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Primary care utilization and detection of emotional distress after adolescent traumatic injury: identifying an unmet need.

OBJECTIVE: Few investigations have assessed the primary care detection of adolescent posttraumatic emotional distress after an injury. We aimed to determine (1) the level of attachment to primary care providers (PCPs) and school providers among this group of high-risk adolescents, (2) the emotional status of this population postinjury, (3) continuity of care between trauma center and community care, and (4) PCPs' detection of emotional problems in adolescents after an injury. METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study of traumatically injured adolescents aged 12 to 18 who were admitted to a level I regional trauma center. Adolescents were screened for posttraumatic stress symptoms, depressive symptoms, and alcohol use on the surgical ward and 4 to 6 months postinjury. PCPs were contacted by telephone 4 to 6 months postinjury to assess follow-up care and the detection of emotional distress. RESULTS: In the surgical ward, 39.4% of the adolescent patients or their parents reported no identifiable source of regular medical care. Only 24.3% of the patients had visited a PCP during the 4 to 6 months after injury. At 4 to 6 months postinjury, 30% of the adolescents were experiencing high posttraumatic stress symptom levels, 11% were experiencing high depressive symptom levels, and 17% had high levels of alcohol use. PCPs did not detect any new emotional distress or problem drinking during postinjury office visits. CONCLUSIONS: Injured adolescents represent a high-risk pediatric population, a substantial number of whom develop mental health problems postinjury. Furthermore, almost 40% of adolescents in our study reported no source of primary care. These results suggest that referrals from trauma centers to PCPs are necessary and that an increase in awareness of and screening for adolescent emotional distress postinjury during follow-up appointments and at school should be routine components of postinjury care.

Adolescent↗

Towards better care for women. Understanding fungating breast lesions.

1. Although statistically affecting a minority of women with breast cancer, fungating breast lesions are a significant problem to those affected. 2. Evidence that early detection prevents development of advanced breast cancer is currently contestable. 3. Community nurses can help in the education, early detection and support of women with breast cancer. They can also give information and support to those undergoing treatment for fungating wounds. 4. There are several current palliative surgical and medical treatments for women with fungating tumours.

Breast Neoplasms↗

Microbial population changes during bioremediation of an experimental oil spill.

Three crude oil bioremediation techniques were applied in a randomized block field experiment simulating a coastal oil spill. Four treatments (no oil control, oil alone, oil plus nutrients, and oil plus nutrients plus an indigenous inoculum) were applied. In situ microbial community structures were monitored by phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis and 16S rDNA PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) to (i) identify the bacterial community members responsible for the decontamination of the site and (ii) define an end point for the removal of the hydrocarbon substrate. The results of PLFA analysis demonstrated a community shift in all plots from primarily eukaryotic biomass to gram-negative bacterial biomass with time. PLFA profiles from the oiled plots suggested increased gram-negative biomass and adaptation to metabolic stress compared to unoiled controls. DGGE analysis of untreated control plots revealed a simple, dynamic dominant population structure throughout the experiment. This banding pattern disappeared in all oiled plots, indicating that the structure and diversity of the dominant bacterial community changed substantially. No consistent differences were detected between nutrient-amended and indigenous inoculum-treated plots, but both differed from the oil-only plots. Prominent bands were excised for sequence analysis and indicated that oil treatment encouraged the growth of gram-negative microorganisms within the alpha-proteobacteria and Flexibacter-Cytophaga-Bacteroides phylum. alpha-Proteobacteria were never detected in unoiled controls. PLFA analysis indicated that by week 14 the microbial community structures of the oiled plots were becoming similar to those of the unoiled controls from the same time point, but DGGE analysis suggested that major differences in the bacterial communities remained.

Bacteria↗

Nested multiplex PCR--a feasible technique to study partial community of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in field-growing plant root.

