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PubMedDate not supplied

Where the boys are: sexual expectations and behaviour among young women on holiday.

The main objectives of this study were to examine relationships between vacation sex expectations and travelling companionship type (solo, paired, or group), and behavioural outcomes such as engaging in a relationship while on vacation, procuring condoms, and initiating condom use with vacation sex partners among tourist women in Costa Rica. A brief interview was used to assess sociodemographic characteristics, vacation sex expectations and relationships, casual sex variables, and alcohol use among a convenience sample of 128 single female tourists 18 years of age or older. Univariate and multivariate analysis were used to examine relationships among variables of interest. Women who travelled solo or with a single female companion and women who anticipated having sex on holiday were more likely than other tourist women to report one or more vacation relationships, to have procured condoms, and to have initiated condom use with a vacation sex partner. Women who engage in unanticipated vacation relationships may be at increased risk of participating in unsafe sex with a partner met on holiday due to lack of condom procurement and/or initiation of condom use. The findings point to the importance of public health efforts to educate women regarding safer sex precautions when travelling on holiday.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

EVATS: a proactive solution to improve surgical education and maintain flexibility in the new training era.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the development of the EVATS rotation. DESIGN: Descriptive document. SETTING: University teaching hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Faculty and residents of the University of Washington. METHODS: In July 2003 we identified the need for a new, independent, educational module within our residency training. Requirements for this rotation included dedicated time for technical skills training on simulators, independent competency learning modules, academic research project time, vacation time and coverage, and flexibility for unplanned leave (eg, interview travel, m/paternity leave). RESULTS: An EVATS rotation was created in July 2003 that is provided at each training level and lasts from 4 to 8 weeks depending on R-level. EVATS meets the following challenges: Emergency coverage (EVATS residents available for last-minute service coverage), vacation time/vacation coverage (2 weeks vacation + 1 week vacation coverage; this maintains vacations for all residents every 6 months), academic time (residents now must complete 1 academic project for graduation) and ACGME competency learning and assessment, and technical skills training (includes simulator work for open/lap skills). Initial implementation indices are high and include resident satisfaction, 80-hour work week compliance, academic productivity, and patient continuity of care. CONCLUSIONS: The 21st century brought new challenges for surgical training. Increased societal demands for skills training in a laboratory setting using simulators and the 6 ACGME competencies all require classroom-type training periods. Paradoxically, the 80-hour work week restricted the time available for these educational activities and made it more difficult for programs to accommodate resident vacations and emergencies. These challenges provided an opportunity to enhance the educational experience for our residency program. The product was the EVATS rotation. Early data after implementation are favorable.

Adult↗
PubMed2007

Sexual behaviors after universal screening of sexually transmitted infections in healthy young women.

OBJECTIVE: To prospectively study the relationship between diagnosis of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) at entry to U.S. Marines recruit training and subsequent sexual behaviors during vacation. METHODS: Of all women entering recruit training (June 1999-June 2000), 2,157 (94%) voluntarily enrolled. At baseline, women received universal screening for Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and Trichomonas vaginalis and treatment and counseling for positive STIs. Recruit training (13 weeks) precluded any social activities. Unrestricted vacation followed (median 10 days). After training resumed (3 weeks), questionnaires and repeat STI screening were administered. Multivariable logistic regression examined STI diagnosis at baseline as a predictor for risky sexual behaviors at vacation and STI-positive diagnosis after vacation. RESULTS: The study was completed by 1,712 (79%) women (median age 18 years); 1,038 reported sexual activity during vacation; 71% used condoms inconsistently; 19% had casual partners. At baseline, 152 (15%) tested STI-positive. Baseline STI diagnosis was unrelated to inconsistent condom use, nonmonogamous partnerships, or multiple partnerships. However, women testing STI-positive at baseline were more likely to test STI-positive after vacation (adjusted odds ratio 3.74, 95% confidence interval 2.10-6.65). Baseline STI diagnosis predicted casual partnerships among women aged 19-21 years (adjusted odds ratio 2.48, 95% confidence interval 1.12-5.50). CONCLUSION: Substantial numbers of women engaged in risky sexual behaviors after universal STI screening and counseling. Compared with STI-negative women, STI-positive women were at increased risk for subsequent STI acquisition regardless of their similar behaviors. As universal STI screening is increasingly implemented, follow-up care will likely be required to further reduce risky behaviors and address network-level factors. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Leisure sickness: a pilot study on its prevalence, phenomenology, and background.

