Addressing Food Insecurity Through Community Empowerment in a Staten Island (Richmond County) Neighborhood in New York City.

This study investigated community empowerment as a means of addressing food insecurity amongst underserved neighborhoods by increasing available and affordable food choices through Clementine Collective stands in Staten Island, New York (Richmond County), one of the 5 Boroughs of New York City. Given the growing complexity of food insecurity, inclusive and equitable action must be taken that incorporates the voices, perspectives and needs of those most impacted. Through methods of community engagement and empowerment, the Clementine Collective collaborates with local community residents to introduce sustainable solutions that address food insecurity.

Owner Survey of 55 Dogs That Underwent Full Mouth Extraction Procedures in a Referral Practice.

Full mouth extraction (FME) in dogs is a common procedure performed in veterinary dental referral practice. Clients may be apprehensive to have FME performed, with concerns for ability to eat and quality of life. These concerns may be barriers to electing to proceed.

Improving the health of Oklahomans through clinical prevention, Part III: Immunizations and chemoprophylaxis.

Vaccines are one of the greatest achievements of biomedical science and public health and are clearly one of the most effective tools of clinical prevention. Diseases that once caused significant morbidity and mortality in Americans--particularly children--have been virtually eliminated from the population through effective immunization programs. But until these diseases have been eradicated globally we must continue to maintain high immunization levels to prevent their return; a 90% coverage rate has been set as the national goal for recommended vaccines in preschool age children.

Improving the health of Oklahomans through clinical prevention, part II: Screening to identify early-stage disease and risk factors.

The purpose of screening is to identify asymptomatic disease, or risk factors for disease, so that interventions can occur as early as possible in the disease process. The primary goal is to decrease the morbidity the patient experiences from the disease. For infectious diseases, screening can benefit not only the individual with the disease but also the community, since infectious persons can be identified and treated prior to transmitting the disease to others.

Improving the health of Oklahomans through clinical prevention. Part 1: Counseling to decrease major risk factors.

Compared to other states, Oklahomans suffer higher levels of morbidity and mortality from several common conditions--coronary heart disease, chronic lung disease, stroke and injury. Unhealthy personal behaviors contribute significantly to each of these conditions, thus rendering them at least partially preventable by changing those behaviors. Research has shown that many patients will modify unhealthy behaviors as a result of services provided by physicians or staff in their offices, often with briefly delivered messages.

Vegan diet-based lifestyle program rapidly lowers homocysteine levels.

Background: Plasma homocysteine levels have been directly associated with cardiac disease risk. Current research raises concerns as to whether comprehensive lifestyle approaches including a plant-based diet may interact with other known modulators of homocysteine levels.

Methods: We report our observations of homocysteine levels in 40 self-selected subjects who participated in a vegan diet-based lifestyle program.

The epidemiology of left-handedness in a hospital population.

Purpose: We evaluated the association between left-handedness (LH) and age, education, cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, and disease status in a case-control study of 8801 hospitalized patients with cancer and those with other conditions.

Methods: Subjects were interviewed in person using a structured questionnaire that contained detailed sections of lifestyle behaviors.

Results: The overall prevalences of LH were 7.

Conjunctival scarring after eyelid surgery as first sign of ocular cicatricial pemphigoid.

Diagnosis of ocular cicatricial pemphigoid (OCP), a chronic cicatrizing autoimmune disease of the conjunctiva, may be difficult in the early stages of the disease. We noted abnormal conjunctival scarring in three patients who had undergone eyelid and strabismus surgery, which caused us to suspect OCP. In all three patients who subsequently underwent conjunctival biopsy, immunoglobulin or complement in the basement membrane zone detected by direct immunofluorescence helped establish the diagnosis.

Management of puncture wounds in the foot.

Puncture wounds may be relatively innocuous, or they can lead to devastating sequelae. The authors reflect their combined experiences in treating these maladies and review recommended treatment protocol. Various radiographic, clinical, and histologic characteristics of puncture wounds are presented.