum specific growth rate, _max, of the populations. In turbidostat culture _max is a dependent variable that can be measured continuously. Cd (as CdCl₂· 2.5 H₂O) was added to control populations at a concentration of 1.8 M Cd. Toxicity was expressed after a 5 generation lag and resulted in a _max steady state 62% lower than the initial control after 2 generations. With continued Cd exposure, Mn (as MnCl₂ · 6H₂O) was then added stepwise to a concentration of 10.4 M Mn which caused a rapid, immediate increase in _max followed by linear increase until a steady-state plateau was reached at a _max 90% of control. The ameliorative response spanned 20 culture generations. After addition of Mn (10.4 M), cellular Cd concentration did not change and cellular Mn concentration increased. Increase in mean cell size accompanied Cd exposure and was significantly decreased when supplemented with 10.4 M Mn. Possible mechanisms of the amelioration are discussed.     

Employment status and quality of life in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Objectives: Recently, the conditions for disability benefits were redefined in several countries, stimulating employees to participate on the labour market as long as reasonably possible. Little is known of labour participation and quality of life (QoL) of employees with chronic diseases. This study examines the associations between employment status and QoL in COPD patients. Additionally, the role of lung function, and work-related symptoms and exposures on QoL were explored. Methods: Secondary analyses were conducted on baseline data from a randomized control trail. Patients were categorized as: paid-workers; voluntary non-paid workers (e.g., early retired, house wives) or disabled for work. QoL was assessed by the Chronic Respiratory Questionnaire (CRQ). Between-group differences in CRQ scores, and associations between work-related symptoms or irritants and CRQ scores were uni- and multivariately analysed. Results: Two hundred and ten patients with COPD were included [mean age 53.9 (SD 6.8) years, FEV₁ %predicted 63.5 (SD 18.5)]. No statistically significant differences in lung function between the employment status subgroups were observed. Multivariable analysis showed that the disabled had lower CRQ scores as compared with paid workers (0.52 point difference, p<0.001). The CRQ scores of voluntary non-paid workers were not significantly different from paid workers. Within the group paid workers, patients with many work-related clinical symptoms and being susceptible to various work-related irritants experienced a lower QoL than patients who had respectively no symptoms, or who were not susceptible to these factors. Conclusions: Patients with COPD who were disabled for work showed equal severity of airflow limitation but worse QoL, as compared with paid workers.     

Ultraviolet and volatility loss of herbicides

Herbicide 2,4-D formulated as a urea-type polymer was readily destroyed by long-wave uv (356-nm) irradiation, whereas conventional 2,4-D was more resistant. The opposite relationship was noted for polymeric and conventional formulations of dicamba. Polymerized 2,4-D was more resistant to thermal degradation (60°C) than non-polymerized formulations. Ultraviolet degradation of polymerized 2,4-D was eliminated by the incorporation of RYLEX-H and UVINUL D-50, industrial uv absorbers. Exposure of polymeric dicamba to 60°C heat, followed by trapping of the volatile component, indicated that 21 percent was lost by thermal degradation and 46.6 percent by volatilization. Comparable values for non-polymerized dicamba were 37.9 and 60.1 percent.     

Men in day care: You've come a long way,buddy!

Male day care teachers have more to offer young children than their masculine presence. It is suggested that pleas for a male role model are misdirected, and that men in day care have valuable contributions to make by modeling and reinforcing not only positive masculine traits but also positive feminine traits. Emphasis, therefore, is placed upon the balance the male caregiver can provide for a humanized environment for young children. Suggestions are given on ways to establish androgynous environment for current and future caregivers.     

Comprehensive pediatric primary care vs traditional care in an israeli population: Their influence on pediatric emergency room use and hospitalization

Emergency room (ER) utilization and hospitalization were studied as indicators of the impact of improvements in pediatric primary care services in an Israeli development town, Ofakim, population 12,000. One of the two pediatric services was upgraded in 1976 through the introduction of pediatric faculty, integration of preventive and curative services and conversion of the medical records to a problem-oriented format ( experimental clinic B ). The primary care system remained unchanged in the second clinic ( traditional clinic A ). During 1980, ER utilization by the B clinic population was 9.3/100 compared with 17.6/100 for the A clinic population. Fifty two percent of the B clinic population patients reaching the ER were hospitalized compared with 25% of A clinic patients.The lower ER utilization rate represents a significant saving for the health services, and educational interventions are suggested from the study. Analysis of ER utilization data seems to offer useful information for overall planning and monitoring of ambulatory services for a community.Corresponding author.     

