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At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources
PubMed2002

An evaluation and comparison of compliance inspection outcomes data for radiation protection programs in Maine and Texas.

The coding system used by the State of Texas Department of Health Bureau of Radiation Control to categorize regulatory violations resulting from compliance inspections was applied to the results of similar activities performed by the State of Maine Radiation Control Program for licensees of radioactive materials in calendar year 1999. The coded results from the Maine inspections (n = 37) were then summarized and compared to the data from Texas inspection activities for similar radiation licenses (n = 1,350). Despite significant differences in program size, age, and geographic proximity, the list of most commonly issued violations was almost identical. Other program outcome analogies were also noted, such as similar violation frequency distributions and similar identified root causes of non-compliance. These comparisons mark the first step towards the possible creation of a generalizable list of common items of non-compliance, which could serve to greatly enhance radiation safety preventive education and training programs. The utility of the Texas coding system as the basis for interstate program comparisons is also demonstrated, since the system is based upon categories of non-compliance rather than locally-unique regulatory codes or citations.

Humans↗
PubMed2002

An initial radiation safety needs assessment of Costa Rica: the South Texas Chapter of the Health Physics Society's strategic planning appraisal for participation in the "Radiation Safety Without Borders" initiative.

In response to the Health Physics Society's recent 'radiation safety without borders" initiative, the South Texas Chapter of the Health Physics Society selected Costa Rica as its partner country of choice. To develop an understanding of the radiation safety needs of this country, the fall 2001 University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health Environmental Radiation and Radioactivity class was tasked with the assignment of assessing the possible radiation safety needs and concerns for this country. The assignment culminated in a class presentation to the membership of the South Texas Chapter during its annual fall meeting. Using library and web based resources, tile students reviewed a number of public health and radiation-related topics. Life expectancies were found to be equivalent to the United States, even though significant differences in per capita health expenditures were noted. Costa Rica exhibited lower population mortality rates from major causes such as cardiovascular diseases, neoplasms, and external sources. Maternal and infant mortality rates were found to be much higher in Costa Rica than in the United States. Naturally occurring radiation sources such as uranium deposits were not identified as apparent major radiation issues of concern, although ultraviolet radiation exposures are consistently high. Several recent events in the country and the region involving patient overexposures suggest that concerns are likely focused on ensuring the proper use and maintenance of healing arts radiation equipment. The lack of available information on radioactive waste disposal suggests that waste handling also may be an issue warranting attention. The exercise proved to be very educational for the students, and the information gathered will serve to focus the Chapter's efforts when technical exchanges are initiated. The importance of linking this initiative to other existing programs within the country is also discussed.

Costa Rica↗
PubMed2001

Syphilis among HIV-infected mothers and their infants in Texas from 1988 to 1994.

BACKGROUND: Syphilis was investigated in a group of HIV-infected women and their infants. GOAL: To assess syphilis morbidity among HIV-infected women and their infants. Among women with syphilis during pregnancy, the risks for delivering an infant with congenital syphilis were assessed. STUDY DESIGN: Through the Pediatric Spectrum of HIV Disease project, Texas infants born to HIV-infected women were identified. After the infants were matched with their mothers, it was determined which had been reported as syphilis cases. RESULTS: In this study 18% of the HIV-infected mothers were reported as syphilis cases, most during pregnancy. Half of these mothers delivered infants (n = 49) with congenital syphilis. Inadequate prenatal care was the only significant risk for delivering an infant with congenital syphilis. The congenital syphilis rate among Texas infants of HIV-infected mothers was 48.8 per 1,000 live births. CONCLUSION: The congenital syphilis rate among Texas infants born to HIV-infected mothers was almost 50 times that of the general population.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Distribution of family practitioners and other specialists in Texas, 1973 to 1980: second statistical review.

