Program for the Prevention of Smoking in Secondary School Students

Background and ObjectiveSchool smoking prevention programs have never yielded the expected results. The aim of this study was to analyze the efficacy of an intensive smoking prevention program created by the educational community in which it was to be applied.Population and MethodA 3-year smoking prevention program was carried out among the students of Fuentesaúco Secondary School in Zamora, Spain. The Babilafuente Secondary School in Salamanca, Spain was the control group. The program included both prevention and treatment activities. The former were carried out in the school, in out-of-school situations, and in the community. The questionnaire of the European Smoking Prevention Framework Approach was used.ResultsA total of 417 students aged 12 to 17 years participated in the study. Of these, 54.4% belonged to the intervention group and 45.6% to the control group. Smokers represented 36.7% of the population. After the intervention smokers represented 40.1% of the Fuentesaúco students compared with 46.1% of the Babilafuente students, though the difference was not statistically significant. With respect to the cognitive determinants of smoking behavior, after the intervention significant differences in favor of the intervention group were only observed in the subjects’ perception of the behavior of their siblings, peers, and teachers.ConclusionsThe use of smoking prevention programs in schools should be reconsidered, and their evaluation should be based on educational rather than clinical criteria. Proposed changes in the program include decreasing its intensity, starting with students of an earlier age and seeking greater involvement of parents.     

Plasma levels and vascular effects of vasopressin in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting.

OBJECTIVE: Recent studies have suggested that endogenous vasopressin (AVP) acts as a spasmogen during coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Given that AVP could induce vasospasm in the grafted vessel, we assessed the release of this peptide during and after CABG, and explored ways of counteracting its contractile effect on the internal mammary artery (IMA). METHODS: Plasma levels of AVP were determined by radioimmunoassay in 16 patients before, during and after CABG. Using isometric force recording techniques, we also investigated the mechanisms involved in the contractile effect of AVP in ring preparations of IMA specimens taken from 95 patients. RESULTS: Plasma AVP levels peaked after the start of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and correlated well with serum osmolality (Pearson's r=0.9490; P<0.0001; n=16). An inverse correlation was observed between plasma AVP levels recorded at this stage and the maximal contraction induced in vitro by AVP in vascular rings from the same patients (Pearson's r=-0.6968; P<0.01; n=16). No change in the AVP response was produced by endothelium removal, exposure to the NO precursor (3 x 10(-4)M L-arginine), inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) synthase (3 x 10(-5) M L-NAME) or soluble guanylate cyclase (3 x 10(-6) M 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazol [4,3,-alpha]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ)), removal of the superoxide anion (100 U/ml superoxide dismutase (SOD) plus 1200 U/ml catalase) or hydroxyl radical (10(-4) M deferoxamine), or specific alpha1 - (10(-6) M prazosin) or endothelin (10(-5) M bosentan) receptor antagonism. In contrast, adenylate cyclase activation (3 x 10(-8) M forskolin) reduced the contractile response to AVP, while prostanoid synthesis (3 x 10(-6) M indomethacin) inhibition and blockade of Ca2+ -activated potassium channels (KCa) (10(-3) M tetraethylammonium (TEA)) enhanced AVP contraction. Age, gender and smoking also modified the AVP response. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest a role for AVP as a modulator of vascular tone in human IMA. The effect of AVP is dependent on prostanoids and Ca2+ -activated K+ channels, so its dysfunction in pathophysiological cardiovascular processes could mean that AVP, among other factors, produces vasospasm in IMA grafts.     

Factors leading to long-term hospitalization after laparoscopic appendectomy.

BACKGROUND: Randomized studies demonstrate that laparoscopic appendectomy yields better results compared with open techniques. We sought to identify factors that determine an extended hospital stay among patients undergoing laparoscopic appendectomy. METHODS: This was a prospective study including 669 patients undergoing laparoscopic appendectomy. We analyzed variables that can predict the length of hospital stay. RESULTS: Of 669 patients undergoing laparoscopic appendectomy, 141 stayed in the hospital for > or = 5 days (Group 1), and 97 stayed in the hospital for < or = 1 day after surgery (Group 2). The univariate analysis demonstrated that fever (P<0.0001), nausea and vomiting (P=0.060), leukocytosis (P<0.0001), gangrened or perforated intraoperative appearance of the appendix (P<0.0001), and appendix position behind the ileocecal junction (P<0.001) were related to a longer hospital stay. The multivariate analysis through logistical regression showed that the factors independently and significantly associated with an extended hospital stay were presurgical fever, appendix position behind the ileocecal junction, and intraoperative gangrened or perforated appearance of the appendix. CONCLUSION: Fever, appearance, and position of the appendix are factors related to an extended hospital stay.     

Embolization of nonvariceal portosystemic collaterals in transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts

Percutaneous embolization of large portosystemic collaterals was performed in three patients following placement of a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt in order to improve hepatopetal portal flow. Improved hepatic portal perfusion was achieved in these cases, thereby theoretically reducing the risk of chronic hepatic encephalopathy.     

Severe Necrosis Due to Paclitaxel Extravasation

Paclitaxel is an antineoplastic agent derived from the bark of the Pacific yew tree that has activity against many tumors including breast and ovarian carcinomas. In the past, its extravasation quality has been considered to be a local irritant; however, recent reports suggest that the agent may be a vesicant. A patient experienced a delayed vesicant reaction to a paclitaxel extravasation that resulted in severe necrosis. No acute symptoms were reported at the time of extravasation from the 24-hour peripheral paclitaxel infusion. However, on day 11 the patient complained of severe and progressive pain at the site of extravasation. The site was erythematous and had areas of central necrosis requiring debridement and closure by a plastic surgeon. Because paclitaxel possesses vesicant characteristics, health care professionals should be aware of its potential extravasation hazard. Prolonged peripheral infusions should be avoided or administered with extreme caution.     

Benign intracranial hypertension and recombinant growth hormone therapy in Australia and New Zealand

Benign intracranial hypertension (BIH) is reported in three children from Australia and one from New Zealand, who were being treated with recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH). Three males and one female, aged between 10.5 and 14.2 y, developed intracranial hypertension within 2 weeks to 3 months of starting treatment. A national database, OZGROW, has been prospectively collecting data on all 3332 children treated with rhGH in Australia and New Zealand from January 1986 to 1996. The incidence of BIH in children treated with growth hormone (GH) is small, 1.2 per 1000 cases overall, but appears to be greater with biochemical GHD (<10IUml ^-1), i.e. 6.5/1000 (3 in 465 cases), relative risk 18.4, 95% confidence interval 1.9-176.1, than in all other children on the database. The incidence in patients with Turner's syndrome was 2.3/1000 (1 in 428 cases). No cases in patients with partial GHD (10–20 IUml ^-1) or chronic renal failure were identified. Possible causative mechanisms are discussed. The authors'practice is now to start GH replacement at less than the usual recommended dose of 14IUm-² week^-1 in those children considered to be at high risk of developing BIH. Ophthalmological evaluation is recommended for children before and during the first few months following commencement of rhGH therapy and is mandatory in the event of peripheral or facial oedema, persistent headaches, vomiting or visual symptoms. The absence of papilledema does not exclude the diagnosis.