A community prevention trial to reduce alcohol-involved accidental injury and death: overview

The 5-year “Preventing Alcohol Trauma: A Community Trial” project in the United States was designed to reduce alcohol-involved injuries and death in three experimental communities. The project consisted of five mutually reinforcing components: (1) Community Mobilization Component to develop community organization and support, (2) Responsible Beverage Service Component to establish standards for servers and owner/managers of on-premise alcohol outlets to reduce their risk of having intoxicated and/or underage customers in bars and restaurants, (3) Drinking and Driving Component to increase local DWI enforcement efficiency and to increase the actual and perceived risk that drinking drivers would be detected, (4) Underage Drinking Component to reduce retail availability of alcohol to minors, and (5) Alcohol Access Component to use local zoning powers and other municipal controls of outlet number and density to reduce the availability of alcohol. This paper gives an overview of the rationale and causal model, the research design and outline of each intervention component for the entire prevention trial.     

Multicenter Evaluation of Fixed-Wire PTCA Catheters with Modified Distal Tips: Initial and 2-Month Follow-Up Results

Lesions in the distal portion of coronary arteries are technological challenges with currently available percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) equipment. A study was performed at multiple centers to determine if new "fixed-wire" devices with a modified distal tip (a 2-cm flexible tip and 1-cm standard tip) would be useful in these situations. Three hundred twenty-three patients were included in the study, 75% male, mean age 63 ± 11 years. Four hundred ninety-three lesions were attempted; the overall success rate was 85%. Forty-six (14.2%) clinical complications occurred including: 5 deaths (1.1%); 2 nonfatal myocardial infarctions (0.6%); and 6 emergency coronary artery bypass grafting procedures (2.6%). A device malfunction was noted in 32 patients (9.9%), and included: 8 balloon ruptures or perforations (2.0%); 6 bent or damaged tips (1.9%); and 4 shaft/manifold leaks (1.2%). Two-month follow-up assessment for restenosis was done in 352 of 371 (95%) patients and at that time 89% were asymptomatic, had a negative functional test, or patent PTCA site by angiography. The new fixed-wire PTCA catheters with 1- and 2-cm flexible tips hold promise for dilating lesions in distal locations with an acceptable rate of complications. Additional investigation is needed to determine their role in the treatment of coronary artery disease with PTCA.     

The Effects of Magnetic Resonance Imaging on Implantable Pulse Generators

The effects of magnetic resonance imaging were assessed on four dual chamber and two single chamber pulse generators. The tests were performed with a resistive, water-cooled magnet operating at 0.15 T. The 6.4-MHz radiofrequency (RF) field was operated at a maximum power of 1,000 watts with a period adjusted from 130 to 500 ms. Reed switch closure occurred in all six pulse generators tested when placed near the entrance of the magnetic resonance imaging scanner, and the generators reverted to asynchronous operation unless programmed to the "magnet off" mode. None of the pulse generators exhibited any alterations in programmed parameters or in the ability to be reprogrammed after RF pulsing. When the RF field was turned on, there was no change in the asynchronous paced cycle length in four pulse generators; however, during RF scanning there was rapid cardiac stimulation at the RF pulse period in one single chamber and one dual chamber pulse generator.     

H-Reflex Waveform and Latency Variability in Rats

H-Reflex Waveform and Latency Variability in Rats. MATTSSON,J. L., ALBEE, R. R., AND BRANDT, L. M. (1984). Fundam. Appl.Toxicol. 4, 944–948. The right tibial nerve of each of11 anesthetized male Fischer 344 rats was electrically stimulatedat the ankle, and H-reflexes were recorded simultaneously fromfour locations in the hind foot. Needle electrodes were usedfor stimulating and recording. The mean (±SD) latencyto the dominant peak of the H reflex was 10.21 ± 0.75msec. Individual rats had a 10% difference in latency from the"fastest" to the "slowest" locations in the foot, although anyof the four locations could produce the fastest (shortest latency)response. The H reflexes varied from simple, single peak waveformsto complex multiple peak waveforms. The dominant peak polaritywas unpredictably either positive or negative. These variationsin complexity and latency occurred among rats and among thefour locations within an individual rat. The dominant peak wasidentified in complex waveforms by adjusting the stimulatingintensity and by recording from more than one location in thefoot. The smallest coefficient of variation (5.57%) resultedfrom selecting data from the fastest electrode locations.     

Subchronic Inhalation Toxicity Studies with Hydrochlorofluorocarbon 123 (HCFC 123)

Hydrochlorofluorocarbon 123 (HCFC 123) is one of the chemicalsbeing considered as a replacement for the chlorofluorocarbons.Four subchronic inhalation toxicity studies from 1 to 3 monthsin duration have been conducted with HCFC 123. One study utilizedrats and dogs, while the others were limited to rats only. Theexposure levels have ranged from 300 ppm up to 20,000 ppm. Althoughthe studies were conducted over a 14-year period, the resultswere consistent. In all studies, increases in liver weightswere seen at 1000 ppm and above; additionally, one showed thiseffect at 500 ppm. Histopathological findings were minimal,consisting primarily of focal necrosis in the liver of the dogsat 10,000 ppm. Induction of peroxisomal activity, lowering ofserum cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and an increase inurinary fluoride levels were also seen. The 4-hr LC₅₀ in therat has been reported as 35,000 ppm. At 20,000 ppm for 6 hr,the total daily dose on a concentration times time basis isalmost equal to the LC₅₀ yet, in the 4-week study, with 20 exposuresat this level, there was no mortality or even marked signs oftoxicity. There appeared to be no evidence for cumulative toxicityfrom multiple exposures in these studies. Overall, HCFC 123appears to have a low level of toxicity by the inhalation route.     

