Incomplete documentation of elements of Ottawa Ankle Rules despite an electronic medical record.

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to observe the frequency of complete documentation of the elements of the Ottawa Ankle Rules (OAR) in acute foot and ankle injuries in an emergency department with an electronic medical record.

Procedure: Seven hundred patient visits for acute ankle/foot injuries were reviewed. Each component of the OAR was tabulated as positive, negative, or not documented.

Association of -765G>C polymorphism of the COX-2 gene with recurrent embryo implantation failure in Southern Chilean women.

Background: Embryo implantation failure is considered an important cause of infertility in women undergoing assisted reproductive protocols. Recent studies demonstrated that the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) enzyme is implicated in biosynthesis of prostaglandins and play an important role in the molecular implantation mechanisms. According to this evidence, we evaluated the potential association between the -765G>C (rs20417) polymorphism at the COX-2 gene and the implantation failure susceptibility in a sample of Chilean women.

The impact of community-based sexually transmitted infection screening results on sexual risk behaviors of African American adolescents.

Purpose: To examine the effect of a community-based sexually transmitted infection (STI) screening program on sexual risk behavior among African American adolescents. We hypothesized that adolescents testing positive for an STI and receiving post-test counseling would reduce risky sexual practices, whereas STI-negative adolescents would show little or no change in protective sexual behavior after screening.

Methods: From August 2006 to January 2008, we recruited 636 sexually active African American adolescents (age, 14-17) from community-based organizations in two mid-sized U.

Relationship between variants of the leptin gene and obesity and metabolic biomarkers in Brazilian individuals.

Objective: The relationship between variants of the leptin gene (LEP) and obesity and metabolic biomarkers was investigated in Brazilian individuals.

Subjects And Methods: One-hundred-ten obese (BMI > 30 kg/m(2)) and 100 non-obese individuals (145 women and 65 men, aged 49 +/- 14 years) were randomly selected. Plasma leptin, glycemia, serum lipid measurements and LEP -2548G>A and 3'HVR polymorphisms were analyzed.

Weekly monitoring of children with asthma for infections and illness during common cold seasons.

Background: Exacerbations of childhood asthma and rhinovirus infections both peak during the spring and fall, suggesting that viral infections are major contributors to seasonal asthma morbidity.

Objectives: We sought to evaluate rhinovirus infections during peak seasons in children with asthma and to analyze relationships between viral infection and illness severity.

Methods: Fifty-eight children aged 6 to 8 years with asthma provided 5 consecutive weekly nasal lavage samples during September and April; symptoms, medication use, and peak flow were recorded.

A randomized controlled trial of an HIV prevention intervention for street-based female sex workers in Yerevan, Armenia: preliminary evidence of efficacy.

This study evaluated the efficacy of an HIV intervention among female sex workers (FSWs) randomized to an intervention or wait-list control. FSWs (N = 120) completed baseline, 3- and 6-month assessments. A health educator implemented 2-hour intervention emphasized gender-empowerment, self-efficacy to persuade clients to use condoms, condom application skills, and eroticizing safer sex.

Assessment of Mexico's program to use ethanol as transportation fuel: impact of 6% ethanol-blended fuel on emissions of light-duty gasoline vehicles.

Recently, the Mexican government launched a national program encouraging the blending of renewable fuels in engine fuel. To aid the assessment of the environmental consequences of this move, the effect of gasoline fuel additives, ethanol and methyl tert-butyl ether, on the tailpipe and the evaporative emissions of Mexico sold cars was investigated. Regulated exhaust and evaporative emissions, such as carbon monoxide, non-methane hydrocarbons, and nitrogen oxides, and 15 unregulated emissions were measured under various conditions on a set of 2005-2008 model light-duty vehicles selected based on sales statistics for the Mexico City metropolitan area provided by car manufacturers.

Expression patterns of atopic eczema and respiratory illnesses in a high-risk birth cohort.

Increased severity of respiratory illnesses, RSV wheezing and early allergic sensitization were significant risk factors for atopic eczema disease persistence. These children represent a distinct phenotype of AE.

Influence of Amerindian mitochondrial DNA haplogroups on thrombosis susceptibility and frequency of four genetic prothrombotic variants in Southern Chilean subjects.

Background: Recent evidence suggests that the ethnic background may determine the susceptibility to cardiovascular diseases. Considering the genetic composition of Chilean population, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the possible association between Amerindian mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplogroups and venous thrombosis susceptibility and the influence on frequency of factor V 1691G>A, prothrombin 20210G>A, methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) 677C>T and beta-fibrinogen -148C>T polymorphisms in Southern Chilean population.

Methods: A total of 172 individuals, 60 patients with diagnosis of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) confirmed by Doppler ultrasonography and 112 controls were included in this study.

Applying ecological perspectives to adolescent sexual health in the United States: rhetoric or reality?

This study sought to determine the perspective taken toward understanding adolescent sexual risk behaviors and related biological outcomes (i.e. pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases) since 1990.

Polymorphisms of the NOS3 gene in Southern Chilean subjects with coronary artery disease and controls.

Background: Nitric oxide (NO) from the endothelium, produced by oxidation of l-arginine to l-citruline for the action at the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) is considered an important atheroprotective factor. The 894G>T, -786T>C and 4a/4b polymorphic variants of the NOS3 gene have been implicated in the development of coronary artery disease (CAD). We investigated the association between occurrence of CAD documented by angiography and the 894G>T, -786T>C and 4a/4b polymorphisms of the NOS3 gene in Southern Chilean individuals.

