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Retention of English-as-a-second-language (ESL) students: approaches used by California's 21 generic baccalaureate nursing programs.

A rapidly growing number of California's ethnic minority nursing students are individuals whose primary language is not English; these English-as-a-second-language (ESL) students often have high attrition rates. This research surveys the approaches used in all of California's 21 generic baccalaureate nursing programs to retain their ESL students until graduation. Comparisons between the five programs with the highest ESL student retention rates and the group as a whole show significant differences.

California↗

Ensuring cultural diversity among California nurses.

The California Strategic Planning Committee for Nursing cultural diversity work group surveyed deans and directors from RN prelicensure and vocational nurse education programs in California in 1998. With a 49% response rate, key survey findings were that 48% of programs were actively recruiting ethnically diverse students using a variety of strategies; various approaches were being used to retain students; barriers to student success were primarily financial and educational; and most programs included curricular content and programming designed to ensure culturally competent and sensitive graduates.

California↗

An outbreak of introduced malaria in California possibly involving secondary transmission.

During 1974, 12 cases of Plasmodium vivax malaria were reported from an agricultural area in California's Sacramento Valley. At least three of these cases resulted from local mosquito transmission. The imported cases were in Punjabi immigrants except for one in an American-born visitor to the Punjab. This is the 11th reported outbreak of introduced malaria in the United States since 1952, and the first in California since 1957. A unique aspect of this outbreak is the likelihood that secondary transmission occurred. Extensive surveillance activities, including a house-to-house case-finding survey in a 15-square-kilometer area of suspected transmission, yielded no new malaria cases, but the activities may have increased awareness of malaria among both the medical community and the public, and thus facilitated the detection of later cases. The occurrence of local malaria transmission coincided with unusually high numbers of Anopheles freeborni. The increase in imported malaria cases probably reflects a resurgence of malaria in Punjab State, India.

Adolescent↗

Serotypes of tick-borne spotted fever group rickettsiae from western California.

A rickettsial survey of ixodid ticks known to bite man was conducted in 1979 in four coastal counties of California to obtain isolates from tick species that might be involved in the transmission of spotted fever-like illnesses, and to examine serologic characteristics of the rickettsiae relative to defined members of the spotted fever group (SFG). One hundred and seventy (19.4%) of 877 ticks comprising three species were shown by hemolymph test to harbor rickettsia-like organisms. A total of 85 SFG rickettsia isolates was obtained by Vero-cell culture; 82 were from Dermacentor occidentalis, two were from D. variabilis, and one was from Ixodes pacificus. As determined by microimmunofluorescence, the isolates comprised four distinct serotypes. Two serotypes were obtained only from D. occidentalis, and one each only from D. variabilis and I. pacificus, respectively. Most D. occidentalis isolates possessed the serologic characteristics of Rickettsia rhipicephali, but there were similar to yet distinguishable from, R. rickettsii and are members of an unclassified serotype referred to as 364D. The two isolates from D. variabilis resembled the unclassified 369C serotype previously shown to be associated with this species and D. andersoni elsewhere in the United States. The I. pacificus isolate was similar to strains of the unclassified Tillamook serotype isolated from this tick in several localities in western Oregon. Representative strains of the four serotypes could also be distinguished on the basis of pathogenicity for Vero cells, chick embryos, guinea pigs, and/or meadow voles. The significance of these findings relative to occurrence of tick-associated illnesses in western California is briefly discussed.

California↗

Sensitivity to carbon dioxide in mosquitoes infected with California serogroup arboviruses.

Ten species of mosquitoes became sensitive to CO2 following intrathoracic (i.t.) inoculation of California encephalitis (CE) virus. These included field-collected Aedes melanimon, Aedes nigromaculis and Culiseta incidens and laboratory-colonized strains of Aedes dorsalis, Aedes triseriatus, Anopheles freeborni, Culex peus, Culex pipiens pipiens, Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus and Culex tarsalis. Another California serogroup virus, Jerry Slough (= Jamestown Canyon) (JS), also induced CO2 sensitivity in nearly 100% of infected female Ae. dorsalis, Ae. melanimon and Cx. tarsalis. Sensitivity to CO2 developed in Ae. dorsalis and Cx. tarsalis within 3 days after i.t. inoculation of CE virus, remained at a high level through day 10 after inoculation and decreased gradually with time until by 30 days post-inoculation nearly all mosquitoes were nonsensitive. In contrast, Ae. dorsalis infected transovarially with CE virus were not CO2 sensitive. There was homologous but no heterologous interference to the development of CO2 sensitivity when Ae. dorsalis infected transovarially with CE virus were inoculated with CE or JS viruses. Two other bunyaviruses, Main Drain and Turlock, produced CO2 sensitivity in 3-10% and 0%, respectively, of infected Ae. dorsalis, Ae. melanimon and Cx. tarsalis. Two toga-viruses, St. Louis encephalitis and western equine encephalomyelitis, did not induce CO2 sensitivity in Ae. dorsalis and Cx. tarsalis.

