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Personality patterns of Texas dentists: a study using the bi/polar theory.

Are individuals with certain personality styles uniquely attracted to dentistry? A recent study with 218 Texas dentists using the Bi/Polar Inventory of Core Strengths showed that the dentists were more thinking (57.3%) than risking, profoundly more practical (78.0%) than theoretical, and more independent (67.9%) than dependent. Compared with the general population, dentists were significantly more thinking, practical and independent. Of the eight personality styles, Pattern II (thinking-practical-independent) (29.4%) was the only pattern significantly over-represented among the dentists compared with the general population. However, Pattern I (thinking-practical-dependent) (17.4%) was also over-represented at the trend level. Significantly under-represented among the dentists were Pattern V (risking-practical-dependent) (6.9%) and Pattern VI (risking-theoretical-dependent) (3.2%). Results suggest at least some personality influence on attraction to dentistry.

Aptitude↗

Chaparral-induced toxic hepatitis--California and Texas, 1992.

Cases of acute toxic hepatitis in two patients--one in California and one in Texas--have been attributed to ingestion of an herbal nutritional supplement product derived from the leaves of the creosote bush known commonly as chaparral. This report summarizes the investigations of these cases.

Acute Disease↗

Characteristics and attitudes of early contraceptive implant acceptors in Texas.

In 1991, shortly after Norplant became available in the United States, 678 women who had received the implant from 17 providers in Texas were surveyed. Forty-five percent of these women were under 21 years old. The majority (56%) had tried the implant because they were dissatisfied with their previous contraceptive method. Forty-four percent of the sample indicated that the implant was one of the first contraceptive methods they had used and that they had only recently decided to prevent unplanned pregnancy. The average number of children per woman was 1.2, and one-third of the sample had had at least one abortion. While 37% of the women said they wanted no more children, 63% said they were using the implant as a spacing method. The reasons for choosing the implant and concerns about it varied according to the user's age, educational level and race or ethnic group.

Adolescent↗

Calls about anthrax to the Texas Poison Center Network in relation to the anthrax bioterrorism attack in 2001.

Between October 4, 2001 and November 20, 2001, 22 cases of anthrax were identified in a bioterrorism attack on the US. This study examined the patterns of anthrax calls before and after the bioterrorist attack based on calls received by poison centers in Texas, a state that reported no anthrax cases as a result of the attack. During 1998-2002, 553 calls about anthrax were received. The majority of the anthrax calls occurred in 2001 (n = 489, 88.4%) and 2002 (n = 52, 9.4%). The number of calls increased greatly in the days after October 4, 2001, reaching a peak of 31 anthrax calls in 1 d and then declining sharply in succeeding months. However, by December 2002 the number of calls about anthrax still had not returned to pre-attack levels. This study demonstrated the value of poison centers in documenting public need for information on biological agents used in a terrorist attack, even if the attack did not occur in the area serviced by the poison center. Poison centers may expect to receive calls regarding a bioterrorist attack shortly after the public became aware of the attack and will continue to receive related calls for months afterward. Poison centers need to be prepared with appropriate information prior to such attacks to provide to the public upon request.

Anthrax↗

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections in correctional facilities---Georgia, California, and Texas, 2001-2003.

Infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are common in hospitals and nursing homes. Because MRSA is resistant to all commonly prescribed beta-lactam antibiotics (e.g., penicillins and cephalosporins), these infections require treatment with alternative antimicrobial drugs. In addition, because antimicrobial drugs usually must be selected before identifying MRSA as the cause of infection, treatment presents a challenge for clinicians. MRSA has emerged recently as a more frequent cause of skin and soft tissue infections in the community, particularly in correctional facilities such as prisons, jails, and detention centers. This report summarizes recent investigations of MRSA transmission among inmates of correctional facilities in Georgia, California, and Texas. Inadequate personal hygiene, barriers to medical care, and other factors contributed to transmission. Information from these investigations has been used in the development of recently released Federal Bureau of Prisons guidance for control of MRSA, which recommends improvements in inmate hygiene, infection control, and targeted antimicrobial treatment.

California↗

Probable transfusion-transmitted malaria--Houston, Texas, 2003.

Malaria transmitted by blood transfusion is rare in the United States, with an estimated incidence of <0.3 cases per million transfused blood units. The last reported case of transfusion-transmitted malaria occurred in April 2002 (1); before that a total of 12 cases were identified during 1990--1998(2) [corrected]. This report summarizes a case of malaria in Houston, Texas, that was likely transmitted from a blood donor. Because no laboratory test exists in the United States to screen donated blood for malaria, this case highlights the importance of effective donor screening to help prevent transfusion-transmitted malaria.

