Drinking problems among employed, unemployed and shift workers.

This study investigated the relationships between drinking problems and the following: current employment status, current occupation, unemployment, shift work and alcohol-related problems. The study involved a household survey of 993 persons in Durham, an area near Toronto. A scale of 17 alcohol problems and symptoms was used.

Radical radiotherapy for carcinoma of the prostate.

The results of treatment of carcinoma of the prostate with radical radiotherapy are presented. The principal aim has been to attempt cure, and only those free of secondary involvement have been irradiated. A total tumour dose of approximately 6000 rad has been administered to localised field encompassing the prostate.

Parental and peer influences as correlates of problem drinking among high school students.

This study was concerned with the relative importance of parental, peer, and demographic variables in predicting problem drinking among young people. A survey of drinking and drinking problems was conducted among 1,439 students in two schools in Ontario. A Multiple Classification Analysis was employed to identify variables with a significant and unique predictive power.

Caecal herniation through the foramen of Winslow.

The 28th reported case of caecal herniation through the foramen of Winslow is presented. A review of the literature reveals a mortality of 49% in lesser-sac herniae due to late diagnosis and operative difficulties. The comparative ease of hernial reduction after deflating trapped bowel by small-bore needle aspiration is discussed.

A note on the effects of changes in alcohol control policies in the Canadian North.

Of three communities changing their alcohol control policies, only Frobisher Bay, the most isolated, experienced a noticeable decrease in arrests for assault and public drunkenness.

Young alcoholics in treatment: their characteristics and recovery rates at follow-up.

Reporting data on characteristics of young alcoholics, treatment and recovery, and comparisons made with older alcoholics in similar treatment, this study indicates the differences and similarities, as well as pointing up the need to investigate the types of treatment most needed in this section of the population.

Predictors of drinking and signs of heavy drinking among high school students.

This paper reports an investigation of factors associated with drinking and heavy drinking among high school students. The relative importance of social characteristics, parental drinking and parental rejection and control are assessed. Data were obtained from 1,439 students in two high schools.

Public attitudes toward increasing the price of alcoholic beverages.

Approximately half of all respondents surveyed in Ontario are satisfied with current pricing of alcoholic beverages, and approximately two-thirds of all drinkers surveyed would pay more if higher prices would help reduce the prevalence of alcoholism.

Antenatal diagnosis in practice.

Over a period of 5 years, 434 women at risk of having abnormal babies have had antenatal daignostic tests carried out during the first half of their pregnancy by the laboratories of the Department of Human Genetics, University of Cape Town. From these investigations, it was predicted that 13 fetuses had chromosomal abnormalities, 6 had severe central nervous system defects and 4 had autosomal recessive metabolic disorders. In addition, 4 cases with X-linked recessive traits were monitored and 3 male fetuses were recognized.

Arrests, readmissions and treatment following release from detoxication centers.

Six months following discharge from a detoxication center, almost half of the 522 men studied were arrested, more than half were readmitted to detoxication centers, more than a third entered residential treatment and a quarter began outpatient treatment.

Test-retest reliability and validity information for a high school drug use questionnaire.

This study reports test--retest reliability and validity information for an anonymous high school drug use questionnaire. All drug use items were highly reliable in testings on the same students eight weeks apart. Composite drug scores were also highly reliable.

Intramural oesophageal haematoma complicating anticoagulant therapy.

A case of intramural oesophageal haematoma complicating anticoagulant therapy is described. Severe chest pain and complete obstruction of the oesophagus resulted. Early fibreoptic endoscopy facilitated the diagnosis.

Multiple predictors of dropout from alcoholism treatment.

A common problem in treating alcoholics is the high dropout rate. Many studies have identified individual factors associated with dropout, eg, poor motivation and previous dropout. We believe the present study reports the first major effort to use multivariate analyses to predict dropout in a large (792), one-year follow-up study of alcoholics, and examines the possibility that medical and nonmedical treatments lead to differential dropout rates.

Parainfluenza-3 virus exposure of beef heifers prior to natural breeding.

Ninety-six Hereford heifers (approximately 7 months of age) were randomly divided into 2 equal groups and housed 1.6 km apart (with 2 replications in time, 1 year apart). At 15 months of age, 1 group/replicate was inoculated with parainfluenza-3 virus, and the other group was given virus-free spent culture medium.

Relationship between splenic size and splenic function.

The rate of clearance of 51Cr labelled heat-damaged red cells from the circulation has been compared with the dimensions of the posterior scan of the spleen in 79 cases including nine controls. A strong negative correlation was found between the clearance half-time and the parameters of the scan but, as there was a large variation about the regression line, in the assessment of hyposplenism determination of the rate of clearance of heat-damaged red cells cannot be replaced by the easier determination of spleen size by scanning.

Hyposplenism in inflammatory bowel disease.

Splenic function was assessed in 35 patients with ulcerative colitis and 20 patients with Crohn's disease. Hyposplenism was diagnosed if there were Howell-Jolly bodies in the peripheral blood film or if there was prolongation of clearance from the peripheral blood of injected 51-Cr-labelled heat-damaged red blood cells. Thirteen of the patients with ulcerative colitis had hyposplenism as compared with only one patient with Crohn's disease.

The measurement of calcium absorption and absorption rate with an external arm radioactivity counter.

1. A large-volume scintillation counter was used to measure calcium absorption from the ratio of forearm uptake of 47Ca after oral 47CaCl2 (administered with milk) to forearm uptake after intravenously administered 47CaCl2. 2.