Risky Teen Driving in a Rural Southern State.

Objective: Alabama is one of the five US states with the highest teen driving mortality. We recruited teen drivers to participate in a questionnaire regarding high-risk driving behaviors.

Methods: Teens were recruited from a large county school system to participate in a voluntary anonymous survey.

Bioavailability of (+)-methamphetamine in the pigeon following an intramuscular dose.

Pigeons are used frequently as subjects in behavioral pharmacology research. An advantage of the pigeon is an exceedingly vascular breast muscle, which is easily accessible for injections. The purpose of these studies was to provide a profile of the pharmacokinetics of (+)-methamphetamine (METH) and (+)-amphetamine (AMP), a pharmacologically active metabolite, in pigeons (n=6) after intramuscular (i.

Surface-etching enhances titanium implant osseointegration in newly formed (rhBMP-2-induced) and native bone.

Purpose: The influence of surface modifications on osseointegration in newly formed bone is not well established. The purpose of this study was to compare osseointegration at acid-etched versus turned implants in newly formed and native bone.

Methods: Supra-alveolar peri-implant defects were created in 8 hound/Labrador mongrel dogs.

Effects of anti-phencyclidine and anti-(+)-methamphetamine monoclonal antibodies alone and in combination on the discrimination of phencyclidine and (+)-methamphetamine by pigeons.

Rationale: Drug-specific monoclonal antibodies against phencyclidine (PCP) and (+)-methamphetamine [(+)-METH] should bind to these drugs to block their discriminative stimulus effects.

Objectives: To determine if mouse monoclonal antibodies against PCP and (+)-METH can block the discriminative stimulus effects of the drugs in pigeons.

Materials And Methods: Pigeons were trained to discriminate among intramuscular injections of saline, 1 mg/kg PCP, and 2 mg/kg (+)-METH.

rhBMP-2 significantly enhances guided bone regeneration.

Background: Previous studies have shown a limited potential for bone augmentation following guided bone regeneration (GBR) in horizontal alveolar defects. Surgical implantation of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) in an absorbable collagen sponge carrier (ACS) significantly enhances bone regeneration in such defects; however, sufficient quantities of bone for implant dentistry are not routinely obtained. The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of rhBMP-2/ACS to enhance GBR using a space-providing, macro-porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) device.

Effects of murine-derived anti-methamphetamine monoclonal antibodies on (+)-methamphetamine self-administration in the rat.

Two murine-derived anti-methamphetamine monoclonal antibodies were studied as potential pharmacokinetic antagonists of (+)-methamphetamine self-administration by rats. Intravenous administration of a 1 g/kg dose of the lower affinity [antibody equilibrium dissociation constant (K(d)) = 250 nM] monoclonal antibody (mAb) designated mAb6H8, 1 day before the start of several daily 2-h self-administration sessions produced effects that depended on the dose of (+)-methamphetamine. mAb6H8 increased the rate of self-administration of a unit dose of 0.

Space-providing expanded polytetrafluoroethylene devices define alveolar augmentation at dental implants induced by recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein 2 in an absorbable collagen sponge carrier.

Background: Surgical implantation of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein 2 (rhBMP-2) in an absorbable collagen sponge carrier (ACS) significantly enhances bone regeneration in horizontal alveolar defects; however, sufficient quantities of bone for implant dentistry are not routinely obtained.

Purpose: The objective of this proof-of-principle study was to evaluate the potential of a space-providing macroporous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) device to control volume and geometry of rhBMP-2/ACS-induced alveolar bone augmentation.

Materials And Methods: Bilateral critical-size supra-alveolar periimplant defects were created in four Hound-Labrador mongrel dogs.

Periodontal repair in dogs: a bioabsorbable calcium carbonate coral implant enhances space provision for alveolar bone regeneration in conjunction with guided tissue regeneration.

Background: Collapse or compression of a barrier device into a periodontal defect or onto the root surface compromises outcomes following guided tissue regeneration (GTR). Bone biomaterials have been suggested to support regeneration of alveolar bone and to improve space provision with GTR devices. The objective of this study was to evaluate space provision, alveolar bone, and cementum regeneration following use of a bioabsorbable, calcium carbonate biomaterial in conjunction with GTR.

