Preschool behavior disorders: their prevalence in relation to determinants

The occurrence of behavior disorders was investigated in a prospectively followed 3-year-old birth cohort. Of 1116 eligible children, the parents of 918 were successfully contacted. All agreed to complete a telephone interview and were mailed a Childhood Behavior Checklist (CBCL) standardized for 2- to 3-year-old children; 756 (82%) returned the CBCL. The prevalence of one or more of the deviant behavior syndromes identified by the CBCL was 11.1%. From a number of subject characteristics recorded throughout infancy, age-specific determinants for the occurrence of these deviant behaviors were identified. Characteristics most consistently associated with preschool psychopathology included the mother's ill health and lack of social support, the presence of chronic illness in the child, and the frequent use of hospital emergency services. These and other determinant (risk) indicators were entered into logistic regression (LR) models to derived adjusted relative risk estimates for the occurrence of a behavior disorder. The derived LR equations emphasize the important role of both the mother as well and the father and the health of the child.     

A STUDY OF THE PATHOGENIC PROPERTIES OF BACILLUS PROTEUS

Some strains of Bacillus proteus obtained from human lesions are pathogenic for rabbits, rats, and guinea pigs. There is good evidence that these strains are also pathogenic for man. All cultures obtained from sources other than human infections were non-pathogenic for the laboratory animals. A non-pathogenic culture may be made pathogenic by the use of aggressins or by inoculation into the anterior chamber of the eye. Proteus cultures lose their virulence rapidly when grown on artificial media. The lesions produced in animals are either simple abscesses, proliferative lesions, or a mixed exudative and proliferative lesion. The proliferative lesions consist mainly of epithelioid cells apparently of connective tissue origin. No giant-cells of the Langhans type are present. The histological type of the lesion does not depend upon the strain employed. Neither does it bear any relation to the clinical severity of the case. The ability to produce the characteristic lesions has no necessary connection with the toxicity of the bacteria. The proteus bacteria probably play a more important part in human pathology than is generally believed.     

Common bile duct calculi: updated experience with dissolution with methyl tertiary butyl ether

The authors describe their experience with methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) in a larger series of patients than previously reported in order to acquaint physicians with both its effectiveness for dissolution of common bile duct calculi and the limitations of its use. Ten patients with 13 biliary calculi underwent percutaneous stone dissolution treatment with the experimental cholesterol solvent, MTBE. Three stones completely dissolved within 30 minutes, seven were reduced in size, and three were visibly unaffected. All stones not completely dissolved were easily extracted by means of a stone basket except for one in a patient taken to surgery. Although MTBE perfusion is an effective technique for management of biliary calculi, practitioners should be aware that its use is quite time consuming and its odor difficult to control.     

Characterization of indoor air contaminants in a randomly selected set of commercial nail salons in Salt Lake County,Utah, USA

Air samples were collected in 12 randomly selected commercial nail salons in Salt Lake County, Utah. Measurements of salon physical/chemical parameters (room volume, CO₂ levels) were obtained. Volatile organic compound (VOC) concentrations were collected using summa air canisters and sorbent media tubes for an 8-h period. Multivariate analyses were used to identify relationships between salon physical/chemical characteristics and the VOCs found in the air samples. The ACGIH^® additive mixing formula was also applied to determine if there were potential overexposures to the combined airborne concentrations of chemicals monitored. Methyl methacrylate was detected in 58% of the establishments despite having been banned for use in nail products by the state of Utah. Formaldehyde was found above the NIOSH REL^® (0.016?ppm) in 58% of the establishments. Given the assortment of VOCs to which nail salon workers are potentially exposed, a combination of engineering as well as personal protective equipment is recommended.     

Inhalation of Tetramethyllead and Tetraethyllead

In a study of the specificity of the iodine-azide reaction in carbon disulfide (CS₂) exposure, iodine-azide reaction and dithiocarb (sodium diethyidithiocarbamate) in the urine of alcoholics treated with disulfiram (tetraethylthiuram disulfide) were determined.

After application of disulfiram, the iodine-azide reaction was negative 40% of the time, but some dithiocarb is always present in urine. Therefore, dithiocarb determination could be used to measure the patient’s discipline.

The great dispersion of dithiocarb results is discussed as a possible influence of pathologic condition and compared with other drugs, especially, meprobamate.

The application of meprobamate increased the percentage of positive iodine-azide reaction in disulfiram, treated alcoholics, but dispersion of dithiocarb results was the same as in alcoholics not using meprobamate.

The iodine-azide test (IAT) does not provide a satisfactory index of exposure in individuals taking disulfiram for alcoholism.