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At least 721 records · Page 40Linked to original sources
PubMed2003

Maternal serum B12 levels and risk for neural tube defects in a Texas-Mexico border population.

PURPOSE: Neural tube defects (NTDs) are common birth defects that can be prevented with folate fortification and supplementation. Studies suggest that other nutrients may also be essential to neural tube closure and have a potential role in risk reduction, with vitamin B(12) mentioned most often. We determined the effect of maternal serum B(12) levels, measured postpartum, on the risk of NTDs among a high risk Mexican American population. METHODS: The case-control study included 157 Mexican American women with NTD-affected pregnancies and 186 Mexican American women with normal pregnancies, who were residents of Texas-Mexico border counties and delivered during 1995 to 2000. RESULTS: Compared with women in the highest vitamin B(12) quintile, women in the lowest quintile showed a strong risk effect (odds ratio (OR) = 3.0, confidence interval (CI): 1.4, 6.3); while those in the 2nd and 3rd quintiles showed moderate risk effects (OR = 1.6, CI = 0.7, 3.6 and OR = 1.7, CI = 0.8, 3.8, respectively). Adjusting for obesity, vitamin supplements, dietary folate, dietary B(12), red blood cell folate, and other covariates did not materially change these estimates. CONCLUSIONS: Insufficient levels of serum B(12), which are not normally indicative of a classical vitamin B(12) deficiency nor stem from an inadequate diet, may be an important etiologic factor for NTDs in this population.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

The disease profile of Texas prison inmates.

PURPOSE: Whereas prison inmates are reported to exhibit poorer overall health status and higher rates of health care utilization than the general population, no current information exists on the overall disease profile of the U.S. prison population. The present study examined the prevalence of major acute and chronic conditions in one of the nation's largest prison populations. METHODS: The study population consisted of 170,215 Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) inmates who were incarcerated between August 1997 and July 1998. Information on medical conditions and sociodemographic factors was obtained from an institution-wide medical information system. RESULTS: Infectious diseases (29.6%) constituted the most prevalent major disease category among inmates. This was followed by diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (15.3%), diseases of the circulatory system (14.0%), mental disorders (10.8%), and diseases of the respiratory system (6.3%). Among the specific conditions examined, evidence of tuberculosis infection without active pulmonary disease (20.1%) was found to be the most prevalent condition, followed by hypertension (9.8%), asthma (5.2%), low back pain (5.1%), and viral hepatitis (5.0%). CONCLUSIONS: The present study shows that for a number of conditions, the prison population exhibited prevalence rates that were substantially higher than those reported for the general population. Moreover, estimates for a number of diseases varied substantially according to age, race, and gender. Understanding the disease profile in U.S. incarcerated populations will permit correctional administrators to develop more efficient health care delivery systems for prison inmates.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Patterns of contraceptive use and pregnancy among young Hispanic women on the Texas-Mexico border.

Our objective was to identify significant family planning and health access problems of young Hispanic women on the Texas-Mexico border. Samples of 300 young Hispanic women living in each of the twin cities of El Paso and Juarez were interviewed regarding their knowledge, attitudes, and experiences with respect to birth control, pregnancy, maternal and child health, and health-care services. Knowledge and attitudes of the women about birth control technology were assessed along with their beliefs regarding the use of such technology. Results showed that contraceptive knowledge and usage patterns for young Hispanic women in Juarez and El Paso were significantly different. They relied on different types of birth control methods and also differed with respect to confidence in these methods and related medical services. Both groups reflected positive attitudes toward both child bearing and use of birth control although Juarez women were significantly more favorable toward child bearing. Both groups overwhelmingly favored female doctors. The young women studied have accepted the need for birth control, prefer fewer children, and have some degree of confidence in medical services. Their knowledge and use of reliable versus unreliable birth control devices appear to be major areas requiring culturally sensitive intervention.

Acculturation↗
PubMed2004

Inhaled anti-inflammatory pharmacotherapy and subsequent hospitalizations and emergency department visits among patients with asthma in the Texas Medicaid program.