Plant can be infected by different arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, but little is known about the interaction between them within root tissues mainly because different species cannot be distinguished on the basis of fungal structure. Accurate species identification of Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) colonized in plant roots is the cornerstone of mycorrhizal study, yet this fundamental step is impossible through its morphological character alone. For accurate, rapid and inexpensive detection of partial mycorrhizal fungal community in plant roots, a nested multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was developed in this study. Five discriminating primers designed based on the variable region of the 5' end of the large ribosomal subunit were used in the experiment for testing their specificity and the sensitivity in nested PCR by using spores from Glomus mosseae (BEG12), Glomus intraradices (BEG141), Scutellospora castaneae (BEG1) and two unidentified Glomus sp. HAUO3 and HAUO4. The feasibility assay of nested multiplex PCR was conducted by use of spore mixture, Astragalus sinicum roots co-inoculated with 4 species of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi from pot cultures and 15 different field-growing plant roots respectively after analyses of the compatibility of primers. The result indicated that the sensitivity was in the same range as that of the corresponding single PCR reaction. Overall accuracy was 95%. The efficiency and sensitivity of this multiplex PCR procedure provided a rapid and easy way to simultaneously detect several of arbuscular mycorrhiza fungal species in a same plant root system.

Astragalus Plant↗

Osteoporosis screening and education in community pharmacies using a team approach.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To develop a model for osteoporosis screening and education in community pharmacies using a team approach, compare bone mineral density T-scores between quantitative ultrasound (QUS) and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), and determine patient satisfaction with this pharmacist-provided osteoporosis screening and education program. DESIGN: Prospective, cross-sectional study. SETTING: Community pharmacies and outpatient family medicine, internal medicine, and obstetrics and gynecology clinics in Amarillo, Texas. PATIENTS: Women aged 55 years or older with no previous diagnosis of osteoporosis or osteopenia who had at least one additional risk factor for osteoporosis and had not been screened in the previous 3 years. INTERVENTION: Patients were referred from family medicine, internal medicine, and obstetrics and gynecology clinics to a community pharmacy. Osteoporosis screening using heel QUS and education regarding disease prevention and treatment were provided by pharmacists. Screening results, recommendations for confirmatory DXA, and potential treatments options were provided to the referring physicians. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: A total of 100 patients (mean age 66.2+/-7.9 yrs) were enrolled in the study; three were subsequently excluded. Of the 97 study patients who were screened using QUS, 45 (46%) patients were at moderate risk (T-score<-1 to>-2.5) and nine (9%) were at high risk (T-score<or=-2.5). Of 54 patients recommended for DXA referral, 20 (37%) completed the scan. All 20 were diagnosed with either osteopenia (9 patients [45%]) or osteoporosis (11 patients [55%]). Correlation was moderate between T-scores obtained by QUS and DXA of lumbar vertebrae 1-4 (r=0.45, p=0.026). Counseling regarding risk factors, screening results, smoking cessation, calcium intake, exercise, and caffeine intake was perceived by patients as valuable or highly valuable (medians for all items ranged from 4-5 on a 5-point Likert scale). Of 84 patients assessed (13 were lost to follow-up), 81 (96%) said they would recommend this service to others. CONCLUSION: Osteoporosis screening and education in community pharmacies are effective in detecting undiagnosed disease and are perceived by patients as highly useful.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

The epidemiology of schistosomiasis in Egypt: Gharbia Governorate.

