Association between food patterns and difficulties in falling asleep among adolescents in Norway — a descriptive Young-Hunt3 study

Journal of Public Health - Adolescents’ sleep duration has decreased over the past century; this is mainly caused by problems with falling asleep. Short sleep duration, poor sleep quality,...     

Assessing attitudes towards online psychoeducational interventions: Psychometric properties of a Brief Attitudes Scale

Participant attitudes are an explanatory factor for attrition in online health-related interventions. However, its assessment prior to interventions start is uncommon, partly because proper measures are missing. This study presents the psychometric properties of a new scale measuring attitudes towards online psychoeducational interventions (OPIs). Structural validity, reliability and screening performance of the Online Psychoeducational Intervention – Brief Attitudes Scale (OPI-BAS) were studied in a sample of 157 dementia caregivers. Scale cut-off scores were derived to categorise the participants into ‘OPIs sympathisers’ or ‘non-sympathisers’. Groups were compared across sociodemographic and internet use variables. A parsimonious five-item version of OPI-BAS demonstrated good structural validity, with one factor explaining 63.3% of variance. Internal consistency of the scale was high (α = 0.85). OPI-BAS showed good screening performance in identifying individuals with either a preference to use conventional face-to-face or online psychoeducational interventions (area under the curve = 0.84). An optimal cut-off score of 20 was suggested by the receiver operating characteristic graph, providing good sensitivity (74%) and specificity (84%). No significant differences were found between groups on sociodemographic and internet use variables. Attitudes towards OPIs were overall positive, but face-to-face interventions were preferred. This study offers preliminary support to the psychometric quality of OPI-BAS. This short scale has practical applications for research and intervention.     

Evidence for the involvement of the nitric oxide–cGMP pathway in the antinociception of morphine in the formalin test

The effect of inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis and guanylate cyclase on the peripheral antinociceptive effect of morphine was assessed by using the formalin test in the rat. Saline, N^G-monomethyl-

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-arginine, a nitric oxide synthesis inhibitor (50 μg) and methylene blue, a guanylate cyclase inhibitor (500 μg), did not exhibit any antinociceptive activity. However, morphine (10 μg) produced a significant antinociceptive effect in phases 2a and 2b, which was reduced by pretreatment with either N^G-monomethyl-

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-arginine or methylene blue. These results suggest that the local administration of morphine induces antinociception by the activation of the

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-arginine–nitric oxide–cGMP pathway.     

Quinolone prophylaxis in neutropenic patients - efficacy versus resistance

To assess the efficacy of quinolones in the prophylaxis of infections in neutropenic patients with acute non-lymphocytic leukemia, and to evaluate the emergence of quinolone resistance in two University Hospitals in Brazil, we retrospectively compared 101 consecutive episodes of neutropenia managed with quinolone prophylaxis between 1989 and November 1993, and 26 previous episodes without prophylaxis, and reviewed the results of in vitro sensitivity of Gram-negative strains to quinolones in the same period. Prophylaxis with quinolones resulted in less episodes of bacteremias (21% vs. 69%, p=10(-7)), including Gram-negative bacteremias (6% vs. 38%, p=10(-5)), with no statistically significant difference in the death rate (18% vs. 31%, p=0.14, 95% confidence interval -6-32). The resistance of Gramnegative strains to quinolones rose from 7% to 18% between 1990 and 1993 (p=10(-5)). The resistance against ceftazidime and amikacin, the agents used in the empirical antibiotic therapy, increased in the same proportion as the quinolones. Given the limited benefit of quinolones as prophylaxis and the increasing number of quinolone-resistant Gram-negative strains observed in our hospitals, the use of quinolones as prophylaxis must be seriously questioned. A stricter control of the use of quinolones in these hospitals might decrease resistance.     

Radiolabeling of Methylphosphonate and Phosphorothioate Oligonucleotides and Evaluation of Their Transport in Everted Rat Jejunum Sacs

Purpose. The therapeutic use of antisense oligonucleotides will likely involve their administration over protracted periods of time. The oral route of drug dosing offers many advantages over other possible routes when chronic drug administration is necessary. However, little is known about the potential for oligonucleotide uptake from the gastrointestinal tract. This issue is addressed in the current work. Methods. We have developed a simple procedure for radiolabeling oligonucleotides by reductive alkylation with ¹⁴C-formaldehyde. We have utilized this approach, as well as 5 addition of fluorophores, to prepare labeled methylphosphonate and phosphorothioate oligonucleotides for use in intestinal transport studies. An everted rat gut sac model was employed to compare the transport of oligonucleotides to that of model compounds whose permeation properties are better understood. Results. We demonstrate that both methylphosphonate and phosphorothioate oligonucleotides are passively transported across the intestinal epithelium, probably by a paracellular route. The rates of transport for both types of oligonucleotides were similar, and were significantly greater than that of the very high MW polymer blue dextran, but were lower than the transport rate of valproic acid, a low MW compound known to have high oral availability. Conclusions. A significant degree of permeation of oligonucleotides across the gastrointestinal epithelium does occur, but it is still unclear whether this is sufficient to permit effective oral administration of oligonucleotides as drugs.     

Evaluation of under-reporting of AIDS cases in the city of Rio de Janeiro based on data from the hospital information system of the Unified Health System]

Data from the Hospital Information System (SIH-SUS) were linked to data from the AIDS Case Reporting System (Sinan) to assess the level of under-reporting of AIDS cases in the city of Rio de Janeiro. A high level of unreported cases(42.7%) was observed for patients treated in hospitals under Brazil's Unified Health System in the city of Rio. Bivariate analysis showed an association between reporting to the Sinan and age, principal diagnosis, and type of hospital.     

Identification of a new Lesch-Nyhan syndrome mutation (HPRTBrasil) and analysis of potentially heterozygous females

The mutation in the hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT) gene has been determined in two brothers affected with Lesch-Nyhan syndrome. Female members of the family who are at risk for being heterozygous carriers of the HPRT mutation were also studied to determine whether they carry the mutation. DNA sequencing revealed that the boys' mother is heterozygous for the mutation in her somatic cells, but that three maternal aunts are not heterozygous. Such carrier information is important for the future pregnancy plans of at-risk females. The mutation, an A-->T transversion at cDNA base 590 (590A-->T), results in an amino acid change of glutamic acid to valine at codon 197, and has not been reported previously in a Lesch-Nyhan syndrome male. This mutation is designated HPRTBrasil.     

Acute urologic symptoms associated with uterine myoma

While prevalence of uterine leiomyoma is high, its presentation affecting the urinary tract is uncommon. We contribute the cases of two adult women with symptoms of nephritic colic and urinary retention. Etiology was acute obstruction of the urinary tract due to previously asymptomatic urine myomas. Management in both patients was surgery, using hysterectomy to resolve the urinary obstruction. A brief review of the literature is included.