Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J A Farrow

Publications and source records attributed to J A Farrow.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Comparative analysis of Bacillus anthracis, Bacillus cereus, and related species on the basis of reverse transcriptase sequencing of 16S rRNA.

The primary structures of the 16S rRNAs of Bacillus anthracis, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus mycoides, and Bacillus thuringiensis were determined by using the reverse transcription-dideoxy sequencing method. All of the strains exhibited very high levels of sequence similarity (greater than 99%) that were consistent with the close relationships shown by previous DNA hybridization studies. The sequences of B. anthracis Sterne and B. cereus emetic strain NCTC 11143 were found to be identical for a continuous stretch of 1,446 bases and differed from the sequence of B. cereus NCDO 1771T (T = type strain) by only a single nucleotide. The 16S rRNA sequences of B. mycoides and B. thuringiensis differed from each other and from the sequences of B. anthracis and B. cereus by four to nine nucleotides.

Bacillus anthracis↗
PubMed1991

Risk factors for attempted suicide in gay and bisexual youth.

Studies of human sexuality have noted high rates of suicidality among homosexual youth, but the problem has not been systematically examined. This work was undertaken to identify risk factors for suicide attempts among bisexual and homosexual male youth. Subjects were 137 gay and bisexual males, 14 through 21 years of age, from the upper Midwest and Pacific Northwest. Forty-one subjects (41/137) reported a suicide attempt; and almost half of them described multiple attempts. Twenty-one percent of all attempts resulted in medical or psychiatric admissions. Compared with non-attempters, attempters had more feminine gender roles and adopted a bisexual or homosexual identity at younger ages. Attempters were more likely than peers to report sexual abuse, drug abuse, and arrests for misconduct. The findings parallel previous studies' results and also introduce novel suicide risk factors related to gender nonconformity and sexual milestones.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Assessment of pubertal maturity in boys, using height and grip strength.

A method is described for the convenient, noninvasive assessment of pubertal maturity in boys, which is intended for use in studies of developmentally related sports injury. Ninety-eight boys were evaluated for Tanner stage, age, height, weight, body mass index, and maximum (right or left hand) and average grip strength. Height and average grip strength were selected by discriminate analysis as independent predictors of maturity. Immature boys (Tanner stages 1-3) fell below average grip strength of 25 kg and were less than 65 inches (165 cm) in height, whereas boys who exceeded both of these measurements were mature (Tanner stage 4 or 5). This method was validated in a second sample of 99 boys with 100% specificity and sensitivities of 93.5% (immature boys) and 81% (mature boys). A subset of mature boys met the height criterion but did not achieve the average grip strength criterion for maturity. We propose the use of height and grip strength as a practical, noninvasive method to classify physical maturity in boys. In addition, we speculate that the subset of boys who are tall, but weak, may be at increased risk for certain types of sports injuries.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Adolescent chemical dependency.

Adolescent chemical dependency is now a recognized, diagnosable entity. In most respects, it mimics the diagnosis in adults. The practicing physician has some obligation to be familiar with changing trends in drug use and should have the skills to define problem use and assess risk. The physician should also address the issue as part of routine clinical interactions with patients and be aware of community resources for further assessment and treatment. Finally, the physician should be an advocate of the young patient and be helpful to parents in understanding the problem, but he or she should not be the parent's agent when asked to commit the adolescent for treatment or carry out drug abuse screening. The problem of adolescent substance abuse is a pre-eminent social problem. The problem must be addressed on many fronts. The role of the physician provides a key component of the solution.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Risk for DWI: a new look at gender differences in drinking and driving influences, experiences, and attitudes among new adolescent drivers.

Adolescent drivers are over-represented in fatal auto accidents, especially those involving alcohol (DWI). Young male drivers appear to be at higher risk than adolescent female drivers because of a variety of important influencing factors. The current study takes a new look at the gender differences in these factors as they relate to driving behavior. Three hundred forty-three tenth-grade students (mean age: 15.8 years; 52% male, 48% female) were studied measuring demographics, family characteristics and influences, drug and alcohol use, perception of driving skill, sensation-seeking, other personality factors and responses to DWI vignettes for decision-making skill. Female respondents more often had difficulty with parents (p = 0.03) than males and more often used drugs and alcohol (p = 0.05). Boys more often attended speed competitions (p = 0.003), had legal problems (p = 0.004), and dated at a younger age (p less than 0.001). Males perceived greater driving skill in risky situations and used the automobile to enhance self-efficacy more than females (p = 0.001/p = 0.05). Male drivers scored higher on anger/hostility and sensation-seeking scales (p = 0.05). There were few significant gender differences in the way respondents analyzed risky DWI situations. Even though female subjects used more alcohol/drugs and came from more disturbed family backgrounds, their attitudes and behavior with respect to DWI appear more socially acceptable. Speculation as to some of the reasons for this effect are discussed with implications for prevention and further research.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

The pregnant adolescent prostitute.

The issue of teenage pregnancy is one of paramount concern and has been covered extensively in the professional literature. Teenage prostitution, as well, has drawn attention from medical and social science researchers. An increasing number of teenage prostitutes are becoming pregnant and delivering infants. These young women constitute a high-risk group that merits professional investigation and requires sensitive clinical approaches. We describe the pregnancy and early postpartum outcomes of 61 teenage prostitutes (age range, 13 to 18 years) in Seattle, Wash, during the period from January 1987 to February 1988. The subjects' environment, prenatal care, drug use, contraceptive practices, repeated pregnancies, and risk for sexually transmitted diseases (including acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) are discussed. Two case examples are used for illustration.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Enterococcus raffinosus sp. nov., Enterococcus solitarius sp. nov. and Enterococcus pseudoavium sp. nov.

