Preliminary Findings from a Brief,Peer-Led Safer Sex Intervention for College Students Living in Residence Halls

The purpose of this study was to evaluate a single-session peer-led safer sex intervention, based on the Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills theoretical model, for college students residing in campus residence halls. Participants (N = 108) were assigned to either an hour long control or 5-module intervention session. Compared to the control condition, the intervention increased participants’ information and women’s subjective norms about preventative behavior. Both the control and intervention sessions increased intentions to perform preventative behaviors (e.g., keep condoms available). These preliminary results suggest that this intervention is promising for increasing constructs associated with safer sexual behavior and could easily be implemented by residence hall staff.     

West Nile virus quantification in feces of experimentally infected American and fish crows.

To better understand the potential environmental health risk presented by West Nile virus (WNV)-contaminated feces, we quantified the amount of WNV present in the feces of experimentally infected American crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos) and fish crows (Corvus ossifragus). Peak fecal titers ranged from 10(3.5) to 10(8.8) plaque-forming units (PFU)/g for 10 American crows and from 10(2.3) to 10(6.4) PFU/g for 10 fish crows. The presence of infectious WNV in bird feces indicates a potential for direct transmission of WNV. Thus, handlers of sick or dead birds should take appropriate precautions to avoid exposure to fecal material.     

Assessment of an interactive computer-based patient prenatal genetic screening and testing education tool.

The Enhancing Patient Prenatal Education study tested the feasibility and educational impact of an interactive program for patient prenatal genetic screening and testing education. Patients at two private practices and one public health clinic participated (N = 207). The program collected knowledge and measures of anxiety before and after use of the tool. Time in various prenatal visit activities was collected prior to and after the introduction of the education tool. Providers completed an assessment of their experiences with patients who had used the program. Results indicate that patient knowledge significantly increased from pre to post (p = .0001) with no increase in anxiety (p = .31). Time in clinic activities, including overall visit time, increased. A majority of providers indicated that the program disrupted clinic flow. This assessment suggests that the program increases patient knowledge and does not increase patient anxiety. However, challenges remain to using this program in a clinic setting.     

Effects of neurosurgical titanium mesh on radiation dose

The purpose of this study was to determine the dosimetric impact of a neurosurgical titanium mesh in patients treated with 6- and 18-MV photon beams. The effects of a 0.4-mm-thick titanium mesh on the dose profile at 3 regions within a solid water phantom were measured using extended dose range-2 (EDR2) film for 6- and 18-MV photon beams. All measurements were performed with the titanium mesh placed at a depth of 1.5 cm in the phantom. Films were exposed immediately above the mesh, immediately below the mesh, and at a depth of 5 cm from the surface of the phantom. The films were scanned using a scanning densitometer. In the region directly above the titanium mesh, there was an increase in dose of 7.1% for 6-MV photons and 4.9% for 18-MV photons. Directly below the titanium mesh, there was an average decrease in dose of 1.5% for 6-MV photons and an increase of 1.0% for 18-MV photons. At 5-cm depth, for 6- and 18-MV photons, there was a decrease in dose of 2.2% and 0.6%, respectively. We concluded that for cranial irradiation with high-energy photons, the dosimetric impact of a 0.4-mm titanium mesh is small and does not require modification in treatment parameters.     

Preconception Care for Improving Perinatal Outcomes: The Time to Act

Maternal and Child Health Journal -     

Balanced analgesia after hysterectomy: the effect on outcomes.

Balanced analgesia (an opioid and a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agent) after hysterectomy often leads to better postoperative pain outcomes. Researchers compared post-hysterectomy patients who received balanced analgesia with those who received only morphine patient-controlled analgesia, and their relationship with pain scores, ambulation, and hospital length of stay.     

Associations between street connectivity and active transportation

Background  

Past studies of associations between measures of the built environment, particularly street connectivity, and active transportation (AT) or leisure walking/bicycling have largely failed to account for spatial autocorrelation of connectivity variables and have seldom examined both the propensity for AT and its duration in a coherent fashion. Such efforts could improve our understanding of the spatial and behavioral aspects of AT. We analyzed spatially identified data from Los Angeles and San Diego Counties collected as part of the 2001 California Health Interview Survey.