We describe a simple modification to a rigid endoscope so as to provide both high-quality conventional and confocal images of reasonably accessible regions of the body. This versatile system uses a structured illumination approach together with a conventional incoherent illumination source. Images taken in fluorescence are presented using this combined conventional and confocal endoscope.

Endoscopes↗

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Immunology and colonic cancer: further evaluation of the radioimmunoassay for carcinoembryonic antigen of the human digestive system as an adjunct in cancer diagnosis.

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Aged↗

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Factors influencing the immunization status of children in a rural setting.

INTRODUCTION: The purposes of this study were to (a) assess parental perceptions of their decision making regarding children's vaccinations and (b) describe parents' evaluation of immunization services provided by rural clinics/offices. METHODS: A qualitative design was used in this study, which was conducted in rural Missouri. Twelve mothers of children younger than age 3 years with fewer than the recommended number of immunizations were interviewed using a semi-structured format. The interview results were analyzed using the constant comparative method. RESULTS: The following parental perceptions were identified as factors related to immunizations in this rural setting: knowledge of communicable diseases and vaccines, misperceptions about communicable diseases and vaccines, past experiences, competing tasks, transportation, health care personnel, need for reminders, health system, and cost. DISCUSSION: Two findings unique to this study were the importance of relationships with health care providers and the challenge of competing tasks. These findings, combined with the other factors identified, reinforced the importance of rural health care providers' maintaining a strong relationship with clients, providing accurate and timely information, and ensuring a readily accessible health care system.

Adult↗

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Weighting to go with the flow?

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Humans↗

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Economic evaluation of a metropolitan-wide, school-based hepatitis B vaccination program.

The results of an evaluation of a large metropolitan-wide, school-based hepatitis B vaccination program provide further evidence that such programs are effective and cost-beneficial. The percentage of 6th grade students fully immunized against hepatitis B rose from approximately 8% to 82% in the program. Administering the vaccine at school was $1.46 per dose less than traditional methods. Over $24 million of potential health care costs have been avoided through the program.

Adolescent↗

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Gender differences in teen parents' perceptions of parental responsibilities.

Accurate information concerning teen parents' knowledge of their children's development and their expectations for paternal involvement becomes increasingly important as efforts increase to promote involvement of unmarried fathers with their children. The purpose of this descriptive study was to assess differences in the knowledge and perceptions of normal child development, and expectations for paternal responsibilities between unmarried, low-income African American and Mexican American adolescent mothers and their males partners. Seven unmarried adolescent mothers participated in a focus group interview held at a family service agency in the Midwest. Afterward, their male partners and reported fathers of their babies, participated in a separate focus group interview The mean age of the adolescent mother participants was 16.7 years, the mean age of their partners was 19.3 years. Data were analyzed using a tape-based analysis method. A number of differences were identified between the perceptions of the adolescent mothers and young fathers including their level of child development knowledge, context for selecting physical methods of discipline, expectations for paternal role behaviors, and feelings about child support payments and establishing legal paternity. The study findings may help health care providers develop more effective prenatal and parenting educational experiences for adolescent parents.

Adolescent↗

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A bi-state, metropolitan, school-based immunization campaign: lessons from the Kansas City experience.

INTRODUCTION: Through school-based immunization programs, large numbers of children can be vaccinated in a cost-effective manner. Information from successful programs can be valuable to communities, schools, or pediatric health care providers considering the implementation of a school-based immunization program. The purpose of this study was to identify factors considered key to the success of a large bi-state, metropolitan, multi-school district, school-based, hepatitis B immunization program. METHOD: Immunizations were offered to 14,865 sixth-grade students in 16 school districts at 123 public and private school buildings. Personnel from 6 health departments and numerous volunteers administered the vaccines. Twenty-two semistructured interviews were conducted with a representative sample of program participants from schools, health departments, and the coordinating immunization coalition. A qualitative, grounded theory analysis was performed using data from the interviews. RESULTS: The following categories emerged and were considered important issues in the success of a school-based program: organization, time, obtaining consent, educational opportunity, school support, and student tracking. DISCUSSION: School-based immunization programs can be successful, but they require a coordinated effort with school support to meet the challenges of obtaining consent and tracking students.

Child↗

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