A follow-up study was conducted at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School at Dallas to document the changes in the geographic distribution of family/general practitioners and other medical specialists in Texas between 1973 and 1980. Results of the analysis suggest that more physicians are choosing to locate in sparsely populated areas of the state. This trend is a reversal of the pattern established in an earlier study and seems to indicate an improvement in the access to medical care for residents of small communities in Texas.

Follow-Up Studies↗
PubMed1992

Water sanitation practices on the Texas-Mexico border: implications for physicians on both sides.

With the epidemic of cholera in South and Central America and reports of cholera in the Northern Hemisphere in Mexico, increasing concern focuses on sanitation problems along the border between the United States and Mexico. It is feared that binationally shared water supplies are threatened or contaminated by sewage and other wastes. Although much anecdotal information exists, surprisingly few hard data are available in the United States (or in Mexico, for that matter) regarding water quality on the Mexican side of the border. This shortage of data is felt most acutely in the semiarid portions of the border, where water is extraordinarily scarce. In 1987, researchers at the University of Texas School of Public Health (UTSPH) began gathering data on the availability, accessibility, and bacteriologic and chemical safety of raw and finished drinking water in Mexico at its border with Texas. In view of their timely significance, we wish to share pertinent data. This particular study was carried out in Ciudad Juarez, a city of more than 1 million people, situated just across the Rio Grande from the Texas city of El Paso. The investigation was conducted at the invitation and with the assistance of municipal authorities of Cd. Juarez. As far as we know, this was the first time the water in Cd. Juarez had been tested for indicator fecal bacteria and other selected contaminants.

Enterobacteriaceae↗
PubMed1993

Indigenous human cutaneous anthrax in Texas.

In December 1988 an indigenous case of cutaneous anthrax was identified in Texas. The patient, a 63-year-old male Hispanic from southwest Texas, was a sheep shearer and had a recent history of dissecting sheep that had died suddenly. He experienced an illness characterized by left arm pain and edema. A necrotic lesion developed on his left forearm, with cellulitis and lymphadenopathy. After treatment with oral and intravenous penicillins, the patient fully recovered. Western blot testing revealed a fourfold or greater rise in antibody titer to Bacillus anthracis protective antigen and lethal factor. This represents the first case of indigenous anthrax in Texas in more than 20 years.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

An analysis of 20 years of radiation-related health care complaints in Texas for the purposes of quality improvement.

In an effort to reveal the possible underlying causes of radiation-related health care complaints in the State of Texas, complaint data were evaluated using historical Texas Department of Health-Bureau of Radiation Control (TDH-BRC) reports. A major aim of the study was to generate a summary of the most commonly reported complaints that might be generalized to health care providers using sources of radiation across Texas. A generalizable list of common complaints would be a valuable tool for education and prevention programs, serving to possibly reduce the overall incidence of radiation-related medical complaints. Descriptive text summary reports of complaints were obtained from the TDH-BRC for the 20-y period inclusive of 1981 to 2001. The information was systematically coded into a computerized database. During the 20-y period of study, 481 health care-related complaints were identified, with approximately 74% consisting of claims of an "uncredentialed technician" (39%), "overexposure" (21%), or "regulatory violation" (14%). The most common categories of complaints imply some patient understanding or knowledge of the credentialing requirements of workers, the applicable dose limits, or the regulatory requirements associated with medical procedures. Since it is unlikely that an average patient would be aware of such issues, the findings suggest the complaints are not actually indications of the inappropriate uses of radiation, but are rather based on the patient's broader perception of services rendered. Most of the complaints levied during the period of study were done so anonymously (58%) and were levied against a generic facility (61%) rather than a specific technician (5%), doctor (4%), or student (1%). Approximately 61% of the complaints resulted in the issuance of a notice of violation upon investigation by the TDH-BRC, but the available data did not permit definitive linkage between the initial complaint and the violation issued. Taken in aggregate, the analysis suggests that improved communications between health care providers and the patients they serve could possibly serve to prevent future complaints. Although the analysis was limited to the data from a single state, the results may be of use to quality assurance programs on a broader scale because of the objective identification of likely common issues. Possible options for improving the means of systematically collecting initial compliant data in the future are also discussed.