Aedes↗

Anisakiasis in the western United States: four new case reports from California.

Four cases of transient anisakiasis in northern California acquired by ingestion of raw fish were reported to health authorities between May 1977 and June 1980. A single Phocanema decipiens-like 4th-stage (L4) larva was identified in each of two cases. A recently molted adult male P. decipiens with a fragment of attached L4 cuticle and prominent caudal papillae was recovered from a third person. The latter is the only human case known in which an anisakid worm developed to the adult stage was involved. Two Anisakis type I larvae were recovered in the fourth case, being the first parasitologically confirmed case of human infection with this worm described from the coterminous United States. Differential diagnosis was based on cuticular characteristics of larval types and stages as well as the presence of major internal organs. All infections were acquired during May and June. Subjects were 25-37 years old; three were female; two were of Japanese and one of Polynesian ancestry. Raw salmon or raw "red snapper" (probably Sebastes sp.) was the presumptive source of worms in one case each. Mild stomach pain and nausea were noted from the time of ingestion for up to 20 hours after the infective meal; worms were coughed up or found in the mouth up to 2 weeks thereafter. Five other incompletely documented California cases are discussed.

Adult↗

Occurrence of La Crosse (California serogroup) encephalitis viral infections in Illinois.

La Crosse (LAC) virus (California encephalitis serogroup) was identified as the etiologic agent of disease in 61 cases of California encephalitis (CE) that occurred in Illinois between 1976 and 1980. This group represented 54% of all 114 laboratory-diagnosed cases of CE between 1966 and 1980. Key epidemiologic observations included: 88% of the 61 cases had onset in July, August, or September; the 5- to 9-year-old age group represented 48% of the cases; the male:female sex ratio was 2:1; 97% of the cases occurred in the northern half of the state; and 61% of the cases occurred in Peoria County. Four instances of probable common source of exposure were reported. Average length of hospitalization was 8.3 days (range 3-31 days). Hospitalization costs were estimated at $3,967-$5,750 per case. An "average" year in Illinois yields 12 cases of LAC encephalitis with direct hospitalization costs of $47,604-$69,000.

Adolescent↗

The ecology of western equine encephalomyelitis virus in the Central Valley of California, 1945-1985.

Reeves' concept of the summer transmission cycle of western equine encephalomyelitis virus in 1945 was that the virus was amplified in a silent transmission cycle involving mosquitoes, domestic chickens, and possibly wild birds, from which it could be transmitted tangentially to and cause disease in human and equine populations. Extensive field and laboratory studies done since 1945 in the Central Valley of California have more clearly defined the specific invertebrate and vertebrate hosts involved in the basic virus transmission cycle, but the overall concept remains unchanged. The basic transmission cycle involves Culex tarsalis as the primary vector mosquito species and house finches and house sparrows as the primary amplifying hosts. Secondary amplifying hosts, upon which Cx. tarsalis frequently feeds, include other passerine species, chickens, and possibly pheasants in areas where they are abundant. Another transmission cycle that most likely is initiated from the Cx. tarsalis-wild bird cycle involves Aedes melanimon and the blacktail jackrabbit. Like humans and horses, California ground squirrels, western tree squirrels, and a few other wild mammal species become infected tangentially with the virus but do not contribute significantly to virus amplification.

Aedes↗

Biological characterization of a strain of Trypanosoma cruzi chagas isolated from a human case of trypanosomiasis in California.

In August 1982, the first autochthonous case of human American trypanosomiasis in California occurred. The isolate, the Tuolumne strain of Trypanosoma, was infective to young laboratory mice and capable of causing death or chronic disease in these animals. The morphology and mensural characteristics are described. This strain can develop in 2 species of Triatominae native to California, Triatoma protracta and T. rubida. The flagellates isolated from these insects were infective to vertebrate hosts. Rhodnius prolixus, a neotropical species, was not susceptible to infection.

Animals↗

California serogroup viruses from mosquitoes collected in the USSR.

Four California serogroup viruses isolated from mosquitoes in the USSR were tested for antigenic analogy with prototype viruses of the California serogroup. The topotype isolates are biologically similar to, but antigenically different from each other. One is a subtype of snowshoe hare virus, two are different subtypes of Tahyna, Lumbo, and snowshoe hare viruses, and one is identical to Inkoo virus, previously isolated only in Finland. The results indicate that molecular studies of these viruses are necessary to comprehend their evolution.

Aedes↗

Short report: prevalence of hantavirus infection in rodents associated with two fatal human infections in California.