BACKGROUND: Rates of asthma-related hospitalizations and emergency department (ED) visits continue to rise in the United States. The National Asthma Education and Prevention Program recommends the use of controller pharmacotherapy for patients with persistent asthma. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of initiating inhaled anti-inflammatory (IAI) pharmacotherapy following an asthma-related hospitalization or ED visit on risk of subsequent morbid events. METHODS: Texas Medicaid asthma-related medication and medical services claims for September 1997 to July 2001 were extracted. An asthma-related morbid event served as the index event (ED visit or hospitalization for cohort 1; hospitalization for cohort 2). Members of both cohorts were then followed up until a subsequent morbid event occurred or until 1 year after index. Logistic regression was used to compare patients who used IAI medication within 100 days following their index event with nonusers. RESULTS: Controlling for demographic and resource use variables, there was a 52% reduction in the risk of a subsequent ED visit or hospitalization in the year following the index event among users of IAI medication within cohort 1 (risk ratio [RR], 0.485; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.416-0.565; P < .001). There was a 61% reduction in the risk of a subsequent hospitalization among users of IAI medication within cohort 2 (RR, 0.393; 95% CI, 0.284-0.545; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Less than half of the patients had a prescription claim for an IAI medication within 100 days following their index event. Patients who received these medications had a lower risk of a subsequent asthma-related morbid event for the next year.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Use of alternative therapies and their impact on compliance: perceptions of community pharmacists in Texas.

OBJECTIVE: To assess community pharmacists' experiences with the use of alternative therapies by their patients with chronic illnesses. DESIGN: Mail survey. SETTING: State of Texas. PARTICIPANTS: 142 community independent and chain pharmacists. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pharmacists' recollections about patients' use of alternative therapies. RESULTS: Pharmacists estimated that 17% of their patients with chronic illnesses used some form of alternative therapy. A majority (66.9%) indicated that they have patients who used some type of alternative therapy for chronic conditions and that a majority (59.7%) of these patients consulted with them regarding those therapies. However, in only 11.1% of these cases did pharmacists document alternative therapy use in patients' pharmacy records. Pharmacists reported that 25.9% of these patients who use alternative therapies for chronic conditions were not compliant with their prescribed medication regimen. One-third (33.1%) of respondents indicated they knew of no patients who used alternative therapies, and 35.9% had never asked. CONCLUSION: Pharmacists need information on patients' use of alternative therapies for chronic illnesses to make valid therapy decisions and to monitor outcomes. Future research should identify actions that pharmacists take to address drug-related problems among alternative therapy users and assess the impact of these actions on drug therapy-related outcomes.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Recurrent outbreaks of Salmonella Enteritidis infections in a Texas restaurant: phage type 4 arrives in the United States.

In recent years infection caused by Salmonella serotype Enteritidis (SE) phage type 4 has spread through Europe but has been uncommon in the USA. The first recognized outbreak of this strain in the USA occurred in a Chinese restaurant in EI Paso, Texas, in April 1993; no source was identified. In September 1993, a second outbreak caused by SE phage type 4 was associated with the same restaurant. To determine the cause of the second outbreak, we compared food exposures of the 19 patients with that of two control groups. Egg rolls were the only item significantly associated with illness in both analyses (first control group: odds ratio [OR] 8.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.3-31.6; second control group: OR 13.1, 95% CI 2.1-97.0). Retrospective analysis of the April outbreak also implicated egg rolls (OR 32.4, 95% CI 9.1-126.6). Egg roll batter was made from pooled shell eggs and was left at room temperature throughout the day. These two outbreaks of SE phage type 4 likely could have been prevented by using pasteurized eggs and safe food preparation practices.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Tuberculosis outbreak in a Texas prison, 1994.

In 1994 a Texas prison containing a population of mentally retarded inmates experienced a large tuberculosis outbreak. Fifteen cases of tuberculosis were identified (8 confirmed by positive cultures for Mycobacterium tuberculosis) and more than 100 inmates became infected. The culture-confirmed patients were infected with an identical strain of tuberculosis as demonstrated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based DNA fingerprinting technique. The prison followed standard tuberculosis infection control policies, but these controls were inadequate to prevent tuberculosis transmission in this special population. Two hundred and thirty inmates (119 inmates showing evidence of new tuberculosis infection or active disease and 111 healthy controls) were enrolled in the investigation. Inmate cell assignments, job duties, and educational classes were identified and medical chart reviews were conducted on all inmates. Tuberculosis transmission was associated with residing on the D Wing of the prison (OR = 25.84, P < 0.01), attending school in Classroom A (OR = 8.34, P = 0.01) and working on the prison utility work crew (OR = 2.52, P < 0.01). The index case in the outbreak had been prescribed 6 months of isoniazid (INH) chemoprophylaxis in 1988.

Case-Control Studies↗
PubMed2004

Source identification of volatile organic compounds in Houston, Texas.