Deoxyribonucleic acid base composition, deoxyribonucleic acid-deoxyribonucleic acid hybridization, and biochemical studies were performed on some enterococci from clinical sources of uncertain taxonomic position. Our results indicate that 6 human strains, a single clinical isolate and a strain from bovine mastitis are genetically distinct from each other and all other previously described Enterococcus species and constitute three new species, for which the names Enterococcus raffinosus, Enterococcus solitarius and Enterococcus pseudoavium are proposed.

Base Composition↗
PubMed1989

16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid sequence analyses of lactococci and related taxa. Description of Vagococcus fluvialis gen. nov., sp. nov.

The phylogenetic status of members of the genus Lactococcus and some motile strains which react with Lancefield group N antiserum was examined by reverse transcriptase sequencing of 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid. In agreement with earlier nucleic acid hybridization and immunological studies of superoxide dismutase the 16S sequence data clearly demonstrate that the lactococci represent a distinct phylogenetic group equivalent in rank to the genera Enterococcus and Streptococcus. The motile group N strains from chicken faeces and river water, however, were found to be phylogenetically unrelated to lactococci but displayed a closer, albeit loose, association with members of the genus Enterococcus. On the basis of the present sequence data and earlier chemotaxonomic studies it is proposed that the motile group N strains be classified in a new genus Vagococcus, as Vagococcus fluvialis sp. nov. The type strain of V. fluvialis is NCDO 2497.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Use of a leukocyte esterase dipstick to detect Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae urethritis in asymptomatic adolescent male detainees.

We tested 91 asymptomatic adolescent male detainees in a short-stay detention facility in Seattle, Washington for the presence of leukocyte esterase in first-catch urine and for Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection. C. trachomatis was isolated from 10 subjects (11 per cent) and N. gonorrhoeae from five (5 per cent). Dipsticks detected leukocyte esterase in the urine of all 15 subjects with either infection and of 13 subjects with neither infection. Detection of leukocyte esterase was 100 per cent sensitive, 83 per cent specific, and 54 per cent predictive for the presence of either organism.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

The use of vignette analysis of dangerous driving situations involving alcohol to differentiate adolescent DWI offenders and high school drivers.

Adolescent drivers are commonly involved in a variety of dangerous driving situations involving alcohol and drug use. Both situational and personality factors contribute to the adolescent DWI phenomenon. Little is known about young drivers' ability to analyze common potentially dangerous alcohol-involved driving situations, or in what respects differing patterns of analysis differentiate adolescent drivers at risk for DWI. Three groups of adolescent drivers (N = 153) completed an analysis of vignettes questionnaire to assess their decision-making skills and attitudes with respect to drinking and driving. The three comparison groups consisted of high school drivers, young DWI offenders, and juvenile offenders without DWI citations. Subjects were demographically similar except for academic performance, employment, family intactness, car ownership, and drug and alcohol use, with DWI offenders and non-DWI offenders showing significant differences in these measures (p less than .001). Situation analysis showed that adolescent DWI offenders more often than controls drink prior to driving (p less than .001), associate alcohol with many social events and dating (p less than .001), become angry when questioned about driving ability (p less than .001), play drinking games (p = .1), drive fast to resolve stress (p = .001), are less likely to recruit parents when faced with driving intoxicated (p less than .001), and a number of other situational characteristics indicating differential risk between groups for DWI. In many cases, other juvenile offenders matched responses of DWI offenders. Important aspects of these findings are discussed in the context of intervention strategies and the use of vignette analysis as one tool to identify high-risk adolescent drivers for DWI.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Young driver risk taking: a description of dangerous driving situations among 16- to 19-year-old drivers.

Dangerous drinking and driving situations contribute heavily to morbidity and mortality among older adolescents. One hundred ninety-two high school drivers related 662 dangerous driving incidents (430 by males, 232 by females) in which they were involved in the preceding 6 months. Dangerous driving incidents were characterized by reckless intent, driving late at night, riding with other peers involving alcohol and drugs, reporting impaired driving, and distractions in the car. Adolescent drivers are commonly involved in dangerous drinking-driving situations with peers and without significant consequences. There are points along the continuum leading up to, during, and after such events that offer opportunities for significant prevention and intervention. Such strategies are reviewed.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1987

Health, developmental, and nutritional status of adolescent alcohol and marijuana abusers.

The impact of alcohol and marijuana abuse on the physical health and nutritional status of adolescents has not been well documented. The health consequences of alcoholism and chemical abuse in adults may not relate to the pediatric population. Forty-nine adolescent boys (mean age 15.8 years) with varying degrees of alcohol and marijuana use by self-report were evaluated as to their general health, pubertal development and nutritional status using health and dietary history, physical examination, anthropometrics, and biochemical assays of liver function and tissue nutrients. Thirteen (27%) were alcohol and marijuana abusers, 20 (41%) marijuana abusers, and 16 (32%) nonusers. There were significant differences between alcohol and marijuana abusers and marijuana abusers compared to nonusers with respect to endorsing symptoms of nutritional deficiency (muscle weakness, bleeding gums, tiredness, etc) (P less than .001). There were no significant differences between subgroups in other nutritional measures except plasma zinc concentration which was low in marijuana abusers (mean 85 micrograms/dL). All adolescents reported consuming adequate nutrients, although alcohol and marijuana abusers reported eating more snack foods and less fruit, vegetables, and milk than other groups. There were no significant differences in hematologic status (complete blood cell count, transferrin, folate), liver function (gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase), or anthropometric and sexual maturational indices of growth. There were no chronic signs of chemical abuse by physical examinations. It appears that health and nutritional disability from chemical abuse in adolescents relates more to poor dietary habits and symptomatic deterioration in general health than to specific effects on growth or nutritional status. Studies with larger numbers of subjects need to document these findings.

Adolescent↗