Inhibition of uropathogenic biofilm growth on silicone rubber in human urine by lactobacilli – a teleologic approach

The ability of three Lactobacillus strains to inhibit the adhesion and growth of naturally occurring uropathogens on silicone rubber was investigated in human urine. The importance of biosurfactant production by Lactobacillus in discouraging uropathogen growth was determined in relation to the binding affinities of the lactobacilli for silicone rubber. L. fermentum B54 markedly inhibited uropathogen growth on the silicone rubber disks after 8 days for all five men included in the study, albeit to various extents ranging from 77% to 100%. In urine from women, however, this inhibition was less clear, as it was absent for two of the four women participating in this study. L. casei rhamnosus 36 completely discouraged uropathogen growth on the disks after 8 days for three of the four women, whereas its effect in urine from men was less pronounced (inhibition ranged from 48% to 100% and was absent for one man). L. casei rhamnosus ATCC 7469^T was the least inhibitory Lactobacillus strain tested and inhibition was absent for a number of both male and female participants, possibly as a result of the low binding affinity of this strain for silicone rubber and of its inability to release biosurfactants. We conclude that the inhibition of uropathogen growth is dependent on the Lactobacillus strain involved, and for L. fermentum B54 it was demonstrated to be sex-related. Hence, inhibition must be considered a multifactorial process.     

Adaptation of the stroop color and word test for use with deaf adults

Abstract

The Stroop Color and Word Test was administered once to 20 deaf adults who responded with American Sign Language (ASL) responses, and twice to 29 hearing adults who were fluent in sign language - once using signed responses, and once using spoken responses. For the hearing subjects, signed responses were significantly slower than spoken responses in both the word and color conditions, but not in the color-word condition. No significant differences were found when comparing the rate of signing of the deaf subjects to that of the hearing subjects. These results demonstrate that Stroop responses cannot be signed as rapidly as they can be spoken; therefore, it would be inappropriate to apply standard adult norms to Stroop scores obtained from signed responses. This paper provides preliminary norms which are appropriate for use with deaf adults giving signed responses to the Stroop Color and Word Test.     

Return to illicit drug use post-incarceration among formerly incarcerated Black Americans

Aims: The number of drug-dependent individuals incarcerated in the USA is exceptionally high, and reportedly up to 60% of incarcerated Black Americans have a substance abuse disorder. The purpose of this study was to identify factors associated with return to illicit drug use post-incarceration.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 121 formerly incarcerated Black Americans in New York City to examine predictors of return to illicit drug use. Kaplan–Meier curves were generated on the outcome of time-to-drug use for various predictors and compared using the log-rank test. Cox proportional hazards models were used to identify significant predictors of return to illicit drug use post-incarceration.

Findings: Approximately 83% (n?=?100) of the participants reported a history of illicit drug use, not including participants who have only used marijuana. Out of 121 participants, 36 (29.8%) had used drugs within 1?day after release. By 2 weeks post-release, half had used drugs. Gender and history of heroin use were significant predictors of time-to-drug use according to the log-rank test.

Conclusions: The potential for immediate return to drug use among our sample suggests that discharge support programmes that focus specifically on healthy decision-making among women and heroin users are especially critical.     

Self‐perceived mouthfeel and physico‐chemical surface effects after chewing gums containing sorbitol and Magnolia bark extract

The European Food Safety Authority recognizes the contribution of sugar‐free chewing gum to oral health through increased salivation, clearance of food debris, and neutralization of biofilm pH. Magnolia bark extract is a gum additive shown to reduce the prevalence of bad‐breath bacteria but its effects on self‐perceived mouthfeel are unknown. This paper aims to relate the effects of sorbitol‐containing chewing gum, with and without Magnolia bark extract, on tooth‐surface hydrophobicity and salivary‐film composition with self‐perceived mouthfeel. In a crossover clinical trial, volunteers chewed sorbitol‐containing gum, with or without Magnolia bark extract added, three times daily during a 4‐wk time period. A subset of volunteers also chewed Parafilm as a mastication control. Oral moistness and tooth smoothness were assessed using questionnaires, and intra‐oral water‐contact angles were measured before, immediately after, and 60 min after, chewing. Simultaneously, saliva samples were collected, placed on glass slides, and the compositions of the adsorbed film were measured using X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Chewing of gum, regardless of whether or not it contained Magnolia bark extract, improved self‐perceived mouthfeel up to 60 min, concurrent with a more hydrophilic tooth surface and an increased amount of O_1s electrons bound at 532.6 eV in salivary films. Chewing of Parafilm affected neither tooth‐surface hydrophobicity nor salivary‐film composition. Accordingly, adsorption of sorbitol, rather than the presence of Magnolia bark extract or increased salivation, is responsible for improved self‐perceived mouthfeel.     

Partnerships: survey respondents’ perceptions of inter-professional collaboration to address alcohol-related harms in England

Tackling alcohol-related harms crosses agency and professional boundaries, requiring collaboration between health, criminal justice, education and social welfare institutions. It is a key component of most multi-component programmes in the United States, Australia and Europe. Partnership working, already embedded in service delivery structures, is a core mechanism for delivery of the new UK Government Alcohol Strategy. This article reports findings from a study of alcohol partnerships across England. The findings are based on a mix of open discussion interviews with key informants and on semi-structured telephone interviews with 90 professionals with roles in local alcohol partnerships. Interviewees reported the challenges of working within a complex network of interlinked partnerships, often within hierarchies under an umbrella partnership, some of them having a formal duty of partnership. The new alcohol strategy has emerged at a time of extensive reorganisation within health, social care and criminal justice structures. Further development of a partnership model for policy implementation would benefit from consideration of the incompatibility arising from required collaboration and from tensions between institutional and professional cultures. A clearer analysis of which aspects of partnership working provide ‘added value’ is needed.     

Recruitment and Retention of Latino Immigrant Families in Prevention Research

The development and testing of culturally competent interventions relies on the recruitment and retention of ethnic minority populations. Minority immigrants are a population of keen interest given their widespread growth, needs, and contributions to communities in which they settle, and particularly recent immigrants from Mexico and Central and South American countries. However, recruitment and retention strategies for entirely immigrant samples are rarely discussed in the literature. The current article describes lessons learned from two family-focused longitudinal prevention research studies of Latino immigrants in Oregon—the Adolescent Latino Acculturation Study (ALAS) and the Latino Youth and Family Empowerment Project-II (LYFE-II). Social, legal, economic, and political contexts are considered that shape Latino immigrants’ experiences in their home countries as well as in the United States. The implications of these contexts for effective recruitment and retention strategies are discussed.     

Adaptation of the health literacy universal precautions toolkit for rheumatology and cardiology – Applications for pharmacy professionals to improve self-management and outcomes in patients with chronic disease

Over a decade of research in health literacy has provided evidence of strong links between literacy skills of patients and health outcomes. At the same time, numerous studies have yielded insight into efficacious action that health providers can take to mitigate the negative effects of limited literacy. This small study focuses on the adaptation, review and use of two new health literacy toolkits for health professionals who work with patients with two of the most prevalent chronic conditions, arthritis and cardiovascular disease. Pharmacists have a key role in communicating with patients and caregivers about various aspects of disease self-management, which frequently includes appropriate use of medications. Participating pharmacists and staff offered suggestions that helped shape revisions and reported positive experiences with brown bag events, suggestions for approaches with patients managing chronic diseases, and with concrete examples related to several medicines [such as Warfarin^©] as well as to common problems [such as inability to afford needed medicine]. Although not yet tested in community pharmacy sites, these publically available toolkits can inform professionals and staff and offer insights for communication improvement.