Periodontal repair in dogs: space-providing ePTFE devices increase rhBMP-2/ACS-induced bone formation.

Background: Recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) technologies have been shown to enhance alveolar bone formation significantly. Biomaterial (carrier) limitations, however, have restricted their biologic potential for indications where compressive forces may limit the volume of bone formed. The objective of this proof-of-principle study was to evaluate the potential of a space-providing, macroporous ePTFE device to define rhBMP-2-induced alveolar bone formation using a discriminating onlay defect model.

Periodontal repair in dogs: rhBMP-2 significantly enhances bone formation under provisions for guided tissue regeneration.

Background: Recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) has been shown to support the regeneration of alveolar bone and periodontal attachment in surgically created periodontal defects and in defects with a history of dental plaque and calculus exposure. Periodontal regeneration has also been shown following guided tissue regeneration using space-providing expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) devices. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of rhBMP-2 on regeneration of alveolar bone and periodontal attachment used in conjunction with a space-providing ePTFE device.

Periodontal repair in dogs: gingival tissue occlusion, a critical requirement for GTR?

Background: Design criteria for guided tissue regeneration (GTR) devices include biocompatibility, cell occlusion, space maintenance, tissue integration, and ease of use. Previous studies have established the importance of wound stabilization and space provision during the early healing sequel for successful GTR outcomes as well as evaluated biocompatibility, tissue integration, and clinical manageability of various biomaterials. The importance of cell or tissue occlusion has yet to be established.

Periodontal repair in dogs: evaluation of a bioabsorbable space-providing macroporous membrane with recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2.

Background: Recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) technologies have been shown to significantly support alveolar bone formation. Biomaterial limitations, however, have restricted the biologic potential for onlay indications. The objective of this study was to evaluate regeneration of alveolar bone and periodontal attachment, and biomaterials reaction following surgical implantation of a space-providing, bioabsorbable, macroporous, polyglycolic acid-trimethylene carbonate (PGA-TMC) membrane combined with a rhBMP-2 construct in a discriminating onlay defect model.

Periodontal Repair in Dogs: Evaluation of a Bioabsorbable Space-Providing Macro-Porous Membrane with Recombinant Human Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2.

Background: Recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) technologies have been shown to significantly support alveolar bone formation. Biomaterial limitations, however, have restricted the biologic potential for onlay indications. The objective of this study was to evaluate regeneration of alveolar bone and periodontal attachment, and biomaterials reaction following surgical implantation of a spaceproviding, bioabsorbable, macroporous, polyglycolic acid-trimethylene carbonate (PGA-TMC) membrane combined with a rhBMP-2 construct in a discriminating onlay defect model.

Pharmacokinetic antagonism of (+)-methamphetamine discrimination by a low-affinity monoclonal anti-methamphetamine antibody.

Animals were trained to discriminate 5 or 10 mg/kg cocaine (rats), or 3 mg/kg (+)-amphetamine (pigeons) from saline, after which dose-response curves were determined for (+)-methamphetamine and other drugs before and after administration of a (+)-methamphetamine-specific monoclonal antibody (K(D) =250 nM). In rats trained to discriminate 10 mg/kg cocaine from saline, intravenous (+)-methamphetamine was about three times more potent as a discriminative stimulus than intraperitoneal (+)-methamphetamine. Also in these rats, intraperitoneal (+)-methamphetamine and (+)-amphetamine were about equipotent as discriminative stimuli, and were about three times more potent than intraperitoneal cocaine.

Evaluation of a portable clinical analyzer in the pediatric emergency department: analysis of cost and turnaround time.

Background: The objective of this study was to evaluate a portable clinical analyzer (PCA) in the pediatric emergency department (ED), examining (1) turnaround time, (2) cost, and (3) sample amounts for PCA versus standard laboratory.

Methods: Twenty children were studied. Laboratory measurements were taken from the study group using PCA and central laboratory as the control.

Drug discrimination under concurrent variable-ratio variable-ratio schedules.