The complexity of the volatile organic compound (VOC) mixture in the Houston area makes studies of the air quality in that area very challenging. In this paper, a novel factor analysis model, where the normal chemical mass balance model was augmented by a parallel equation that accounted for wind speed and direction, temperature, and weekend/weekday effects, was fitted with a multilinear engine (ME) to provide identification and apportionment of the VOC sources at the La Porte Municipal Airport site in Houston during the Texas Air Quality Study (TexAQS) 2000. The analysis determined the profiles and contributions of nine sources and the corresponding wind speed, wind direction, temperature, and weekend factors. The reasonableness of these results not only suggests the high resolving power of the expanded factor analysis model for source apportionment but also provides the novel and effective auxiliary information for more specific source identification. In addition, a new approach to estimate the measurement uncertainty and the details of determining the source number and dealing with missing values are also presented as important parts of the data analysis process. This study demonstrates the feasibility of the expanded model to identify sources in complex VOC systems and extract useful information for locating VOC emitters and controlling their emissions in the Houston area.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed2006

Atmospheric chlorine chemistry in southeast Texas: impacts on ozone formation and control.

Recent evidence has demonstrated that chlorine radical chemistry can enhance tropospheric hydrocarbon oxidation and has the potential to enhance ozone formation in urban atmospheres. To assess these effects quantitatively, an August-September 2000 photochemical episode in southeast Texas was simulated using the comprehensive air quality model, with extensions (CAMx). During this episode, ambient measurements of a unique marker of atmospheric chlorine chemistry, 1-chloro-3-methyl-3butene-2-one (CMBO), were made and model performance was assessed by comparing modeled and observed CMBO mixing ratios. The model predicted ambient CMBO mixing ratios within the uncertainty limits associated with the emissions inventory, so the model was used to assess the impacts of chlorine chemistry on ozone formation. Based on the current emissions inventory, chlorine emissions have the potential to enhance 1-h-averaged ozone mixing ratios by 70 ppb, in very localized areas, during morning hours. Over wider areas, and at times of day when peak ozone concentrations are observed, the impacts of chlorine emissions on ozone concentrations are typically less than 10 ppb. Chlorine emissions also influenced changes in ozone concentrations due to hydrocarbon and NOx emission controls.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed2006

Widespread presence of naturally occurring perchlorate in high plains of Texas and New Mexico.

Perchlorate (CLO4-) occurrence in groundwater has previously been linked to industrial releases and the historic use of Chilean nitrate fertilizers. However, recently a number of occurrences have been identified for which there is no obvious anthropogenic source. Groundwater from an area of 155,000 km2 in 56 counties in northwest Texas and eastern New Mexico is impacted bythe presence of ClO4-. Concentrations were generally low (<4 ppb), although some areas are impacted by concentrations up to 200 ppb. ClO4- distribution is not related to well type (public water system, domestic, agricultural, or water-table monitoring) or aquifer (Ogallala, Edward Trinity High Plains, Edwards Trinity Plateau, Seymour, or Cenozoic). Results from vertically nested wells strongly indicate a surface source. The source of ClO4- appears to most likely be atmospheric deposition. Evidence supporting this hypothesis primarily relates to the presence of ClO4- in tritium-free older water, the lack of relation between land use and concentration distribution, the inability of potential anthropogenic sources to account for the estimated mass of ClO4-, and the positive relationship between conserved anions (e.g., IO3-, Cl-, SO4(-2)) and ClO4-. The ClO4- distribution appears to be mainly related to evaporative concentration and unsaturated transport. This process has led to higher ClO4- and other ion concentrations in groundwater where the water table is relatively shallow, and in areas with lower saturated thickness. Irrigation may have accelerated this process in some areas by increasing the transport of accumulated salts and by increasing the number of evaporative cycles. Results from this study highlight the potential for ClO4- to impact groundwater in arid and semi-arid areas through long-term atmospheric deposition.

Agriculture↗
PubMed2001

Oil production, agriculture, and groundwater quality in the southeastern Gulf Coast Aquifer, Texas.

Associations between groundwater quality and land use were evaluated in the southeastern Gulf Coast Aquifer, Texas. Data from 19234 oil/gas wells and 256 water wells were mapped with a geographic information system (GIS) and statistically analyzed. Water wells near oil/gas wells had significantly higher levels of chloride, bromide, and total dissolved solids (TDS). Bromide-chloride ratios were also higher at water wells near oil/gas wells. Shallower water wells had significantly higher chloride, bromide, TDS, and nitrate concentrations. Nitrate concentrations were higher beneath cropland compared to other land uses. Results of this study suggest that oil/gas production and agriculture have impacted water quality in the Gulf Coast Aquifer.