Aged↗

The anomalous health status of Texas border counties.

The health status of Texas border counties is anomalous in that the combination of poor health care services, low socioeconomic status, and low education rate does not result in the expected increase in age-adjusted mortality rate and shortened life expectancy. The anomaly appears to be due largely to the combination of a high Hispanic population density in this region, specifically Mexican-Americans, and to the phenomenon of Hispanic longevity. The latter is considered to be based on a variety of possible cultural factors. In the face of continuing escalations in the cost of health care, further definition of what those factors are and how they could be incorporated into the delivery of health care in our state should be a priority for state health policy.

Age Factors↗

Newborn screening for congenital hypothyroidism: the Texas experience.

Routine screening of asymptomatic newborns allows detection and treatment of infants affected by congenital hypothyroidism. Implemented by legislation enacted in 1980, the Texas Newborn Screening Program detects 120-150 cases of primary hypothyroidism a year. The responsibility and, ultimately, the success of hypothyroid screening in the newborn period largely depends upon the medical provider, necessitating a clear understanding of the screening process, appropriate diagnostic tests for confirmation, and timely treatment.

Congenital Hypothyroidism↗

Approaches to contact investigations in Texas.

Tuberculosis (TB) spreads when family and social contacts breathe the air exhaled by someone with active TB disease. Contact investigation is the most appropriate strategy to interrupt the transmission and subsequent development of TB. One of the problems associated with contact investigations in an area with a very diverse population has been the inability of investigations to adapt their methods of approach to the different circumstances of each person with TB disease. Through interviews and group discussions with public health field workers and local TB program managers across Texas, the authors have been able to gather information on how contact investigation practices can be customized to overcome barriers specific to different populations in the state and generate a productive outcome. Variables such as culture, language, risk factors, and various settings may require a different investigational approach than the standard, traditional approach to contact investigation. It is anticipated that the concept of customizing contact investigations to meet the needs of specific populations and circumstances will become the practice worldwide, and will be a useful tool in the management of contact investigations.

Communication Barriers↗

Short report: a disseminated infection of Leishmania mexicana in an eastern woodrat, Neotoma floridana, collected in Texas.

An eastern woodrat (Neotoma floridana) collected in January 2001 near Bedias, Grimes County, Texas, had extensive lesions of both ears and swollen feet. Impression smears and histologic sections demonstrated the presence of Leishmania in both ears and the one foot that was screened. Polymerase chain reaction screening using species-specific primers detected parasites in both ears and all four feet and indicated the parasites were L. mexicana. The detection of L. mexicana in N. floridana represents a new host record in a new ecologic region and may help explain a human infection acquired outside the previously-known range of the disease. Given the geographic distribution of N. floridana and the two other species of Neotoma found naturally infected, enzootic foci of Leishmania could be present over much of the southern United States.

Animals↗

Sarcocystis in mallards on the Southern High Plains of Texas.

Two hundred thirty-one mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) collected during 1989-91 on the Southern High Plains of Texas were examined for macroscopically detectable Sarcocystis spp. Only eight adult mallards were infected. Based on small quantified tissue samples, five, one, and two birds had light, medium, and heavy infections, respectively. Prevalences were 4%, 8%, 9%, and 0% across two consecutive summer and winter periods, respectively. A new locality record for Sarcocystis spp. was established in both migratory and breeding populations of mallards. Our data suggest that geographic regions other than the Southern High Plains are more important in the transmission of Sarcocystis spp. in mallards.

Animals↗

Patterns of animal poisonings reported to the Texas Poison Center Network: 1998-2002.

A portion of calls handled by poison centers involve poisonings of animals; however, information on such calls is limited. This study used data from poison centers in Texas collected during 1998-2002 to document the epidemiology of animal poisoning calls. There were a total of 24,467 animal poisoning calls, representing 2.0% of all calls. Dogs were affected in 87% of the calls and cats in 11%. The exposures were unintentional in 99% of the cases, occurred via ingestion in 95% and involved dermal exposure in 5% of the cases. Exposures occurred at the owner's own residence 91% of the time and were handled outside of health care facilities 61% of the time. The outcome involved no clinical effect for 60% of the cases involving dogs and 39% of the cases involving cats. Reported exposures occurred more often during the summer, and the most frequently reported exposures involved pesticides and plants. These findings were consistent with the limited reports from on poison center regarding animal poisonings.