Pigeons were trained to discriminate 5 mg/kg pentobarbital from saline under concurrent variable-ratio (VR) VR schedules, in which responses on the pentobarbital-biased lever were reinforced under the VR schedule with the smaller response requirements when pentobarbital was given before the session, and responses on the saline-biased key were reinforced under the VR schedule with the larger response requirements. When saline was administered before the session, the reinforcement contingencies associated with the two response keys were reversed. When responding stabilized under concurrent VR 20 VR 30, concurrent VR 10 VR 40, or concurrent VR 5 VR 50 schedules, pigeons responded almost exclusively on the key on which fewer responses were required to produce the reinforcer.

Discrimination of pentobarbital doses and drug mixtures under fixed-ratio and fixed-interval reinforcement schedules.

Pigeons were trained to discriminate among 5 mg/kg pentobarbital, 10mg/kg pentobarbital, and saline, under either fixed-interval (FI) or fixed-ratio (FR) reinforcement schedules. When baseline responding stabilized, a higher percentage of responses occurred on the key that produced the reinforcer under the FR schedule than under the FI schedule. After low doses of pentobarbital, responding shifted from the saline key to the 5 mg/kg pentobarbital key; at higher doses of pentobarbital responding shifted to the 10mg/kg pentobarbital key under both schedules.

Schedule control of quantal and graded dose-effect curves in a drug-drug-saline discrimination.

Pigeons were trained to discriminate among 5 mg/kg pentobarbital, 5 mg/kg morphine, and saline when responding was maintained under fixed-interval (FI) or fixed-ratio (FR) reinforcement schedules. After the discrimination was established, other drugs were substituted for the training drugs. After low doses of pentobarbital and chlordiazepoxide, responding shifted from the saline key to the pentobarbital key under both FR and FI schedules.

Effect of drugs on response-duration differentiation VII: response-force requirements.

Rats were trained to press a lever for at least 1 s but for less than 1.3 s. The force required to press the lever was then increased or decreased by 10, 15, or 20 g.

Drug discrimination in rats under concurrent variable-interval variable-interval schedules.

Eight rats were trained to discriminate pentobarbital from saline under a concurrent variable-interval (VI) VI schedule, on which responses on the pentobarbital-biased lever after pentobarbital were reinforced under VI 20 s and responses on the saline-biased lever were reinforced under VI 80 s. After saline, the reinforcement contingencies programmed on the two levers were reversed. The rats made 62.

Determination of systolic blood pressure via pulse oximeter in transported pediatric patients.

Objective: To compare pulse oximetry waveform systolic blood pressure measurements (POWSBP) to measurements obtained by noninvasive blood pressure measurement (NIBPM) during the transport of children.

Design: A prospective, convenience sample.

Setting And Participants: All patients transported by a dedicated Pediatric Critical Care Transport Team were eligible for inclusion.

Effect of ketorolac in pediatric sickle cell vaso-occlusive pain crisis.

Background: Ketorolac is a parenteral, nonsteroidal analgesic that does not have a narcotic's risks of respiratory depression, hypotension, or dependence. Its usefulness in providing pain relief in pediatric patients with acute vaso-occlusive crisis of sickle cell disease has not been studied to date.

Methods: Twenty-nine patients with sickle cell disease between the ages of 5 and 18 years who presented to The Children's Hospital of Alabama emergency department (ED) with 41 distinct episodes of acute vaso-occlusive pain crisis were enrolled prospectively and randomized to receive either 0.

Fatal iron intoxication in an infant.

Iron ingestion continues to be one of the major contributors to pediatric poisoning deaths. In 1995, more than 22,000 children unintentionally received preparations containing iron. Despite child-resistant packaging and education of both the public and medical personnel, the number of deaths has not significantly declined.

Drug discrimination under a concurrent fixed-interval fixed-interval schedule.

Pigeons were trained to discriminate 5.0 mg/kg pentobarbital from saline under a concurrent fixed-interval (FI) FI schedule of food presentation on which, after pentobarbital administration, responses on one key were reinforced with food under an FI 60-s component and responses on the other key were reinforced under an FI 240-s component. After saline administration, the schedule contingencies on the two keys were reversed.