AIM: To explore the prevalence, phenomenology, and background of leisure sickness, i.e., the condition of people developing symptoms of sickness during weekends and/or vacations. METHOD: In order to obtain an estimate of its prevalence, a representative Dutch sample consisting of 1,128 men and 765 women was asked to indicate to what extent they recognized themselves in our description of weekend and vacation sickness. For the investigation of the phenomenology and background of this condition and the characteristics of the patients suffering from it, questionnaire data were collected in new samples consisting of 114 cases and 56 controls. Questions referred to symptoms, onset, duration, appreciation of weekend and vacation activities, and appraisal of work and workload. RESULTS: In the case of male respondents, 3.6 and 3.2% recognized themselves in the description of the weekend and the vacation syndrome, respectively, compared with 2.7 and 3.2% women. Most frequently reported symptoms were headache/migraine, fatigue, muscular pains, and nausea. In addition, viral infections (flue-like, common cold) were often reported in relation to vacations. Cases had generally suffered from leisure sickness for over 10 years and the onset was associated with stressful conditions. They attributed their condition to difficulties with the transition from work to nonwork, stress associated with travel and vacation, as well as workload and personality characteristics. There were no significant group differences in the appreciation of weekend and leisure activities or lifestyle during days off. Most striking differences were found with respect to experienced workload, sense of responsibility, and inability to relax. CONCLUSION: Leisure sickness is a relatively common condition. Specific lifestyle factors or leisure activities seem to be less relevant for its development. Concerning risk factors, the data tend to point to high workload and person characteristics, namely, the inability to adapt to the nonworking situation, a high need for achievement, and a high sense of responsibility with respect to work. Future studies should be designed for testing specific hypotheses concerning the underlying mechanisms and evaluating the effectiveness of psychological and/or physical activity interventions.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Association between renal function tests and pentachlorophenol exposure.

Data are presented and renal function tests and Pcp measurements on consecutive blood and urine samples collected from 18 workers at a wood treatment plant before, during, and after a 20-day vacation. Pcp concentrations in blood averaging 5.1 ppm before vacation fell to 2.2 ppm during vacation but with a temporary rise early in this nonexposure period, suggesting a body tissues store of Pcp which was mobilized in response to a negative Pcp balance. Urine Pcp concentrations showed similar but less marked variations. Creatinine clearance and phosphorus reabsorption values were depressed before vacation but showed significant improvement during vacation, suggesting that Pcp exposure reduced both glomerular filtration rate and tubular function, with recovery following a nonexposure period.

Chlorophenols↗
PubMed2004

[Day at menarche, "fiesta" expectancy and "memory bias"].

BACKGROUND: The photoperiod and temperature were ruled out as main factors of the annual menarche rhythm. Vacations associate to peaks and study periods to troughs of menarche. Some months show contradictory behavior according to their vacation-study condition. AIM: To test the hypothesis that menarche occurs mainly in relation to fiesta or celebration (birthdays, holidays, and vacations) expectancies. To refute the memory bias in recording the day at menarche. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Girls from Santiago, Chile (3,957) and Medellin, Colombia (3,616) were asked about the date of birth and menarche. RESULTS: In both cities, menarche occurred more commonly at birthday, Christmas-New Year, Day of the Independence, other holidays and days at vacation. The bias of memory was refuted because in both cities important holidays did not have excesses of menarche and some non-holidays had excesses; the distribution of menarches in the neighbor of peaks was often a left biased bell, with accessory peaks, and menarches/day over the expected mean (in agreement with the fiesta expectancy), and not a U shaped distribution (as expected by the memory bias); menarche distributed homogeneously on days of the week. CONCLUSIONS: The fiesta expectancy appears as a cause of the menarche rhythm. The bias of memory does not produce detectable effects. Evidence for recruitment of menarches and synergism between fiesta expectancy and vacations were found.

