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PubMed1996

[Molecular genetic study of the strain Streptomyces virginiae-- the producer of virginiamycin].

The level and the character of the Streptomyces virginiae virginiamycin-producing strain's resistance to self-produced antibiotic and a number of antibiotics from different groups were determined. S. virginiae was shown to display constitutive and inducible resistance to self-produced antibiotic. The phenomenon of cross-inducible resistance of the strain to virginiamycin and the antibiotics erythromycin, oleandomycin, and thiostrepton was demonstrated. The pTO1 and pVGTB24 plasmids were introduced into the strain by the method of intergeneric conjugation with Escherichia coli. Site-specific integration of the pTO1 vector into the S. virginiae chromosomal attB site without disturbance of growth, differentiation, and productivity of the strain was shown. The multicopy autonomously replicating plasmids pIJ699, pIJ702, pWOR109, and the integrative pZAT22 plasmid were introduced into the strain via electrotransformation of germinating spores. The efficiency of transformation was 1-5 x 10(3) transformants per 1 microgram DNA. The stable inheritance of the plasmids in S. virginiae without structural rearrangements was shown. These results allow the use of these plasmids to clone genes into S. virginiae.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1994

Virginia Bioethics Network.

The Virginia Bioethics Network (VBN), a self-governing, self-supporting organization of Virginia healthcare institutions and other interested groups and individuals, was officially incorporated in the state of Virginia in December 1993.... The mission of the VBN is to advance the knowledge of biomedical ethics within Virginia healthcare institutions and their communities and to support the development of local institutional ethics programs and regional ethics networks throughout the state. The ultimate goal is enhancement of ethical decision making in the clinical setting with all pertinent factors, including community values, being given due consideration during the decision-making process....

Communication↗
PubMed2006

Evaluating terrestrial carbon sequestration options for Virginia.

Changes in forest and agricultural land management practices have the potential to increase carbon (C) storage by terrestrial systems, thus offsetting C emissions to the atmosphere from energy production. This study assesses that potential for three terrestrial management practices within the state of Virginia, USA: afforestation of marginal agricultural lands; afforestation of riparian agricultural lands; and changing tillage practices for row crops; each was evaluated on a statewide basis and for seven regions within the state. Lands eligible for each practice were identified, and the C storage potential of each practice on those lands was estimated through a modeling procedure that utilized land-resource characteristics represented in Geographic Information System databases. Marginal agricultural lands' afforestation was found to have the greatest potential (1.4 Tg C yr(-1), on average, over the first 20 years) if applied on all eligible lands, followed by riparian afforestation (0.2 Tg C yr(-1) over 20 years) and tillage conversion (0.1 Tg C yr(-1) over 14 years). The regions with the largest potentials are the Ridge and Valley of western Virginia (due to extensive areas of steep, shallow soils) and in the Mid-Atlantic Coastal Plain in eastern Virginia (wet soils). Although widespread and rapid implementation of the three modeled practices could be expected to offset only about 3.4% of Virginia's energy-related CO(2) emissions over the following 20 years (equivalent to about 8.5% of a Kyoto Treaty-based target), they could contribute to achievement of C-management goals if implemented along with other mitigation measures.

Carbon↗
PubMed1992

Trends in cancer mortality in Kanawha County, West Virginia, 1950-1984.

There has been much concern recently about possible adverse health effects related to exposure to toxic chemicals among residents of Kanawha County in southern West Virginia. An epidemiological study of trends in cancer mortality from 1950-1984 among the general population of Kanawha County in southern West Virginia was mounted. Cabell County, West Virginia was chosen to be a comparison county for Kanawha in addition to West Virginia and the total United States. The cancer mortality rates for white males and females were calculated using NCHS mortality data and Census Bureau population data available on the Mortality and Population Data System (MPDS) at the University of Pittsburgh. Mortality rates for cancer in Kanawha and Cabell Counties were evaluated over the time period 1950-1984 with an age-period-cohort (APC) analysis. In this analysis, poisson regression models were fit using the statistical program GLIM (Generalized Linear Models) to determine the separate effects of age, period of death, and birth cohort on the specific cancers of interest (lung, liver, bladder, CNS, leukemia, lympho-reticulosarcoma, all cancers). There were no significant county differences for cancer death rates between Kanawha and Cabell Counties except for leukemia among white males [O.R. = 1.27, 95% (C.I. = 1.03-1.6)], and for lympho-reticulosarcoma [O.R. = 1.66(1.24-2.07)], suggesting a possible occupational exposure. For leukemia, aleukemia, the effect observed seems to have declined. In contrast, the elevation of lympho-reticulosarcoma rates has remained in recent years (1970-1984).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

The Virginia Twin-Family Study of Adolescent Behavioral Development: assessing sample biases in demographic correlates of psychopathology.

