HIV/AIDS infection control enforcement: a comparison between Nigeria and the United States

We examined differences in approaches to HIV-related infection control practices in two university teaching hospitals in the United States and Nigeria. Health care workers (n = 202 in Nigeria and 186 in the USA) responded to a previously validated measure of infection control practices. There were significant differences in the estimated probability of treating a person with HIV disease (higher in USA), and a greater probability of peer ridicule as a way of enforcing group norms on infection control in Nigeria. Peer enforcement of norms was significantly lower in the USA. In both countries, more precautions would be taken if it was known that the patient was HIV infected. Infection control practices were more likely to be followed in the USA compared with Nigeria if they were praised for this activity, if appropriate facilities (sharps containers, gloves, etc.) were nearby, and if they felt that infection control procedures were effective. These data point to the importance of normative social pressures in Nigeria and of knowing the patient is HIV infected in the USA and feeling that infection control procedures are effective ways of avoiding occupational HIV infection. The role of normative pressures and assumptions about HIV infection status as well as cues and availability of facilities for infection control appear to differ between these health care workers in Nigeria and the USA.     

A bitoric gas permeable hard contact lens with spherical power effect

A 36 lens fitting set of gas permeable hard (Polycon II) bitoric contact lenses with spherical power effect in vivo was used to fit 50 patients. Thirty six patients (66 eyes) were correctly fitted with spherical power effect (SPE) lenses while 14 patients (27 eyes) required cylinder power effect (CPE) lenses. The mean flat base curve was 0.45 D.K. flatter than the mean flat corneal K reading, and the mean base curve toricity was 0.50 D.K. less than mean corneal toricity. Overall patient response was good to excellent for 82% of the patient sample.     

Iopamidol and meglumine diatrizoate: comparison of effects on patient discomfort during aortofemoral arteriography

Iopamidol was compared with Renografin-60 (meglumine diatrizoate, Squibb) in a controlled, randomized double-blind study of 40 patients undergoing peripheral arteriography for arteriosclerotic occlusive disease to determine which agent caused less discomfort. Each patient was evaluated for objective signs of discomfort and subjective feelings of pain and heat. Monitoring was achieved by multiple physical examinations, chemical tests, electrocardiograms, and intra-arterial pressure recordings. It is concluded that iopamidol is safe and causes significantly less patient discomfort than Renografin-60.     

Short-term and long-term soft tissue profile changes after mandibular advancements using rigid fixation techniques

This study was designed to describe short- and long-term soft tissue profile changes that follow surgical advancement of the mandible, to provide a database for prediction of facial changes following surgery. A number of hard and soft tissue landmarks were identified on serial cephalometric tracings of 31 patients. The long-term data (x = 14.0 months postsurgery) showed that changes in soft tissue landmarks overlying the skeletal structures followed their hard tissue counterpart in a 1:1 ratio in the horizontal direction. Horizontal hard to soft tissue landmark changes between mandibular incisor and lower lip, however, were found to be different; the average ratio was 0.43:1.00. Short-term data (x = 2.7 months postsurgery) showed soft tissue changes to be stable when compared to long-term changes.     

Solid phase red cell adherence immunoassay for anti-HIV 1: a simple, rapid, and accurate method for donor screening

In technically developed countries in which acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a risk to the recipients of blood or tissue, it is mandatory to screen the donor for evidence of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) infection. Current tests, based on enzyme-linked immunoassay, are time-consuming and expensive and as such are unsuitable for developing countries. We describe a second generation test using anti-human IgG coupled to red cells as the indicator of antibody having reacted with test antigen (1). The test is complete within ten minutes, simple to perform and to read and has 100% sensitivity and 99% specificity compared with Western blot. It is ideal for the rapid screening of organ donors and for the screening of blood donors where cost is a major consideration.