CIGARETTE SMOKING IS NOT A RISK FACTOR IN ATOPIC DERMATITIS

Background. In recent years several diseases have been shown to have a relationship with smoking. Psoriasis is largely a disease of smokers, whereas acne appears to be associated with not smoking. Methods. One hundred and fifty patients with atopic dermatitis were sent a postal questionnaire on smoking habits and the results were compared with those from matched controls in the local community. Results. One hundred and twenty-seven patients (85%) completed the questionnaire. There was no apparent difference in the prevalence of current smokers amongst atopic dermatitis patients compared with controls (odds ratio = 1.1, 95% confidence limits 0.65–1.86, P = 0.8). Conclusions. There was no significant difference between the smoking prevalence of patients with atopic dermatitis and matched controls.     

Diagnostic Validity of the Drug Abuse Screening Test in the Assessment of DSM-III Drug Disorders

Diagnostic validity of the DAST was assessed using a clinical sample of 501 drug/alcohol patients. Various DAST cut-points were validated against DSM-III drug abuse/dependence criteria, as assessed by the Diagnostic Interview Schedule, The DAST attained 8S% overall accuracy in classifying patients according to DSM-III diagnosis. This accuracy was maintained between DAST score cut-points of 5/6 through 9/10. Receiver Operating Characteristic analysis indicated that 5/6 was the optimum threshold score. The DAST was also correlated with demographic variables, psychiatric history, and drug use. The results showed very good concurrent and discriminant validity. This study concluded that fairly accurate estimation of DSM-III drug criteria could be made using a brief self-adminstered questionnaire (DAST). However, caution must be expressed when generalizing these findings to other contexts (e.g. the justice system) where subjects may have stronger motivation to under-report drug involvement.     

Extremity bone tumors: evaluation by P-31 MR spectroscopy

High-resolution P-31 MR spectra were obtained in four patients with bone tumors of their distal extremities. In one case the tumor, a Ewing sarcoma of the tibia, was investigated during clinical remission after radiation therapy and chemotherapy. The other three cases - one low-grade chondrosarcoma of the tibial head, one malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the tibia, and one chondroblastoma of the medial femoral condyle - showed clinically active tumor growth, with corresponding increased metabolism as demonstrated by bone scintigraphy. The spectra of the three active tumors indicated a comparably high adenosine triphosphate content, similar to previously published spectra from animal tumors or human tumors implanted into animals. There were also high resonances of inorganic phosphate and low resonances of phosphocreatine; there were definite peaks in the phosphodiester and phosphomonoester regions, indicating the existence of these metabolites in the tumors. Slight but definite changes in the metabolite content were observed in one tumor after chemotherapy. The spectra of the unaffected leg did not show any well-resolved P-31 signals, which is typical for healthy bone. These are the first P-31 MR spectra of human bone tumors measured in patients to our knowledge.     

Superficial- and deep-tissue temperature increases in anesthetized dogs during exposure to high specific absorption rates in a 1.5-T MR imager

Superficial- and deep-tissue heating was measured in five dogs during high-specific-absorption-rate radiofrequency (RF) irradiation to see whether significant temperature changes could be produced by a 1.5-T clinical magnetic resonance imager. The RF power output employed was 6.3 times that required for routine imaging. Temperature probes were placed in both deep and superficial tissues, and temperatures were recorded before, during, and after exposure. In each dog, there was a linear temperature increase of several degrees during RF exposure; the maximal average change was 4.6 degrees C in the urinary bladder. The temperature increase was slightly greater in deep tissues than in superficial tissues. The calculated specific absorption rate, based on the temperature change, averaged 7.9 W/kg for all five dogs. These findings argue for continued caution in the design and operation of imagers capable of high specific absorption rates, particularly when they are used for imaging infants or patients with altered thermoregulatory capability.     

THE AGE OF MENARCHE IN SYDNEY SCHOOLGIRLS IN 1973 WITH COMMENT ON THE SECULAR TREND

The age of menarche was investigated in a cross-sectional sample of 840 girls aged 9 to 17 years attending state schools in Sydney in 1973. A probit analysis yielded a mean of 13.26 ± 0.069 yr with a standard deviation of 1.10 yr. Norms for onset of menstruation were estimated for girls 9 to 18 years in 6-monthly intervals. The results were in close agreement with Melbourne data from Towns et al. (1966). A retrospective mean was also found (12.76 yr) which did not differ significantly from a recent similar analysis on Sydney schoolgirls by Harper and Collins (1972). A survey of recent overseas studies using probit analyses found a consensus in Western Europe of 13.0 to 13.4 yr although older and younger means are in evidence elsewhere. An examination of the evidence on a secular trend in menarche in Australia suggested the evidence was not sound enough to allow any positive statement.     

Suspected leaking abdominal aortic aneurysm: use of sonography in the emergency room

To determine the value of sonography in the emergent evaluation of suspected leaking abdominal aortic aneurysms, the authors examined 60 patients in the emergency department using sonography and a protocol involving advance radio notification from the ambulance; arrival of sonographic personnel and equipment in the triage room before patient arrival; and, during other triage activities, rapid sonographic evaluation of the aorta for aneurysm and of the paraaortic region for extraluminal blood. Sonographic findings were correlated with surgical results and clinical outcome. When performed under these circumstances, sonography was accurate in demonstrating presence or absence of aneurysm (98%), but its sensitivity for extraluminal blood was poor (4%). A combination of sonographic confirmation of aneurysm, abdominal pain, and unstable hemodynamic condition resulted in the correct decision to perform emergent surgery in 21 of 22 patients (95%). An abbreviated sonographic examination done in the emergency room can provide accurate, useful information about the presence of aneurysm; this procedure does not significantly delay triage of these patients.