Agriculture↗
PubMed1998

The health attitudes of young Hispanic women and the health status of their children on the Texas-Mexico border.

In this paper our objective was to identify child health problems as observed by young Hispanic mothers living along the Texas-Mexico border. Samples of 300 young Hispanic women living in each of the twin cities of El Paso and Juarez were interviewed regarding their knowledge, attitudes, and experiences with respect to birth control, pregnancy, maternal and child health, and health care services. Only 35 women in El Paso and 50 in Juarez were ever pregnant and their attitudes toward health issues were compared to the never pregnant women. Those with living children were also asked about the health problems they had observed in their children. The results indicate that the ever pregnant women were more positive toward both family planning and child bearing than were their never-pregnant peers. The ever-pregnant women were also less confident in family planning techniques. The mothers in Juarez generally reported more observed illness symptoms in their children than did the El Paso mothers.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Birth weight, ethnicity, and occurrence of cancer in children: a population-based, incident case-control study in the State of Texas, USA.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between birth weight and risk of early age childhood cancer and whether racial differences in birth weight distribution could explain differences in the incidence of cancer in white, Hispanic, and black children. METHODS: We compared birth weights of 268 children younger than five years old and diagnosed with cancer in the State of Texas in 1995 to the birth weights of 2680 randomly selected, age-matched population-based controls. Birth weight, sex, race/ethnicity, maternal age, smoking status, parity, and gestational age information was ascertained from the birth certificates. Logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the association between high birth weight (>4,000 g) and occurrence of childhood cancer. RESULTS: Increased odds ratios (OR) were found for "total cancer cases" (OR 1.4, 95% CI 0.9-2.1), "leukemia cases" (OR 1.7, 95% CI 0.9-3.0) and "acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cases" (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.2-4.1). Increased ORs in the former two groups were shown to be due to ALL cases. Including the race/ethnicity variable in the regression model did not affect the ORs. CONCLUSION: Compared to newborns who weighed between 2500 and 4000 g at birth, children who weighed >4,000 g had an increased risk of developing childhood ALL during the first five years of life. Birth weight differences does not explain the sequence of childhood cancer incidence by race/ethnicity.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Perception of spousal abuse expressed by married Bangladeshi immigrant women in Houston, Texas, U.S.A.

Relocating from a homogeneous ethnic country into one that is heterogeneous may threaten one's self-identity, cause isolation, and trigger tension between a couple making the journey together. Most spousal abuse cannot be separated from the cultural, social, and economic contexts in which it occurs. An assessment of abuse in an immigrant community is impacted by stereotypes, cultural stigmas, and lack of knowledge or trust of available resources and services. A prevalence rate of 10% for spousal abuse was revealed in this study of 23 married female immigrants from Bangladesh residing in Houston, Texas. Using both a quantitative and qualitative design, women reported both mental/verbal and physical abuse, most frequently committed by the husband and in-laws. Commonalities exist with other immigrant groups, but characteristics unique to those from Bangladesh must be considered to effectively address abuse against women in this community.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Spatial patterns of nitrate, chloride, sulfate, and fluoride concentrations in the Woodbine Aquifer of north-central Texas.

A geographic information system was used to map and analyze nitrate, chloride, sulfate, and fluoride concentrations in 110 wells tapping the Woodbine Aquifer. The study area, covering nine counties in north-central Texas, includes large percentages of both urban and agricultural land uses. Land use maps were compared with solute concentration data, and statistics were applied to detect associations between solutes, well depth, and land use. Anthropogenic sources such as fertilizer applications and natural sources such as gypsum, lignite, and clay deposits controlled nitrate, chloride, and sulfate concentrations, each inversely correlated with well depth. However, only one nitrate observation--from a shallow well in the aquifer's outcrop zone--surpassed the maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 44.3 mg L(-1). By comparison, nearly half of the sulfate and several of the chloride observations surpassed the MCL of 250 mg L(-1) for each of those ions. Volcanic ash deposits influenced fluoride concentrations, which directly correlated with well depth. There were no statistically significant associations between solute concentrations and land use. Low recharge rates and confining layers have mitigated anthropogenic impacts on solute levels in the aquifer.

