Drinking and driving among rural youth

Data concerning rural youth drinking and driving practices werecollected from 622 junior and senior high school students innorthwest Ohio, utilizing an ex post facto cross-sectional survey-researchdesign. The results suggested that 69% of the sample had usedalcohol at least once. With regard to quantity of alcohol use,about 27% reported drinking four or more drinks at a sitting.Approximately 19% of the sample had driven under the influenceof alcohol and 35% had ridden in a car with an intoxicated school-agedriver; 35% had refused a ride from a friend who was intoxicated,while 43% had tried to stop a drunk friend from driving. Nosignificant differences were found between males and femalesregarding drinking and driving but grade level was a significantmoderating factor. As grade level increased, the frequency ofeach alcohol-related behavior increased substantially (P <0.01). This paper presents prevalence data concerning drinkingand driving among rural youth as well as recommendations forcommunity health education program development.     

Optometry in nursing homes.

Studies predict a 50 percent increase in residential long-term care need by the year 2000. Statistics show that the age group served by these facilities is at a much higher risk for sight threatening eye conditions. A review of the current literature as well as original data collected in Ohio indicates that residents in long-term care facilities are underserved with regard to eye care. This paper discusses the need for increased optometric participation in the primary eye care services for residents of long-term care facilities.     

Production and characterisation of monoclonal antibodies specific for staphylococcal enterotoxin B

We have generated monoclonal antibodies (MABs) to staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) in BALB/c mice. Five out of 20 clones which produce anti-SEB MABs have been characterised. Among them, three produce IgG1/kappa, one produces IgM/lambda, and one apparently produces both IgG1/lambda and IgM/lambda MABs. The anti-SEB titres of ascites fluids range from 3200 to greater than 819200 by ELISA. All of the MABs analysed thus far neutralise the mitogenic response of BALB/c splenocytes to a suboptimal dose of SEB. Also, the induction of suppressor cells by SEB in vitro is reversed by pre-incubating SEB with these MABs. Limited digestion with chymotrypsin, trypsin or Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease yields peptide fragments which have been tested by Western-blot analysis. MABs 1FD7 and 2GD9 are specific for the carboxy-terminal end of SEB, and have a similar, but not identical, binding epitope. MABs 2DA3 and 2HA10 bind to intact SEB but not to cleaved products, and are probably specific for antigenic determinants altered by the cleavage or by the denaturing conditions of the electrophoresis, or by both.     

Making a difference. The physician liaison

Physician liaison profile ... Who are they and what role do they play in the physician hospital relationship? The Virginia hospital featured found even the smallest changes and improvements can make a big difference.     

Stretch injury causes calpain and caspase-3 activation and necrotic and apoptotic cell death in septo-hippocampal cell cultures

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) results in numerous central and systemic responses that complicate interpretation of the effects of the primary mechanical trauma. For this reason, several in vitro models of mechanical cell injury have recently been developed that allow more precise control over intra- and extracellular environments than is possible in vivo. Although we recently reported that calpain and caspase-3 proteases are activated after TBI in rats, the role of calpain and/or caspase-3 has not been examined in any in vitro model of mechanical cell injury. In this investigation, varying magnitudes of rapid mechanical cell stretch were used to examine processing of the cytoskeletal protein alpha-spectrin (280 kDa) to a signature 145-kDa fragment by calpain and to the apoptotic-linked 120-kDa fragment by caspase-3 in septo-hippocampal cell cultures. Additionally, effects of stretch injury on cell viability and morphology were assayed. One hour after injury, maximal release of cytosolic lactate dehydrogenase and nuclear propidium iodide uptake were associated with peak accumulations of the calpain-specific 145-kDa fragment to alpha-spectrin at each injury level. The acute period of calpain activation (1-6 h) was associated with subpopulations of nuclear morphological alterations that appeared necrotic (hyperchromatism) or apoptotic (condensed, shrunken nuclei). In contrast, caspase-3 processing of alpha-spectrin to the apoptotic-linked 120-kDa fragment was only detected 24 h after moderate, but not mild or severe injury. The period of caspase-3 activation was predominantly associated with nuclear shrinkage, fragmentation, and apoptotic body formation characteristic of apoptosis. Results of this study indicate that rapid mechanical stretch injury to septo-hippocampal cell cultures replicates several important biochemical and morphological alterations commonly observed in vivo brain injury, although important differences were also noted.     

Environmental risk factors and colorectal neoplasia: Recent developments

The vast majority of new cases of colorectal cancer, the second most common cause of death in men and women in the United States, are attributable to environmental rather than genetic causes. Recent research has clarified inconsistencies in the literature and has explored new pathways through which risk factors may act. This review discusses newly published, selected interesting and important findings in colorectal cancer etiology; these include postmenopausal hormone use, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use, obesity, physical activity, diet, and other confirmed epidemiologic associations. This research provides insight into mechanisms and offers opportunities for prevention.