Alkylating agents are a group of compounds that have a cytotoxic effect due to their ability to form adducts with DNA. Cells possess the ability to repair this damage via an enzyme, O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase (AGT). To study the effect of inhibiting this repair mechanism upon testicular cytotoxicity in BALB/c mice, the AGT inhibitor O6 benzylguanine (O6BG) was used in conjunction with the potential anticancer drug B.4152. Paraffin sections were stained and examined using Chalkley scoring to identify the cells affected by the treatment. Using B.4152 alone the maximal effect upon the spermatogenic tissue was found to be after 32 days. The damage found was minor, with the spermatocytes and spermatids most affected. Using this time point it was found that the combined treatment produced widespread damage, with significant depletion of the majority of spermatogenic cell types. These results therefore, indicate that differentiating spermatogenic cells are normally protected from B.4152 induced damage by AGT, depletion of which significantly potentiates B.4152 toxicity.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The role of state public health agencies in genetics and disease prevention: results of a national survey.

OBJECTIVES: The onset and severity of the clinical expression of most diseases that are of public health importance are influenced by genetic predisposition. The ability to assess human genetic predisposition for many diseases is increasing rapidly. Therefore, state public health agencies should be incorporating new developments in genetics and disease prevention into their core functions of assessment, policy development, and assurance. The authors assessed the status of this process. METHODS: The Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) surveyed states about projects and concerns related to genetics and public health activities. Respondents were the Health Officer, the Maternal and Child Health/Genetics Program Director, the Chronic Disease Program Director, and the Laboratory Director. Where applicable, responses were categorized into assessment, policy development, and assurance functions. RESULTS: Thirty-eight (76%) state health departments responded. Ongoing genetics activities were assurance (82%), assessment (17%), and policy development (2%). In contrast, Health Officers responded that future genetics activities would be distributed differently: assurance, 41%; assessment, 36%; and policy development, 23%. Future assurance activities would be largely educational. Topics of interest and recently initiated activities in genetics were primarily assessment functions. Funding was the greatest concern, followed by lack of proven disease prevention measures and outcomes data. CONCLUSIONS: State health departments recognize a need to realign their activities to meet future developments in genetics. Lack of adequate resources, proven disease prevention measures, and outcomes data are potential barriers. Public health agencies need to develop a strategic plan to meet the opportunities associated with the development and implementation of genetic tests and procedures.

Data Collection↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Automated data entry and retrieval for health-care management.

The development and implementation of a unique system for medical information management are described. An automated, optically scanned data entry system (OpScan) was combined with a generalized, interactive, storage and retrieval system, the Medical Information Management System (MIMS). OpScan-MIMS operates via a time-share system and requires minimal acquisition and maintenance of hardware. The primary advantages of OpScan-MIMS are its efficient and rapid method for data entry, lack of requirement for technical skills, user-generated programs, and cost-effectiveness. OpScan-MIMS has been utilized in a clinic for sexually transmitted diseases for immediate audit of medical records, monitoring of quality-assurance systems, retrieval of data for statistical analysis and clinic management, and as a teaching instrument for medical and paramedical trainees. Further applications to other systems of health-care management are being developed.

Community Health Centers↗

PubMedDate not supplied

First 3 years of the National AIDS Clearinghouse.

The National AIDS Clearinghouse is an information service provided by the Centers for Disease Control. The Clearinghouse was established in 1987 to respond to increasing numbers of public and professional inquiries, to disseminate accurate information, and to make referrals to local sources of information and assistance. Four data bases--Resources and Services Database containing information about more than 16,000 organizations that provide counseling and testing for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and other education and prevention services; Educational Materials Database containing more than 8,000 individual, hard-to-find educational materials; Funding Database; and the AIDS Clinical Trial Information Service (ACTIS) Database--are searched by information specialists to respond to more than 45,000 requests annually for information from a variety of health professionals, organizations, and the general public. Between 1987 and 1991, the Clearinghouse disseminated more than 60 million copies of publications related to HIV and AIDS. Information and education remain the most critical tools for the prevention of HIV infection, and the National AIDS Clearinghouse provides an essential element for the dissemination of education and prevention information.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