Accidents, Occupational↗
PubMed2006

Physician specialty associated with antipsychotic prescribing for youths in the Texas Medicaid program.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: The use of antipsychotics in children and adolescents in the Texas Medicaid program has increased with the introduction of newer atypical antipsychotics. The purpose of this study was to examine physician specialty associated with antipsychotic prescribing from 1996 to 2001. METHODS: All antipsychotic prescription claims records for children and adolescents younger than the age of 20 years from 1996 to 2001 were extracted from the Texas Medicaid Drug Vendor prescription database. Physician specialty associated with youths receiving all, atypical, and conventional antipsychotic prescriptions was examined for time trends. Physician specialty categories included psychiatry, primary care, neurology, other, and unspecified. RESULTS: Psychiatrists accounted for more than 80% of youths receiving antipsychotic prescriptions from 1996 to 2001. The proportion of youths receiving antipsychotic prescriptions from primary care physicians remained fairly steady over the course of time (1996: 19%; 2001: 16%). The number of youths prescribed conventional antipsychotics decreased in all specialty groups, whereas the number prescribed atypical antipsychotic prescriptions increased dramatically. CONCLUSIONS: Although the majority of children and adolescents in the Texas Medicaid program were prescribed antipsychotics by psychiatrists and child and adolescent psychiatrists, youths may often receive treatment within the primary care setting. Future research is necessary to evaluate patient outcomes associated with antipsychotic treatment across different treatment settings.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Transboundary impacts on regional ground water modeling in Texas.

Recent legislation required regional grassroots water resources planning across the entire state of Texas. The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB), the state's primary water resource planning agency, divided the state into 16 planning regions. Each planning group developed plans to manage both ground water and surface water sources and to meet future demands of various combinations of domestic, agricultural, municipal, and industrial water consumers. This presentation describes the challenges in developing a ground water model for the Llano Estacado Regional Water Planning Group (LERWPG), whose region includes 21 counties in the Southern High Plains of Texas. While surface water is supplied to several cities in this region, the vast majority of the regional water use comes from the High Plains aquifer system, often locally referred to as the Ogallala Aquifer. Over 95% of the ground water demand is for irrigated agriculture. The LERWPG had to predict the impact of future TWDB-projected water demands, as provided by the TWDB, on the aquifer for the period 2000 to 2050. If detrimental impacts were noted, alternative management strategies must be proposed. While much effort was spent on evaluating the current status of the ground water reserves, an appropriate numerical model of the aquifer system was necessary to demonstrate future impacts of the predicted withdrawals as well as the effects of the alternative strategies. The modeling effort was completed in the summer of 2000. This presentation concentrates on the political, scientific, and nontechnical issues in this planning process that complicated the modeling effort. Uncertainties in data, most significantly in distribution and intensity of recharge and withdrawals, significantly impacted the calibration and predictive modeling efforts. Four predictive scenarios, including baseline projections, recurrence of the drought of record, precipitation enhancement, and reduced irrigation demand, were simulated to identify counties at risk of low final ground water storage volume or low levels of satisfied demand by 2050.

Conservation of Natural Resources↗
PubMed2004

Health promotion attitudes and practices of Texas nurse practitioners.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this descriptive cross-sectional survey was to examine the health promotion attitudes and practices of Texas nurse practitioners (NPs). DATA SOURCES: Original research utilizing the Health Promotion Practices of Nurse Practitioners Instrument developed by the researcher and completed by 442 Texas NPs. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, Texas NPs have positive attitudes toward health promotion and are supportive of health promotion practices. However, the findings of this study indicate that improvement can be made in the adoption of certain health promotion practices. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: The growing number of NPs providing care to patients can significantly impact public health through consistent health promotion in clinical practice.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Using the Youth Risk Behavior Survey to compare risk behaviors of Texas High School and college students.

