Protective effect of tissue ferritins in experimental Escherichia coli infection of mice in vivo.

The effect of ferritins from horse (FH) and bovine (FB) spleen and murine liver (FM) on the survival rate of CFW mice lethally infected with Escherichia coli (strain 8440-78 K 80/B) was evaluated. Ferritins given intravenously 24 h before intravenous inoculation of bacteria, protected mice most effectively from death due to infection. The effect was dose dependent. At 500 micrograms of ferritin per mouse, the maximum survival rates were 86% (FH), 81% (FM) and 79% (FB), while only 5% of the control mice survived up to the 30th day. The survival rates of animals injected with bovine serum albumin (BSA) and heat-inactivated FB were 8 and 25%, respectively. Intraperitoneal injection of FB was as effective as intravenous in enhancing the resistance of mice against bacteria. These data provide evidence for the beneficial role of tissue ferritins in nonspecific antibacterial resistance.     

Blastomogenic action of heavy vanadium-rich petroleum and its processing products

The contributors performed a study of the blastomogenic properties of the heavy high vanadium oil processed at different temperatures. Skin applications of the oil and oil products in hybrid mice induced skin tumours in 27.5 (48.7%), pregastric--6.4 (7.6%), genital--15.4 (21.1%) cases. It was established that high temperatures of oil sublimation increased the benzopyrene contents and the oil products' blastomogenic activity.     

The impact of partial termination of food subsidy programme on food consumption pattern.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the public opinion towards the possible replacement of ration cards by cash payment and to investigate the effect of partial termination of food price subsidy programme on food consumption by families from different income brackets. A purposive sample of 300 families from Alexandria Governorates were interviewed to assess the attitude of the consumer towards the possible termination of current food subsidy programme. After one year, during which the subsidy programme was reduced, a follow up sample of 240 were interviewed. The results show that a large proportion of the families prefer the continuation of the current programme (80-81.2%), meanwhile, around 90% of them believed that subsidized foods do not reach the target group. The data show that subsidized meat and poultry are consumed by high income families while frozen subsidized fish was mostly consumed by poor families. The partial termination of the subsidy programme forced the families to reduce their consumption from sugar, tea, oil, and rice. During the second phase of the study. However the results show that high income families were least affected by the partial termination of the subsidy programme.     

Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations of free-living subjects consuming olestra

The effect of olestra on vitamin D status was assessed in a 6-wk, double-blind, placebo-controlled study involving 202 free-living adults. Subjects consumed a total of 20 g/d of olestra or triglycerides in cookies eaten at each meal. A 20-micrograms ergocalciferol capsule was taken with each morning meal. Serum 25-hydroxyergocalciferol (25-OHD2) concentrations rose from approximately 5.7 to 39.0 and 31.7 nmol/L in the placebo and olestra groups, respectively, at week 6. At week 6, 25-OHD2 contributed 46-54% to total serum 25-OHD concentration compared with 11% at baseline. The 19% decrease in serum 25-OHD2 concentrations produced by olestra in this study is equivalent to a decrease of approximately 1.2 nmol/L under nonsupplemented dietary conditions. Ingesting 20 g olestra/d in the diet is thus not expected to affect vitamin D nutritional status.     

Human immunodeficiency virus infection in disadvantaged adolescents. Findings from the US Job Corps

OBJECTIVE--To describe the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic among socially and educationally disadvantaged young persons in the United States. DESIGN.-We analyzed demographic and geographic findings from the screening of Job Corps students for antibody to HIV. SETTING--The Job Corps is a federal training program for disadvantaged, out-of-school youth. POPULATION SCREENED--Residential students aged 16 to 21 years who entered the Job Corps from October 1987 through February 1990. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE--Rates of observed HIV infection in entering students, stratified by demographic and geographic features. RESULTS--Of 137,209 Job Corps students screened, 488 were HIV seropositive (3.6 per 1000), a seroprevalence rate higher than that among military applicants of the same age. Overall seroprevalence was slightly higher in male (3.7 per 1000) than in female (3.2 per 1000) Job Corps students, but among those students aged 16 and 17 years, seroprevalence was higher among females (2.3 per 1000) than among males (1.5 per 1000) (P less than .05). For students aged 16 to 21 years, seroprevalence increased with year of age: 1.8 per 1000 per year for males and 0.7 per 1000 per year for females. Among those aged 21 years, HIV prevalence was 8.9 per 1000. For black and Hispanic students from large Northeastern cities, seroprevalence increased by 4.3 per 1000 per year of age and reached 24.8 per 1000 (one of 40) in students aged 21 years. However, among students from rural areas and small towns, HIV seroprevalence was disproportionately high in the Southeast. Compared with recently described US patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, HIV-infected students who entered the Job Corps were much more likely to be female. CONCLUSIONS--These findings show that disadvantaged, out-of-school adolescents are at high risk for HIV infection. The screening results identified surprisingly high seroprevalence in the southeastern United States and demonstrated a marked shift in the HIV epidemic to young women. Controlling the HIV epidemic among teenagers must include interventions that will reach adolescents early and outside of the formal educational system.     

Patient-controlled analgesia. Does a concurrent opioid infusion improve pain management after surgery?

OBJECTIVE.--To assess the influence of a continuous (basal) morphine infusion as part of a patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) system on the postoperative analgesic requirement and on recovery parameters following abdominal hysterectomy. DESIGN.--Single-center, randomized, controlled protocol. SETTING.--University medical center. PARTICIPANTS.--A total of 230 adult women were randomly assigned to receive no morphine infusion (control group) or a continuous 0.5-, 1.0-, or 2.0-mg/h morphine infusion. Each patient was able to self-administer supplemental intravenous bolus doses of morphine (1 to 2 mg) using a PCA infuser. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES.--Use of the PCA device, opioid-related side effects, recovery times, and the patients' assessment of pain and sedation on linear visual analog scales were recorded during the 72-hour study period. Follow-up questionnaires were completed by the patients and their health care professionals to assess the overall adequacy of PCA therapy. RESULTS.--Patients who received the 2-mg/h morphine infusions received significantly more opioid medication 9 to 72 hours after their operation than those who received no infusion (control group). The presence of a continuous morphine infusion of 0.5 to 2 mg/h did not significantly decrease the number of patient demands or supplemental bolus doses administered compared with the control group. Overall, 168 (84%) of the 199 patients who completed the 72-hour study were able to achieve adequate analgesia without requiring changes in the PCA regimen or experiencing major side effects. Recovery times and outcome variables were similar in all four groups. CONCLUSION.--The routine use of a continuous opioid infusion in combination with a standard PCA regimen does not improve pain management compared with PCA alone after abdominal hysterectomy.     

Preconception care of diabetes. Glycemic control prevents congenital anomalies

To test the value of intensive management of diabetes before and during early pregnancy, 84 women recruited prior to conception were compared with 110 women who were already pregnant referred at 6 to 30 weeks' gestation. All underwent daily measurement of fasting and postprandial capillary blood glucose levels. Mean blood glucose levels during embryogenesis and organogenesis were within 3.3 to 7.8 mmol/L in 50% of preconception subjects and exceeded 10 mmol/L in 6.5%. One major congenital anomaly occurred in 84 infants (1.2%) of women treated before conception compared with 12 anomalies in 110 infants (10.9%) of mothers in the postconception group. Transient symptomatic hypoglycemia occurred during embryogenesis in 60% of women in the preconception group, with a median frequency of 2.7 episodes per week, but was not associated with excess malformations. We conclude that education and intensive management for glycemic control of diabetic women before and during early pregnancy will prevent excess rates of congenital anomalies in their infants.