Chlorides↗
PubMed2003

Opinions about oral cancer prevention and early detection among dentists practising along the Texas-Mexico border.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to assess dentists' opinions about oral cancer (OC) prevention and early detection. METHODS: Data were collected by a self-administered mail questionnaire sent to all 398 registered dentists practising along the Texas-Mexico border. RESULTS: The effective response rate to the survey was 40%. While 90% of respondents agreed that oral cancer examinations (OCE) should be provided annually for patients 40 years of age and older, only 59% of respondents believed their OC knowledge was current. While 99% agreed that dentists were qualified to perform OCE, only 54 and 68% respectively, agreed that dental hygienists and physicians were similarly qualified. Dentists who rated their undergraduate OC training favorably (OR = 2.68, 1.23-5.81, P = 0.011), had attended their last oral cancer continuing education (OCCE) course within the past 5 years (OR = 2.46, 1.25-4.86, P = 0.009), and those who performed OCE on all patients 40 years and older (OR = 2.64, 1.32-5.26, P = 0.005), were more likely to agree their OC knowledge was current. CONCLUSIONS: Respondents expressed diverse opinions about OC prevention and early detection. Positive opinion on currency of OC knowledge was associated with performance of OCE. Results indicate a need for OCCE targeting the study population as well as increased emphasis on OC curriculum in dental schools.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed2002

Determining the frequency of open windows in motor vehicles: a pilot study using a video camera in Houston, Texas during high temperature conditions.

Researchers have developed a variety of computer-based models to estimate population exposure to air pollution. These models typically estimate exposures by simulating the movement of specific population groups through defined microenvironments. Exposures in the motor vehicle microenvironment are significantly affected by air exchange rate, which in turn is affected by vehicle speed, window position, vent status, and air conditioning use. A pilot study was conducted in Houston, Texas, during September 2000 for a specific set of weather, vehicle speed, and road type conditions to determine whether useful information on the position of windows, sunroofs, and convertible tops could be obtained through the use of video cameras. Monitoring was conducted at three sites (two arterial roads and one interstate highway) on the perimeter of Harris County located in or near areas not subject to mandated Inspection and Maintenance programs. Each site permitted an elevated view of vehicles as they proceeded through a turn, thereby exposing all windows to the stationary video camera. Five videotaping sessions were conducted over a two-day period in which the Heat Index (HI)-a function of temperature and humidity-varied from 80 to 101 degrees F and vehicle speed varied from 30 to 74 mph. The resulting videotapes were processed to create a master database listing vehicle-specific data for site location, date, time, vehicle type (e.g., minivan), color, window configuration (e.g., four windows and sunroof), number of windows in each of three position categories (fully open, partially open, and closed), HI, and speed. Of the 758 vehicles included in the database, 140 (18.5 percent) were labeled as "open," indicating a window, sunroof, or convertible top was fully or partially open. The results of a series of stepwise linear regression analyses indicated that the probability of a vehicle in the master database being "open" was weakly affected by time of day, vehicle type, vehicle color, vehicle speed, and HI. In particular, open windows occurred more frequently when vehicle speed was less than 50 mph during periods when HI exceeded 99.9 degrees F and the vehicle was a minivan or passenger van. Overall, the pilot study demonstrated that data on factors affecting vehicle window position could be acquired through a relatively simple experimental protocol using a single video camera. Limitations of the study requiring further research include the inability to determine the status of the vehicle air conditioning system; lack of a wide range of weather, vehicle speed, and road type conditions; and the need to exclude some vehicles from statistical analyses due to ambiguous window positions.

Air Movements↗
PubMed2006

An evaluation of the indoor air quality in bars before and after a smoking ban in Austin, Texas.

This study assessed differences in the indoor air quality and occupancy levels in seventeen bars due to a city-wide smoking ban that took effect on September 1, 2005 in Austin, Texas, USA. We measured the following in each venue before and after the smoking ban: mean number of occupants, mean number of lit cigarettes, temperature, relative humidity, room volume, and PM(2.5), CO, and CO(2) concentrations. Additionally, VOC measurements were conducted at three of the venues. There was not a statistically significant change in occupancy, but the best estimate PM(2.5) concentrations in the venues decreased 71-99%, a significant reduction in all venues, relative to the pre-ban levels; CO concentrations decreased significantly in all but one venue; and concentrations of VOCs known to be emitted from cigarettes decreased to below the detection limit for all but two common compounds. These results suggest that the smoking ban has effectively improved indoor air quality in Austin bars without an associated decrease in occupancy.

Air Pollutants↗