Bias↗
PubMed1988

[Considerations of the value of patient travel in long-term treatment of chronic psychotic patients].

After ten years of experience with therapeutic vacations in a department for chronic psychotic patients the aptitude of these vacations as part of a long term ward-treatment programme is discussed. A vacation with eight patients illustrates problems and disadvantages. It is concluded from these experiences that therapeutic vacations can help in several ways during the initial development of a social-psychiatric programme but that the group of patients who profit from such vacations should be more clearly specified. Above all, however, it is concluded that the quantitative augmentation of extramural therapeutic activities cannot be a substitute for the qualitative development of a ward treatment concept. This should have as its goal the establishment of a niche in which schizophrenic experience as a way of survival is possible and worth living.

Chronic Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Dual-earner families' stress levels and personal and life-style-related variables.

This study investigated personal and life-style-related variables and stress levels in dual-earner families in the preschool stage of family development. The sample was composed of 92 families receiving child day care through a major day care provider in the Upper Midwest. The Family Inventory of Life Events and Changes was used to measure the family stress level. The majority of dual-earner families in this sample were experiencing a moderate level of family stress based on national stress level norms calculated for families in the preschool stage of development. Parental age and age of children were statistically related to the family stress level. Life-style-related variables statistically significant in this study were amount of income and satisfaction with income level, satisfaction with child care, and flexibility in vacation scheduling. Parents who could easily schedule vacations during the same time period had significantly lower family stress levels than parents who had difficulty scheduling vacations together, p less than .003. Additionally, parents who reported being forced to take separate vacations because of their work schedules had statistically higher scores on family stress than parents who had never had to take separate vacations because of work schedules, p less than .002.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

The role of prostaglandin F2 alpha and oxytocin in the reproductive behavior of a marsupial, Bettongia gaimardi.

Bettongs give birth on the night that their large pouch young finally vacates the pouch. We have hypothesized that hormones associated with this birth are also involved in pouch vacation. Injections of prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) caused contractions of the pouch. In a separate experiment PGF2 alpha caused pouch vacation; oxytocin had a similar effect but with a longer latency. In addition both hormones induced birth behavior in adult and immature females as well as in males. When a prostaglandin synthesis inhibitor (Finadyne) was given first, oxytocin failed to produce birth behavior or pouch vacation. This finding leads us to suggest that oxytocin exerts its behavioral effects via prostaglandin synthesis. These experiments are the first to demonstrate an effect by oxytocin on reproductive behavior in a marsupial.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Plasticity of the parallel fiber-Purkinje cell synapse by spine takeover and new synapse formation in the adult rat.