Health questionnaires and parasitologic examinations of urine and stool were performed upon a stratified random sample of 14,344 individuals from 1,952 households in 34 rural communities in Gharbia Governorate of Egypt to investigate the prevalence of, risk factors for, and changing pattern of infection with Schistosoma sp. A subset, every fifth household, of 1,973 subjects had physical and ultrasound examinations to investigate prevalence of and risk factors for morbidity. Community prevalence of Schistosoma mansoni ranged from 17.9% to 79.5% and averaged 37.7%. The geometric mean egg count (GMEC) was 78.9 eggs/gram of feces. The prevalence and intensity of infection was 40-50% and 70-100 eggs/gram of feces in those > or =10 years of age. Schistosoma haematobium was detected in 5 of the 34 communities. The maximum infection rate was 2.8% and mean GMEC in the five communities was 2.1/10 ml of urine. The overall prevalence of S. haematobium in the governorate was 0.3%. Risk factors for infection with S. mansoni were male gender, an age >10 years, living in smaller communities, exposures to canal water, prior therapy for schistosomiasis, or blood in the stool (in children only). Morbidity detected by physical examination or ultrasonography did not correlate with S. mansoni infection in individuals with the exception of periportal fibrosis (PPF, odds ratio [OR] = 1.25). Periportal fibrosis was detected in more than half of the subjects by ultrasonography; 5.3% had grade II lesions and 1.0% had the most severe grade III changes. Risk factors for morbidity as manifested by ultrasonographically detected PPF were similar to those for infection. Periportal fibrosis had a negative relationship with abdominal pain (OR = 0.45) and hepatomegaly detected by physical examination and ultrasonography (ORs = 0.72 and 0.68), but it was associated with splenomegaly (ORs = 4.14 and 3.55). The prevalence of PPF, hepatomegaly, and splenomegaly increased with age. There was no relationship between community burden of schistosomiasis mansoni and any measurements of morbidity with the exception of splenomegaly detected by physical examination (r = 0.40). Schistosoma mansoni has almost completely replaced S. haematobium in Gharbia, which has a high prevalence and moderate intensity of S. mansoni infection. Periportal fibrosis was detected by ultrasonography in more than half of the subjects, and 1 in 16 had grade II and III lesions. The only relationship between PPF and other morbidity findings was its positive relationship with splenomegaly and negative association with hepatomegaly. Hepatic morbidity is common in communities in Gharbia but the role of schistosomiasis mansoni in this is uncertain.

Adolescent↗

Assessment of microbial diversity in four southwestern United States soils by 16S rRNA gene terminal restriction fragment analysis.

The ability of terminal restriction fragment (T-RFLP or TRF) profiles of 16S rRNA genes to provide useful information about the relative diversity of complex microbial communities was investigated by comparison with other methods. Four soil communities representing two pinyon rhizosphere and two between-tree (interspace) soil environments were compared by analysis of 16S rRNA gene clone libraries and culture collections (Dunbar et al., Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 65:1662-1669, 1998) and by analysis of 16S rDNA TRF profiles of community DNA. The TRF method was able to differentiate the four communities in a manner consistent with previous comparisons of the communities by analysis of 16S rDNA clone libraries. TRF profiles were not useful for calculating and comparing traditional community richness or evenness values among the four soil environments. Statistics calculated from RsaI, HhaI, HaeIII, and MspI profiles of each community were inconsistent, and the combined data were not significantly different between samples. The detection sensitivity of the method was tested. In standard PCRs, a seeded population comprising 0.1 to 1% of the total community could be detected. The combined results demonstrate that TRF analysis is an excellent method for rapidly comparing the relationships between bacterial communities in environmental samples. However, for highly complex communities, the method appears unable to provide classical measures of relative community diversity.

Bacteria↗

Economic impact of pharmacists' interventions with nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the economic impact of community pharmacists' interventions following the detection of problems related to nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), whether in a prescription or self-medication format. The evaluation focused on the gastroduodenal adverse events that could be avoided and the subsequent savings of healthcare resources spent on treating these adverse effects. METHODS: A previous study conducted during a 12-week period in 924 French community pharmacies provided the number of interventions for drug-related problems concerning NSAIDs. A simulation model was constructed to compare 2 strategies: a systematic pharmacist's intervention and the absence of intervention. The base-case patient was assumed to have been taking an NSAID for 3 months. The model's inputs were extracted from medical literature and from an institutional medical database. RESULTS: In this study, 608 interventions were the results of NSAID-related problems. All of these interventions reduced the risk of gastrointestinal adverse events and avoided a total cost of 37 300. CONCLUSIONS: This model indicates that the dispensing of NSAIDs by pharmacists and related pharmaceutical care activities have a positive impact by reducing the number of gastrointestinal complications. The model quantifies the costs thus avoided. It also underlines the necessity of effective collaboration between the prescriber and the pharmacist if optimal patient management is to be achieved.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal↗

Dynamics of an oligotrophic bacterial aquifer community during contact with a groundwater plume contaminated with benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes: an in situ mesocosm study.

