Sudden gains among women receiving treatment for alcohol use disorders

Understanding the timing and types of change during treatment for mental health disorders is an important step toward elucidating possible mechanisms of behaviour change in response to therapeutic interventions, yet these issues have not been adequately addressed in the alcohol dependence treatment literature. The current study applied sudden gains (SGs) methodology, an approach originally developed in depression treatment studies, to a sample of women receiving treatment for alcohol use disorders. SGs are drastic improvements in symptoms that occur between two psychotherapy sessions and are hypothesised to be the result of what occurred in the first of those two sessions. SGs can happen at any time during the course of treatment, can happen more than once, and are individualised, as opposed to aggregated for a sample. For the current study, SGs were examined across three variables: percent drinking days (PDD), urge frequency (UF), and urge intensity (UI) in a sample of 102 women receiving either individual or couple cognitive-behavioural therapy for alcohol use disorders. Results indicated the presence of SGs; one-third of the sample experienced at least one SG in either alcohol use or urges to drink; the most common SGs were in frequency of urges to drink. SGs in urge frequency during treatment predicted better post-treatment drinking outcome.     

Identification of reptilian and amphibian blood meals from mosquitoes in an eastern equine encephalomyelitis virus focus in central Alabama

Uranotaenia sapphirina, Culex erraticus, and Cx. peccator were collected in an enzootic eastern equine encephalomyelitis (EEE) virus focus in central Alabama (Tuskegee National Forest) from 2001 to 2003 and analyzed for virus as well as host selection. EEE virus was detected in each species every year except 2003, when pools of Cx. peccator were negative. Most (97%) of the 130 Cx. peccator blood meals identified were from ectothermic hosts; 3% were from birds. Among blood meals from reptiles (approximately 75% of the total), 81% were from Agkistrodon piscivorus (cottonmouth); all amphibian blood meals (approximately 25%) were from Rana spp. with > 50% taken from the bullfrog R. catesbeiana. Host identifications were made from 131 of 197 Cx. erraticus, but only 3 (2%) were derived from ectothermic species. Identification of Ur. sapphirina blood meals proved difficult and only 2 of 35 hosts were determined. Both were from R. catesbeiana. Ectothermic species are possible EEE virus reservoirs in the southeastern United States where species such as Cx. peccator and Ur. sapphirina occur with large, diverse reptilian, amphibian, and avian populations such as those at the Tuskegee site.     

Optimization of the Esperanza window trap for the collection of the African onchocerciasis vector Simulium damnosum sensu lato

A simple inexpensive trap (Esperanza window trap) was shown recently to collect significant numbers of Simulium ochraceum sensu lato, a major vector of Onchocerca volvulus in Mesoamerica. Here, we report studies optimizing this trap for the collection of Simulium damnosum s.l., the major vector of O. volvulus in Africa. A shortened, blue and black striped version of the Esperanza window trap, when baited with a combination of CO₂ and worn trousers, rivalled human landing collections in the number of S. damnosum s.l. females collected. Traps baited with a commercially available human skin lure and CO₂ resulted in collections that were not significantly different than those obtained from traps baited with worn trousers and CO₂. This suggests that the Esperanza window trap may offer a replacement for human landing collections for monitoring onchocerciasis transmission in Africa.     

Spirituality and Religion: Intertwined Protective Factors for Substance Use among Urban American Indian Youth

Background and objective: This article explores the aspects of spirituality and religious involvement that may be the protective factors against substance use among urban American Indian (AI) youth. Methods: Data come from AI youth (N = 123) in five urban middle schools in a southwestern metropolis. Results: Ordinary least squares regression analyses indicated that following Christian beliefs and belonging to the Native American Church were associated with lower levels of substance use. Conclusions and Scientific Significance: Following AI traditional spiritual beliefs was associated with antidrug attitudes, norms, and expectancies. Having a sense of belonging to traditions from both AI cultures and Christianity may foster integration of the two worlds in which urban AI youth live.