AIDS in Papua New Guinea.
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Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
Biomedical subjects
C Jenkins
Publications and source records attributed to C Jenkins.
Urbanization, youth and sexuality: insights for an AIDS campaign for youth in Papua New Guinea.
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Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
Beta-2 agonists in asthma--the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand.
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Adrenergic beta-Agonists↗
Changing hygiene behaviour in Papua New Guinea.
Sanitation and water supplies are critical to health and an adequate standard of living. In Papua New Guinea water supplies in both rural and urban areas are installed with no attention to the social and cultural aspects of water use and personal hygiene. This paper argues that improved hygiene and sanitation could be achieved if sufficient resources were focused on the people who use water and sanitation systems and not simply on the systems themselves.
Adolescent↗
A double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel trial of vitamin C treatment in elderly patients with hypertension.
We have investigated the effect on blood pressure of treatment with vitamin C (an antioxidant and free radical scavenger) in patients with both systolic and essential hypertension. Following a 2-week run-in phase, two age- and sex-matched groups of untreated hypertensive subjects were randomised in a double-blind study to receive 6 weeks' oral treatment with either vitamin C, 250 mg twice daily (n = 22; 8M/14F, mean age 73.7 +/- 4.9 years) or placebo, one capsule twice daily (n = 26; 10M/16F, mean age 73.8 +/- 5.3 years). Blood pressure was measured in the sitting position using a random zero sphygmomanometer on three occasions during the run-in phase, and again at 2, 4 and 6 weeks after commencing treatment. Venous blood samples for measurement of plasma ascorbic acid (AA) and lipid peroxides (LP) were measured in all subjects at baseline and at 4 and 6 weeks after the start of vitamin C or placebo treatment. During the study period, significant falls in both systolic (vitamin C group, mean change -10.3 (95% CI 0.7-20.0) mm Hg, p = 0.05) and diastolic (vitamin C group, mean change -5.9 (95% CI 0.2-11.5) mm Hg, p = 0.03; placebo group, mean change -4.7 (95% CI 0.3-9.1) mm Hg, p = 0.05) blood pressure occurred. However, no statistical difference between the effects of either treatment on blood pressure was observed. At baseline, AA concentrations were lower in the vitamin C-treated group compared with the placebo group (44.6 +/- 2.4 vs. 57.7 +/- 4.2 mumol/l, p < 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Aged↗
Anxiety, depression, and heart disease in women.
This is an extension of previous research that has reported on psychosocial risk factors in women participants in the Recurrent Coronary Prevention Project (RCPP). The RCPP women (N = 83) were under 65 years of age, non-diabetic, non-smoking and had experienced a myocardial infarction (MI) at least 6 months prior to the study. Baseline data was available on 80 RCPP subjects. Seventy three non-smoking, coronary disease-free women participants in the Stanford-Sunnyvale Health Improvement Project (SSHIP) served as a control-comparison group. Women with coronary heart disease had higher serum cholesterol than controls. There were no case-control differences in marital status, occupation, or number of children. RCPP women had Videotaped Structured Interview (VSI) Type A scores comparable to those of the SSHIP women, but had significantly higher VSI-hostility scores (p < .01). In addition. the post-MI women were rated more anxious and depressed, and had more avoidance symptoms than controls ( p < .01). Additional analyses involved the 65 RCPP women located at 8.5-year follow-up. In these women, univariate predictors of coronary recurrence (N = 13) were body mass index (kg/m)2. Peel Index, low time urgency (VSI) and high anxiety ( p < .05). Employment status, marital status, and education were not associated with subsequent cardiac events. These exploratory analyses suggest that the relations between heart disease and hostility, anxiety, and depression in women deserve further investigation.
Journal Article↗
Castration lowers and testosterone restores blood pressure in several rat strains on high sodium diets.
The objective of this study was to determine the effect of a high sodium diet and prepubertal castration (5-6 weeks) and androgen replacement therapy on blood pressure in male normotensive, borderline hypertensive and hypertensive rats on a high sodium diet between 9-22 weeks of age. The strains used were: Wistar Kyoto-(WKY), spontaneously hypertensive rat-(SHR), and borderline hypertensive rat-(BHR). Castration significantly reduced blood pressure (20-30 mmHg) and testosterone replacement in castrated males restored blood pressure in all strains. Plasma norepinephrine (NE) increased with castration in the WKY and SHR strains but decreased in the BHR. However, there was a significant elevation in all strains between the midpoint and endpoint NE values. The high sodium diet did not prevent the blood pressure lowering effect of castration.
