Antinociceptive profile of 2-phenylselenenyl-1,8-cineole in mice

2-Phenylselenenyl-1,8-cineole (PSC) increased both the pentobarbital-induced sleeping time and the reaction time (up to 2 h) in the tail immersion method. PSC also caused dose-dependent inhibition of acetic acid induced writhing with maximum inhibition of 93.4% and was approximately 8.5-fold more potent than 1,8-cineole. These findings show that PSC presents sedative effect and significant antinociceptive activity.     

Reflections from the ivory tower

One health educator reflects on a career shift from public health practitioner to college faculty. The opportunity arose through informal Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE) networking. Similarities between the practitioner and academic roles are noted in relation to politics, mentoring, service on committees, presentations, consultation, and chain of command. Notable differences are discussed in areas of hiring and job security, work rules, teaching versus administration, molding students versus reshaping adults, degree of focus on health content versus program process, amount of bureaucracy and red tape, and degree of freedom to advocate. Recommendations are included for successful transitions. Both roles have unique rewards.     

Glove use and the relative risk of acute hand injury: a case-crossover study

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between glove use and acute traumatic occupational hand injury. We used a case-crossover, within-subject study design to control for differences between individuals such as occupation, injury history, age, gender, risk-taking behavior, manual dexterity, and muscle strength. A total of 1166 hand-injured workers were interviewed regarding the use of gloves at the time of the injury. The self-reported average duration of glove use in the previous work month was the measure of expected exposure to wearing gloves. Nineteen percent of subjects reported wearing gloves at the time of the injury. The expected exposure to glove use in the past work month was 27.9%. Glove use was associated with a lower risk of lacerations and punctures but not crush, fractures, avulsions, amputations, dislocations; the risk of the former two injury types was estimated to be 60-70% lower while wearing gloves. Glove use is only one component of a comprehensive hand injury prevention approach that might include the identification and elimination of sharp hazards, engineering controls, safety warnings, training in high-risk situation awareness, and proper selection and timing of glove use.     

The comparability of estimates of retroilluminated lens opacities as judged from film-based and digital imaging

PURPOSE: Neitz film-based retroillumination cameras, the standard for documenting retroilluminated lens opacities for epidemiologic studies, are no longer produced. A digital imaging system is now available for imaging these opacities. We sought to compare gradings of images from both systems. DESIGN: Comparison of technique. METHODS: One hundred fourteen lenses were imaged with both systems and graded according to protocols. Concordance between the methods was compared using kappa statistics. RESULTS: There was moderate concordance for cortical opacities (kappa = 0.63) and good concordance for posterior subcapsular opacities (kappa = 0.83). Grades from digital images slightly underestimated the frequency and severity of cortical cataract. CONCLUSION: Digital imaging of retroilluminated lens opacities results in similar classification of the severity of opacities. It will be useful for epidemiologic studies of cortical (CC) and posterior subcapsular cataracts (PSC).     

The age-related macular degeneration radiotherapy trial (AMDRT): one year results from a pilot study

PURPOSE: To assess the short-term safety and efficacy of treating subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) with external beam radiation delivered in 5 x 4 Gy fractions among patients having age-related macular degeneration (AMD). DESIGN: A multicenter prospective randomized controlled pilot study. METHODS: Eighty-eight patients were enrolled through 10 sites and were randomized to radiotherapy (20 Gy delivered in 5 daily fractions of 4 Gy each; 6 MV [N = 41]) or no radiotherapy (sham radiotherapy [N = 22] or observation [N = 25]). Eligibility criteria included visual acuity of at least 20/320 and subfoveal CNV not amenable to treatment. Randomization was stratified by lesion type (new or recurrent CNV) and blood (<50% or >/=50% of the lesion [N = 13]). The primary outcome measure was loss of >/=3 lines of visual acuity. Secondary outcome measures were angiographic response and side effects. RESULTS: At baseline, patient and ocular characteristics were similar between treatment groups. At six months, 9 radiated eyes (26%) and 17 eyes not radiated (49%) lost >/=3 lines of visual acuity (P = .04; stratified chi(2) test). At 12 months, 13 radiated eyes (42%) and 9 observed eyes (49%) lost >/=3 visual acuity lines (P = .60). The radiated group demonstrated smaller lesions and less fibrosis than the nonradiated group (P = .05 and .004, respectively) at 12 months. Radiation-induced complications were not observed except for one radiated eye with numerous cotton wool spots and possible radiation retinopathy. CONCLUSIONS: External beam radiation at 5 x 4 Gy may have a modest and short-lived (six month) benefit in preserving visual acuity.     

