Comparison of a microtitration plate ELISA with a standard cultural procedure for the detection of Salmonella spp. in chicken.

A rapid antibody-capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) detecting a wide range of Salmonella serotypes and employing only one culture stage was used to analyze the giblets and body cavity rinsings from frozen chickens. The results from the ELISA were compared with those obtained using a standard cultural procedure in current use in two laboratories, Norwich (N) and Ipswich (I), of the Public Health Laboratory Service (PHLS) in the UK. ELISAs were carried out on the same samples at each of two PHLS laboratories and at the Institute of Food Research with good agreement (94% and 90%).

Characteristics of Jamaicans who smoke marijuana before sex and their risk status for sexually transmitted diseases.

Because of the high prevalence of marijuana smoking in Jamaica, it is important to know if this practice is associated with increased risk for STD infections. A national sample of 2 580 randomly selected Jamaicans, aged 15 to 49 years were administered a questionnaire to measure a number of health and behavioural variables. The results indicated that more persons who smoked marijuana before sex had a history of STD infections than non-marijuana smokers, the difference was significant among men (46% vs 26%, p < 0.

Long-term female cancer survivors: quality of life issues and clinical implications.

The purpose of this research was to identify concerns and issues related to quality of life in long-term female cancer survivors and to discuss the implications of these issues for nursing. Data were collected by mailed questionnaire to 188 female long-term cancer survivors whose mean age was 61 years. Respondents were recruited through a Michigan tumor registry.

Preliminary testing of the Long-Term Quality of Life (LTQL) instrument for female cancer survivors.

The purpose of this study was to develop a quality of life instrument for long-term female cancer survivors. A factor analysis (n = 188) of 34 items resulted in the Long-Term Quality of Life (LTQL) instrument. Internal consistency was high for the four subscales: somatic concerns (alpha = .

Risk-taking and abusive behaviors among ethnic minorities.

The health status and health outcomes of many ethnic minorities have remained poor, or have deteriorated, despite massive health promotion campaigns. Multiple factors that encourage ethnic minorities to engage in high-risk behaviors and those that discourage health promotive behaviors must be closely examined before any health interventions are likely to be successful in decreasing substance abuse, high-risk sex, accidental deaths and injuries, and violence. Cultural and contextual factors may put some ethnic minorities in jeopardy and at higher risk for poorer health than their White counterparts (B.

The use of a juvenile hormone binding protein for the quantitative assay of juvenile hormone.

The suitability of the haemolymph juvenile hormone binding protein (JHBP) of Locusta migratoria for use in a competition assay for juvenile hormone (JH) III has been investigated, and a simple quantitative assay procedure using this protein has been developed. JHBP partially purified from haemolymph of precocene treated adult locusts gives rapid and stable binding of [3H]10R-JH III, and can be separated from the unbound hormone with hydroxylapatite (HAP). The sensitivity of the method is such that 0.

Psychological and sexual well-being, philosophical/spiritual views, and health habits of long-term cancer survivors.

The results of a survey on various aspects of quality of life for 191 women who were long-term cancer survivors are presented. We explored six areas--somatic concerns, health habits, psychological state, sexual satisfaction, social/emotional support giving, and philosophical/spiritual view--and whether differences existed in them among the women on the basis of age, educational level, income level, length of survival, location of residence (urban, suburban, or rural), cancer site, and whether a recurrence of the cancer had been experienced. Generally, the women reported good psychological states and relative satisfaction with their sexual lives.

Roles of juvenile hormone, a brain factor and adipokinetic hormone in regulation of vitellogenin biosynthesis in locusta migratoria.

In maturing adult female migratory locusts, the rises in JH and Vg in the hemolymph are greatly accelerated by enriched feeding; hereafter the JH titer fluctuates with vitellogenic cycles, falling to a low level at the oviposition stage. In fat bodies incubated in vitro, the JH analog, methoprene, and brain extract from well-fed locusts (but not starved locusts) stimulated Vg synthesis synergistically. Repeated washing of fat bodies from oviposition stage locusts led to a rise in Vg synthesis after 4 h, which was prevented by addition of locust adipokinetic hormone (AKH).

Case vignette: child abuse or acceptable cultural norms -- child psychiatrist's response; ethical issues in culturally relevant interventions; cultural contexts.

Three families from the nation of the Gambia have become socially acquainted in the greater Metropolis area where they have relocated from their native country. All three families have preadolescent daughters. None of the girls has as yet undergone the ritual "female circumcision" commonly practiced in their native country.

Office abortion services for women: private physician providers.

Research suggests that private physician providers of office abortions and the women who seek their services are not included in nationwide surveys of abortion statistics. This study describes the demographic characteristics of private physicians and the prevalence of abortions performed in their offices in Los Angeles County, California, a state in which office abortions are prohibited by law. Factors that influence physicians' decisions to provide the service, as well as the age and ethnicity of the office abortion recipients, are examined.

The sociocultural relevance of sex research. Challenges for the 1990s and beyond.

