OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between age of drinking onset and patterns of use, abuse of other substances, and the prevalence of other alcohol-related problems in a population of midwestern high school seniors. DESIGN: We analyzed self-report survey data on public school students' history of alcohol and other drug use and related problems from the Minnesota Student Survey conducted in 1989. The sample consisted of 2,650 male and female seniors, representing a 10% random sample of all white seniors in the study. RESULTS: The findings suggest that early onset of alcohol use (by age 12) is associated with subsequent abuse of alcohol and related problem behaviors in later adolescence, including alcohol-related violence, injuries, drinking and driving, and absenteeism from school or work, as well as increased risks for using other drugs. CONCLUSION: This paper identifies the preadolescent years from age 10 to 12 as a particularly vulnerable period for the development of early alcohol dependence and abuse. Delaying alcohol use onset to age 13 may significantly reduce the risk of severe alcohol abuse in later adolescence.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Plasma high density lipoproteins in coronary, cerebral and peripheral vascular disease. The influence of various risk factors.

High density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and the HDL/total cholesterol ratio have been measured in 440 patients with coronary, cerebral or peripheral vascular disease and in 440 matched controls. The patients were subdivided into sex- and age-groups and according to physical activity, smoking, hypertension and non-insulin-dependent and insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. The average HDL cholesterol level was significantly decreased in all the three groups of localization of ischaemic vascular disease (IVD). Plasma HDL concentration in men was lower than in women in every age-group. Lowest values were measured in patients with cerebral vascular diseases. From among the risk factors supposed to be related to IVD, lack of physical exercise resulted in a decrease of HDL cholesterol and HDL/total cholesterol values. In all the three localizations of IVD cigarette smokers had lower HDL levels than non-smokers. The influence of hypertension on serum HDL concentration was not unidirectional. The coexistence of non-insulin-dependent diabetes and IVD resulted in decreased lipid parameters. The sera of insulin-dependent diabetics had higher HDL contents and higher HDL/total cholesterol ratios than those of non-diabetics in all the three localizations of the vascular disease in men and in women suffering from peripheral vascular disease.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Interaction of lipoprotein Lp(a) and low density lipoprotein with glycosaminoglycans from human aorta.

The lipoprotein complexing activity of glycosaminoglycans (GAG) prepared from human aortas with lipoprotein Lp(a) in comparison to low density lipoproteins (LDL) was determined tubidimetrically in the presence of Ca++. In control experiments, purified chondroitin-6 sulfate and proteoglycans (PG) were used. Lp(a) exhibited approximately a threefold higher reactivity. Analyzing the chemical composition of the complexes, we found that Lp(a) had greater than fourfold higher binding capacity for GAG. The binding capacity of Lp(a) to PG was 3.4-fold higher as compared to LDL. The binding capacity of both lipoproteins for chondroitin-6 sulfate was only 50% in comparison to GAG, but again Lp(a) was four times more reactive. Neuraminidase treatment of LDL or Lp(a) did not interfere with GAG or chondroitin-6 sulfate binding. If, on the other hand, Lp(a) was treated with dithiothreitol and the Lp(a)-specific protein (apoprotein [apo] a) was removed, the GAG binding was reduced by about 45%. Apo a by itself gave no insoluble complexes with GAG. LDL and Lp(a)-s GAG and -LP(a)-PG complexes were incubated with mouse peritoneal macrophages (MPM), and the stimulation of cholesteryl ester formation was studied. At identical lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations, Lp(a)-GAG complexes exhibited a 1.3-fold higher stimulation of cholesterol esterification as compared to LDL-GAG. This difference was even more striking if lipoproteins were compared at a molar basis. PG-lipoprotein complexes were much more active with respect to interactions with MPM. The highest amount of cholesterol ester formation upon incubation with MPM was found with PG-Lp(a) complexes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Disposable hydrogel contact lenses for extended wear.

Nine ophthalmologists and nine optometrists conducted a premarket study of the Acuvue disposable contact lens manufactured by Vistakon, Inc. Of the 812 patients offered the lens, 733 accepted it and were enrolled in the study. These patients were fitted with the lens and followed for a period of 8 months. Over 98% of these patients had 20/25 or better vision on initial fitting; and subjective ratings of lens comfort were very good. Only 3.7% (27 of 733) discontinued wearing their lenses during the study period. Thirty-four patients (5.6%) experienced a problem while wearing their contact lenses.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The disposable contact lens: a new concept in extended wear.

Due to reports of severe eye infections associated with the extended wear of soft contact lenses, this once-popular mode of contact lens wear has fallen into disrepute and been abandoned by many fitters and patients. Recently, an extended wear disposable contact lens was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The lenses are designed to be worn continuously for one to two weeks and then discarded. A new pair is then inserted. This approach holds the potential to increase the safety, convenience, comfort, and quality of vision possible in extended wear. Clinical studies are presented in support of this position. I found this disposable contact lens to be a safe and convenient way to re-introduce extended wear.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Hot or cold care systems for hydrophilic lenses?

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Cold Temperature↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Overweight and obesity in native-American adolescents: comparing nonreservation youths with African-American and Caucasian peers.

Previous studies have consistently shown that, compared to national standards, Native Americans across all age groups are disproportionately overweight or obese. Although most available data on rates of obesity in this group come from studies conducted on reservations, the proportion of Native Americans residing on reservation lands is rapidly declining. This study examines the prevalence of overweight and obesity in a population of Midwestern adolescents in public school settings and contrasts Caucasian and African-American adolescents with Native-American youths of the same age. Data were derived from a secondary analysis of an anonymous health-risk survey. Height, weight, and ethnicity were ascertained through self-report. The results call into question whether rates of overweight or obesity in Native-American adolescents are disproportionate relative to those for Caucasian and African-American adolescents. Cumulative comparisons of all overweight and obese adolescents in the sample (n = 5,655) show significant differences among ethnic groups, but age-specific comparisons do not yield a consistent pattern, especially for Native-American girls. To compare the entire sample to national weight standards, we plotted mean body mass index (BMI) for each ethnic group by age against NHANES II reference data. Age-specific BMI means for Native-American and Caucasian girls fell largely below the NHANES II reference data. We present several explanations for these results. Given the study limitations, further objective study of the weight status of Native-American children and adolescents in direct comparison with other ethnic groups is recommended.

Adolescent↗