Adolescents' descriptions of the physical characteristics of microbicide surrogates and experiences of use.

Purpose: Our purpose was to describe adolescent girls' perceptions of microbicide surrogates and experiences of use, including impact on sexual pleasure.

Methods: Sexually experienced girls, 14-21 years, were recruited for a study examining microbicide acceptability. The girls were given vaginal moisturizers (gel or suppository) to use as if they were microbicides.

Ultrasound appearance of knuckle pads.

Objective: We describe the ultrasound appearance of knuckle pads.

Design And Patients: Retrospective analysis of imaging in a series of five patients initially referred for evaluation of periarticular soft-tissue swelling of the hands involving the dorsum of the PIP and MP joints. Two patients had associated Dupuytren's contractures.

Nutrition labeling and value size pricing at fast-food restaurants: a consumer perspective.

Purpose: This pilot study examined nutrition-related attitudes that may affect food choices at fast-food restaurants, including consumer attitudes toward nutrition labeling of fast foods and elimination of value size pricing.

Methods: A convenience sample of 79 fast-food restaurant patrons aged 16 and above (78.5% white, 55% female, mean age 41.

Dynamics of the upper 50-kDa domain of myosin V examined with fluorescence resonance energy transfer.

The upper 50-kDa region of myosin may be critical for coupling between the nucleotide- and actin-binding regions. We introduced a tetracysteine motif in the upper 50-kDa domain (residues 292-297) of myosin V containing a single IQ domain (MV 1IQ), allowing us to label this site with the fluorescein biarscenical hairpin-binding dye (FlAsH) (MV 1IQ FlAsH). The enzymatic properties of MV 1IQ FlAsH were similar to those of unlabeled MV 1IQ except for a 3-fold reduced ADP-release rate.

A randomized controlled trial of sport helmet interventions in a pediatric emergency department.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of 3 competing pediatric emergency department (ED) interventions aiming to increase sport helmet use in a state without helmet legislation.

Methods: A randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted during the 7-month period between April and October 2003 at an urban pediatric ED in a state without current helmet legislation. We enrolled 200 assenting English-speaking children aged 5 to 16 years, admitted to the ED for treatment, and who did not currently own a helmet.

Communication of prognostic information for critically ill patients.

Study Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine whether the timing of prognostic information delivery by physicians is associated with caregiver satisfaction with communication or decision making in the ICU.

Design: Multicenter, prospective, longitudinal observational study.

Setting: Medical and surgical ICUs in a community and university hospital.

Physical performance limitations and participation restrictions among cancer survivors: a population-based study.

Purpose: Medical late effects among cancer survivors may result in impairments that limit physical performance and activities necessary for normal participation in daily life. The aim of this analysis was to estimate the prevalence of physical performance limitations and participation restrictions among recent (< 5 years since diagnosis), and long-term (> or = 5 years) cancer survivors.

Methods: Data from the 1999-2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were analyzed to compare the proportions of physical performance limitations and participation restrictions among 279 recent and 434 long-term cancer survivors, and among 9370 persons with no reported cancer history.

Novel surgical approach to the carpal tunnel: cadaveric feasibility study.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common entrapment neuropathy dealt with by the clinician. Multiple techniques have been used to surgically treat this pathological condition and all of these approach the carpal tunnel from the palmar surface of the hand or wrist. We have developed a novel endoscopic approach to the carpal tunnel utilizing a dorsal approach that necessitates a good appreciation of the anatomy of this region.

Synthesis of alpha-chemokines IP-10, I-TAC, and MIG are differentially regulated in human corneal keratocytes.

Purpose: Chemokines responsible for recruiting lymphocytes such as activated T cells into the cornea have not been clearly defined. IP-10, I-TAC, and MIG are chemoattractants for these lymphocytes. The goal of this study was to determine whether human corneal keratocyte (HCKs) in culture synthesize these chemokines in response to proinflammatory mediators.

Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in relation to self-reported cancer history.

Purpose: To estimate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in persons with a history of cancer from a population-based sample of adults, and compare that prevalence to persons without a history of cancer.

Methods: Data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were analyzed to compare prevalence and prevalence differences of the metabolic syndrome, as defined by Adult Treatment Panel III criteria, between 486 persons with a reported history of cancer and 12,526 persons with no reported history of cancer.

Results: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 258/1000 persons for those with a cancer history and 184/1000 persons among those without, resulting in a prevalence difference of 74/1000 persons (95% CI, 38-110).

An analysis of American Journal of Epidemiology citations with special reference to statistics and social science.

In an effort to inform the ongoing discussion about the purpose, purview, theoretical orientation, and viability of epidemiology, this paper considers the contemporary epistemological foundations of the discipline by analyzing article citations. Two principal questions are the following: 1) What research do American Journal of Epidemiology (AJE) authors rely on to support, inform, and frame their investigations? and 2) to what extent do such authors use social scientific and statistical citations? The data used appear to be superior to those used in previous efforts because they contain complete citations for all articles published, along with complete within-article citations, for all AJE articles published from January 1981 to December 2002. The most frequent AJE citations are statistically oriented works.

CXCR3, IP-10, and Mig are required for CD4+ T cell recruitment during the DTH response to HSV-1 yet are independent of the mechanism for viral clearance.

