Mental health experts' perspectives on barriers to dissemination of couples treatment for alcohol use disorders.

Despite evidence supporting the efficacy of couples-based approaches to treating alcohol problems, provision of such treatments has been limited. To better understand the limited use of this treatment, the current study explored barriers to the adoption of couples treatment for alcohol use disorders. Experts in alcohol treatment, couples treatment, and behavioral couples treatment for alcohol problems (n = 12) were interviewed on this topic; interview transcripts were analyzed using grounded theory qualitative procedures.

Adipose tissue can be generated in vitro by using adipocytes from human fat tissue mesenchymal stem cells seeded and cultured on fibrin gel sheet.

The current study has developed an innovative procedure to generate ex novo fat tissue by culturing adipocytes from human fat tissue mesenchymal stem cells (hFTMSCs) on fibrin gel sheet towards applications in medicine and cosmetology. Fibrin gel has been obtained by combining two components fibrinogen and thrombin collected by human peripheral blood. By this procedure it was possible to generate blocks of fibrin gel containing adipocytes within the gel that show similar features and consistency to human fat tissue mass.

Protruding domain of capsid protein is necessary and sufficient to determine murine norovirus replication and pathogenesis in vivo.

Human noroviruses (HuNoVs) are the major cause of epidemic, nonbacterial gastroenteritis worldwide. Due to the lack of a tractable model system and the inability to grow HuNoVs in cell culture, factors required for the norovirus (NoV) life cycle and pathogenesis in the host remain largely unknown. The discovery of murine norovirus (MNV) and the development of reverse-genetics systems for this virus provide an opportunity to study these aspects of NoV infection in vitro and in vivo.

Canal conversion and reentry: a risk of Dix-Hallpike during canalith repositioning procedures.

Objective: To determine the incidence, cause, and prevention of horizontal canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (H-BPPV) and reentry into the common crus during canalith repositioning procedures (CRPs).

Study Design: Prospective case series.

Setting: Academic tertiary referral center.

EXERCISE PREFERENCES OF PATIENTS IN SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT.

While emerging studies have demonstrated the benefit of exercise in early recovery from substance use disorders, recruitment and adherence to exercise interventions have been challenging. Tailoring interventions based on patient exercise preferences may address these concerns. Ninety-seven (N=97; age=41.

Adverse reactions and events related to musculoskeletal allografts: reviewed by the World Health Organisation Project NOTIFY.

Purpose: The use of bone and connective tissue allografts has grown rapidly and surpassed the use of autografts in many countries. Being of human origin, bone and tendon allografts carry the risk of disease transmission and complications have been reported. As part of the Project NOTIFY led by the World Health Organisation, an effort to improve recognition, reporting, tracking and investigation of adverse outcomes of allografts was initiated, achieving a comprehensive review of associated disease transmission and failures.

Estimating the cumulative ecological effect of local scale landscape changes in south Florida.

Ecosystem restoration in south Florida is a state and national priority centered on the Everglades wetlands. However, urban development pressures affect the restoration potential and remaining habitat functions of the natural undeveloped areas. Land use (LU) planning often focuses at the local level, but a better understanding of the cumulative effects of small projects at the landscape level is needed to support ecosystem restoration and preservation.

Adolescent first lapse following smoking cessation: situation characteristics, precipitants and proximal influences.

Despite increased attention to adolescent smoking cessation, little is known about adolescent relapse following a quit attempt. To address this issue, the present study was designed to provide initial information regarding the characteristics of adolescent lapses to smoking following abstinence. Included in the present study were 204 adolescent participants in four independent smoking cessation trials.

Foundation's consumer advocacy health reform initiative strengthened groups' effectiveness.

Private foundations may hesitate to fund consumer advocacy for enacting and implementing health reform because the effects are hard to measure, and because they are concerned that funds will be used for lobbying activities that are prohibited by federal tax rules governing private philanthropy. Mathematica Policy Research evaluated a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation initiative supporting state consumer health advocacy networks. During the three-year grant period, most networks coalesced and improved their ability to advocate effectively.

Linking measures of adult nicotine dependence to a common latent continuum and a comparison with adolescent patterns.

Background: An ongoing debate regarding the nature of nicotine dependence (ND) is whether the same instrument can be applied to measure ND among adults and adolescents. Using a hierarchical item response model (IRM), we examined evidence for a common continuum underlying ND symptoms among adults and adolescents.

Method: The analyses are based on two waves of interviews with subsamples of parents and adolescents from a multi-ethnic longitudinal cohort of one thousand and thirty-nine 6-10th graders from the Chicago Public Schools (CPS).

A qualitative investigation of barriers to entry into couples' treatment for alcohol problems.

