Behavior problems of clinic children: relation to parental marital status, age and sex of child

Behavior problems of 703 children seen in a clinical setting were examined for interactions between and effects of family type (i.e., parental marital status) and age and sex of child. Significant differences were found based on family type, with children of separated, divorced, and remarried parents having more problems. Expected interactions between marital status and age and sex of child were not obtained, although results support prior research with regard to the effects of age and sex.     

Hair analysis does not support hypothesized arsenic and chromium exposure from drinking water in Woburn, Massachusetts.

We hypothesized that residents of Woburn, Massachusetts, had been exposed to as much as 70 microg/l of arsenic (As) and 240 microg/l of chromium (Cr) in drinking water from municipal supply wells G and H. To test this hypothesis, we measured the concentrations of As and Cr in 82 hair samples donated by 56 Woburn residents. Thirty-six samples were cut between 1964 and 1979, the period during which wells G and H were in operation. The remainder were cut either before 1964 (1938-1963; n = 26) or after 1979 (1982-1994; n = 20). Washed hair samples were analyzed by instrumental neutron activation. Exposure to the well water--measured as access--was estimated using well pumping records and a model of the Woburn water distribution system. Our results show that access to wells G and H water was not significantly correlated (95% confidence interval) with As and Cr concentrations measured in the hair of Woburn residents, but As concentrations have declined significantly over the last half century. Linear regression of As concentrations (micrograms per gram) upon year of hair cut and access to wells G and H water yielded a standard coefficient for year of -0. 0074 +/- 0.0017 (standard error; p = 2.5 -multiple- 10(-5)) and -0.12 +/- 0.10 (p = 0.22) for access. The r2 value for the model was 0.19. The geometric mean concentrations (geometric standard deviation) of As and Cr in the hair of residents who had access (i.e., relative access estimate >0) to wells G and H water (n = 27) were 0.14 (2.6) and 2.29 (1.8) microg/g, respectively; the geometric mean concentrations of As and Cr in all of the hair samples from residents who did not have access (1938-1994; n = 55) were 0.13 (3.0) and 2.19 (2.0) microg/g, respectively.     

Combining a name algorithm with a capture-recapture method to retrieve cases of Turkish descent from a German population-based cancer registry

An increasing proportion of the 2 million Turkish residents in Germany is reaching the age in which cancer becomes a common health problem. However, data on cancer incidence and survival among Turkish residents are lacking due to incomplete reporting of nationality in German cancer registries. In the population-based cancer registry of the Saarland, retrieval by reported nationality yielded only 38% (95% confidence interval (CI): 31–45%) of the estimated number of Turkish cases in the registry; furthermore, nationality information was found to be inaccurate, and completeness dependent on the vital status of cases. A newly developed algorithm based on family names retrieved 85% (95% CI: 79–90%) of Turkish cases. Combining the two sources in a capture–recapture approach yielded 91% (95% CI: 86–94%) of the estimated total number of Turkish cases. Hence, the name-based algorithm provides a new and attractive tool for valid registry-based cancer research among Turks in Germany.     

Prevention among immigrants: the example of Germany

Background  

A large and increasing part of the European population has a history of migration. Germany, for example, is home to about 15 million people with migrant background, which amounts to 19% of its population. Migrants may have differences in their lifestyle, health beliefs and risk factors compared to the autochthonous populations.     

A novel method of thermal activation and temperature measurement in the microscopic region around single living cells

We present a simple approach to bring fast and reversible temperature steps of a wide range of amplitudes from the temperature of the experimental chamber up to the boiling point of water in a desired position, with rise and fall times of around 10 ms in a microvolume of microm in size, such as in a single cell. For this purpose, we applied a technique for illuminating a metal aggregate (1-2 microm in diameter) placed at the tip of a glass micropipette with a focused infrared (1064 nm) laser beam under an optical microscope. Stable temperature gradients were created around the metal aggregate using an appropriate neutral density filter set for the laser output. To monitor the local temperature, we devised a new microthermometer composed of the tip of a micropipette filled with thermosensitive fluorescent dye Europium-TTA possessing steep temperature-dependent phosphorescence upon 365 nm excitation. The microm size of the tip of this pipette was able to measure the local temperature with 0.1 degrees C precision and microm spatial resolution. This new approach is compatible with standard electrophysiological and imaging techniques.     

Transition in cancer patterns among Turks residing in Germany

Cancer mortality among the 2.1 million Turks residing in Germany is assumed to change from a pattern typical for a developing country towards one of an industrialised country. To test this hypothesis, we compared age-standardised cancer mortality rates among Turkish residents and (West) Germans using death registration data. In addition, we assessed proportional cancer incidence ratios among Turkish cases (n=144) in a German population-based cancer registry. All-cancer mortality 1992-1997 (per 100000) was 34.8 (n=4192) among Turkish men (Germans: 72.3) and 21.5 (n=1862) among Turkish women (Germans: 52.4). Over time, gastric and lung cancer mortality increased among Turkish men, as did breast cancer mortality among Turkish women. The proportional cancer incidence (PCIR) for stomach cancer among men was 2.9 (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.7-4.8), and that for breast cancer among women was 0.7 (95% CI: 0.4-1.1). Turks had an increased proportional incidence ratio for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Our findings partly support a transition of cancer patterns among Turks in Germany.     

Normothermic rapid volume replacement for hypovolemic shock: an in vivo and in vitro study utilizing a new technique

Hypovolemic shock secondary to intraoperative or traumatic hemorrhage requires urgent, aggressive resuscitation to achieve a successful outcome. Common difficulties encountered include the need for venous access, restoration of blood volume, and most important, maintenance of normothermia. The rapid solution administration set utilized in this study addresses the above limitations. Venous access is quickly accomplished by the percutaneous insertion of a large-bore catheter into the central venous system. The set requires only one central venous entry site for adequate fluid resuscitation. Expeditious restoration of blood volume is accomplished by gravity-induced infusion of crystalloids, colloids, and blood products at flow rates of up to 1,600 ml/minute. High flow rates are obtained by utilizing low-resistance filters and large-bore perfusion tubing. Avoidance of transfusion-induced hypothermia is addressed by incorporation of an extracorporeal heat exchanger into the administration set. The infusate temperature is maintained at 37 degrees C regardless of the administration rate or the initial fluid temperature. In vitro and canine in vivo testing demonstrated no significant hemolysis of the transfused blood and allowed maintenance of normothermia.