This study used the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) to assess selected health behaviors of Texas high school and college students. The YRBS was administered during 1993 in paper and pencil form to 6,015 high school students representing 329 classrooms from 78 school districts. A total of 1,408 college students representing 23 college and universities were surveyed by telephone in 1993 using a modified version of YRBS. Texas college students reported a higher percentage who had experienced sexual intercourse (82% versus 55.4%), but Texas high school students reported a younger age of first sexual intercourse. High school students also initiated alcohol consumption at a younger age, although college students were more likely to binge drink (33.5% versus 31%). Regular cigarette use also was higher among college students (25.4% versus 19.3%), but was initiated at a younger age by high school students. Study results indicate that health education programs must begin much earlier than during the high school years. Due to early initiation of negative health behaviors, emphasis must be placed on abstinence and risk-reduction techniques for both populations.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Colorectal cancer incidence and mortality in Texas 1990-1992: a comparison of rural classifications.

Although cancer incidence and mortality rates are known to be higher in urban populations, more unstaged tumors and later staged cancer are diagnosed in rural populations. Most investigators have used a dichotomous definition of urban and rural in studying these populations, and they have not considered whether a more detailed categorization of rural areas could influence their findings. The objective of this study was to evaluate colorectal cancer incidence and mortality rates in Texas from 1990 to 1992 by using a dichotomous definition (Metropolitan Area vs. Nonmetropolitan Area [MA/non-MA]) and two more detailed rural classifications (the Rural-Urban Continuum Code [RUCC] and the Urban Influence Code [UIC]). Cancer data were obtained from the Texas Cancer Registry for 1990 to 1992 and supplemented with data from the Texas State Department of Vital Statistics (mortality), the US Census Bureau (age, gender, race) and the Area Resource File (rural and urban definitions). Incidence and mortality rates, age-adjusted to the 1970 US standard population, were calculated for non-Hispanic White, African American, and Hispanic males and females. Results revealed a nonlinear relationship between rural category and colorectal cancer incidence or mortality for all races. Applying the MA definition yielded rates in the middle of the ranges obtained with using RUCC or UIC classifications and most closely reflected the result for non-Hispanic Whites using the more detailed scales. Our results suggest that a dichotomous definition of rural and urban may mask important variation in colorectal cancer incidence and mortality rates within rural areas.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Correlates of physician visits among children and adolescents in west Texas: effects of hyperglycemia symptoms.

CONTEXT: Health care services use by children varies tremendously. Because of the increasing prevalence of diabetes in children and adolscents, one of the major concerns is access to physician care among children with diabetes and diabetes symptoms. PURPOSE: This population-based cross-sectional study examines correlates of physician visit among children and adolescents living in west Texas. METHODS: A telephone survey was administered in 2002 to a random sample of households in 106 counties of West Texas. The sample included 5,462 respondents with children aged between 3 and 18 years. Proportional odds ordered logistic regression analysis was used to determine correlates of physician visits in the previous 12 months. FINDINGS: Hispanic children were less likely than non-Hispanic whites to have a recent physician visit; there were no significant rural-urban differences. Children with insurance (adjusted odds ratio= 2.21, 95% CI = 1.89-2.59) were more likely to visit physicians. Almost 16% of children in this study did not have any health insurance coverage. Children reporting 3 or more hyperglycemia symptoms and those with a family history of diabetes had 1.81 times and 1.20 times the odds of visiting the physician. CONCLUSIONS: Presence of health insurance and increasing symptoms of diabetes were found to influence the utilization of physician services. Since most of the cases of diabetes that have recently been diagnosed among Texas youth are type 2 diabetes, it is important that adolescents and their parents are educated about the risk factors and how to recognize them.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Phylogenetic analyses of Texas isolates indicate an evolving subtype of the clade B feline immunodeficiency viruses.

