Severity of DSM-III-R alcohol dependence: United States, 1988

One method of subtyping alcohol dependence is according to severity. Over 4000 respondents in a US national survey who met criteria for DSM-III-R alcohol dependence were classified as mildly, moderately or severely dependent, and the characteristics of each group were examined. The proportion of males was higher in the moderate and severe groups, and the greatest proportions of cases were concentrated in the younger ages in all three groups. A clear increasing gradient from the mild to severe group was found for early age at first drink, heavy alcohol consumption, family history of alcohol problems, social pressure to reduce drinking, and helpseeking, treatment or AA for drinking. Implications for further analyses are discussed.     

Consumerism, commodity culture and health promotion

To date, little health promotion theory has been informed byrecent socio-cultural theoretical developments in understandingconsumerism, commodity culture and everyday life choices. ‘Culture’,as used in this context, is not limited to the traditional anthropological definition but rather is understood both as a wayof life including ideas, beliefs, language, institutions andstructures of power, and as a range of practices and everydayactivities encompassing artistic forms, archi tecture, mass-producedcommodities, eating habits, and media products. An understandingof such theoretical developments is important to cast lightupon the socio cultural settings in which people express consumptionchoices related to health status and respond to health promotionefforts, including the symbolic and social meanings of commodities,their function in shaping individuals' identities and the roleand function of advertising in contemporary western societies.Under standing the socio-cultural context of health-relatedknowledges and practices this way allows health pro moters tostand aside from the usual privileging of ‘health’to examine the other dominant meanings shaping people's personaland social identities and life style choices.     

The Fate of Chronically Consumed Caffeine in the Monkey (Macaca fascicularis)

The Fate of Chronically Consumed Caffeine in the Monkey (Macacafascicularis). GILBERT, S. G., STAVRIC, B., KLASSEN, R. D.,AND RICE, D. C. (1985) Fundam. Appl. Toxicol. 5, 578–587.The metabolic fate of chronically administered caffeine wasexamined in monkeys. Caffeine and equal parts of citric acidwere added to the drinking water of four female monkeys (Macacafascicularis). The concentration was gradually increased overa 10-week period to 0.35 mg/ml for three of the monkeys. A monkeythat was lactating, but had no infant, was exposed to caffeinein the drinking water at a concentration of 0.30 mg/ml. At thesedoses, administered for up to 50 weeks, there were no overtsigns of toxicity as indicated by food and fluid consumption,body weight, or general condition of the monkey. Mean plasmacaffeine concentrations were 3.8, 5.7, and 5.9 µg/ml,while mean plasma theophylline concentrations were 11.8, 13.0,and 20.1 µ/ml. respectively for the monkeys receiving0.35 mg/ml. Mean plasma caffeine and theophylline concentrationsfor the lactating monkey were 10.7 and 21.4 µg/ml, whilemean milk concentrations were 10.5 and 17.6 µ/ml, respectively,indicating that caffeine and its major metabolite theophyllineare readily excreted in milk. The high plasma theophylline levelsindicate that caffeine metabolism in the monkeys differs fromthat in humans. Theophylline was the main urinary metabolite.In addition, large amounts of 1,3-dimethyluric acid were excretedin the urine but only traces of this metabolite were found inthe plasma. After withdrawal of caffeine, plasma caffeine levelsdecreased to almost zero in the first 24 hr with a half-lifeof 5.5 hr, and plasma theophylline levels declined with a half-lifeof 12.7 hr     

Australian Norms for Hand and Finger Strength of Boys and Girls Aged 5–12 Years

Two hundred and fourteen subjects aged 5–12 years were tested for hand and finger strength using a Jamar dynamometer and a Pinsco pinchmeter. Means and standard deviations for seven separate strength measurements were recorded, for the (R) hand and (L) hand of each child, providing initial data for the hand and finger strength of Australian children. Increasing strength was significantly correlated with an increase in age and to a lesser extent with an increase in weight. Superior male strength was significant for many strength scores, but dominance was found not to be important for this population. Comparison of one strength score with similar studies on American populations showed Australian subjects to be stronger, and the statistical significance of this population difference is currently being tested.     

In Vitro Bioassay for Dioxinlike Activity Based on Alterations in Epithelial Cell Proliferation and Morphology

In Vitro Bioassay for Dioxinlike Activity Based on Alterationsin Epithelial Cell Proliferation and Morphology. GIERTHY, J.F., AND CRANE, D. (1985). Fundam. Appl. Toxicol. 5, 754–759.2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) has been shown toinduce changes in morphology and proliferation characteristicsof a nonkeratinizing derivative (XBF) of a keratinizing epithelialcell line (XB), cloned from a mouse teratoma, when coculturedwith irradiated feeder cells. Polychlorinated dibenzodioxins(PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), polychlorinatedbiphenyls (PCBs), polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs),and pesticides (24 compounds in total) were tested for theirability to induce these effects. The results indicated that,for the representative compounds tested, these changes are relativelyspecific for—and that the XBF cells are extremely sensitiveto—PCDDs and PCDFs. TCDD was the most potent congenertested, capable of inducing the effects at a concentration aslow as 10^–11 M. The activities of other tested PCDDs andPCDFs ranged from 10^–1 to 10^–3 of TCDD activity.The PCBs, PAHs, and pesticides had lower activities rangingfrom 10^–3 to 10^–6 that of TCDD. This assay systemusing XBF cells cocultured with irradiated 3T3 fibroblast feedercells was examined as a possible in vitro screening assay fordioxinlike activity by testing benzene extracts of soot froma fire involving a PCB-containing transformer. The results werecompared to a high-resolution gas chromatographic/mass spectrometricanalysis for total PCDFs in the same samples. This comparisonshowed a good correlation, suggesting that the XBF-3T3 systemhas potential for use as a semiquantitative assay for dioxinlikeactivity.