The Virginia Twin-Family Study of Adolescent Behavioral Development (VTSABD) is a current longitudinal study of psychopathology in 1412 pairs of 8-16-year-old Caucasian twins and their parents. The primary aim of the study is to evaluate family-genetic and environmental risk factors for major domains of psychopathology in families representative of the Virginia Caucasian population. In this report, we utilize census-derived indices of neighbourhood income and urban residence to identify departures from population representation arising at the time of family enrollment in the twin registry and family participation in a psychiatric interview. Furthermore, we consider whether demographic sample biases influenced prevalence rates of adult psychopathology (including major depression, generalized anxiety disorder, alcohol dependence, phobias, and panic disorder) in the VTSABD. Results indicated that families that enrolled in the twin registry (83% of those identified by Virginia schools) and that participated in the home interview (75% of those targeted) resided in urban and rural communities with a range of per capita income levels representative of the Virginia population. However, participation biases operated throughout the study and were primarily characterized by losses of families living in low income, urban communities. There was also a smaller number of families living in high income neighbourhoods that did not enroll in the twin registry or that indefinitely postponed the psychiatric interview. These biases had small effects on prevalence rates of adult psychopathology in the VTSABD sample, even though neighbourhood income was significantly related to a subset of adult diagnoses. We emphasize the usefulness of the census methodology in evaluating sample biases in population-based psychiatric genetic studies.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Are brook trout streams in western Virginia and Shenandoah National Park recovering from acidification?

Streamwater composition data obtained through periodic sampling of streams that support brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) in the mountains of western Virginia were examined for evidence of recovery from acidification during the 1988-2001 period. Measurements of sulfate deposition in precipitation indicate that sulfate deposition in the region declined approximately 40% between 1985 and 2000. While no significant regional trends in acid-base constituents were observed for the set (n = 65) of western Virginia study streams, significant regional trends were observed for a subset (n = 14) of streams in Shenandoah National Park (SNP). For the subset of SNP streams, the median increase in acid-neutralizing capacity (ANC) was 0.168 microequiv L(-1) year(-1) and the median decrease in sulfate concentration was -0.229 microequiv L(-1) year(-1). Although these trends are consistent with recovery from acidification, the degree of apparent recovery is small compared to estimates of historic acidification in SNP streams and much less than observed in other, more northern regions in the United States. Correlation between sulfate concentration trends and current sulfate concentrations in streamwater suggests that recovery from stream acidification in the western Virginia region is determined by sulfur retention processes in watershed soils. A transient increase in nitrate concentrations that occurred among some western Virginia streams following forest defoliation by the gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar) complicates interpretation of the observed patterns of change in acid-base status.

Acid Rain↗
PubMed1998

Culicoides variipennis (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) complex in Virginia.

Immature Culicoides variipennis (Coquillett) were sampled from aquatic habitats throughout Virginia, reared to adults, and examined by isozyme electrophoresis to assess their taxonomic status. Data from 22 counties showed that C. v. variipennis is widespread and common, the predominant taxon throughout Virginia, and genetically similar to C. v. variipennis in Maryland. Because C. v. variipennis is considered an inefficient vector of the bluetongue viruses, this observation is consistent with the low seroprevalence of bluetongue in indigenous livestock of the mid-Atlantic region. Culicoides v. sonorensis Wirth & Jones, considered to be the primary North American vector of the bluetongue viruses, was recovered in large numbers only from a wastewater lagoon at a dairy in southeastern Virginia, but also was detected at low levels in 6 other counties. Comparison of genetic distances and patterns of discriminating alleles among Virginia populations of C. v. variipennis and C. v. sonorensis showed that respective subspecies are genetically distinct and show no evidence of introgression, irrespective of geographic- and habitat-level sympatry. The persistence of a pure C. v. sonorensis population in a dairy wastewater lagoon may reflect physico-chemical factors that influence the distribution of immature C. variipennis complex populations. A better understanding of the distribution of the C. variipennis complex will benefit regionalization of U.S. exports of livestock and livestock germplasm to bluetongue-free countries.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Neurosurgery at the University of Virginia.