Rodents living near two fatal human cases of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome in California were surveyed for evidence of hantavirus infection. Seventeen (15%) (14 Peromyscus maniculatus and one each of P. truei, Eutamias minimus, and Microtus californicus) of 114 rodents tested had evidence (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay or polymerase chain reaction) of hantavirus infection. This suggests that Peromyscus mice, and P. maniculatus in particular, may be the reservoir for the virus causing this newly recognized disease in California, as previously reported for New Mexico and Arizona.

Adult↗

Neighborhood design and rates of walking and biking to elementary school in 34 California communities.

PURPOSE: This study evaluates the relationship between neighborhood design and rates of students walking and biking to elementary school. DESIGN: Pairwise correlations and multiple regression models were estimated based on a cross-sectional study of elementary schools and their surrounding neighborhoods. Setting and Subjects. Thirty-four (23%) of 150 California public elementary schools holding October 1999 Walk to School Day events participated in the study. MEASURES: Teachers asked fifth-grade students how they arrived to school 1 week before Walk to School Day. 1990 U.S. Census data measured population density and number of intersections per street mile, whereas 1998-1999 California Department of Education data measured school size, the percentage of students receiving public welfare, and the percentage of students of various ethnicities. RESULTS: Population density (p = .000) and school size (p = .053) were significantly associated with walking and biking rates in regression models controlling for number of intersections per street mile, the percentage of students receiving public welfare, and the percentage of students of various ethnicities. The number of intersections per street mile was associated with walking and biking rates in pairwise correlations (p = .003) but not in regression models. CONCLUSIONS: The results support the hypothesis that the walking and biking rates are higher in denser neighborhoods and to smaller schools but do not support the hypothesis that rates are higher in neighborhoods with a high number of intersections per street mile. We suggest that detailed data for a larger sample of students would allow statistical models to isolate the effect of specific design characteristics.

Bicycling↗

The California wellness foundation's Health Improvement Initiative: evaluation findings and lessons learned.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of the Health Improvement Initiative (HII), a 5-year grantmaking initiative funded by The California Wellness Foundation designed to identify the critical factors needed to bring about population health improvements through community-level systems change. DESIGN: The evaluation of the HII used a case-study, logic-model approach to make inferences about the effect of each community coalition (Health Partnership) on its target community. The primary outcome measure was the creation of significant and sustainable community-level systems change. SETTING: The HII included nine communities in California that received funding to create broad-based Health Partnerships. SUBJECTS: Primary data were collected from a variety of Initiative stakeholders by key informant interviews, closed-ended surveys, and participant observation. INTERVENTION: The HII provided funding over 5 years to nine Health Partnerships that were intended to be a driving force in implementing community-level systems change. The ultimate objective of the systems change process was to improve "population health, " broadly defined to include social economic, and cultural determinants of health, in addition to traditional health status indicators. MEASURES: Both qualitative and quantitative techniques were used to assess the effect of the HII on key community systems. The primary outcomes were qualitative descriptions of community-level changes. RESULTS: At the end of the 5 years of HII funding, six of the nine Partnerships had played a critical role in implementing sustainable systems changes that would likely have a significant effect in their target communities. CONCLUSION: The HII was successful in promoting community-level systems change in the majority of funded communities, although the evidence was mixed regarding the role of the Partnerships in bringing about these changes.

California↗

Industry practices and compliance with U.S. Food and Drug Administration guidelines among California sprout firms.

Since 1995, raw vegetable sprouts have been implicated as the vehicle of infection in 15 foodborne outbreaks involving Salmonella and 2 foodborne outbreaks involving Escherichia coli O157:H7. To reduce the numbers of sprout-related outbreaks, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published Guidance for Industry: Reducing Microbial Food Safety Hazards for Sprouting Seeds in 1999. Between October 2000 and April 2001, 61.5% (16 of 26) of the known commercial sprout firms in California were enrolled in a survey to evaluate the industry practices of California sprouting operations and to determine compliance with FDA guidelines. A standardized questionnaire was used to collect data on firm demographics and seed disinfection practices. Additionally, free chlorine levels in seed disinfection solutions were measured, and 48-h spent irrigation water samples were collected from each firm. The irrigation water was screened for Salmonella and E. coli O157:H7 with FDA-recommended test kits. Free chlorine levels in the treatment solutions ranged from 50 to 35,000 mg/liter (ppm), with a median of 14,000 mg/liter (ppm). Free chlorine levels were higher for firms producing alfalfa sprouts than for those producing only mung bean or soybean sprouts (P=0.03). Levels of free chlorine tended to be higher for firms using a calcium hypochlorite treatment solution than for firms using a sodium hypochlorite treatment solution (P=0.067). All 32 irrigation water samples screened for Salmonella tested negative. Of the irrigation water samples tested for E. coil O157:H7, 75% (24 of 32) tested negative, and 25% (8 of 32) tested presumptive positive. The eight presumptive positive samples were found to be negative after further testing. These results indicate that producers of alfalfa sprouts are generally achieving the FDA-recommended calcium hypochlorite level of 20,000 mg/liter (ppm), whereas mung bean sprout producers are not.