Clinical variables and their relation to visual outcome after vitrectomy in eyes with diabetic retinal traction detachment

Background To analyse vitrectomy results in diabetic eyes with retinal traction detachment and to investigate which variables are associated with a worse visual outcome.Methods Forty-four diabetic eyes (33 patients) with central retinal traction detachment were analyzed retrospectively.Results After a median follow-up of 10 months, median visual acuity significantly improved from 20/800 to 20/160 (P=0.02), despite the fact that the majority of patients had a long-standing macular traction detachment (median 120 days). Twenty-two eyes (50%) achieved a visual acuity of >20/200. The retina was finally reattached in 38 eyes (86.3%). Univariate analysis showed that patients with type 2 diabetes, age older than 50 years, preoperative visual acuity <20/200, iris neovascularisation and macular detachment of >30 days had a significantly worse final visual outcome. After multiple logistic regression analysis, age and iris neovascularisation were the strongest predictors of a worse visual outcome; if both were present, the chance of a obtaining a visual outcome of <20/200 was almost 90%.Conclusions Age and iris neovascularisation were the strongest predictors for a low visual outcome. In a review of vitrectomy studies in eyes with severe diabetic traction detachment in the past 2 decades, we found a trend towards higher anatomic success rates, while visual outcome only slightly improved. The current study confirmed the importance of ophthalmic variables, but also indicates the importance of evaluating systemic variables in larger series in order to predict which eyes may truly benefit from vitrectomy.The authors have not received any financial support. The authors have no proprietary interest related to this article.     

Pharmacological characterisation of the orexin receptor subtype mediating postsynaptic excitation in the rat dorsal raphe nucleus

Electrophysiological recordings from dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) neurones in rat brain slices have revealed that the orexins can cause direct and reversible depolarisation of the postsynaptic membrane. Whilst it is known that the membrane depolarisation produced by orexin-A can dramatically increase the firing rate of DRN neurones, quantitative pharmacological analysis that determines the receptor subtype mediating the orexinergic response has not yet been performed. Here, we demonstrate that the rank order of potencies of orexin receptor agonists to excite serotonergic DRN neurones is orexin-A=orexin-B>SB-668875-DM. In contrast, the rank order of potency of these agonists to excite noradrenergic locus coreleus (LC) neurones is orexin-A>orexin-B>SB-668875-DM. We show further that the orexin receptor antagonist, SB-334867-A, inhibits the effects of orexin-A in the LC and DRN with pK_B values of 6.93 and 5.84, respectively, values similar to those calculated for human OX₁ (7.27) and OX₂ (5.60) receptors expressed in CHO cells. These data suggest a differential role for OX₁ and OX₂ receptors in stimulating distinct populations of monoaminergic neurones in the rat CNS with OX₂ receptors exhibiting a more pronounced functional significance in serotonergic neurones and OX₁ in noradrenergic neurones.     

Single mothers and the use of professionals for mental health care reasons

In the present study, we examine whether higher rates of mental health service use observed among single-parent mothers is due to greater need (psychopathology) or other factors (predisposing and enabling characteristics) using a socio-behavioural model of health care use. We use data from two large surveys in Canada (the 1994-95 National Population Health Survey and the 1990 Ontario Mental Health Supplement). The bivariate results from both surveys revealed that single-parent mothers were two to three times more likely than married mothers to have sought professional help for mental health reasons over a 12-month period. Multivariate analyses showed that differences in predisposing and enabling characteristics between single and married mothers accounted for very little of the relationship between family structure and service use. Rather, differences in the prevalence of psychiatric disorders accounted for the higher use of services among single mothers. Single mothers are more likely than married mothers to seek professional help for mental health concerns. The use of services appears equitable in that need (higher rates of psychopathology) is the major factor differentiating use between married and single mothers. Further work should examine differences in pathways into formal care between single and married mothers.     

Health insurance coverage and mortality among the near-elderly

Uninsured near-elderly people may be particularly at risk for adverse health outcomes. We compared mortality of a nationally representative cohort of insured and uninsured near-elderly people with stratification by race; income; and the presence of diabetes, hypertension, or heart disease, using propensity-score methods to adjust for numerous characteristics. Lacking health insurance was associated with substantially higher adjusted mortality among adults who were white; had low incomes; or had diabetes, hypertension, or heart disease. Expanding coverage to the near-elderly uninsured may greatly improve health outcomes for these groups.