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At least 1,207 records · Page 67Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Community perceptions about the important signs of early melanoma.

BACKGROUND: Detecting melanoma early often relies on patient concern about a particular pigmented lesion. However, it is not clear what specific features the public views as being important. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to explore the importance persons place on various features of skin lesions when looking for early signs of melanoma. METHODS: This study comprised 1148 respondents (participation rate, 78%) from 60 rural communities in Queensland, Australia, who participated in a telephone interview. RESULTS: The following features were considered important and are listed in order of importance: change in the lesion (clearly identified as the most important), more than one color, uneven edges, elevation, large size (the last three of equal importance), and hairiness of the lesion. Age, sex, education, self-efficacy, perceived knowledge, and recent self-examination influenced importance levels, but having a recent skin examination by a family physician did not. CONCLUSION: To increase the skin self-examination skills of the community, guidelines may have to become more specific and all opportunities fully utilized to educate the public.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

An urban intergenerational program for cancer control education.

BACKGROUND: Recognizing the disparities in cancer morbidity and mortality that exist between African Americans and whites, an urban university and its neighborhood community undertook the development of an education program to transfer state-of-the-art cancer prevention, detection, and treatment information from an academic medical center to community residents, including school-age children. METHODS: An intergenerational, multilevel intervention was developed to: 1) assess the health beliefs of the community, 2) identify, develop, and train an intergenerational group of community residents who would serve as health educators, and 3) promote behavioral change among the target population. RESULTS: Ten community residents were trained as educators. Over the course of two years they conducted cancer education programs that reached 775 adults. During the same period, the school-based educational intervention reached 264 seventh-grade students. CONCLUSIONS: Implications for the design and implementation of community-based cancer education programs in this African American community are identified.

Academic Medical Centers↗
PubMed2000

Rapid detection of polioviruses in environmental water samples by one-step duplex RT-PCR.

This study describes the rapid detection of polioviruses in environmental waters by a simple reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using two primer pairs for differentiation of poliovirus from non-polio enteroviruses in a single reaction by a one-step method, combining RT and PCR in a single tube. The detection by agarose gel electrophoresis yielded 2 bands of 153-bp and 293-bp for poliovirus tested without the need for further hybridization. The detection sensitivity of this one-step duplex RT-PCR, as measured with RNA extracted by heat treatment from supernatant of infected cell extracts, was 10(-1) 50% tissue culture effective doses (TCID50). This assay was used to evaluate the ability of sample concentration by membrane filter-based adsorption and elution, and purification by a simple RNA isolation based on guanidine isothiocyanate-phenol-chloroform extraction; the system yielded a detection limit of 5 x 10(-1) TCID50 seeded in 5 liters of tap water. This protocol was applied to the poliovirus detection in environmental water collected from 2 communities in Bangkok, Thailand during February and May 1998. Of 100 samples tested, 2 water samples collected from the same open sewage pipeline at one location were positive for polioviruses and one sample collected from another sewage pipeline was positive for non-polio enterovirus while a further 97 water samples were negative for both polioviruses and non-polio enteroviruses. With poliovirus detection by cell culture technique, none of the 100 samples tested was positive for poliovirus type 1, 2 or 3. RT-PCR was more sensitive, rapid, simple and cost-effective than the cell culture technique since the two water samples which were positive for polioviruses by RT-PCR failed to be detected by cell culture. Sequence data of 293-bp amplicons from positive samples were compared with those of reference poliovirus strains in the Genbank and the EMBL databases and identity to the sequence of type 1 strain Sabin was found to be 99%.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

[Antibody levels to diphtheria in various community segments].

