Leaving Family for Work: Ambivalence and Mental Health Among Mexican Migrant Farmworker Men

Men migrating to the United States from Mexico and Central America confront opposing family norms. They need to leave their families to gain family economic security; yet, leaving renders their families vulnerable. We examined the mental health implications of the opposing family norms inherent in migration using an ambivalence framework. We interviewed 60 Latino migrant farmworkers working in North Carolina. Most were from Mexico; each had left a wife and children in his countryof origin. Analysis indicated that family ambivalence was common. Ambivalence was associated with anxiety symptoms (but not depression or alcohol dependence), especially among men who were unable to contact their families regularly. Results show the usefulness of the ambivalence framework, andsuggest that the origins of poor migrant mental health may reside in circumstances preceding migration. Study recommendations include facilitating family contact by expanding access to telephones among migrant workers.     

Using and interpreting cost-effectiveness acceptability curves: an example using data from a trial of management strategies for atrial fibrillation

Background  

The cost-effectiveness acceptability curve (CEAC) is a method for summarizing the uncertainty in estimates of cost-effectiveness. The CEAC, derived from the joint distribution of costs and effects, illustrates the (Bayesian) probability that the data are consistent with a true cost-effectiveness ratio falling below a specified ceiling ratio. The objective of the paper is to illustrate how to construct and interpret a CEAC.     

Expression of the RNA-binding protein TIAR is increased in neurons after ischemic cerebral injury

T-cell restricted intracellular antigen-related protein (TIAR) is an RNA recognition motif-type RNA-binding protein that has been implicated in the apoptotic death of T-lymphocytes and retinal pigment epithelial cells. Western blots prepared with a monoclonal antibody against TIAR showed expression in normal rat hippocampus, and induction by 15 min of global cerebral ischemia. This increased expression was evident at 8 hr after ischemia and maximal at 24 hr, whereas expression at 72 hr was reduced below basal levels. Expression of TIAR protein was also increased in parietal cortex 6 and 24 hr after 90 min of focal cerebral ischemia induced by middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion, as well as in cultured cortical neurons and astroglia after exposure to hypoxia in vitro. Immunocytochemistry showed that increased expression of TIAR occurred mainly in the CA1 sector of hippocampus 24 hr after global ischemia, and in cortical and striatal neurons 24 hr after 20 or 90 min of focal ischemia. Double-labeling studies showed that TIAR protein expression was co-localized with DNA damage in neuronal cells. The findings suggest that TIAR may be involved in neuronal cell death after cerebral ischemic injury.     

Describing safe motherhood programs for priority setting: the case of Burkina Faso.

OBJECTIVE: This study was implemented to describe safe motherhood programs in Burkina Faso for planning and programming purposes. METHODS: Twenty safe motherhood programs were described from November 2003 through May 2004 using a structured questionnaire, interviews with safe motherhood program managers and document reviews. RESULTS: Only 2 of the 20 programs were designed to improve the availability of comprehensive emergency obstetric care, and only 2 comprehensively addressed all components of skilled attendance at delivery. Other gaps identified included poor availability of baseline data, few monitoring measures, and lack of planning for evaluation needs. National geographical coverage was also uneven. CONCLUSION: A systematic overview of safe motherhood programs in a country can help to set priorities and aid in decision making for the allocation of resources towards contextually relevant strategies to curtail maternal mortality and severe morbidity. Planning for program design and evaluation may also be aided by such a process.     

Armrest versus vacuum bag immobilization in the treatment of breast cancer by radiation therapy: a randomized comparison

Thirty patients in randomized sequence were simulated in both an arm-rest and a vacuum bag immobilization device and also randomized to treatment in one of the two devices. Overall patient comfort significantly favoured the use of the arm-rest, although both were acceptable. Lung exposed in the tangential beams was less in the vacuum bag device. Supraclavicular skin folding was greater in the vacuum bag, but this is probably related to the angle of arm abduction. Treatment times and stability of the setups were not significantly different. This is a small study piloting a technical comparison and the findings require confirmation in a larger sample.     

A randomized trial of preexercise stretching for prevention of lower-limb injury

PURPOSE: This study investigated the effect of muscle stretching during warm-up on the risk of exercise-related injury. METHODS: 1538 male army recruits were randomly allocated to stretch or control groups. During the ensuing 12 wk of training, both groups performed active warm-up exercises before physical training sessions. In addition, the stretch group performed one 20-s static stretch under supervision for each of six major leg muscle groups during every warm-up. The control group did not stretch. RESULTS: 333 lower-limb injuries were recorded during the training period, including 214 soft-tissue injuries. There were 158 injuries in the stretch group and 175 in the control group. There was no significant effect of preexercise stretching on all-injuries risk (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.95, 95% CI 0.77-1.18), soft-tissue injury risk (HR = 0.83, 95% CI 0.63-1.09), or bone injury risk (HR = 1.22, 95% CI 0.86-1.76). Fitness (20-m progressive shuttle run test score), age, and enlistment date all significantly predicted injury risk (P < 0.01 for each), but height, weight, and body mass index did not. CONCLUSION: A typical muscle stretching protocol performed during preexercise warm-ups does not produce clinically meaningful reductions in risk of exercise-related injury in army recruits. Fitness may be an important, modifiable risk factor.     

AIPL1突变患者先天性Leber黑蒙表现型

目的：叙述26例先证者中芳香族羟基碳氢化合物受体蛋白样1蛋白质（AIPL1）突变的先天性Leber黑蒙（LCA）的表现型，并比较其他LCA相关性基因的表现型。叙述杂合子携带者的视网膜电图（ERG）。     

MR spectroscopy study of dichloroacetate treatment after ischemic stroke

In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study, we used 1H MR spectroscopy to assess the effect of a single infusion of sodium dichloroacetate on lesion lactate 1 to 5 days after ischemic stroke. Apparent trends toward a reduction in lactate/N-acetyl compound ratios were seen at the higher drug doses employed, and in patients treated in the first 2 days following infarction. Use of spectroscopic measures as endpoints is feasible in acute stroke clinical trials.     

Vitamin D receptor genotypes/haplotypes and prostate cancer risk.

The vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene has been associated with prostate cancer, although previous results are somewhat equivocal. To further study this, we did a family-based case-control study (N = 918) of the association between prostate cancer and six common VDR variants: Cdx2, FokI, BsmI, ApaI, TaqI, and the poly-A microsatellite. Looking at each variant alone, only FokI and ApaI were associated with disease. The FokI FF genotype was inversely associated with prostate cancer among men with less advanced disease (i.e., Gleason score <7 and tumor stage 相似文献