Developing a Biomarker Feedback Intervention to Motivate Smoking Cessation During Pregnancy: Phase II MAW Study.

Introduction: The prevalence of smoking during pregnancy for Alaska Native (AN) women is more than triple that of non-Native Alaska women. In this qualitative study, we solicited input from AN women and others to determine how best to present findings from an earlier study demonstrating a strong correlation between biomarkers for maternal smoking (cotinine) and neonatal exposure to a tobacco-specific carcinogen 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL) to motivate cessation.

Methods: We developed a brochure incorporating generalized biomarker information.

Tobacco cessation treatment for Alaska native adolescents: group randomized pilot trial.

Introduction: Tobacco cessation treatments have not been evaluated among Alaska Native (AN) adolescents. This pilot study evaluated the feasibility and the potential efficacy of a targeted cessation intervention for AN youth using a group randomized design.

Methods: Eight villages in western Alaska were randomly assigned to receive the intervention (n = 4 villages) or a delayed treatment control condition (written materials only; n = 4 villages).

Feasibility of a tobacco cessation intervention for pregnant Alaska Native women.

Background: Among Alaska Native women residing in the Yukon-Kuskokwim (Y-K) Delta region of Western Alaska, about 79% smoke cigarettes or use smokeless tobacco during pregnancy. Treatment methods developed and evaluated among Alaska Native pregnant tobacco users do not exist. This pilot study used a randomized two-group design to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a targeted cessation intervention for Alaska Native pregnant women.

Accuracy of pathologic examination in detection of complete response after chemoradiation for esophageal cancer.

Background: Although a substantial proportion of patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemoradiation for invasive esophageal cancer develop a pathologic complete response (pCR), these patients nonetheless have a poor 5-year survival rate. We hypothesized that routine pathologic examination fails to identify some residual cancer.

Methods: Patients undergoing esophagectomy for cancer at 2 tertiary care centers were identified.

Lymphosarcoma in the laboratory woodchuck (Marmota monax).

From 1979 to 1999,28 cases of lymphosarcoma were identified in the Cornell University woodchuck colony (prevalence rate: 152/100,000/yr). The prevalence of lymphosarcoma was similar in woodchucks not infected with the woodchuck hepatitis virus (WHV) and in chronic carriers of WHV. Males (13) and females (15) alike were affected (mean +/- SD age 4.

Malassezia dermatitis in the dog: a retrospective histopathological and immunopathological study of 86 cases (1990-95).

A retrospective histopathological and immunopathological study was conducted on 86 dogs with Malassezia dermatitis. West Highland White terriers, English Setters, Shih Tzus, Basset Hounds, American Cocker Spaniels, spayed females, and castrated males were found to be at increased risk. The histopathological reaction pattern of lymphocytic superficial perivascular to interstitial dermatitis with parakeratotic hyperkeratosis, irregular epidermal hyperplasia, diffuse intercellular oedema and lymphocytic exocytosis was found to be consistent with a diagnosis of Malassezia dermatitis whether yeast were histologically visible (73.