The aim of this study was to detect the immune status of our population against diphtheria. For this purpose, the levels of diphtheria IgG antibodies in various age groups were investigated in 150 subjects aged over 20 years old, by using ELISA method. The positive immunity rate against diphtheria was found 62%, while there was no statistically significant difference between the rates of males (66.7%) and females (57.7%) (p > 0.05). Eighty percent of subjects aged between 20-29 years, 71.4% of 30-39 years, 50% of 40-49 years, 55.6% of 50-59 years, 47.6% of 60-69 years and 60% of 70-79 years old groups were found to have protective levels (over 0.01 IU/ml) of antibodies to diphtheria. There was no significant difference in immunity against diphtheria between these age groups (p > 0.05). However, 76% of subjects aged below 40 years old were immune to diphtheria, while 54% of subjects aged above 40 years old were so, with a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the rate of immunity between subjects in terms of occupation, levels of education, geographic location and vaccination status (p > 0.05).

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Leprosy control in the Northern Territory.

An epidemic of leprosy occurred among Aboriginal people of the Top End of the Northern Territory following its introduction towards the end of the 19th Century. The extent of this outbreak became apparent through community surveys conducted in the 1950s which revealed that one in 10 Aboriginal people in some areas were affected by leprosy. Initial control activities were outbreak-focused, directed at case finding and management. Case finding was by systematic community survey. Case management included appropriate rehabilitation and reconstructive surgery. Regular review of treated patients ensured early detection of relapse and detection and treatment of sequelae. Education and full participation of Aboriginal health workers in the diagnosis and management of cases provided local expertise at the hospital and community level. The case detection rate fell from 270 per 100,000 in the Aboriginal population in 1951 to four per 100,000 in 1997. Elimination of transmission is now the objective of the control program. Combining of the tuberculosis and leprosy control activities of the Territory Health Service in 1996 resulted in increased efficiency of the mycobacterial services.

Communicable Disease Control↗
PubMed1984

Distribution of influenza viruses in Northern Greece during 1972-1983.

Observations on the circulation of influenza viruses in Northern Greece during the winters of 1972/3 to 1982/3 are presented. Influenza A viruses were detected every winter with the exception of those of 1973/4 and 1981/2, when neither type A nor type B was isolated. The strains of type A isolated during the study period were similar to those circulating world-wide over the same time scale. Influenza B viruses were isolated only during the winters of 1972/3 and 1979/80; influenza A viruses were also circulating in the community at those times. The B strains detected were similar to those recorded world-wide during the period of study.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Turning scientific approaches into practical conservation actions: the case of Comunidad Indigena de Nuevo San Juan Parangaricutiro, Mexico.

Optimum natural resource management and biodiversity conservation are desirable goals. These, however, often exclude each other, since maximum economic benefits have promoted drastic reductions in biodiversity throughout the world. This dilemma confronts local stakeholders, who usually go for maximizing economic inputs, whereas other social (e.g., academic) sectors are favor conservation practices. In this paper we describe the way two scientific approaches--landscape and participatory research--were used to develop sound and durable land use scenarios. These two approaches included expert knowledge of both social and environmental conditions in indigenous communities. Our major emphasis was given to detect spatially explicit land use scenarios and capacity building in order to construct a decision support system operated by stakeholders of the Comunidad Indigena de Nuevo San Juan Parangaricutiro in Mexico. The system for decision-making was fed with data from inventories of both abiotic and biotic biodiversity components. All research, implementation, and monitoring activities were conducted in close collaboration with members of the indigenous community. As a major result we obtained a number of forest alternative uses that favor emerging markets and make this indigenous community less dependent on a single market. Furthermore, skilled members of the community are now running the automated system for decision-making. In conclusion, our results were better expressed as products with direct benefits in local livelihoods rather than pure academic outputs.

Conservation of Natural Resources↗
PubMed2002

Youth access interventions do not affect youth smoking.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of laws restricting youth access to cigarettes on prevalence of smoking among teens. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review of studies that reported changes in smoking associated with the presence of restrictions on the ability of teens to purchase cigarettes. We calculated the correlation between merchant compliance levels with youth access laws and prevalence (30-day and regular) prevalence of youth smoking, and between changes in compliance and prevalence associated with youth access interventions. We also conducted a random effects meta-analysis to determine the change in youth prevalence associated with youth access interventions from studies that included control communities. RESULTS: Based on data from 9 studies, there was no detectable relationship between the level of merchant compliance and 30-day (r =.116; n = 38 communities) or regular (r =.017) smoking prevalence. There was no evidence of a threshold effect. There was no evidence that an increase in compliance with youth access restrictions was associated with a decrease in 30-day (r =.294; n = 18 communities) or regular (r =.274) smoking prevalence. There was no significant difference in youth smoking in communities with youth access interventions compared with control communities; the pooled estimate of the effect of intervention on 30-day prevalence was -1.5% (95% confidence interval: -6.0% to +2.9%). CONCLUSIONS: Given the limited resources available for tobacco control, as well as the expense of conducting youth access programs, tobacco control advocates should abandon this strategy and devote the limited resources that are available for tobacco control toward other interventions with proven effectiveness.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

