The effect of chloroform on Brucella abortus agglutinins in whey.

Defatting milk for the Brucella abortus whey agglutination test with chloroform caused some reduction in the titre in i.u./ml. in 42 of 57 samples and this reduction exceeded 50% in seven. Though this procedure will probably rarely affect the final interpretation of the test defatting the milk by centrifugation is preferred.     

Biochemical changes in burned patients

Some of the biochemical changes that may occur after severe burns are described.     

The community health advisor program and the deep South network for cancer control: health promotion programs for volunteer community health advisors

The Community Health Advisor program is a proven, community-driven health promotion program that identifies and trains natural helpers who then seek to improve the health of individuals and their communities. This article details the basis of the Community Health Advisor model and describes early pilot programs in the Mississippi Delta. Also described is the formation of the Community Health Advisor Network, which provides technical assistance to Community Health Advisor programs and the proliferation of Community Health Advisor programs nationally. Specifically, details are presented of the modification of the model for the Deep South Network for Cancer Control and of early findings showing a decrease in health disparities in Alabama.     

The deep South network for cancer control: eliminating cancer disparities through community-academic collaboration

African Americans have a substantially increased mortality rate compared to Whites in many cancers, including breast and cervix. The Deep South Network for Cancer Control (the Network) was established to develop sustainable community infrastructure to promote cancer awareness, enhance participation of African Americans and other special populations in clinical trials, recruit and train minority investigators, and develop and test innovative community-based cancer control measures to eliminate cancer mortality disparities in special populations. This article describes the steps necessary to form the network and the process and activities required to establish it as an effective infrastructure for eliminating disparities between Whites and African Americans in the United States.     

Nutrient Intakes of Men and Women Collegiate Athletes with Disordered Eating

The objective of this study was to assess the macro- and micronutrient intakes of men and women collegiate athletes with disordered eating behaviors and to compare the nutrient intakes of athletes with restrictive- versus binge-eating behaviors. National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I University athletes (n = 232) were administered an anonymous, written questionnaire to compare nutrient intakes, desired weight change, and weight control behaviors in athletes with restrictive- (R) and binge- (B) eating behaviors to those in asymptomatic (A) athletes. T-tests, χ² statistic, and ANOVA were used to test for differences among disordered eating groups within genders (p < 0.05). Data are means ± standard error of the mean. Among men athletes, those with disordered eating consumed a smaller percentage of energy from carbohydrate compared to controls (R = 49.7 ± 1.5; B = 48.7 ± 2.3; A = 53.4 ± 0.7%). Among female athletes, those with disordered eating wanted to lose a greater percentage of their current body weight than did asymptomatic athletes (B = -6.1 ± 1.4; R = -6.7 ± 1.1; A = -3.7 ± 0.4%). Women who were classified with binge eating consumed significantly more alcohol than did controls (B = 6.8 ± 1.3; A = 3.9 ± 0.4 g alcohol per day). Athletes with disordered eating were more likely to report restricting their intake of carbohydrate and fat and using supplements to control their weight than asymptomatic athletes. Disordered eating was not associated with greater frequencies of inadequate micronutrient intake in either gender. Athletes with disordered eating may be at significantly greater risk for nutritional inadequacies than athletes who are asymptomatic due to macronutrient restriction and greater alcohol consumption.

Key Points

• Athletes with disordered eating were more likely to report restricting their intake of carbohydrate and fat and using supplements to control their weight than asymptomatic athletes
• Among female athletes, those with disordered eating wanted to lose a greater percentage of their current body weight than did asymptomatic athletes
• Disordered eating was not associated with greater frequencies of inadequate micronutrient intake in either gender
• Athletes with disordered eating may be at significantly greater risk for nutritional inadequacies than athletes who are asymptomatic due to macronutrient restriction and greater alcohol consumption.

Key Words: Eating disorder, Female Athlete Triad     

Bowen's disease of the nipple-a new method of treatment

Squamous cell carcinoma in situ (Bowen's disease) is a common skin condition but has only rarely been described on the nipple. All reported cases have been treated with wide local excision and observation. A new treatment for Bowen's disease is photodynamic therapy. This has been reported as being able to treat Bowen's disease in other sites effectively with an acceptable local recurrence rate. We describe two patients presenting with itching and scaling of the nipple which were histologically proven Bowen's disease, one of these patients was treated successfully with a combination of photodynamic therapy and cryotherapy: this is the first time such a lesion has been treated in this way.     

Catecholamine balance during stress anticipation: An abnormality in maximum security hospital patients

The rates and ratios of excretions of adrenaline and noradrenaline were compared in maximum security patients (social deviants), military mental hospital patients and normals. Urine samples were taken in routine and stressed situations.

The relative rate of adrenaline and noradrenaline excretion under daily routine was similar in the three groups studied. However, during periods of anticipation of unfamiliar stressful situations, approximately a quarter of the socially-deviant group exhibited an atypical increase in amount of noradrenaline and decrease in adrenaline. This resulted in a catecholamine balance that differed strikingly from the other subjects. The deviant subjects with abnormally high noradrenaline/adrenaline ratios also exhibited low physiological “anxiety” responsivity to stressors and had a history of convictions for extreme physical violence. These findings suggest that an unusual biochemical and physiological stress anticipation response is found in a group of patients with aggressive psychopathic behaviour.