Premenstrual symptoms in black and white community samples

Premenstrual syndrome specialty clinics are reported to be almost exclusively attended by white women. This racial discrepancy has raised the question of whether there is a lower prevalence or severity of symptoms during the premenstruum among black women. The authors evaluated selected premenstrual symptoms in a representative community-based sample and found no difference in the prevalence or severity of premenstrual symptoms reported by black and white women, except for a higher prevalence of food cravings among blacks. Exploration of broader sociocultural factors may explain the observed racial difference in seeking help for premenstrual complaints.     

Production of Ac-225 for cancer therapy by photon-induced transmutation of Ra-226.

The increasing application of Ac-225 for cancer therapy indicates the potential need for its increased production and availability. The production of Ac-225 has been achieved using bremsstrahlung photons from an 18 MV medical linear accelerator (linac) to bombard a Ra-226 target. A linac dose of 2800 Gy produced about 64 microCi of Ra-225, which decays to Ac-225. This result, while consistent with the theoretical calculations, is far too low to be of practical use. A more powerful linac is required that runs at a higher current, longer pulse length and higher frequency for practical production. This process could also lead to the reduction of the nuclear waste product Ra-226.     

Bovine colostrum immunoglobulin concentrate for cryptosporidiosis in AIDS.

Lactobin-R is a commercial hyperimmune bovine colostrum with potent anticryptosporidial activity. It was administered to a 4 year old child with AIDS and severe diarrhoea associated with cryptosporidiosis. There was significant clinical improvement in the diarrhoea and permanent elimination of the parasite from the gut as assessed through serial jejunal biopsy and stool specimens.     

A leg ulcer as manifestation of metastatic squamous cell vaginal carcinoma

Cutaneous metastasis of vaginal carcinoma is extremely rare. So far, the total number of reported skin metastasis of vaginal carcinoma is only one. We present another case with an unusual manifestation of vagina carcinoma metastasis: skin metastasis presenting as a leg ulcer on the lower leg.     

Recruit,screen, and hire: Staff selection and the decision-making process

This article focuses on the role of the clinician-manager in staff selection. The duties of the clinician-manager in a mental health center include those tasks described as recruit, screen, and hire but little or no guidance on the steps involved in this sequence of events is available. The how of hiring is transmitted by word of mouth, by following another's example, or by trial and error. This article examines the component parts of staff selection from the assimilation of procedures, rules, and regulation of the public authority under which a particular mental health center operates, to the compilation of a short list of those to be screened and finally the risk taking and decision-making process by the clinician-manager who makes the choice. Some speculation on the emotional impact it has on the clinician-manager is examined. The impact of personal value judgments of the selector are considered. Recommendations are made for the inclusion of training in staff selection by academic programs for mental health administrators.Sheila Melville, A.C.S.W., is the Director, Partial Hospitalization, Mt. Vernon Center for Community Mental Health, 8119 Holland Road, Alexandria, Virginia 22306.