A 90-Day Chloroform Inhalation Study in F-344 Rats: Profile of Toxicity and Relevance to Cancer Studies

Composition of diet may influence growth, diseases, tumor rates,and responses to chemical treatment. Since 1980 the NIH–07open formula nonpurified diet has been the selected diet forthe National Toxicology Program (NTP) toxicity and carcinogenicitystudies in rodents. Studies with nonpurified experimental dietswith lower protein and higher fat and fiber than the NIH-07diet indicated that the diet for Fischer-344 (F344) rats inlong-term studies could be modified to decrease the severityof chronic diseases and to decrease/delay the development ofspontaneous tumors. Based on the results of these studies anew open formula nonpurified diet designated as NTP-2000 wasformulated to contain 14.5% protein, 8.5% fat, and 9.5% fiber.Corn, wheat, and wheat middlings contribute to about 60% ofthe ingredients; soybean meal, fish meal, and alfalfa meal arethe additional sources of protein; purified cellulose, oat hulls,and alfalfa meal are the major sources of fiber; and soy oiland corn oil are the major sources of fat in the NTP-2000 diet.The Ca:P ratio and mineral and vitamin concentrations were reformulatedbased on AIN-93 and NRC-95 recommendations. The NIH-07 and theNTP-2000 diets were fed to groups of 6-week-old F344 rats for13 weeks and evaluated for growth patterns, food and water consumptions,hematology and clinical chemistry parameters, and organ weightsand pathological changes. Growth patterns and body weights weresimilar for both diets. Food consumptions were slightly higherand water consumptions were slightly lower for the groups fedNTP-2000 diet. There were no differences in hematological parametersbetween the groups fed the above diets. Serum levels of cholesterol,alkaline phosphatase, and 5' nucleotidase were slightly higherin groups fed the NTP–2000 diet possibly due to higherfat content of this diet. However, the serum triglyceride levelswere slightly lower in groups fed the NTP–2000 diet andit may be related to higher fiber content of the NTP–2000diet. The liver and kidney weights of the groups fed NTP–2000diet were significantly lower possibly due to lower proteincontent of this diet and lower protein consumption associatedchanges in Phase I and Phase II drug metabolizing enzyme systems.The adrenal weights were also lower in groups fed the new diet.The NTP–2000 diet prevented nephrocalcinosis and decreasedthe severity of nephropathy and cardiomyopathy, the common lesionsof F344 rats in 13–week studies. These results indicatethat the NTP–2000 diet is adequate for growth and maintenance of rats and appears to prevent or decrease the severityof diet-associated lesions.     

Intensive Hypnotherapy for Smoking Cessation:A Prospective Study 1

This study reports on a prospective pilot trial of intensive hypnotherapy for smoking cessation. The hypnotherapy involved multiple individual sessions (8 visits) over approximately 2 months, individualization of hypnotic suggestions, and a supportive therapeutic relationship. Twenty subjects were randomly assigned to either an intensive hypnotherapy condition or to a wait-list control condition. The target quitting date was 1 week after beginning treatment. Patients were evaluated for smoking cessation at the end of treatment and at Weeks 12 and 26. Self-reported abstinence was confirmed by a carbon-monoxide concentration in expired air of 8 ppm or less. The rates of point prevalence smoking cessation, as confirmed by carbon-monoxide measurements for the intensive hypnotherapy group, was 40% at the end of treatment; 60% at 12 weeks, and 40% at 26 weeks (p < .05).     

Salivary bacteria and oral health status in children with disabilities fed through gastrostomy

International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry 2010; 20: 179–185 Objectives. This study examined caries level, amount of calculus, and oral microbial environment in gastrostomy tube (GT)‐fed children compared with healthy children and children with disabilities orally fed (PO). Study design. The study group consisted of 12 GT‐fed children and the two control groups consisted of 16 children with disabilities orally fed and 17 healthy children. DMF‐T/dmf‐t index, calculus index, Mutans Streptococci (MS), Lactobacilli (LB) levels and salivary buffer capacity were examined. Results. DMF‐T/dmf‐t index was significantly lower in the tube‐fed group. Calculus index was highest in the tube‐fed group. MS and LB levels were the lowest in the tube‐fed children. Correlation was found between MS and DMF‐T/dmf‐t. Conclusions. Tube‐fed children demonstrated significantly higher calculus levels and less caries, MS, and LB levels then healthy children or children with disabilities eating PO.