Alteration in synaptic connectivity between Purkinje cell spines and parallel fibers of the cerebellum were studied following partial deafferentation of Purkinje cells in the the adult rat. Transection of parallel fibers by two lesions placed at a 1 mm interval on the folial crest were used to produce degeneration of these afferents. Ultrastructural analysis of synapses on Purkinje cell spines revealed degeneration with vacating of postsynaptic sites within 6 h. Reactive synaptogenesis as takeover of Purkinje cell spines by formation of new synapses from remaining parallel fibers occurred even before degenerating parallel fibers had vacated postsynaptic sites. This was accompanied by a marked increase in the number of dual innervations by reactive parallel fibers within one day. Some vacated postsynaptic sites were lost as indicated by a reduction in the number of synapses and others may have been taken over by newly formed synapses on spines. In addition, new synapses formed between the shafts of Purkinje cell branchlets and parallel fibers. Sprouting of parallel fibers occurred as small extensions without tubules while Purkinje cell spines reacted by forming elongated and multiple heads which contacted different parallel fibers. After 5 days degenerating boutons were rarely found. Enlarged spine heads were each capped by a proportionally enlarged parallel fiber bouton and joined by an elongated synaptic junction to parallel fibers. Some parallel fiber boutons were greatly enlarged and capped numerous profiles of spines. This study shows that formation of new pre- and postsynaptic sites takes precedence over reoccupation of original contacts and that multiple synapses on individual spines are being eliminated to give rise to single contacts with boutons. This elimination resulted in enlargement of synaptic contact areas between Purkinje cell spines and parallel fibers by taking over postsynaptic sites from some vacated and eliminated boutons.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Results of photoprovocation and field studies on the efficacy of a novel topically applied antioxidant in polymorphous light eruption.

BACKGROUND: UVA-induced photooxidation is considered to play an essential role in the pathogenesis of polymorphous light eruption (PLE), and topical pretreatment of skin with alpha-glucosylrutin (AGR), a potent plant-derived antioxidant, has been shown to significantly suppress photoprovoked PLE eruption. AIM: In order to further elucidate the optimum pretreatment regimen and to investigate the efficacy and skin compatibility of topical preparations containing AGR under field conditions, two controlled clinical studies were conducted in PLE patients. METHODS: In the first study, photoprovocation of PLE was performed in 20 patients, using UVA irradiation (4 x 60-100 J/cm(2)), applied to four test sites at the individual areas of predilection. One site served as an untreated control. The remaining three sites received treatment with a SPF 15 sunscreen containing 0.25% AGR (Eucerin Gel Cream Phase 2) 30 minutes before irradiation. Two of these sites were additionally pretreated with the corresponding AGR-containing vehicle (Eucerin Gel Cream Phase 1) twice daily for 3 and 7 days, respectively. The second study was conducted as a controlled in-use-test in patients with PLE (n = 27) or acne aestivalis (n = 3), who had suffered from the disease during their last year's vacation. They were educated to apply the pre-sun preparation to the formerly affected skin areas twice daily for 1 week before their planned vacation and to use the SPF 15 sunscreen 30 minutes before each vacation sun exposure. Symptoms were recorded in patients' diaries throughout the vacation and documented by a physician after their return. RESULTS: In the first study, protection of skin with the SPF 15 sunscreen alone led to a significant prevention of PLE symptoms, especially itch, compared with the control area. Pretreatment further reduced the severity of PLE significantly and led to total prevention in 19 patients. In the second study, whereas 92.6% had reported severe and 7.4% mild PLE in the last year, there were currently only 7.4% severe cases, with 25.9% mild and 29.6% questionable cases; 37% had no symptoms at all. Also, two out of three acne aestivalis patients had diminished symptoms after treatment. CONCLUSION: The results confirm the prophylactic efficacy of the antioxidant AGR in PLE, applied as SPF 15 sunscreen alone or additionally to pretreatment with a corresponding pre-sun preparation, and also show an effect in acne aestivalis patients.

Administration, Topical↗
PubMed2005

Seasonal changes in poisoning exposures reported to a regional poison center from coastal resort areas.