Sensitized CD4+ T cells play an essential role in delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) elicited by HSV-1 antigen. As activated CD4+ T cells express CXCR3, we investigated whether this chemokine receptor was involved in their recruitment. Antibody blockade of CXCR3 suppressed DTH, whereas ear pinna swelling was not impaired in mice lacking the gene for CCR5, another frequently expressed chemokine receptor.

A novel role for neutrophils as a source of T cell-recruiting chemokines IP-10 and Mig during the DTH response to HSV-1 antigen.

Analogous to CD4+ T cells, neutrophils are essential participants in delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) to Herpes simplex virus type 1 antigen. However, what role they play in this cellular immune response is unclear. The recent recognition that neutrophils are potent producers of chemokines led us to hypothesize that they may help recruit CD4+ effector T cells.

Comparison of the prognostic value of left ventricular hypertrophy in African-American men versus women.

Echocardiographically determined left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy may be a stronger risk factor of cardiovascular disease (CVD) for women than for men, although it is unclear whether reported gender differences are real or attributable to confounding. We evaluated echocardiographic LV hypertrophy (defined as LV mass/height(2.7) >/=51 g/m(2.

Outcomes of a statewide anti-tobacco industry youth organizing movement.

Purpose: To outline the design and present select findings from an evaluation of a statewide anti-tobacco industry youth organizing movement.

Design: A telephone survey was administered to teenagers to assess associations between exposure to anti-industry youth organizing activities and tobacco-related attitudes and behaviors. A group-level comparison between areas high and low in youth organizing activities was planned.

Long-term ethylene oxide exposure trends in US hospitals: relationship with OSHA regulatory and enforcement actions.

Objectives: We assessed long-term trends in ethylene oxide (EtO) worker exposures for the purposes of exposure surveillance and evaluation of the impacts of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 1984 and 1988 EtO standards.

Methods: We obtained exposure data from a large commercial vendor and processor of EtO passive dosimeters. Personal samples (87,582 workshift [8-hr] and 46,097 short-term [15-min] samples) from 2265 US hospitals were analyzed for time trends from 1984 through 2001 and compared with OSHA enforcement data.

Activation of cytokines and NF-kappa B in corneal epithelial cells infected by respiratory syncytial virus: potential relevance in ocular inflammation and respiratory infection.

Background: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of lower respiratory tract infection, claiming millions of lives annually. The virus infects various cells of the respiratory tract as well as resident inflammatory cells such as macrophages. Infection activates a variety of cellular factors such as cytokines and the pro-inflammatory transcription factor, NF-kappa B, all of which are important players in the respiratory disease.

A role for NF-kappa B binding motifs in the differential induction of chemokine gene expression in human corneal epithelial cells.

Purpose: The interleukin (IL)-8 promoter possesses a NF-kappa B-binding site with affinity to p50p65 and p65p65 complexes while the monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 promoter's NF-kappa B-binding site has exclusive affinity to p50p65 heterodimers. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the two NF-kappa B sites play a role in the capacity of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha-stimulated human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs) to produce nanogram amounts of IL-8 in the absence of MCP-1 synthesis.

Methods: IL-8 and MCP-1 promoters were cloned into luciferase reporter vectors.

Formation and reaction of O=MnV species in the oxidation of phenolic substrates with H2O2 catalysed by the dinuclear manganese(IV) 1,4,7-trimethyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane complex [MnIV2(mu-O)3(TMTACN)2](PF6)2.

The oxidation of phenolic substrates with H2O2 catalysed by [MnIV2(mu-O)3(TMTACN)2](PF6)2 1, (TMTACN, 1,4,7-trimethyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane) has been investigated by use of ESI mass spectrometry. The role of the phenols as one-electron reductants and as co-ligands in the stabilisation and reaction of an intermediate O=MnV species has been analysed and the presence of a variety of manganese species in solution has been explained. Our results lead to a proposed mechanism for the catalytic oxidation of phenols in this system.

The (mis)estimation of neighborhood effects: causal inference for a practicable social epidemiology.

The resurgence of interest in the effect of neighborhood contexts on health outcomes, motivated by advances in social epidemiology, multilevel theories and sophisticated statistical models, too often fails to confront the enormous methodological problems associated with causal inference. This paper employs the counterfactual causal framework to illuminate fundamental obstacles in the identification, explanation, and usefulness of multilevel neighborhood effect studies. We show that identifying useful independent neighborhood effect parameters, as currently conceptualized with observational data, to be impossible.

Tendon transfers for thumb opposition: a biomechanical study of pulley location and two insertion sites.

Purpose: The purpose of this biomechanical study was to test 5 proximal tendon pulley sites or routes of tendon transfer and 2 distal tendon insertion sites that are used commonly for performing a thumb opposition transfer.

Methods: Five fresh-frozen cadaver arms were used to test (1) an around flexor carpi ulnaris (FCU) pulley, (2) an FCU loop pulley, (3) a Guyon's canal pulley, (4) a junction of the distal edge of the transverse carpal ligament and the ulnar border of the palmar aponeurosis (Royle-Thompson pulley), and (5) a palmar thenar subcutaneous transfer (Camitz). Two tendon insertion sites were tested: a palmar radial insertion into the abductor pollicis brevis and a dorsal ulnar insertion into the thumb proximal phalanx.