First documented outbreak of hepatitis E virus transmission in Java, Indonesia.

A suspected hepatitis outbreak occurred in Bondowoso District, East Java Province, Indonesia, in March-May 1998. An investigation was initiated in April 1998, involving a retrospective review of hospital records, a community-based cross-sectional study, and a health service-based case detection and household follow-up. Sera and epidemiological information were collected from 962 individuals: 235 from 3 outbreak-affected communities along the same rural stretch of river, 101 from community controls living distant from the river, 151 cases detected in health centres, 141 family members of the cases, and 334 subjects from neighbouring families. The prevalence of acute hepatitis E virus (HEV), based on anti-HEV IgM, total antibody (Ig) to HEV and polymerase chain reaction (PCR), was significantly (P < 0.00001) higher (52.4%) among the outbreak communities than among the community controls (3%). The background prevalence of HEV, based on anti-HEV IgG, was also significantly (P < 0.00001) higher (47%) among the outbreak communities than among the community controls (3%). None of the 476 sera screened for anti-HAV (hepatitis A virus) IgM was positive. These results indicate that HEV was the aetiological agent responsible for the outbreak. The overall attack rate (AR) for the 3 outbreak-affected communities surveyed was 19%, with AR determined on the basis of clinically recognized, acute jaundice illness. The usage of river water as primary source for bathing, human-waste disposal, and drinking purposes differed significantly (P < 0.00001) between the communities in outbreak areas and those in non-outbreak areas. There is no significant influence attributed to 'boiling water' on acute HEV. No climatic influences (flooding or drought) predisposed this instance of epidemic HEV transmission. This outbreak represents the first documented evidence of epidemic HEV transmission in Java, Indonesia.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

[Community-based programs for hereditary hemoglobinopathies in Brazilian high school students].

This study tested the viability and efficiency of a hereditary hemoglobinopathy program in which a Brazilian community the town of Bragança Paulista, SP (Brazil)-was involved, were tested focusing school students. The screening of the hemoglobinopathies was done through optional exams for patients by using electrophoresis of hemoglobins and complementary hematological tests. A total of 1,171 individuals, including, 1,118 pupils and 53 of their relatives were tested over a period of 24 months. A total of 47 individuals with hereditary hemoglobin changes were detected-4.0% of the samples examined. The community was fairly receptive to the program which showed a general level of acceptance of 55.4%. The study aroused the interest of the community and motivated the implantation of a special service for diagnosis, genetic counseling and treatment of the hemoglobinopathy carriers in the community where it was undertaken.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Identifying host sources of fecal pollution: diversity of Escherichia coli in confined dairy and swine production systems.

Repetitive extragenic palindromic PCR fingerprinting of Escherichia coli is one microbial source tracking approach for identifying the host source origin of fecal pollution in aquatic systems. The construction of robust known-source libraries is expensive and requires an informed sampling strategy. In many types of farming systems, waste is stored for several months before being released into the environment. In this study we analyzed, by means of repetitive extragenic palindromic PCR using the enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus primers and comparative analysis using the Bionumerics software, collections of E. coli obtained from a dairy farm and from a swine farm, both of which stored their waste as a slurry in holding tanks. In all fecal samples, obtained from either barns or holding tanks, the diversity of the E. coli populations was underrepresented by collections of 500 isolates. In both the dairy and the swine farms, the diversity of the E. coli community was greater in the manure holding tank than in the barn, when they were sampled on the same date. In both farms, a comparison of stored manure samples collected several months apart suggested that the community composition changed substantially in terms of the detected number, absolute identity, and relative abundance of genotypes. Comparison of E. coli populations obtained from 10 different locations in either holding tank suggested that spatial variability in the E. coli community should be accounted for when sampling. Overall, the diversity in E. coli populations in manure slurry storage facilities is significant and likely is problematic with respect to library construction for microbial source tracking applications.