Balancing rigor against the inherent limitations of investigating hard-to-reach populations.

Maintaining rigor in research is critical; however, this need must be balanced by the necessity of conducting studies in populations where inherent barriers exist relative to key issues such as recruitment, attrition, sampling, sample size, assessment techniques, psychometric rigor, the identification of mediators and moderators and the practical relevance of the research question itself. Ultimately, the value of a study in health promotion should be judged on the practicality of the research question within the context of the target population. Striking the perfect balance between rigor and practicality to the field is a question that health promotion researchers and professionals need to determine through ongoing dialogue and debate.

Mass media as an HIV-prevention strategy: using culturally sensitive messages to reduce HIV-associated sexual behavior of at-risk African American youth.

The evidence base and theoretical frameworks for mass media HIV-prevention campaigns in the United States are not well-developed. We describe an intervention approach using culturally sensitive mass media messages to enhance protective beliefs and behavior of African American adolescents at risk for HIV. This approach exploits the potential that mass media messages have, not only to reach a large segment of the adolescent population and thereby support normative change, but also to engage the most vulnerable segments of this audience to reduce HIV-associated risk behaviors.

Fractional exhaled nitric oxide measurements are most closely associated with allergic sensitization in school-age children.

Background: Factors affecting fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) in early childhood are incompletely understood.

Objective: To examine the relationships between FeNO and allergic sensitization, total IgE, atopic dermatitis, rhinitis, asthma, and lung function (spirometry) in children.

Methods: Children at high risk of asthma and other allergic diseases because of parental history were enrolled at birth and followed prospectively.

Concurrent trastuzumab and HER2/neu-specific vaccination in patients with metastatic breast cancer.

Purpose: The primary objectives of this phase I/II study were to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of combination therapy consisting of concurrent trastuzumab and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)/neu-specific vaccination in patients with HER2/neu-overexpressing metastatic breast cancer.

Patients And Methods: Twenty-two patients with stage IV HER2/neu-positive breast cancer receiving trastuzumab therapy were vaccinated with an HER2/neu T-helper peptide-based vaccine. Toxicity was graded according to National Cancer Institute criteria, and antigen specific T-cell immunity was assessed by interferon gamma enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot assay.

Prevalence and correlates of HIV testing among sexually active African American adolescents in 4 US cities.

Background: Routine HIV testing is recommended for all adolescents ages 13 years and older. This study aims to report the prevalence of HIV testing among black adolescents, describe characteristics of adolescents who have been tested, and identify potentially modifiable factors associated with greater likelihood of testing across gender.

Methods: Black adolescents ages 13 to 18 were recruited from community-based outreach in 4 US cities.

Exposure to tobacco on the internet: content analysis of adolescents' internet use.

Objective: We performed a content analysis of all Web pages viewed by a random sample of adolescents to describe exposure to tobacco- and smoking-related text and images.

Methods: Adolescents (14-17 years of age) with home Internet access were recruited. Internet-tracking software was installed on home computers used by 346 eligible consenting participants.

Differentiating between precursor and control variables when analyzing reasoned action theories.

This paper highlights the distinction between precursor and control variables in the context of reasoned action theory. Here the theory is combined with structural equation modeling to demonstrate how age and past sexual behavior should be situated in a reasoned action analysis. A two wave longitudinal survey sample of African-American adolescents is analyzed where the target behavior is having vaginal sex.

A novel interaction between fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 and the p85 subunit of phosphoinositide 3-kinase: activation-dependent regulation of ERK by p85 in multiple myeloma cells.

Ectopic activation of fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) is associated with several cancers, including multiple myeloma (MM). FGFR3 inhibition in these cells inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis, validating FGFR3 signaling as a therapeutic target in t(4;14) MM cases. We have identified the PI3K regulatory subunit, p85alpha, as a novel interactor of FGFR3 by yeast two-hybrid, and confirmed an interaction with both p85alpha and p85beta in mammalian cells.

Threats of cross-contamination on effects of a sexual risk reduction intervention: fact or fiction.

This study sought to empirically evaluate the extent and impact of cross-contamination on the effects of a STI/HIV intervention trial previously shown to be effective in reducing high-risk sexual behaviors among African-American adolescent females. Participants were recruited through community health agencies in the Southeastern United States and comprised 522 sexually active 14- to 18- year-old African-American females who completed self-administered questionnaires and face-to-face interviews at baseline, 6- and 12-month time points. Participants were randomized to a STI/HIV risk reduction group or a general health promotion group.

Test-retest reliability of self-reported HIV/STD-related measures among African-American adolescents in four U.S. cities.

Purpose: To evaluate the test-retest reliability of self-reported sexuality-related data in a sample of African American adolescents residing in four U.S. cities.

Factor XII 46C --> T gene polymorphism in Chilean subjects with coronary artery disease and controls.

Objective: To investigate the possible association between factor XII (F12) gene variant and the presence of coronary artery disease (CAD) in Chilean subjects.

Methods: A total of 112 unrelated patients with a diagnosis of CAD confirmed by angiography (33-74 years old) and 107 healthy controls (30-68 years old) were included in this study. PCR-RFLP was used to evaluate the 46C --> T polymorphism of the F12 gene.

Characterization of IS6110 insertions in the dnaA-dnaN intergenic region of Mycobacterium tuberculosis clinical isolates.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates with identical IS6110 restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) patterns are considered to be clonally related. The presence of IS6110 in the dnaA-dnaN intergenic region, one preferential locus for the integration of IS6110, was evaluated in 125 M. tuberculosis isolates.