An in situ mesocosm system was designed to monitor the in situ dynamics of the microbial community in polluted aquifers. The mesocosm system consists of a permeable membrane pocket filled with aquifer material and placed within a polypropylene holder, which is inserted below groundwater level in a monitoring well. After a specific time period, the microcosm is recovered from the well and its bacterial community is analyzed. Using this system, we examined the effect of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX) contamination on the response of an aquifer bacterial community by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis of PCR-amplified 16S rRNA genes and PCR detection of BTEX degradation genes. Mesocosms were filled with nonsterile or sterile aquifer material derived from an uncontaminated area and positioned in a well located in either the uncontaminated area or a nearby contaminated area. In the contaminated area, the bacterial community in the microcosms rapidly evolved into a stable community identical to that in the adjacent aquifer but different from that in the uncontaminated area. At the contaminated location, bacteria with tmoA- and xylM/xylE1-like BTEX catabolic genotypes colonized the aquifer, while at the uncontaminated location only tmoA-like genotypes were detected. The communities in the mesocosms and in the aquifer adjacent to the wells in the contaminated area consisted mainly of Proteobacteria. At the uncontaminated location, Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria were found. Our results indicate that communities with long-term stability in their structures follow the contamination plume and rapidly colonize downstream areas upon contamination.

Actinobacteria↗

Accessing the black box of microbial diversity and ecophysiology: recent advances through polyphasic experiments.

The microbial ecology of a range of anaerobic biological assemblages (granular sludge) from full- and laboratory-scale wastewater treatment bioreactors, and of crop-growing and peat soils, was determined using a variety of 16S rRNA gene-based techniques, including clone library, terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (TRFLP) and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analyses. Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) using 16S rRNA gene-targeted probes was employed to complete a "full-cycle rRNA approach" with selected biomass. Genetic fingerprinting (TRFLP and DGGE) was effectively used to elucidate community structure-crop relationships, and to detect and monitor trends in bioreactor sludge and specific enrichment cultures of peat soil. Greater diversity was resolved within bacterial than within archaeal communities, and unexpected reservoirs of uncultured Crenarchaeota were detected in sludge granules. Advanced radiotracer incubations and micro-beta imaging were employed in conjunction with FISH to elucidate the eco-functionalism of these organisms. Crenarchaeota clusters were identified in close associated with methanogenic Archaea and both were localised with acetate uptake in biofilm structure.

Archaea↗

Antibiotic-resistant pneumococci carried by young children do not appear to disseminate to adult members of a closed community.

Although antibiotic-resistant pneumococci have been frequently detected among day care center (DCC) attendees, the transmission of these organisms to other members of the community has not been adequately studied. Nasopharyngeal cultures were obtained from 152 children and 244 adult members of a closed community (a kibbutz) in Israel. Serotyping, antibiogram, and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis were performed to determine the relatedness of isolated pneumococci. Twenty (30%) of the 66 isolates from children showed decreased susceptibility to penicillin and 9 isolates (14%) were resistant to > or =3 drugs. Of the 16 isolates from adults, 5 (31%) were intermediately resistant to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Resistant strains carried by DCC attendees were not isolated either from their parents or from other adult members of the community. Despite the high degree of interpersonal contact occurring in a closed community, resistant pneumococcal strains carried by DCC attendees do not appear to be easily transmitted to the adult population, which suggests the existence of an immunological barrier.

Adolescent↗

Microbial diversity and complexity in hypersaline environments: a preliminary assessment.