This study used qualitative methodology to evaluate barriers to entry into couples' treatment for alcohol problems. Data were collected using semistructured interviews. Patients were recruited from (a) treatment for primary substance use disorders, (b) treatment for psychiatric disorders (other than substance use disorders), and (c) court-mandated outpatient domestic violence programs.

Adherence to accelerometer protocols among women from economically disadvantaged neighborhoods.

Background: Objective measurement of physical activity with accelerometers is a challenging task in community-based intervention research. Challenges include distribution of and orientation to monitors, nonwear, incorrect placement, and loss of equipment. Data collection among participants from disadvantaged populations may be further hindered by factors such as transportation challenges, competing responsibilities, and cultural considerations.

The role of drinking water in the transmission of antimicrobial-resistant E. coli.

To determine whether drinking water contaminated with antimicrobial-resistant E. coli is associated with the carriage of resistant E. coli, selected households sending water samples to Ontario and Alberta laboratories in 2005-2006 were asked to participate in a cross-sectional study.

Estimated risk of human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis C virus infection among potential organ donors from 17 organ procurement organizations in the United States.

To prevent unintentional transmission of bloodborne pathogens through organ transplantation, organ procurement organizations (OPOs) screen potential donors by serologic testing to identify human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Newly acquired infection, however, may be undetectable by serologic testing. Our objective was to estimate the incidence of undetected infection among potential organ donors and to assess the significance of risk reductions conferred by nucleic acid testing (NAT) versus serology alone.

Positive reactions to tobacco predict relapse after cessation.

Among chronic smokers, individual differences in subjective reactions to smoking may characterize important facets of nicotine dependence that relate to abstinence-induced craving, withdrawal symptom profiles, and risk for relapse. Although the negative reinforcing properties of smoking have achieved prominent positions in models of relapse (Baker, Brandon, & Chassin, 2004), vulnerability to relapse risk may also arise from seeking positive reinforcement from smoking (Shiffman & Kirchner, 2009). In this study, 183 cessation-motivated smokers provided subjective craving, positive and negative reactions to standardized cigarettes following overnight abstinence.

Male batterers' alcohol use and gambling behavior.

Little work has examined the interrelations among intimate partner violence (IPV), alcohol use, and gambling behavior, and no studies have examined these relationships among males court-ordered to batterer intervention programs (BIPs). The aim of the current investigation was to explore the associations between IPV, alcohol use, and gambling behavior among 341 males court-mandated to attend BIPs utilizing self-report measures. Voluntary, anonymous questionnaires were administered and completed during regularly scheduled BIP sessions.

Access to enforcement and disciplinary data: information practices of state health professional regulatory boards of dentistry, medicine and nursing.

This article describes a study of public access to enforcement and disciplinary information provided by the websites of health professional regulatory boards. The study explored the current state of transparency by specifically examining the availability of disciplinary data on the websites of state boards of medicine, nursing and dentistry. Web sites were reviewed regarding availability of enforcement and disciplinary data on the aforementioned state boards in each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Effect of Propionibacterium acnes-containing immunostimulant on interferon-gamma (IFNγ) production in the neonatal foal.

Production of the Th1 cytokine interferon gamma (IFNγ) is associated with resistance to intracellular pathogens, including Rhodococcus equi. While neonatal foals are initially deficient in IFNγ production, expression of this cytokine increases throughout their first year of life. This is presumably the result of stimulation by environmental antigens including pathogen associated molecular patterns (PAMPS) signaling through toll-like receptors (TLR).

Improvements in indicators of diabetes-related health status among first nations individuals enrolled in a community-driven diabetes complications mobile screening program in Alberta, Canada.

Objective: The goal of Screening for Limb, I-Eye, Cardiovascular, and Kidney complications of diabetes (SLICK) is to reduce the burden of diabetes among Alberta First Nations individuals. By analyzing the longitudinal results of SLICK over a six-year time span, our purpose was to examine both baseline diabetes-related health status and whether subsequent improvements occurred.

Methods: Diabetes complications screening, diabetes education, and community-based care were provided by mobile clinics which traveled to 43 Alberta First Nations communities biannually.

Alcoholics Anonymous and hazardously drinking women returning to the community after incarceration: predictors of attendance and outcome.

Background: The number of women incarcerated within the United States has risen dramatically in recent decades, and high rates of alcohol problems are evident among this population. Although little is known about the patterns of help utilization and efficacy for alcohol problems, preliminary evidence suggests that Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a widely available resource for this population.

Methods: Data were collected as part of a study evaluating the effect of a brief intervention to reduce alcohol use among hazardously drinking (i.

Critical care in the emergency department: acute respiratory failure.

Acute respiratory failure (ARF) is a frequent emergency department (ED) presentation. The definition and common causes of ARF are discussed in this article and ED management of the condition is discussed, using an illustrative case report. The paper considers the role of B-type natriuretic peptide in diagnosis and non-invasive ventilation (NIV) in treatment.