Social networks help control hypertension.

Cardiovascular health disparities continue to pose a major public health problem. The authors evaluated the effect of education administered within social networks on the improvement of hypertension in 248 African Americans compared with historical controls. Patients formed clusters with peers and attended monthly hypertension education sessions.

Dose-response to a two-component acellular pertussis vaccine in infants and comparison with whole-cell vaccine.

In an effort to determine the optimal dose of pertussis toxoid (PT) and filamentous haemagglutinin (FHA) for use in acellular pertussis vaccines we compared the immunogenicity and safety of acellular pertussis vaccine combined with diphtheria and tetanus toxoids containing 12.5 microg (DTaP-12.5) or 25 microg (DTaP-25) each of PT and FHA with a whole cell pertussis vaccine in infants immunized at 2, 4 and 6 months of age.

Determinants of children's health care use: an investigation of psychosocial factors.

Factors related to the amount of health care used by 5- to 11-year-old children in a health maintenance organization (HMO) were investigated using a comprehensive multivariate model that assessed the contribution of child health need, mental health, and social functioning; maternal mental health, social support and health care utilization; and family functioning and life events. Mothers reported on the 450 participating children. Health care visits for a two-year retrospective period were obtained from the computerized encounter system.

Residual shunting in the early postoperative period after closure of atrial septal defect: echocardiographic comparison of patch materials.

Residual shunting after surgical closure of septal defects is a common postoperative complication. In this study, contrast echocardiography was used to assess the effect of different surgical patch materials on early postoperative residual shunting. The study consisted of 44 patients (aged 3 days to 64 years) with simple or complex atrial septal defects.

Recognition of residual postoperative shunts by contrast echocardiographic techniques.

A bedside echocardiographic technique was used to detect and localize residual intracardiac shunts in 26 patients who had surgical repair of septal defects. Contrast echocardiography was performed through central venous and left atrial monitoring catheters at the same time as cardiogreen dye curves. Indicator dilution confirmed residual atrial defects in ten patients and ventricular defects in five.