The microbial communities in solar salterns and a soda lake have been characterized using two techniques: BIOLOG, to estimate the metabolic potential, and amplicon length heterogeneity analysis, to estimate the molecular diversity of these communities. Both techniques demonstrated that the halophilic Bacteria and halophilic Archaea populations in the Eilat, Israel saltern are dynamic communities with extensive metabolic potentials and changing community structures. Halophilic Bacteria were detected in Mono Lake and the lower salinity ponds at the Shark Bay saltern in Western Australia, except when the crystallizer samples were stressed by exposure to Acid Green Dye #9899. At Shark Bay, halophilic Archaea were found only in the crystallizer samples. These data confirm both the metabolic diversity and the phylogenetic complexity of the microbial communities and assert the need to develop more versatile media for the cultivation of the diversity of bacteria in hypersaline environments.

Archaea↗

Community control of hereditary anaemias: memorandum from a WHO meeting.

There are at least 240 million heterozygotes for the haemoglobinopathies throughout the world, and at least 200 000 lethally affected homozygotes are born annually, about half with thalassaemia and half with sickle cell anaemia. These diseases are already making important demands on health resources in developing countries, and with further progress in primary health care, they will become a major public health problem. This has already happened in the Mediterranean areas where thalassaemias are predominant, and is now beginning in parts of south-east Asia. Important new developments in the treatment and community control of the haemoglobinopathies now make it advisable for all countries where they are endemic, regardless of their present state of development, to evaluate the present and potential problems presented by these diseases.Although effective management of thalassaemia major, involving intensive treatment with blood and iron-chelating agents, is too expensive for most developing countries, community control by prospective heterozygote detection, education, and fetal diagnosis has now been successfully applied in some European and Mediterranean areas. Within three years of starting these programmes, the birth rate of infants with thalassaemia major had fallen by 50-80%. The relatively low cost of setting up and running the control programmes has already been greatly outweighed by the financial and social benefits of the reduced thalassaemia birth rate. Detailed guidelines are provided for community control programmes that could be incorporated into the health care service of many developing countries.In sickle cell disease, which varies in severity with both genetic and environmental factors, the commonest problem is death in early childhood from overwhelming infections. A major effort should be put into heterozygote screening and neonatal diagnosis to permit earlier identification and protection of affected individuals. This will also provide a good basis for a prevention programme if more acceptable methodology, such as first trimester fetal diagnosis, becomes available. Heterozygote detection and counselling, and education in management of homozygotes should be integrated into the primary care system of countries with a high incidence of sickle cell disease.

Anemia↗

[Clinico-epidemiological investigation of schistosome-induced hepatosplenomegaly: a community-based study in Jishan, Xinjian County, Jiangxi].

Since the primary objective of mass chemotherapy in schistosomiasis control is reduction of schistosome-induced morbidity, it would be reasonable to assess the impact of a control program on the morbidity in a given population by investigating hepato-splenomegaly associated with schistosomiasis in a schistosomiasis endemic area. In this paper, the authors described the relationship between the prevalence, intensity and morbidity of Schistosoma japonicum infection in terms of stool egg count and ultrasonographically detectable hepatosplenomegaly in a community-based study. It was found that the epidemiological pattern of the infection in this study community was quite different from our usual understanding, that is, the prevalence remained relatively high (39.4%) when the intensity became lower. This unusual pattern might be resulted from intermittent and sporadic chemotherapy associated with frequent exposure of people to the infection in an area of high transmission. It was surprised to note that despite the praziquantel treatment carried out over the past years, the prevalence of hepatosplenomegaly induced by schistosomiasis in this community was still very high, suggesting that intermittent and sporadic chemotherapy might render little impact on schistosomiasis-induced morbidity. The investigation also showed that ultrasonography was a sensitive tool for assessing morbidity associated with schistosome infection.

Adolescent↗

[Detection of hepatitis B virus infection markers at a collective].