Animal Husbandry↗
PubMed2000

Familial Mediterranean fever in the 'Chuetas' of Mallorca: a question of Jewish origin or genetic heterogeneity.

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is a hereditary disease commonly found among Jews, Armenians, Turks and Arabs. Recently, FMF was found in the 'Chuetas', a unique community on the island of Mallorca (Spain). To address the question of their possible Jewish origin, we analysed markers known to be linked to the gene responsible for FMF in Jews (MEFV) in this population. We found that 1/3 of the 16p13.3 chromosomes of the 'Chuetas' FMF patients bore the major ancestral haplotypes (S,S2) and their corresponding M694V and E148Q mutations, displayed by Jews from North Africa. Furthermore, we also detected a novel mutation (L110P) in this community. Yet 2/3 of these patients bore S negative haplotypes and lack the mutations commonly known to cause FMF. These results confirm that at least some of the 'Chuetas' share a common origin with Jews. However, they also provide evidence for the possibility of genetic heterogeneity in this disorder.

Amino Acid Substitution↗
PubMed2001

Impact of UV radiation on bacterioplankton community composition.

The potential effect of UV radiation on the composition of coastal marine bacterioplankton communities was investigated. Dilution cultures with seawater collected from the surface mixed layer of the coastal North Sea were exposed to different ranges of natural or artificial solar radiation for up to two diurnal cycles. The composition of the bacterioplankton community prior to exposure was compared to that after exposure to the different radiation regimes using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of 16S rRNA and 16S ribosomal DNA. Only minor changes in the composition of the bacterial community in the different radiation regimes were detectable. Sequencing of selected bands obtained by DGGE revealed that some species of the Flexibacter-Cytophaga-Bacteroides (FCB) group were sensitive to UV radiation while other species of the FCB group were resistant. Overall, only up to approximately 10% of the operational taxonomic units present in the dilution cultures appeared to be affected by UV radiation. Thus, we conclude that UV radiation has little effect on the composition of coastal marine bacterioplankton communities in the North Sea.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Detection and distribution of insertion sequence 1 (IS1)-containing bacteria in the freshwater environment(1).

The distribution of insertion sequence 1 (IS1)-containing bacteria was investigated in Windermere (Cumbria, UK), a freshwater body impacted by treated sewage discharge and run-off from the surrounding catchment. Culturable IS1-containing bacteria were recovered from the water column at three depths in Windermere North Basin (WNB) and South Basin (WSB), and from sediment at both sites (at the sediment surface in WSB and to a depth of 12-13 cm in WNB). Polymerase chain reaction amplification of IS1 and the Escherichia coli/Shigella sp. specific gene uidA, from community DNA from shallow sediments, extended the detection limit beyond that of culture at both sites. This detection was extended further into deep sediment extracted from WNB as IS1 and uidA were detected in sub-samples to a depth of 4.7 and 2.3 m, respectively. Analysis of a representative subset of 90 IS1-carrying isolates recovered from water and sediment at both sites demonstrated 21 heterogeneous IS1 profiles with estimated copy numbers ranging from 1 to 16. Identification of the host bacteria showed that the element was confined mainly to Enterobacter spp. However, this study showed IS1 to be present in Citrobacter freundii for the first time. Plasmids were carried by 75.3% of enterobacterial isolates and four plasmids (2.6%) carried IS1. DNA sequence analysis of five IS1 clones demonstrated that IS1 isoforms from this study were similar (>89% nucleotide identity) to known IS1 isoforms. Two isoforms of IS1 from a single Enterobacter cloacae isolate differed by 6.7% at the nucleotide level suggesting that they had been acquired independently.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2003

[Rapid and simple detection of Legionella species by LAMP, a mew DNA amplification method].