Muscle Learning Therapy—Efficacy of a Biofeedback Based Protocol in Treating Work-Related Upper Extremity Disorders

Work-related upper extremity disorders (WRUEDs) continue to present significant treatment and financial challenges to providers, employers, and insurers. This retrospective study reviews outcomes for 309 subjects who, between 1995 and 1999, were referred through the workers' compensation system for treatment of computer keyboard- and mouse-related WRUED injuries. The mean length of time from the recorded date of injury to the date of intake was 12.9 months. Subjects were offered a 12-visit course in muscle learning therapy (MLT). MLT is an operant conditioning program which uses surface electromyography (sEMG) to train injured workers to control their muscles during work activities. Patient response to therapy was obtained by a therapist-administered questionnaire during Visit 8 of 12. A group of 309 subjects, who had failed to respond to a previous course of therapy (typically physical therapy), reported significant improvements of pain in the neck, thorax, and upper extremities. Ninety six percent reported that they felt more in control, 86% reported feeling better overall, and 81% reported either working the same and feeling better or working and accomplishing more. This study provides preliminary support for this approach and provides justification for controlled clinical trials in the future.     

Identification of obstacles for chronic pain patients to return to work: evaluation of a questionnaire

The Obstacles to Return-to-Work Questionnaire (ORQ) was developed and evaluated. A total of 154 patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain and prolonged work disability participated in the study. Factor analyses reduced the ORQ to 55 items grouped into 9 subscales. The subscales were named Depression, Pain intensity, Difficulties at work return, Physical workload and harmfulness, Social support at work, Worry due to sick leave, Work satisfaction, Family situation and support, and Perceived prognosis of work return. The subscales showed satisfactory reliability. In order to determine predictive validity a discriminant analysis was conducted with sick leave 9 months after assessment as the outcome. This analysis indicated that the scales Perceived prognosis of work return, Social support at work, Physical workload and harmfulness, Depression, and Pain intensity could significantly predict sick leave and correctly classified 79% of the patients. The Multidimensional Pain Inventory and the Disability Rating Index could also significantly predict sick leave in this sample and correctly classified as many patients as the ORQ. However, these questionnaires do not include any work-oriented items and they had a lower specificity than the ORQ. This study suggests that patients' perceptions and beliefs about work and returning to work may be a significant hindrance for actual recovery.     

The influence of contaminant and water quality conditions on larval striped bass in the Potomac River and upper Chesapeake Bay in 1990: Anin situ study

In situ contaminant and water quality studies were conducted with striped bass prolarvae,Morone saxatilis, in two major spawning areas of the Chesapeake Bay in 1990 to explore the possible effects of water quality and contaminants conditions on survival. Three 96-hin situ survival studies with striped bass prolarvae were conducted at three stations in the Potomac River and three stations in the upper Chesapeake Bay during a major portion of the spawning season (13–20°C). Water quality parameters, inorganic contaminants and organic contaminants were monitored in the water column at these three stations during the experiments. Concentrations of 10 metals associated with precipitation events occurring at field sites on the Potomac River and upper Chesapeake Bay were also determined.Survival of prolarvae ranged from 2 to 17.5% in all three 96-h tests conducted in the Potomac River. Control survival was greater than 79%. Survival of prolarvae during experiment 3 (all stations combined for each experiment) was significantly lower than survival of prolarvae during experiment 1. The low survival of prolarvae during experiment 3 occurred concurrently with a reported fish kill on the Potomac River. Chromium (14 g/L) and zinc (119 g/L) concentrations exceeding U.S. EPA water quality criteria were reported from a 48-h composite sample taken during experiment 3. Lower than normal pH conditions (6.8 and 6.9) were also documented during this experiment. Arsenic, chromium, and zinc may have been stressful.Survival of prolarvae at the three stations during upper Chesapeake Bay tests ranged from 36 to 52.5% for 96-h exposures but was slightly lower (23–34.5%) during a 120-h exposure. Control survival was >81% in all experiments. Survival of prolarvae during all experiments in the upper Bay was similar to natural survival that occurs with this life stage. Adverse water quality and contaminant conditions were not reported in the upper Chesapeake Bay striped bass spawning area.Detectable concentrations of cadmium (0.80 and 0.89 g/L), aluminum (5.4 g/L), chromium (1.1 g/L), and zinc (2.5 g/L) were reported in acidic precipitation samples (pH 3.4) collected from the Potomac River site. Surface water concentrations of these metals did not increase in the Potomac River study area after the precipitation events. The following metals were detected in acidic precipitation (pH 4.06–5.12) in the upper Chesapeake Bay: 22.1 g/L Al; 1.1, 1.8, 2.3 g/L Cd; 1.2 g/L Cu; 2.7 and 3.1 g/L Pb and 4.6 g/L Zn. Concentrations of Al (22.1 g/L) and Pb (3.1 g/L) in precipitation corresponded with increased concentrations in the surface waters at a nearby station in the upper Chesapeake Bay study area.