Needs for Youth Substance Abuse and Violence Prevention in Schools and Communities

Substance abuse and violence among today's youth are at an all time high. Numerous prevention programs have been implemented to address these issues. Not all are successful. Research has found that when schools and communities are involved in the planning of prevention programs, youth are more cognizant of risk factors and of behaviors that strengthen risk factors. The purpose of this study was to assess the emerging needs for prevention and health education among youth, and to identify effective approaches for prevention program development and service delivery in schools and communities. This study surveyed 312 youth prevention specialists, school and community health educators and counselors, and parents in a regional sample of ten states. Results indicated that substance abuse and violence are the two most critical and priority issues in need of comprehensive prevention. Multiple prevention service delivery strategies appropriate to youth, including training, technical assistance, conferencing and networking, needs assessment and evaluation, and information requests are discussed in detail. Implications for prevention programming emphasized reducing risk factors and strengthening protective factors, reaching and motivating youth participation.     

Motivational theory applied to hospital pharmacy practice

In recent years a great deal of attention has been paid to motivation and job satisfaction among hospital pharmacy practitioners. Institutional pharmacy managers should become more aware of ways in which they can motivate members of their staff. Specifically, Frederick Herzberg's Two-Factor Theory is discussed in reference to its origination, major tenets, and practical applications in institutional pharmacy practice settings. Principally, Herzberg's theory explains needs of workers in terms of extrinsic factors called "hygienes" and intrinsic factors called "motivators." The theory suggests that job satisfaction and dissatisfaction are not opposites but two separate dimensions. According to this theory, an employee will be motivated if the task allows for the following: 1)actual achievement, 2) recognition for achievement, 3) increased responsibility, 4) opportunity for growth (professionally), and 5) chance for advancement. It is concluded that some of these suggested applications can be useful to managers who are faced with low morale among the members of their staff.     

Double-stem silicone implant arthroplasty of all metatarsophalangeal joints in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Double-stem silicone implants have been used to reconstruct destroyed hallux metatarsophalangeal joints (MTPJ) for many years. When smaller implants became available, they were used to reconstruct the lateral four MTPJ. An arthroplasty of all MTPJ was performed using these implants in 44 patients (72 feet) with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The mean age of patients was 46 years (range, 21 to 66) and 84% were female. Previous surgery had been performed on 28% of the feet. All patients were followed prospectively for an average of 67 months (range, 36 to 111). The patients were evaluated clinically and radiographically; results were recorded on a standardized foot form that allowed computer analysis of the data. The results showed improvement in the hallux valgus angle from 41.6 degrees to 16.1 degrees postoperatively, with no loss of correction over time. Similarly, other forefoot deformities, such as plantar callus and lateral toe abnormalities, all improved both clinically and radiographically. The pain, walking, and function scores all improved, with the greatest improvement being pain relief. Radiographic analysis showed some evidence of fracture in seven hallux (9.7%) and nine lateral toe (3%) implants. Only three toes with implant fracture had some pain at follow-up examination. Three other lateral toe implants were removed for pain. There was no evidence of deep infection or silicone synovitis. Other complications included superficial infection, delayed wound healing, and second surgery for heterotopic bone excision.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Antibody-directed enzyme prodrug therapy: pharmacokinetics and plasma levels of prodrug and drug in a phase I clinical trial

Antibody-directed enzyme prodrug therapy (ADEPT) was administered to ten patients in a phase I clinical trial. The aim was to measure plasma levels of the prodrug 4-[(2-chloroethyl)(2-mesyloxyethyl) amino] benzoyl-l-glutamic acid (CMDA) and the bifunctional alkylating drug (CJS11) released from it by the action of tumour-localised carboxypeptidase G2 (CPG2) enzyme. New techniques were developed to extract the prodrug and drug from plasma by solid-phase adsorbtion and elution and to measure CPG2 activity in plasma and tissue. All extracts were analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). CPG2 activity was found in metastatic tumour biopsies but not in normal tissue, indicating that localisation had been successful. The clearing agent SB43-gal, given at 46.5 mg/m², achieved the aim of clearing non-tumour-localised enzyme in the circulation, indicating that conversion of prodrug to drug could take place only at the site of localised conjugate. Plasma prodrug did not always remain above its required threshold of 3 μM for the “therapeutic window” of 120 min after dosing, but the presence of residual prodrug after the first administration of each day indicated that this could be achieved during the remaining four doses over the following 8 h. Despite considerable inter-patient prodrug plasma concentration variability, the elimination half-life of the prodrug was remarkably reproducible at 18 ± 8 min. Rapid appearance of the drug in plasma indicated that successful conversion from the prodrug had taken place, but also undesirable leakback from the site of localisation into the bloodstream. However, drug plasma levels fell rapidly by at least 50% at between 10 and 60 min with a half-life of 36 ± 14 min. Analysis of the plasma extracts by LC/MS indicated that this technique might be used to confirm qualitatively the presence of prodrug, drug and their metabolites. Received: 21 July 1996 / Accepted: 20 January 1997     

Infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis in a regional centre

Background  

It has been suggested that only specialist paediatric surgeons should manage infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (IMPS).