Hemoquant determination of hookworm-related blood loss and its role in iron deficiency in African children.

Iron deficiency remains the most prevalent form of human malnutrition, and current interventions to control it have not decreased the global prevalence. Hookworm control activities are becoming more widely implemented, but the importance of these efforts to prevent anemia in populations is not well-defined. We studied the relationships among hookworm infection, intestinal blood loss, and iron status of 203 Zanzibari school children.

Saphenous nerve anaesthesia--a nerve stimulator technique.

Purpose: This two part study was undertaken to assess both the feasibility of identifying the saphenous nerve with a nerve stimulator and to assess the efficacy of saphenous nerve anaesthesia with electrical isolation of the nerve.

Methods: (Part I): In Part I we studied 25 volunteers. Each had saphenous nerve blocks performed using a nerve stimulator (NS) and loss of resistance (LOR) technique.

Femoral nerve block. Single injection versus continuous infusion for total knee arthroplasty.

Background And Objectives: This study was conducted to ascertain whether there is any advantage to the continuous-infusion femoral 3-in-1 nerve block over the single-injection femoral nerve block for postoperative analgesia after total knee arthroplasty.

Methods: A double-blind, randomized, controlled study was made of 33 patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty, who were randomized into three groups. Group 1 received a single-injection femoral 3-in-1 nerve block with 20 mL 0.

The influence of fetal and maternal factors on the distribution of birthweight.

This review of common risk factors for low birthweight emphasizes the usefulness of examining the entire distribution of birthweight. Of the factors we examined, only short gestational age seemed to affect the low end of the birthweight distribution in the form of skewness. Most factors, such as maternal race, infant sex, plurality, altitude, education, and smoking seem to affect the entire birthweight distribution, indicating a generalized effect.

Lateral femoral cutaneous nerve block revisited. A nerve stimulator technique.

Background And Objectives: Regional block of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN) often has disappointing success rates despite the large volumes of local anesthetic used. This study was undertaken to investigate the utility of using a nerve stimulator (NS) to localize and block the LFCN.

Methods: After obtaining institutional approval and informed consent, the authors proceeded with a two-stage study.

Gestational weight gain among average-weight and overweight women--what is excessive?

Objective: Our purpose was to determine the association between increased gestational weight gain and birth weight outcomes for low-income women.

Study Design: A total of 53,541 single, live infants delivered from 1990 to 1991 to white, black, and Hispanic women in eight states were evaluated. Multiple logistic regression was used to calculate risk of low and high (> 4500 gm) birth weight, adjusting for selected factors.

Increasing trends in plural births in the United States.

Objective: To determine the nature and possible reasons for the increasing trend in plural births in the United States during the 1980s.

Methods: We performed a descriptive analysis of births in the United States for five racial and ethnic groups from 1980-1989, using the United States vital records natality files.

Results: The rates of twin and triplet births rose 19 and 100%, respectively, during the 1980s.

Growth hormone stimulates tyrosine phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate-1.

Growth hormone (GH) produces insulin-like effects in rat adipocytes that have been deprived of GH for at least 3 h. The effect of a saturating concentration of GH is qualitatively and quantitatively similar to that produced by 2-4 ng/ml insulin but differs from that of insulin in the respect that adipocytes become refractory to prolonged or repeated stimulation with GH. Since activation of tyrosine kinase is an early event in the action of both hormones, we investigated the possibility that GH stimulation of tyrosine phosphorylation of some protein in the insulin transduction cascade might result in the similar effect of the two hormones.

Mechanical retention versus bonding of amalgam and gallium alloy restorations.

The retention of amalgam and gallium alloy restorations in proximal box forms was measured in vitro, and three different adhesives to conventional undercuts were compared. For control, restorations were placed without undercuts or adhesives. No significant difference was found between amalgam and gallium alloys with each of the five methods of retention used.

Assessments of mortality, morbidity, and nutritional status in Somalia during the 1991-1992 famine. Recommendations for standardization of methods.

Objectives: To evaluate the various survey methods used in Somalia between 1991 and early 1993 while assessing documentation of mortality and malnutrition rates and common causes of morbidity and mortality.

Data Sources: Twenty-three population surveys were identified from the Center for Public Health Surveillance for Somalia, the United Nations Children's Fund, and other humanitarian organizations.

Study Selection: Only surveys with defined populations and apparently systematic methodology that focused on mortality, morbidity, and/or nutritional status were included.

Iron deficiency: contemporary scientific issues and international programmatic approaches.

Iron deficiency is a common nutritional disorder in developing countries and contributes significantly to reduced work productivity and economic output as well as to increased morbidity and mortality. There are well established biochemical tests for assessing iron status in developed countries. However, cost and interference from infectious conditions make it difficult to assess iron status in many developing country settings.

Can parturients distinguish between intravenous and epidural fentanyl?

We tested the hypothesis that the sedative, euphoric, and analgesic effects of intravenous fentanyl would distinguish intravenous from epidural administration. One hundred ASA I and II labouring parturients received 100 micrograms fentanyl either iv or via an epidural catheter in a double-blind, randomized, cross-over fashion. Nineteen anaesthetists (8 staff and 11 residents) participated and correctly guessed the route of administration of the fentanyl in 61/66 intravenous doses and in 69/75 epidural doses yielding a sensitivity of 92.

Hemoglobin difference between black and white women with comparable iron status: justification for race-specific anemia criteria.

To determine the appropriateness of race-specific criteria for anemia, we used the sample of women of child-bearing age from the Second National Health and Examination Survey to examine the relationship between hemoglobin and iron status for blacks and whites. After adjustment for major factors known to cause hemoglobin variation, including iron nutrition status, black women overall had a significantly lower mean hemoglobin value (126 +/- 12 g/L) than white women (134 +/- 11 g/L). Comparison of the probability plots of black and white hemoglobin distributions found the difference across the distributions to not be uniform, likely because a subset of black women had lower hemoglobin values rather than because of a generalized lowering.

Preoperative naproxen sodium reduces postoperative pain following arthroscopic knee surgery.

This study was undertaken to assess the efficacy of a single preoperative dose of naproxen sodium in reducing postoperative pain and length of day surgery stay in patients undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery. A randomized, double-blind clinical trial was carried out on 66 ASA I and ASA II patients scheduled for arthroscopic knee surgery. The treatment group (n = 26) received two capsules containing 275 mg of naproxen sodium each, and the control group (n = 40) received placebo.

Issues in the assessment of nutritional status using anthropometry.

Four issues in the use and interpretation of anthropometry are discussed at the level of the population and of the individual. The first issue is the index or indices of choice: weight-for-height versus height-for-age versus weight-for-age. The selection of an index or indices depends upon many factors, and no one index is completely adequate in all situations.