Before 1937, members of the Department of Surgery and Gynecology practiced emergency neurosurgery at the University of Virginia in the same fashion as in other hospitals in the United States. In 1937, Claude C. Coleman, Chairman of the Department of Neurosurgery at the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond, organized a Division of Neurosurgery as part of the Department of Surgery and Gynecology at the University of Virginia. He designated one of his staff members, John M. Meredith, as Neurosurgeon-in-charge. Dr. Coleman served as Clinical Professor of Neurological Surgery at the University of Virginia from 1937 to 1941, while also working in Richmond. This arrangement attracted increasing numbers of patients, leading to the formation of a separate department, under the direction of William Gayle Crutchfield, in 1941. In conjunction with Juan de Dios Martinez-Galindo, who joined the faculty in 1943, Dr. Crutchfield built and directed the neurosurgical training program until his retirement. In 1969, John A. Jane, Sr., became Professor and Chairman of the Department of Neurosurgery. Pursuing the Jeffersonian intent of attracting "... those of due degree of science and of talents for instruction," the Department has been enhanced by the arrival of Neal F. Kassell in 1984, Ladislau Steiner in 1987, Edward R. Laws, Jr., in 1992, Dheerendra Prasad in 1995, Gregory Helm in 1996, and Mark Shaffrey in 1997. Resident training has been a priority of the Department of Neurosurgery; many academic neurosurgeons were trained and practiced their specialty in the Department early in their careers. Sixty years after its foundation, the Department of Neurosurgery continues its commitment to patient care, research, and the "... instruction of those who come after us."

Education, Medical, Graduate↗
PubMed2005

The West Virginia Health Education Assessment Project.

Well-designed school health education should provide students with the knowledge and skills to prevent the health risk behaviors most responsible for the major causes of morbidity and mortality. This paper reports the methodology and findings of a West Virginia statewide health education assessment initiative and describes how the findings are used to design professional development training for school health educators. Selected response items from the State Collaborative on Assessment and Student Standards, Health Education Assessment Project were used to develop a 40-item assessment instrument for 6 health education content areas. In West Virginia, 51 counties and 242 schools were recruited (county response rate = 93%; school response rate = 53%); 17,549 students were tested in grades 6, 8, and high school health education classes. Mean total scores by grade were 30.61 (grade 6), 26.55 (grade 8), and 26.53 (high school), indicating a slight decline in scores as grade level increased. Females in each grade level scored higher on total Health Education Assessment Project (HEAP) scores and subtest scores than males. The results suggest notable differences across grade levels. High school students failed to meet the standard on any health education content areas, indicating the need for enhanced knowledge and skill development. During professional development training, HEAP scores were examined in the context of results from the West Virginia Youth Risk Behavior Survey to underscore the importance of providing quality skills-based health education in West Virginia schools.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

West Nile virus in raptors from Virginia during 2003: clinical, diagnostic, and epidemiologic findings.