This article discusses six factors influencing research on sex and reproductive health: (a) the selection of grouping variables on the basis of race; (b) conceptual frameworks to examine sexual risk taking; (c) use of recreational rather than procreation-based models of sex; (d) research designed to control rather than to understand sexual behaviors; (e) use of a dominant, male perspective; and (f) the focus on women to minimize sexual risk taking. The effect of these factors on what is understood about sociocultural, ethnic, gender, and other issues that have yet to be examined is presented, with the ultimate goal of maximizing sexual health for diverse populations.

Sexual harassment and prior sexual trauma among African-American and white American women.

This study examined the relationship between sexual harassment in work, educational, and social settings and sexual abuse in childhood and/or adulthood in a stratified community sample of 248 African-American and white American women. The cumulative impact of sexual victimization on women's sense of general well-being was also examined. Those most likely to be sexually harassed in work and social settings were women with contact sexual abuse histories, regardless of ethnicity.

Breast cancer survivors: an exploration of quality of life issues.

This article explores long-term survivorship (5 years or longer) through focus group discussions with women who have experienced breast cancer. The data revealed four major themes; integration of the disease process into current life, change in perspective, and unresolved issues. These data begin to shed light on the issues of breast cancer survivors and can provide a basis for development of a quantitative instrument to be tested with larger populations.

Further studies on the feasibility of one-day Salmonella detection by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

A model system previously developed for the rapid detection of Salmonella typhimurium in foods was improved and extended to many other Salmonella serotypes. The original protocol, which consisted of an overnight nonselective culture followed by a specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), was modified and improved. A sandwich ELISA which used polyclonal antibodies for the capture stage and a cocktail of monoclonal antibodies for the detector stage was developed.

Properties and sequence of a female-specific, juvenile hormone-induced protein from locust hemolymph.

In the fat body of Locusta migratoria, an RNA transcript of about 800 nucleotides has been detected that is specific to the adult female and dependent on induction by juvenile hormone (JH) or an analog. The corresponding cDNA has been cloned (lambda 21) and a 718-base pair sequence determined. It encodes a 196-amino acid polypeptide, including a signal peptide.

Psychological factors in abortion. A review.

Psychological research is increasingly involved in debates regarding abortion. While recognizing the diversity of ethical and moral issues intertwined with abortion, the American Psychological Association (APA) has focused its involvement on psychological factors, most recently by appointing an expert panel to review the literature on psychological effects. This article notes the history of APA involvement and reports on the panel's conclusions.

Differential effects of women's child sexual abuse and subsequent sexual revictimization.

This study examines the differential effects of sexual revictimization in a community sample of 248 African-American and White American women, ages 18 to 36. Two classifications of sexual revictimization over the life course were used to assess the effects on later sexual and psychological functioning. The findings suggest that unintended pregnancies and abortions were significantly associated with sexual revictimization.

Modulation of DNA-binding proteins in Locusta migratoria in relation to juvenile hormone action.

Using a gel mobility shift assay, protein factors have been identified that may participate in the transcriptional regulation of the juvenile hormone (JH) induced vitellogenin A (VgA) gene of the migratory locust. Two DNA-binding proteins were found that were modulated in correlation with VgA gene activity during normal reproductive cycles and experimental stimulation by an active JH analogue (pyriproxyfen). One of these, JH factor (JHF), may be a regulator of VgA and perhaps other JH-responsive genes.

Examining predictors of sex guilt in multiethnic samples of women.

Previous research has shown that attitudes, including sex guilt, may influence the nature and type of sexual practices in which a person engages. This study examined the relationship of socioeconomic status (SES), ethnicity, and religiosity to sex guilt and aspects of sexual permissiveness that relate to sexual attitudes. Subjects were random samples of 126 African American women and 122 white American women in Los Angeles County.

Inhibition of intercellular communication in Chinese hamster V79 cells by fractionated asphalt fume condensates.

Asphalt fume condensate is a skin carcinogen in mice, yet this complex mixture contains relatively low levels of known carcinogenic initiators. Consequently, its biological activity has been attributed to the presence of cocarcinogenic or tumor-promoting agents. One of several proposed mechanisms of tumor promotion is inhibition of intercellular communication.

Yolk polypeptide gene expression in cultured Drosophila cells.

The transfer of chimaeric plasmids to Drosophila melanogaster cell lines has been examined as a system for investigation of the hormonal regulation of the genes coding for D. melanogaster yolk polypeptide 1 (YP1) and Locusta migratoria vitellogenin B (VgB). Constructs containing promoters and putative 5'-regulatory sequences from these genes, ligated to bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) coding DNA, were transfected into Drosophila Kc (Kc-H) and S3 cells, and transient expression of CAT was assayed.

Examining ethnicity versus race in AIDS related sex research.

Disproportionate numbers of AIDS cases have been reported for Blacks and Latinos nationwide. The criteria used to identify and categorize individuals into these groups has resulted in limited information about the factors responsible for Blacks and Latinos being at greater risk for HIV transmission. This paper addresses the importance of the term ethnicity versus race for social science AIDS related research.