Animals↗

The 2002 introduction of West Nile virus into Harris County, Texas, an area historically endemic for St. Louis encephalitis.

Harris County, Texas, is an endemic area of St. Louis encephalitis (SLE); and an active surveillance program that monitors SLE virus activity in mosquitoes, birds, and humans has been in place there for the past 28 years. In June of 2002, West Nile (WN) virus appeared in Houston and quickly spread throughout the region. This report describes the results of 12 years of SLE surveillance in Harris County and the contrasting pattern of WN virus activity, when it arrived in 2002. Our data indicate that both SLE and WN viruses can coexist, despite their ecologic, antigenic, and genetic similarities, and that both viruses will probably persist in this geographic region.

Animals↗

The medical cost of high serum cholesterol in Harris County, Texas.

High serum cholesterol levels are common among Texans, especially in the greater Houston metropolitan area (Harris County) where such levels are almost 50% higher than the national norm. By using actual medical care claims and cost data, an analysis was conducted to determine the direct medical care cost of high serum cholesterol tied to selected cardiovascular conditions in Harris County. As part of conducting the analysis, Health Management Associates obtained prevalence rates of Harris County residents with elevated cholesterol levels, actual inpatient cardiovascular claims and costs, and estimated outpatient cardiovascular claims and costs. The financial cost analysis of high cholesterol revealed that more than 25 million dollars was spent alone on selected cardiovascular conditions. This estimate is conservative because it did not factor in all types of cardiovascular claims associated with high serum cholesterol, did not factor in other (noncardiovascular) claims that may be associated with high serum cholesterol, and did not include indirect costs such as absenteeism, lost productivity, and medication costs associated with the selected conditions. As Harris County is home to approximately 1 of every 5 adults in Texas, extrapolating the county's direct costs for high serum cholesterol to the entire state would translate into a direct medical care tab of more than 120 million dollars.

Cholesterol↗

Hepatitis B vaccination of inmates in correctional facilities--Texas, 2000-2002.

In December 2002, approximately 2.2 million persons were incarcerated in the United States; an estimated 8 million were released to the community that year. In 2001, approximately 22,000 acute hepatitis B cases and 78,000 new hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections occurred in the United States (3); an estimated 29% of these cases were in persons who had been incarcerated previously. The majority of HBV infections among incarcerated persons are acquired in the community; however, infection also is transmitted within correctional settings. Hepatitis B vaccination of incarcerated persons is recommended to prevent transmission in correctional facilities and in previously incarcerated persons on their return to the community. In May 2000, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ), which oversees custody of state jail and prison inmates, implemented a hepatitis B vaccination program. To determine hepatitis B vaccination rates of inmates during 2000-2002, TDCJ reviewed charts of inmates released during a 3-day period for documentation of vaccination. This report summarizes the results of that study, which indicated that rates of vaccine acceptance and vaccine series completion among inmates were high. Establishing hepatitis B vaccination programs in prisons and jails can prevent a substantial proportion of HBV infections among adults in the outside community.

Hepatitis B↗

ERISA update: the Supreme Court Texas decision and other recent developments.

This issue brief is part of a continuing series of policy papers published by The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's State Coverage Initiatives program, housed at AcademyHealth, and the National Academy for State Health Policy on the state health policy implications of ERISA's preemption clause.1 The purpose of the brief is to explore the U.S. Supreme Court's June 2004 decision that ERISA preempts the Texas HMO liability law and its effects on other state health plan liability laws. The brief also examines implications of ERISA preemption for state health insurance regulation, "pay or play" health coverage laws, and premium assistance programs.

Child↗

Attitudes of primary care physicians and specialists about cancer clinical trials: a survey of Texas physicians.

A one-page questionnaire assessing physicians' prior involvement in and attitudes about clinical trials was distributed to primary care physicians (PCPs) and specialists practicing in Texas. The survey form was completed and returned by 57 PCPs and 80 specialists. The two physician groups agreed strongly about the value of what can be learned in clinical trials, and agreed that the greatest barriers to participation were paperwork requirements, time constraints, and concern for patient welfare. Both PCPs and specialists were concerned about enrolling patients if they felt that the patients did not understand what was involved. Because PCPs report only a limited experience with clinical trials, a realistic strategy to increase patient accrual involves developing effective educational outreaches to this group of physicians. In general, PCPs are trusted by their patients and can play an important role in providing information and in encouraging participation in appropriate trials.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