This study examined the role of seasonality in the reporting of poisoning exposures from geographically distinct regions, specifically from coastal resort and vacation areas. The monthly distribution of calls received by a regional poison control center from counties with popular beach and vacation resorts was compared with the monthly distribution of the overall calls to the center. A chi-square goodness-of-fit test was used to determine if there was a significant difference between the monthly distribution of calls received from the resort counties and the overall calls received by the poison center. Further, exposure and information calls from the resort counties were separately examined to determine if they were equally distributed between months. The monthly distribution of calls received from coastal resort counties was significantly different from the monthly distribution of overall calls received by the center. Significantly more calls were received from the resort counties during the months of July and August at the height of the vacation season. While there was no seasonal variation in the number of information calls from these counties, the poisoning exposure calls were not equally distributed between months, as there were more such calls during the months of July and August. Seasonality appears to play a role in the number of calls received by a regional poison center from coastal areas with popular beach resorts. Poisoning exposure calls seem to increase particularly during the months of July and August. A greater effort may have to be put into activities related to poison control and prevention into such areas during the vacation season.

Epidemiologic Studies↗
PubMed1997

Travel to sunny countries is associated with changes in immunological parameters.

Under laboratory conditions, various studies have shown that changes in immunological parameters must be expected after exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light. The objective of the present study was to evaluate, whether such changes can also be revealed after a vacation to a sunny country without prior adaptation to ultraviolet radiation. In 32 volunteers white blood cells, lymphocyte subpopulations, sIL2-R, sCD14, immunoglobulins and complement factor C3 were determined before and after a vacation in a country with abundant sunshine during winter. The subjects received relevant doses of UVB as confirmed by questionnaires, UVB-dosimetry and the significant increase of 25-hydroxyvitamin D. After vacation, there was a significant decrease of the CD4/8 ratio and the serum concentration of IgG. The serum concentration of sIL2-R, sCD14, IgA and C3 was increased after the journey. Sunshine exposure without prior adaptation may be responsible for significant alterations in the immune system in association with a vacation during winter.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed1984

Work loss among practicing dentists.

This report provides data on the amount of time lost and the reasons for time lost from dental practice for a group of 850 clinical practitioners. Results indicate that during 1981 dentists lost an average of 29 days: 2 for illness, 17 for vacation, 5 for professional meetings, and about 5 for other reasons. It was also shown that time off for illness, vacation, and professional meetings increases with the age of the dentist. Differences were noted between general practitioners and specialists, with general practitioners taking more time off for vacation, but less time off for professional meetings than specialists. In the younger and middle-age groups, general practitioners missed more time because of illness than specialists. However, the figures for both groups are much less than the average of five days lost because of medical illness reported for the average worker. A positive relationship between total mean number of days off for all reasons and perceived busyness was also reported. Days off for vacation and professional meetings were the most sensitive to increases in busyness.

Absenteeism↗
PubMed1987

Field survey of circadian rhythm in PEF of electronics workers suffering from colophony-induced asthma.

Twenty-two British electronics workers suffering from occupationally-induced asthma due to their exposure to colophony fumes self-recorded their peak expiratory flow (PEF) every 1-2 hr throughout the waking span for at least two weeks, both during work and vacation periods. Data were analyzed by a two-step procedure using the statistical techniques of Single and Population Mean Cosinor analyses. The objective endpoints of mesor (24-hr mean), amplitude (measure of 24-hr rhythmic variation) and acrophase (peak time along the scale of 24 hr) for the time-spans of the work-week (Monday-Friday), weekend after work (Saturday-Sunday) and vacation weekdays and vacation weekends were compared. The PEF data of four workers who participated in the study for nearly one year also were evaluated for seasonal variation. A statistically significant difference (P less than 0.04) was detected in the PEF amplitude between work and vacation weeks; the difference in the PEF mesor and acrophase between work-weekdays and work-weekends achieved near or statistical significance (P = 0.07 and 0.05, respectively). The at-work amplitude was higher and the acrophase earlier timed. There was no statistically significant difference between work-week and weekend-after-work PEF mesors. Winter PEF mesors were significantly lower than summer ones in the four subjects self-measuring their bronchial patency over the year. Overall, the findings indicate that data obtained through employee surveys, using lightweight portable and inexpensive PEF Wright meters and analyzed by statistical analyses used in the field of biological rhythm research, yield objective evidence of occupationally associated decrements in pulmonary function resulting from colophony fume exposure.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Cost-benefit calculations of vaccinations against measles and mumps in Austria.