Sixty-one birds of prey admitted to The Wildlife Center of Virginia (WCV; Waynesboro, Virginia, USA) from June to November 2003 were tested for West Nile virus (WNV) infection. Choanal and/or cloacal swabs were obtained and submitted to Virginia's Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services (Richmond, Virginia, USA) for analysis with real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Forty birds of prey were positive for WNV by RT-PCR. Five avian families and nine species of raptors were represented, with great horned owls (Bubo virginianus) and red-tailed hawks (Buteo jamaicensis) most frequently affected. Presenting clinical signs were consistent with previous reports of WNV infection in raptors; however, these differed between species. Of WNV positive birds, nonspecific signs of illness were the most common clinical findings, particularly in red-tailed hawks; signs included dehydration (n = 20), emaciation (n = 18), and depression (n = 15). Neurologic abnormalities were frequently identified, especially in great horned owls, and included head tremors (n = 17), ataxia (n = 13), head incoordination (n = 7), torticollis (n = 3), nystagmus (n = 3), and head tilt (n = 3). Great horned owls exhibited anemia and leukocytosis with heterophilia, eosinophilia, and monocytosis consistent with chronic inflammation. Red-tailed hawks were anemic with a heterophilic leukocytosis and regenerative left shift. The majority of WNV cases occurred during August and September; there was a marked increase in the number of raptors admitted to WCV during these months followed by a marked decrease during October, November, and December. This pattern differed from mean monthly admissions during the previous 10 years and suggests a negative impact on local raptor populations. The effects of WNV on avian populations are largely unknown; however, because of their ecological importance, further investigation of the effects of WNV on raptor populations is warranted.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Sexual harassment in dentistry: experiences of Virginia dental hygienists.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine if dental hygienists in the Commonwealth of Virginia experienced sexual harassment while employed in oral health care settings. Other interests were to determine if dental hygienists experienced sexual harassment, to what extent they felt professionally prepared to respond to unwanted sexual behaviors; did they perceive sexual harassment as a problem in the oral health care environment; and was attrition from their employment associated with sexual harassment. METHODS: A questionnaire, Sexual Harassment in the Dental Hygiene Profession, designed by the author, was used in this research. A list of currently licensed and registered dental hygienists was obtained from the Virginia Board of Dental Examiners and the questionnaire was sent to 540 randomly selected registered Virginia dental hygienists. Two weeks after the initial mailing, a second questionnaire was sent to non-respondents. The survey elicited data on experience, management, and personal opinions relative to sexual harassment, as well as demographic information. Results were analyzed using frequencies, percentages, and the chi-square test of association. RESULTS: Two hundred eighty-five surveys (53%) were returned and useable. Findings revealed that 54% of the responding dental hygienists experienced sexual harassment. Of these, 50% experienced sexual harassment four or more years ago, 23% one to three years ago and 28% within the last year; these categories were mutually exclusive. The perpetrators of the harassment were reported to be either male dentists (73%) or male clients (45%). Less than 10% reported being harassed by women. While 70% of the sexually harassed respondents indicated that filing formal complaints was an effective strategy for managing sexual harassment, less than 1% actually did so. Of all dental hygienists (harassed or not), 90% did not receive training in their dental education to manage sexual harassment, and 85% would like the American Dental Hygienists' Association to develop model guidelines and policies. Demographic characteristics were typical of practicing dental hygienists in Virginia; 99% female, 96% Caucasian, and 86% married with a mean age of 40 years. CONCLUSION: Information about managing sexual harassment needs to be incorporated into the dental hygiene curricula. This curriculum addition should include information on identifying sexual harassment incidents, strategies for controlling unacceptable behavior, the legal rights of employees, and the process of filing a formal complaint. Dental hygienists need to identify sexual harassment behaviors and receive prevention training though continuing education courses. Furthermore, the American Dental Hygienists Association and the American Dental Association need to collaboratively develop guidelines and policies for dentists and dental hygienists regarding the management of sexual harassment in the oral health care setting.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Improving medical care for West Virginia seniors.

Using data published by the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA), supplemented with information obtained from West Virginia Medicare claims data and Medicare hospital records, we compared the performance of West Virginia physicians and hospitals on 22 quality of care indicators for six common conditions. The conditions are myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, atrial fibrillation, stroke, breast cancer screening and pneumonia. Quality indicator performance for most indicators in West Virginia from 1997-98 was lower than the average of the 19 states with data collected at the same time. For some indicators, such as early use of beta blockers following myocardial infarction (52.7%), administration of influenza vaccine (58.2%), and warfarin prescription to atrial fibrillation patients (45.1%), the state's care ranked near the bottom. However, quality scores varied widely among West Virginia health care providers, suggesting that statewide improvement in care is feasible. Ongoing efforts among physicians, hospitals and the peer review organization are aimed at achieving such improvement.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

Frequency of serial sexual homicide victimization in Virginia for a ten-year period.

The frequency of serial sexual murder has been widely discussed, and estimates of the number of victims in the United States range from 500 to 6000 per year. This study attempted to quantify the number of serial sexual murder victims in Virginia for a ten-year period. Multiple sources of data were utilized, including Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) case files, FBI's Violent Criminal Apprehension Program (ViCAP) reports, Virginia State Police ViCAP reports, Virginia Homicide Investigators Association, and the Virginia Division of Forensic Science DNA database, to effectively cull out all the known serial sexual murder victims for the given time period. Review of these records revealed a total of 28 victims of serial sexual murder, compared with a total of 5183 murder victims for the same ten-year period. The frequency of serial sexual victimization was 0.5% of all homicides for the given period. These results highlight the unusual frequency of serial sexual murder.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Syndromic surveillance at hospital emergency departments--southeastern Virginia.

Hospital emergency department (ED) syndromic surveillance has been proposed for early detection of a large-scale biologic terrorist attack. However, questions remain regarding its usefulness. The authors examined the use of active syndromic surveillance at hospital EDs in Virginia for early detection of disease events and analyzed the effectiveness of the cumulative sum (CUSUM) algorithm in identifying disease events from syndromic data. Daily chief-complaint data were collected for 10 months at seven hospital EDs in southeastern Virginia. Data were categorized into seven syndromes (fever, respiratory distress, vomiting, diarrhea, rash, disorientation, and sepsis), and the CUSUM algorithm was used to detect anomalies in each of the seven syndromes at each hospital. Fever and respiratory distress syndromes exhibited monthly and ambient-temperature-specific trends consistent with southeastern Virginia's influenza season. Furthermore, preliminary frequencies of hospital ED patient chief complaints in southeastern Virginia during a 10-month period were produced by using syndromic data. This system represents an example of a local syndromic surveillance program serving multiple cities in a limited geographic region.