The occurrence of serological markers of hepatitis B virus infection among the members of a newly formed community (370 persons) was determined. The markers were detected with the use of highly sensitive methods for the detection of HBsAg, anti-HBs, HBeAg, anti-HBc, IgM anti-HBc. At the time of the formation of this community HBsAg, anti-HBs and anti-HBc were detected, respectively, in 4%, 11% and 31.3% and 6 months later, in 8.4%, 9.5% and 46.4% of persons. The presence of a considerable number of inapparent forms of hepatitis B and differences in the degree of the involvement of individual groups in this community into the epidemic process have been shown.

Adolescent↗

Macrobenthic community in the Douro estuary: relations with trace metals and natural sediment characteristics.

The relationship between macrobenthic community structure and natural characteristics of sediment and trace metal contamination were studied in the lower Douro estuary (Portugal, NW, Iberian Peninsula), using an innovative threefold approach (SQG, Sediment Quality Guidelines), metal normalization to Fe, and macrobenthic community structure. This study allowed detection of a clear signature of anthropogenic contamination, in terms of Zn, Cu, Pb, and Cr in the north bank of the estuary, which experiences high urban pressure. Using the SQG approach, metal concentrations above ERM (effects range-median) were observed only at one sampling station, but several stations had levels above ERL (effects range-low). The macrobenthic community had a low diversity, with only 19 species found in the entire estuarine area, dominated by opportunistic species. The granulometric distribution of the sediments (estimated from the combination of organic matter, Fe and Al) seemed to be the major structuring factor for the communities, establishing the natural macrobenthic distribution pattern. The metals (Zn, Cu, Pb, and Cr) seemed to act as a disturbing factor over the natural distribution, with deleterious consequences for the macrobenthic communities.

Animals↗

Bacterial community structure of a pesticide-contaminated site and assessment of changes induced in community structure during bioremediation.

The introduction of culture-independent molecular screening techniques, especially based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, has allowed microbiologists to examine a facet of microbial diversity not necessarily reflected by the results of culturing studies. The bacterial community structure was studied for a pesticide-contaminated site that was subsequently remediated using an efficient degradative strain Arthrobacter protophormiae RKJ100. The efficiency of the bioremediation process was assessed by monitoring the depletion of the pollutant, and the effect of addition of an exogenous strain on the existing soil community structure was determined using molecular techniques. The 16S rRNA gene pool amplified from the soil metagenome was cloned and restriction fragment length polymorphism studies revealed 46 different phylotypes on the basis of similar banding patterns. Sequencing of representative clones of each phylotype showed that the community structure of the pesticide-contaminated soil was mainly constituted by Proteobacteria and Actinomycetes. Terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis showed only nonsignificant changes in community structure during the process of bioremediation. Immobilized cells of strain RKJ100 enhanced pollutant degradation but seemed to have no detectable effects on the existing bacterial community structure.

Arthrobacter↗

Prediction of violent recidivism.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the changes and improvements in accuracy of the prediction of violent recidivism. METHOD: The evolution of better prediction models is described by reviewing the more significant methods used and referring to the results of their application. RESULTS: Development of instruments such as the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised, the Violence Risk Assessment Guide (VRAG), the HCR-20 and the multiple-item comprehensive questionnaire of Monahan and Steadman has substantially improved accuracy in risk assessment. The presence of full-blown psychopathy has proven itself a better predictor of violence than has a diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSW-IV). Shortcomings to the efficacy of the current instruments stem from the difficulty in detecting violence-proneness in persons who eventually assault or murder one or two persons (usually family members), but who have no, or a limited, record of past violence. Persons from affluent backgrounds are more adept at evading arrests or convictions than are the poor. Adolescent sons abused by parents are at risk to commit violent acts later on, but the community has little power to detect or intervene until these acts are committed. CONCLUSION: Prediction of violence has significantly improved over the last 20 years, thanks to the development of objective instruments of risk assessment.

Antisocial Personality Disorder↗