Animals↗
HIV/AIDS prevention and control in Papua New Guinea.
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Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
Arranging hospital admission for acutely ill patients: problems encountered by general practitioners.
BACKGROUND: Reports in the national press suggest that general practitioners in London are experiencing difficulties in securing hospital admission for their acutely ill patients. AIM: A study was undertaken to investigate the problems encountered by general practitioners in one family health services authority in south east London in arranging acute admissions to hospital. METHOD: A self-report questionnaire was completed by a sample of general practitioners every time an acute hospital admission was attempted. RESULTS: A total of 493 questionnaires were completed by 111 general practitioners over the 47-day study period. Problems during the hospital admission procedure were experienced in 171 (35%) of the cases reported, with 115 of the 537 telephone calls to a hospital (21%) resulting in a refusal to admit the patient to that particular hospital. The main problem reported was that of 'no beds available', an obstacle to admission that was more likely to be encountered if the patient was aged 75 years or over than if the patient was younger. CONCLUSION: In the light of the problems reported, possible changes to the current method of arranging acute admissions to hospital in London are discussed.
Adolescent↗
Compressed air diving and respiratory disease. A discussion document of the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand.
OBJECTIVE: To review the pathophysiology and respiratory complications of compressed air diving, and to formulate guidelines for assessing respiratory fitness to dive so that diving candidates can be advised of the risks associated with respiratory disease, in particular asthma. DATA SOURCES: Specialist medical journals in the areas of respiratory medicine, physiology and diving medicine. Morbidity and mortality statistics were obtained from international diving bodies, diving medicine scientific meetings, and papers. SYNTHESIS: The major complications of underwater diving in subjects with compromised respiratory function are drowning, pulmonary barotrauma and arterial gas embolism. Diving candidates with a history of asthma, pneumothorax, obstructive or restrictive lung disease, lung cysts or thoracic trauma should be advised not to dive in view of these risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: Several respiratory diseases carry an increased risk of morbidity and mortality from compressed air diving. An accurate history and measurement of lung function are an essential part of assessing fitness to dive, both to advise potential divers appropriately and to reduce risks associated with this increasingly popular recreational activity.
Asthma↗
Exon-specific northern analysis and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) reveal that the proximal promoter II (PII) is responsible for aromatase cytochrome P450 (CYP19) expression in human ovary.
Estrogens are synthesized from C19 steroids by a unique form of cytochrome P450, aromatase cytochrome P-450 (P-450AROM; the product of the CYP19 gene). We have shown that tissue-specific expression of human P-450AROM is determined, in part, by the use of alternative promoters. Previous methods of analysis for determining the specific 5'-termini of the different transcripts included S1 nuclease protection, primer extension, and Northern analysis. In the present study we have used the RACE procedure (rapid amplification of cDNA ends) to amplify and clone the 5' termini of P-450AROM transcripts expressed in human corpus luteum (CL). Sequencing of the resulting clones supports the results of the previously performed studies. Specifically, the proximal promoter, PII, is the predominant promoter utilized in CL, such that the start of transcription occurs 26 bp downstream of the putative TATA sequence. A minority of the clones possess an alternative 5'-end, namely I.3. Exon-specific Northern analysis confirms that the majority of the P-450AROM transcripts in CL tissue contain sequence specific for promoter II. Similarly, exon-specific Northern analysis indicates that transcripts in human follicles, as well as granulosa cells in culture, contain primarily sequence specific for promoter II.
Aromatase↗
Limbal transplantation in the management of chronic contact-lens-associated epitheliopathy.