Algorithms↗
PubMed1991

Family physicians' perceptions of health manpower needs in West Virginia.

West Virginia family physicians feel that they are able to assess the health care needs of their communities. There is a need for more physicians in all of the major specialties in West Virginia, but the largest numbers of physicians are needed in family practice and obstetrics. More registered nurses and licensed practical nurses are needed than any other health care professionals. Twenty-five percent of the respondents are actively recruiting associates, and 48 percent have seriously considered leaving, or are leaving West Virginia. The most commonly cited reasons for leaving are inadequate reimbursement, the state's economy, SB-576, lack of tort reform, and state government in general. The greatest advantage given to practicing in the state are its people, the quality of life, and home and family. In addition, the greatest problems are reimbursement, state government, the malpractice climate and the state economy. The survey shows that state government needs to show a good faith effort to enact tort reform to improve relations with physicians. The threat of losing more physicians is real and must be addressed. Improving the climate for the practice of medicine is a viable solution to West Virginia's manpower problems. There is also a need to continue all present health care professional training programs. More emphasis should be placed on recruitment and retention of nursing students. There is expressed support for nurse midwives, nurse practitioners, and physicians' assistants all working under the supervision of physicians. The finding that home and family are frequently listed as advantages to practicing here indicates recruitment and nurturing of students from underserved areas should be increased.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Allied Health Personnel↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Long-term trends in cancer mortality rates for West Virginia.

Using data on death certificates, we examined age-adjusted cancer mortality rates for West Virginia men and women from 1980-1994. The leading causes of cancer deaths among men in the state in 1994 were cancers of the lung, prostate, colon, and pancreas, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Among West Virginia women in 1994, cancer deaths were most often due to cancers of the lung, breast, colon, pancreas, and ovary. Based on polynomial regression analyses, many of the leading cancer mortality rates significantly increased during 1980-1994. The most striking increase was a 76% rise in lung cancer mortality among West Virginia women. These mortality data underscore the continuing need for tobacco control and other cancer control practices. Even though barriers to medical care challenge the state's health care professionals, the burden of cancer in West Virginia can be reduced by prevention, early detection, and appropriate treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

A null mutant of the Streptomyces virginiae barA gene encoding a butyrolactone autoregulator receptor and its phenotypic and transcriptional analysis.

The Streptomyces virginiae barA gene encodes a specific receptor protein for virginiae butanolide (VB), one of the gamma-butyrolactone autoregulators of Streptomyces species. By homologous recombination, a barA null strain was constructed to clarify the in vivo function of BarA protein in S. virginiae. The deltabarA mutant showed no difference in terms of growth, but lost VB production and produced virginiamycin 7 h earlier than the wild-type strain. These results indicated that, phenotypically, BarA protein acts negatively in virginiamycin biosynthesis and positively in VB biosynthesis. Furthermore, Northern (RNA) blot analysis of the DeltabarA mutant revealed that transcription of the BarA target gene (barB) was derepressed, confirming that BarA acts as a transcriptional repressor in S. virginiae.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1999

Diurnal changes in water conduction in loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) and Virginia pine (P. virginiana) during soil dehydration.

We studied diurnal changes in water conduction during soil dehydration in 37-month-old seedlings of one Virginia pine (Pinus virginiana Mill.) and two loblolly pine (P. taeda L.) sources, one from North Carolina (NC) and the other from the "Lost Pines" areas of Texas (TX), in an environmentally controlled growth chamber. For seedlings of similar biomass, the TX source had higher values of transpiration, needle conductance, and plant hydraulic conductivity under well-watered conditions than the NC source. Under dry soil conditions, the TX source had lower values of water conduction than the NC source. The Virginia pine source responded similarly to the TX source under both well-watered and dry soil conditions. For all three pine sources, gradients between soil and needle water potentials were greatest when the seedlings were moderately stressed. The TX and Virginia pine sources had higher gradients and lower daytime needle water potentials under moderate stress conditions than the NC source. Predawn needle water potentials did not differ among the pine sources. We conclude that the TX and Virginia pine sources have decreased daytime needle water potentials and increased water potential gradients during the daytime under moderate stress conditions, but with no disruption of recovery at predawn. The greater rates of transpiration and water conduction by the TX source compared with the NC source under well-watered conditions suggest a means by which growth can be maximized prior to the onset of drought, thereby enhancing survival of loblolly pines in drought-prone environments.

Journal Article↗