Elevated blood lead resulting from maxillofacial gunshot injuries with lead ingestion.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the contribution of ingested lead particles to elevated blood lead concentrations in victims of gunshot injury to the maxillofacial region.

Patients And Methods: As part of a larger study of the effects of retained lead bullets on blood lead, a retrospective review of study findings was completed on 5 of 8 patients who sustained injuries to the maxillofacial region. These 5 patients were recruited into the larger study within 11 days of injury and showed a penetration path for the projectile that engaged the upper aerodigestive tract.

Case management and access to services for homeless women.

Previous research on case management for homeless persons has not sufficiently addressed access to services for women of reproductive age. This cross-sectional study estimates the proportion of homeless women with case managers and the associations of case management with access to shelter; food stamps; Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC); and general medical care. Nine hundred seventy-four homeless women were sampled in Los Angeles County in 1997 and asked about their use of services and whether they had case managers.

Prohormone convertase 2 enzymatic activity and its regulation in neuro-endocrine cells and tissues.

We used the fluorometric substrate, pGlu-Arg-Thr-Lys-Arg-MCA and the C-terminal peptide of human 7B2(155-185), a specific inhibitor of prohormone convertase 2 (PC2), to specifically measure the enzymatic activity of the prohormone convertases, PC2. Using lysates from the pancreatic alpha cell line, alphaTC1-6 cells, which contain moderate levels of PC2 enzymatic activity, we determined that the PC2 assay was linear with respect to time of incubation and protein added and had a pH optimum of 5.5 and a calcium optimum of 2.

Orofacial injury in underserved minority populations.

The translation of clinical and epidemiological research findings into cliniical practice in the management of orofacial injuries at an inner-city community promises a reduction in the incidence and severity of orofacial injuries. This article reports on the sociodemographic characteristics, economical impact, nature of injuries, and associated risk factors of mandible fractures sustained in the inner-city community treated at KDMC. An overwhelmingly high incidence of intentional/assaultive injuries were treated at KDMC that contribute to the escalating cost of medical care provided at the public county hospital.

The effects of retained lead bullets on body lead burden.

Background: Numerous case reports have demonstrated that lead poisoning with potentially fatal consequences can result from retained lead projectiles after firearm injuries. To assess the impact of retained projectiles on subsequent lead exposure in the population, one cannot rely on self-selected cases presenting with symptoms of lead intoxication. This preliminary study seeks to identify increased lead burden and identify risk factors of elevated blood lead levels for individuals with retained lead bullets.

Evaluation of trovafloxacin in the treatment of Klebsiella pneumoniae lung infection in tumour-bearing mice.

Trovafloxacin, a new trifluoroquinolone, was evaluated for its therapeutic efficacy against Klebsiella pneumoniae lung infection in tumour (P388 murine leukaemia cells)-bearing mice, treated with or without a chemotherapeutic agent, daunorubicin (DNR) and in mice without tumour. Its activity was compared with ciprofloxacin and cephazolin. The effect on therapeutic efficacy of the addition of recombinant granulocyte colony stimulating factor (rGCSF) was also examined.