The analysis of combined measles-mumps vaccination in Austria showed that this measure is highly profitable in economical respect. The benefit-cost ratio Qc amounts to 2.65 without and 4.48 with consideration of the so-called "nursing vacation", a one week's vacation which is being granted in Austria to employed mothers for the nursing of a sick child once a year. The benefit-cost difference Dc amounts to AS 672.85 OF 1,681.90 respectively, per child. Twelve years after the beginning of vaccination of 100,000 one year old children per year which corresponds roughly to the birth rate in Austria an amount of 63 mill. AS can be saved, if "nursing vacations" are not considered. This amount will be even 528 mill. AS, if "nursing vacations" are taken in account.

Austria↗
PubMed1979

Costs and benefits of measles and mumps immunization in Austria.

The usefulness of an immunization programme can be evaluated by comparing either risks and benefits or costs and benefits. By means of special formulae, the benefit-cost ratio and the benefit-cost difference can be calculated for monovalent and bivalent vaccines. An analysis of combined measles-mumps immunization in Austria showed that this measure is highly profitable economically. Since employed mothers are allowed one week's vacation each year to nurse a sick child, this affects the calculations. Including the cost of the "nursing vacation" among the benefits that would be realized following an immunization programme, the estimated benefit-cost ratio is 4.48; if the cost of the "nursing vacation" is omitted the ratio is 2.65. The estimated annual benefit-cost differences are AS 1681.90 and AS 672.85, respectively, per child. Twelve years after the beginning of a programme to immunize 100 000 1-year-old children per year (corresponding roughly to the birth rate in Austria) an amount of AS 528 million would be saved if the "nursing vacation" is included in the calculations and an amount of AS 63 million if it is not.

Austria↗
PubMed2006

Is love of nature in the US becoming love of electronic media? 16-year downtrend in national park visits explained by watching movies, playing video games, internet use, and oil prices.

After 50 years of steady increase, per capita visits to US national parks have declined since 1988. This decline, coincident with the rise in electronic entertainment media, may represent a shift in recreation choices with broader implications for the value placed on biodiversity conservation and environmentally responsible behavior. We compared the decline in per capita visits with a set of indicators representing alternate recreation choices and constraints. The Spearman correlation analyses found this decline in NPV to be significantly negatively correlated with several electronic entertainment indicators: hours of television, (rs=-0.743, P<0.001), video games (rs=-0.773, P<0.001), home movies (rs=-0.788, P<0.001), theatre attendance (rs=-0.587, P<0.025) and internet use (rs=-0.783, P<0.001). There were also significant negative correlations with oil prices (rs=-0.547, P<0.025), foreign travel (rs=-0.452, P<0.05), and Appalachian Trail hikers (rs=-0.785, P<0.001). Income was significantly positively correlated with foreign travel (rs=0.621, P<0.005) but negatively correlated with national park visits (rs=-0.697, P<0.005). There was no significant correlation of mean number of vacation days, indicating available vacation time is probably not a factor. Federal funding actually increased during this period, and so was rejected as a probable factor. Park capacity was rejected as limiting since both total overnight stays and visits at the seven most popular parks rose well into the mid-1990s. Aging of baby boomers was also rejected as they are only now reaching retirement age, and thus during the period of visitation decline were still of prime family vacation age. Multiple linear regression of four of the entertainment media variables as well as oil prices explains 97.5% of this recent decline (r=0.975, multiple r2=0.950, adjusted multiple r2=0.925, SE=0.015, F=37.800, P<0.0001). We may be seeing evidence of a fundamental shift away from people's appreciation of nature (biophilia, Wilson 1984) to 'videophilia,' which we here define as "the new human tendency to focus on sedentary activities involving electronic media." Such a shift would not bode well for the future of biodiversity conservation.

Ecology↗