We describe the clinical management of 6 patients who developed a chronic corneal epitheliopathy 1-18 years after commencing soft contact lens wear. All had a history of exposure to thiomersal in contact lens fluids. The corneal changes were characterised by epithelial haze and superficial stromal vascularisation which extended from the limbus towards the visual axis. Five patients were observed for a minimum of 18 months after stopping contact lens wear before undergoing limbal transplantation. A good result was obtained in 1 patient who had worn a contact lens in one eye only. Recurrent epithelial changes were observed on the recipient eyes of the remaining patients who had previously worn contact lenses bilaterally, and in 1 patient epithelial haze also developed adjacent to the donor site in the previously clinically normal donor eye. All 5 patients experienced an improvement in symptoms post-operatively but in 2 patients the visual acuity later deteriorated because of epithelial irregularity. The sixth patient has not had surgery. We conclude that limbal stem cell dysfunction in chronic contact-lens-associated epitheliopathy may be subclinical and that autograft transplantation in bilaterally exposed patients may fail to restore the epithelial phenotype of the host eye whilst jeopardising the epithelial integrity of the donor eye by depleting its stem cell reserve.
Adolescent↗
Knowledge of AIDS in Papua New Guinea.
A survey of AIDS knowledge and condom-related attitudes and behaviours was conducted among 896 randomly selected men and women in and around Lae, Goroka, Mt Hagen and a rural area of Madang. While 93% of those interviewed were familiar with the disease name, only 3% demonstrated adequate knowledge of modes of transmission and prevention. Condom acceptance, in theory, appears high, but must be strongly promoted for substantial change in usage patterns to be acquired.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
Bancroftian filariasis in an isolated hunter-gatherer shifting horticulturist group in Papua New Guinea.
A survey for Wuchereria bancrofti microfilaraemia using membrane filtration was carried out among the Hagahai, a recently contacted Papua New Guinea group of hunter-gatherer shifting horticulturists. Adult men had a significantly higher microfilaraemia rate than women. Children aged > 15 years had significantly fewer infections than adults and the microfilaraemia densities were considerably lower. Two subjects exhibited matutinal microfilarial periodicity, peaking at approximately 06 h 00. The possible reasons for the epidemiological and microfilarial findings are discussed.
Adolescent↗
Trends in bicycle helmet use in Ottawa from 1988 to 1991.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence rates of helmet use by cyclists in Ottawa in September 1991 and to compare them with the rates in a baseline survey conducted in September 1988. DESIGN: Observational survey. SUBJECTS: A total of 3252 cyclists (commuters, recreational cyclists and students in primary, secondary and postsecondary schools) were observed. In the baseline study 1963 such cyclists had been surveyed. RESULTS: In 1991, 1056 (32.5%) of the cyclists were observed wearing helmets. After the samples were standardized for varying size across the cyclist groups the total helmet use was found to have increased from 10.7% in 1988 to 32.2% in 1991. The highest increase in the rate of helmet use was found among the commuters (from 17.9% in 1988 to 44.6% in 1991); the rate had increased from 14.3% to 31.1% among the recreational cyclists and from 1.9% to 21.0% among the students. All of the trends were statistically significant (p less than 0.0001). When the student population was subdivided the rate of helmet use was found to be 25% among the elementary school children, 17% among the secondary school students and 20.2% among the postsecondary school students. CONCLUSIONS: The use of bicycle helmets in Ottawa has increased dramatically. Our experience, as well as evidence from other centres, indicates that specific interventions such as media coverage, bulk-buying projects in schools and discount coupons can accelerate the rate of helmet adoption. Although less than half of cyclists are wearing helmets the trend has acquired considerable momentum, and major gains are expected in the next few years. Nevertheless, resistance among young adults and the cost of helmets for low-income groups may be problems. These challenges call for the refinement of future promotional strategies.
Adult↗
The use of ethnography and structured observations in the study of risk factors for the transmission of diarrhea in highland Papua New Guinea.
Methods that combine anthropological and epidemiological data are needed for the study of behavioral risk factors in communicable diseases, but as yet remain undeveloped. Ethnography is often undervalued as both the preliminary and integrative step in the design and execution of such studies. The analysis of critical methodological issues emerging from a case-control study of the behavioral and environmental risk factors for the transmission of childhood diarrhea in both urban and rural highland Papua New Guinea suggests that focused ethnographic assessments, complemented by structured observations performed by nonprofessionals, may provide a viable research design. In highland Papua New Guinea, significant risk factors include non-usage of latrines and sleeping with pigs; the latter is a factor that could have important implications regarding women's roles in a changing economy.
Anthropology, Cultural↗