Legionella is a common cause of community-acquired respiratory tract infections and occasionally causes nosocomial pneumonia. Rapid and accurate detection of legionellae is important for diagnosis and treatment of patients. In order to detect legionellae, a new DNA amplification method was designed and evaluated. Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method amplifies DNA with high specificity, sensitivity, and rapidity under isothermal conditions at 65 degrees C. This method employs a DNA polymerase with strand displacement activity and a set of four specially designed primers that recognize a total of six distinct sequences on the target DNA. The primers targeting 16S rRNA gene were designed in order to detect a wide range of Legionella species. We could specifically detect Legionella species including Legionella pneumophila, Legionella anisa, Legionella bozemanii, Legionella dumoffii, Legionella erythra, Legionella feeleii, Legionella gormanii, Legionella longbeachae, Legionella micdadei, Legionella oakridgensis, and Legionella sainthelensi. The detection limit of the assay was 6 cfu per test of L. pneumophila strain. Furthermore, all of the positive LAMP results could be obtained within 50 minutes. The LAMP method was able to detect a wide range of Legionella species with high specificity, sensitivity, rapidity, and a simple procedure.

Legionella↗
PubMed2000

Detection of genes for membrane-bound nitrate reductase in nitrate-respiring bacteria and in community DNA.

A nested PCR primed by four degenerate oligonucleotides was developed for the specific amplification of sequences from the narG gene encoding the membrane-bound nitrate reductase. This approach was used to amplify fragments of the narG gene from five Pseudomonas species previously shown to be able to express the membrane-bound nitrate reductase and from community DNA extracted from a freshwater sediment. Amino acid sequences encoded by the narG fragments were compared to one another, and to the corresponding regions of related enzymes. This comparison indicates that the amplification protocols are specific for their intended targets. Sequences amplified from community DNA were tightly clustered, which may indicate a degree of homogeneity in the sediment community. The PCR primers and amplification protocols described will be useful in future studies of nitrate respiring populations.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Detection by immunoblot assay of antibodies to Taenia solium cysticerci in sera from residents of rural communities and from epileptic patients in Bali, Indonesia.

Several studies from Bali have indicated the presence of Taenia solium. Relatively little has been reported, however, implicating human exposure to this parasite on Bali based upon the prevalence of anti-T. solium antibodies in asymptomatic and epileptic individuals. This study was conducted to determine by immunoblot assay and ELISA the frequency of anti-cysticercus antibodies in two groups of Balinese. Among 746 residents of four ecologic zones, 94 (13%) were positive by immunoblot. Of 74 epileptic patients from throughout the island, 10 (14%) were positive by immunoblot and 8 (11%) by ELISA; however, only 4 (22%) of the 18 sera positive in either test were positive in both assays. The previously defined high specificity and sensitivity of immunoblot indicates that T. solium cysticercosis is well established in Bali and that a significant amount of epilepsy may be due to neurocysticercosis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

[A comparison of BRILA-MUG and lauryl sulfate-MUG bouillon as detection media for total and fecal coliform bacteria in bathing waters in conformity with the Economic Community Guideline 76/160 EWG].

The spectrum of gram-negative rods occurring in surface waters is wide and depending on the season, i.e. the water temperature. The concentration of bacteria is higher in summer than in winter. However, the seasonal difference of the concentration of Enterobacteriaceae is less than that of the Aeromonas spec. and of the non-fermenters. The comparison of yields of total and faecal coliforms determined in samples of surface water by using the brilliant green bile lactose 4-methylumbelliferyl-beta-D-glucuronide (BRI-LA-MUG) broth and the lauryl sulfate-MUG broth, respectively, shows that the BRILA-MUG broth is more sensitive and gives higher yields than the lauryl sulfate-MUG broth. On the other hand, the lauryl sulfate-MUG broth inhibits more the growth of gram-negative rods, especially that of Aeromonas spec. and non-fermenters, whereas the Enterobacteriaceae are less inhibited.

Aeromonas↗