California↗

Hospital advertising in California, 1991-1997.

This paper examines the advertising behavior of California hospitals from 1991 to 1997. Using highly detailed hospital-level information, we found that hospital advertising in California increased dramatically: annual spending on advertising grew (inflation adjusted) more than sixfold over the period. In addition, advertising expenditures varied significantly across hospitals. We found that hospital advertising increased with market concentration; with the number of nearby potential patients; with the percentage of nearby patients insured through Medicare, health maintenance organizations (HMOs), and indemnity insurance; and with chain affiliation. For-profit hospitals were not found to advertise more than their not-for-profit counterparts.

Advertising↗

Incidence of idiopathic deep venous thrombosis and secondary thromboembolism among ethnic groups in California.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have compared the incidence of deep venous thrombosis among ethnic groups. OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence of deep venous thrombosis among ethnic groups. DESIGN: Analysis of the linked California Patient Discharge Data Set from 1991 to 1994. SETTING: California. PATIENTS: 17991 patients with idiopathic deep venous thrombosis (thrombosis without cancer or hospitalization within preceding 6 months) and 5573 patients with secondary thromboembolism (thromboembolism occurring within 3 months of seven different events). MEASUREMENTS: Ethnicity was determined by using race as documented in the data set. For idiopathic deep venous thrombosis, standardized age- and sex-adjusted incidences were calculated. For secondary thromboembolism, proportional hazards modeling was done. RESULTS: The annual incidence of idiopathic deep venous thrombosis per 1000000 persons older than 18 years of age was 230 for white persons, 293 for African Americans (rate ratio, 1.27 [95% CI, 1.07 to 1.51]), 139 for Hispanic persons (rate ratio, 0.60 [CI, 0.54 to 0.67]), and 60 for Asians and Pacific Islanders (rate ratio, 0.26 [CI, 0.22 to 0.30]). Compared with white persons, Asians and Pacific Islanders who developed secondary thromboembolism had a significantly lower relative risk (range, 0.22 to 0.61) for all seven conditions analyzed. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with white persons, Asians and Pacific Islanders have a very low incidence of idiopathic deep venous thrombosis and a very low relative risk for secondary venous thromboembolism.

Adult↗

Escherichia coli O157 and Salmonella infections associated with sprouts in California, 1996-1998.

BACKGROUND: In California, from 1996 through 1998, more than 50% of multicounty outbreaks with confirmed food vehicles were related to alfalfa or clover sprouts. OBJECTIVE: To summarize investigations of sprout-associated outbreaks. DESIGN: Matched case-control studies. SETTING: California. PATIENTS: Outbreak-associated patients and matched population controls. MEASUREMENTS: Matched odds ratios and 95% CIs; traceback and environmental investigations of sprout and seed growers; and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis of isolates from patients, sprouts, and seeds. RESULTS: Five sprout-associated outbreaks of salmonellosis and one outbreak of infection with nonmotile Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157 occurred. Six hundred patients had culture-confirmed disease, and two died. It is estimated that these outbreaks caused 22 800 cases of gastrointestinal illness or urinary tract infection. In the case-control studies, odds ratios for the association between illness and alfalfa sprout consumption ranged from 5.0 to infinity (all were statistically significant). Three sprout growers were implicated, and each was associated with two outbreaks. Outbreak strains of Salmonella were isolated from sprouts supplied by two sprout growers and from seeds used by the third sprout grower. CONCLUSIONS: As currently produced, sprouts can be a hazardous food. Seeds can be contaminated before sprouting, and no method can eliminate all pathogens from seeds. Seed and sprout growers should implement measures to decrease contamination. The general public should recognize the risks of eating sprouts, and populations at high risk for complications from salmonellosis or E. coli O157 infection should avoid sprout consumption.

Agriculture↗

A serologic survey of the island fox (Urocyon littoralis) on the Channel Islands, California.

The island fox is listed as a threatened species in California. A serologic survey of 194 island foxes (Urocyon littoralis) was conducted over the entire range of the species on the Channel Islands (California, USA). Antibody prevalence against canine adenovirus and canine parvovirus reached 97% and 59%, respectively, in some populations sampled. Antibody prevalence of canine herpesvirus, canine coronavirus, leptospirosis and toxoplasmosis were low. Antibodies against canine distemper virus were not detected.

Adenoviridae↗