Head lice in Israeli children: parents' answers to an epidemiological questionnaire

BACKGROUND: The aim was to determine the influence of the socioeconomic status of the family and the hygienic practices in the home on the prevalence of head lice infestation in children. METHODS: The study was carried out by analyzing the answers to a standardized epidemiological questionnaire given to parents of school children aged 4-17 in Bet Shemesh, a medium-sized urban town 25 km from Jerusalem. RESULTS: Of 3,000 questionnaires distributed, 958 (31.9%) were completed and returned. The majority of the children (72.4%) had been previously infested with lice. Half of them had other family members, mainly brothers and sisters, who had been infested in the past with lice. In 97.5% of the families the mother was responsible for examining the children for lice, and for carrying out treatment when infestation was present. An association was found between presence of lice infestation and mother's education, age of child, and frequency of shampooing, combing, and examination for lice. There was no association between infestation rates and mother's country of origin, crowding in the home, and the sharing of combs, brushes, hats, scarves, towels, and clothes. CONCLUSIONS: There is evidence that the incidence of lice infestation depends on the hygienic practices in the home rather than on the socioeconomic status of the family or sharing of personal articles among family members.     

Regulation of NGF gene expression in CNS glia by cell-cell contact.

Nerve growth factor (NGF) gene expression in central nervous system (CNS) glia appears to be associated with active glial growth. To study the underlying molecular mechanisms, we examined the effects of a number of growth-related factors on NGF mRNA expression in glial cultures. Our results suggest that glial membrane interaction, as a consequence of growth, actively inhibits NGF gene expression in CNS glia.     

Sexually transmitted diseases control in developing countries.

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are a major public health problem now compounded by the advent of AIDS and HIV infection. The size of the problem represented by STDs and HIV is unknown however it is estimated that there are 333 million new cases of STD per annum and currently 15-20 million people infected worldwide with HIV. Control programmes for STDs must prevent the acquisition of STDs, their complications and sequelae and interrupt and reduce transmission. They can also reduce the incidence of HIV infection. Such programmes must place emphasis on health education, condom usage, altering health seeking behaviour and providing case management. The syndromic approach currently offers the most realistic, and cost effective, way in which to treat patients.     

Risk factors for delayed immunization among children in an HMO.

OBJECTIVES. Improving the timely delivery of childhood immunizations has become a national imperative. This study aimed to identify nonfinancial predictors of delayed immunization among patients with good financial access to preventive care. METHODS. This prospective cohort study used telephone interviews and a computerized immunization tracking system to evaluate 13-month-old children (n = 530) in a regional group-model health maintenance organization. RESULTS. More than one third of parents interviewed did not know when the next immunization was due. Thirteen percent were late for the measles-mumps-rubella immunization, recommended at 15 months of age, by 90 days or more. Independent predictors of delayed immunization included having a larger number of children (odds ratio [OR] = 1.4, P < .01), not having a regular doctor (OR = 2.9, P < .05), not knowing when the shot was due (OR = 2.0, P < .01), and not worrying about the risks of shots (OR = 1.4, P < .05). CONCLUSIONS. Financial access alone does not guarantee timely childhood immunization. In managed care settings, which may cover increasing numbers of children under health care reform, interventions are needed to better inform parents of when immunizations are due.     

Involved field radiation, fractionated total body irradiation, high dose cyclophosphamide, and autologous bone marrow transplantation in the treatment of malignant lymphomas

We report the results of intensive therapy and autologous bone marrow transplantation (BMT) in 23 patients with malignant lymphoma (eight Hodgkin's disease and 15 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma) who failed primary therapy. All patients had evidence of disease prior to transplant therapy: 10 had never achieved a complete remission and 13 were in relapse. The preparative regimen included involved field radiation followed by fractionated total body irradiation and high dose cyclophosphamide. A complete remission was achieved in 15 patients, 11 of whom continue in unmaintained complete remission from 27 to 72 months after BMT (median follow-up of 52 months). Of the remaining patients, five did not achieve a complete remission and three died of early toxicity. The event-free survival of the entire group is 47%. Disease status at the time of BMT was significantly correlated with patient outcome. The event-free survival of 13 patients in whom there was no objective evidence of tumor growth on conventional dose therapy was 77% compared with only 10% in patients with tumors progressing on conventional dose therapy (p less than 0.002). All six patients transplanted in untreated relapse continue in unmaintained remission, suggesting that debulking chemotherapy may not be necessary before BMT. Alternative approaches are needed in patients whose tumors progress on conventional dose therapy.     

Implications of remarriage and stepfamily formation for marriage education*

Couples in remarriages with stepchildren are a significant portion of the marriage population and have unique educational needs regarding aspects of couple functioning within the context of stepfamily development. From a review of the literature, we examine current curricula focused on these couples. Information is offered on implementation issues regarding recruitment, delivery context, facilitator and participant characteristics, and evaluation.