Rigorous phylogenetic analyses were used to compare the nucleotide sequences of feline immunodeficiency virus strains isolated from Texas and throughout the world. The envelope V3-V4 sequences and capsid gene of the Texas isolates formed a cluster between subtypes B and E. Statistical comparisons with other published sequences confirmed that the Texas group is a unique cluster, possibly a new subtype, arising from subtype B.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Localization by FISH of the 31 Texas nomenclature type I markers to both Q- and R-banded bovine chromosomes.

A series of 31 marker genes (one per chromosome) were localized precisely to both Q- and R-banded bovine chromosomes by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), as a contribution to the revised chromosome nomenclature of the three major domestic bovidae (cattle, sheep and goat). All marker genes except one (LDHA) are taken from the Texas Nomenclature of the cattle karyotype published in 1996. Homologous probes for each marker gene were obtained by screening a bovine BAC library by PCR with specific primer pairs. After labeling with biotin, each probe preparation was divided into two fractions and hybridized to bovine chromosomes identified either by Q or R banding. Clear signals and good quality band patterns were observed in all cases. Results of the two series of hybridizations are totally concordant both for Q and R band chromosome numbering and precise band localization. This work permits an unambiguous correlation between the Q/G- and R-banded 31 bovine chromosomes, including chromosomes 25, 27 and 29 which remained unresolved in the Texas Nomenclature (1996). Hybridization of the chromosome 29 marker gene to metaphase spreads from a 1;29 Robertsonian translocation bull carrier showed a positive signal on the short arm of this rearranged chromosome, confirming that the numbering of this long-known translocation in cattle is correct when referring to the Texas Nomenclature (1996). Taking into account that cattle, goat and sheep have very similar banded karyotypes, the data presented here will help to establish a definite and complete reference chromosome nomenclature for these species.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

An analysis of reported deaths following electroconvulsive therapy in Texas, 1993-1998.

Since 1993, Texas law has required that all deaths that occur within 14 days of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) be reported to the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation. This study attempted to differentiate deaths that may have been due to ECT or the associated anesthesia from those due to other causes. Among more than 8,000 patients who received 49,048 ECT treatments between 1993 and 1998, a total of 30 deaths were reported to the mental health department between 1993 and 1998. Only one death, which occurred on the same day as the ECT, could be specifically linked to the associated anesthesia. An additional four deaths could plausibly have been associated with the anesthesia, for which the calculated mortality rate is between two and ten per 100,000, but probably not with the stimulus of the ECT or seizure. The mortality rate associated with ECT (less than two per 100,000 treatments) in Texas is extremely low.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

A quality improvement process for implementing the Texas algorithm for schizophrenia in Ohio.

Medication algorithms developed in Texas are being implemented in a number of states in the United States and internationally. This report describes a quality improvement process adapted from the Texas Medication Algorithm Project that was used to implement the Texas algorithm for schizophrenia in Ohio. A total of 38 physicians were surveyed about their perceptions of barriers to implementation of the guidelines. The physicians generally thought that the schizophrenia algorithm was good, current, and applicable. Although they did not perceive barriers to its implementation, they did not seem to alter their practices to a great extent in response to the algorithm. The results of the study may guide other states in their implementation of algorithms.

Algorithms↗
PubMed2004

Clinicians' adherence to an algorithm for pharmacotherapy of depression in the Texas public mental health sector.

This study evaluated clinicians' adherence to the major depressive disorder algorithm of the Texas Implementation of Medication Algorithms (TIMA) as a component of usual care in the Texas public mental health system. Data were collected from two Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation centers between April and December 2000. Clinician adherence measures included documentation of outcome measures, prescribing patterns (correct medications, therapeutic dosing, dosage increases, and appropriate medication changes), and visit frequency. Clinicians had consistently high adherence to appropriate drug regimens, at appropriate dosages. Variability in attempts to increase dosages when warranted, visit frequency, and documentation of patient outcome measures between clinicians were seen. The results suggest that implementation of medication algorithms is possible in the public mental health sector.

Adult↗