Toxicology studies of diethanolamine were conducted in male and female F344 rats for 13 weeks' duration to characterize and compare effects of exposure in the drinking water with those caused by topical application. Doses of diethanolamine ranged from 160 to 5000 ppm in the drinking water study (equivalent to daily doses of 25-440 mg kg-1 in males and 15-240 mg kg-1 in females) and from 32 to 500 mg kg-1 in the topical application study. Dose-dependent toxic effects due to exposure to diethanolamine included hematological changes (a poorly regenerative, microcytic anemia), as well as toxic responses in the kidney (increased weight, tubular necrosis, decreased renal function, and/or tubular mineralization), brain and spinal cord (demyelination), testis (degeneration of the seminiferous tubules) and skin (site of application: ulceration, inflammation, hyperkeratosis and acanthosis). A no-observed-adverse-effect level was not achieved for hematological changes, nephropathy or hyperkeratosis of the skin. Differences in dose-response between the drinking water and topical application exposures were attributed largely to the limited dermal absorption of this chemical.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMedDate not supplied

An HMO survey on mass customization of healthcare delivery for women.

A telephone survey of 1,000 randomly selected women members of Kaiser Permanente examined preferences for care delivery. The majority of women under age 55 (80%) were interested in scheduling evening or Saturday appointments, and half (50%) of them were willing to switch doctors for this option. Although most (57%) said that physician gender 'did not matter,' women who preferred to see a female physician but were seeing a male were significantly less satisfied than women whose preferences were matched. Half (51%) of women were open to receiving health education in group classes. Information on when care is preferred, by whom, and in what setting sets the stage for mass customization strategies.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Endotoxin enhancement of toxic shock syndrome toxin 1-induced secretion of interleukin 1 by murine macrophages.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether endotoxin could augment toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 (TSST-1)-induced production of interleukin 1 (IL-1) by murine macrophages. Macrophages from C3H/HeJ or C57Bl/6 mice were stimulated with purified TSST-1 alone or in combination with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). A dramatic synergistic thymocyte-proliferative response was induced by supernatants from C57Bl/6 macrophages stimulated with both TSST-1 and LPS. No enhanced response was induced by supernatants from C3H/HeJ macrophages. A portion of the enhanced response induced by C57Bl/6 macrophage supernatants was attributed to synergism between IL-1 and residual TSST-1 in the thymocyte assay. The addition of monoclonal antibody to TSST-1 to the supernatants eliminated the effects of residual TSST-1 in the thymocyte assay and demonstrated a synergistic induction of IL-1. These data (1) show that LPS can enhance macrophage responsiveness to TSST-1; (2) suggest that TSST-1 not only induces IL-1 secretion but also enhances target cell responsiveness to IL-1; and (3) further support the role of IL-1 in the pathogenesis of toxic shock syndrome.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Screening young children for communication disorders.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Child↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Everyday beliefs about sources of advice for the parents of difficult children.

Parents were asked which sources of advice families with difficult children should seek. The results suggested a similar hierarchy of agencies for both boys and girls with emotional and behavioural problems. Teachers, doctors, child psychiatrists and health visitors all received strong positive ratings, books about children with problems received moderate positive ratings, religious leaders received the strongest negative ratings and grandparents and friends received neutral ratings. Implications for service provision are discussed.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Imaging features of primary and recurrent esophageal cancer at FDG PET.

Because of the poor prognosis for patients with esophageal cancer and the risks associated with surgical intervention, accurate staging is essential for optimal treatment planning. Positron emission tomography (PET) with 2-[fluorine-18]fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose (FDG) is a useful adjunct to more conventional imaging modalities in this setting. FDG PET is not an appropriate first-line diagnostic procedure in the detection of esophageal cancer and is not helpful in detecting local invasion by the primary tumor, and further studies are required to determine its efficacy in the detection of local nodal metastases. However, FDG PET is superior to anatomic imaging modalities in the ability to detect distant metastases. Metastases to the liver, lungs, and skeleton can readily be identified at FDG PET. In addition, FDG PET has proved valuable in determining the resectability of disease and allows scanning of a larger volume than is possible with computed tomography. Recurrent disease is readily diagnosed and differentiated from scar tissue with FDG PET. In addition, FDG PET may play a valuable role in the follow-up of patients who undergo chemotherapy and radiation therapy, allowing early changes in treatment for unresponsive tumors. The management of most patients with esophageal cancer can be improved with use of FDG PET.

Adenocarcinoma↗