Increasing Medicaid child health screenings: the effectiveness of mailed pamphlets, phone calls, and home visits.

Objectives: A randomized controlled trial was conducted to test the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of three outreach interventions to promote well-child screening for children on Medicaid.

Methods: In rural North Carolina, a random sample of 2053 families with children due or overdue for screening was stratified according to the presence of a home phone. Families were randomly assigned to receive a mailed pamphlet and letter, a phone call, or a home visit outreach intervention, or the usual (control) method of informing at Medicaid intake.

Chronic intake of a marginally low copper diet impairs in vitro activities of lymphocytes and neutrophils from male rats despite minimal impact on conventional indicators of copper status.

We investigated the impact of chronic intake of a diet marginally low in Cu on traditional indicators of Cu status and in vitro activities of splenic mononuclear cells and neutrophils. Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were fed diets containing either 2.8 (LCu) or 6.

Effect of peroxyl radicals on lecithin/cholesterol acyltransferase activity in human plasma.

The objective of this study was to determine whether subjecting human plasma to oxidant stress reduces the activity of lecithin/cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT, EC 2.3.1.

Hypolipidemic agents alter hepatic mitochondrial respiration in vitro.

The direct effects of three different classes of structurally diverse hypolipidemic agents on respiration were studied in mitochondria isolated from donor Sprague-Dawley rats. Two classes of peroxisome proliferators (i.e.

Obtaining telephone numbers for a rural Medicaid population: issues for outreach and research.

This study examined the accuracy and costs of determining whether rural, low-income Medicaid recipients did or did not have a phone, and of obtaining phone numbers for those who did. For a random sample of 209 families, we compared phone information obtained from phone books and directory assistance with information obtained from department of social services (DSS) records. DSS records identified 51% of the sample as having phones, compared with 19%-25% for phone books and directory assistance.

Inhibition of lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase activity in human blood plasma by cigarette smoke extract and reactive aldehydes.

Cigarette smoking is a risk factor for atherosclerosis. It is conceivable that reactive chemical components in cigarette smoke may adversely affect reverse cholesterol transport at the level of lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) and promote atherogenesis. Hence, the effect of cigarette smoke extract (CSE) on the activity of LCAT in human plasma was studied.

Inverse relationship between peroxisomal and mitochondrial beta-oxidation in HepG2 cells treated with dehydroepiandrosterone and clofibric acid.

A transformed human hepatoma cell line was examined to determine if it was an appropriate model system for studying the mechanism of action of two peroxisome proliferators that lower blood lipids. Cultures of HepG2 cells were exposed to four different concentrations of either the hypolipidemic drug, clofibric acid (CLO), or the adrenal steroid, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). Activities of two peroxisomal enzymes, palmitoyl-CoA oxidase and catalase, and two mitochondrial enzymes, carnitine palmitoyl-CoA transferase and succinate-INT-reductase, were measured in CLO- and DHEA-treated cells.

Hormonal correlates of breeding status, nest construction, and parental care in multiple-brooded northern mockingbirds, Mimus polyglottos.

Blood samples were taken from free-living male and female mockingbirds to determine correlations between plasma steroids and breeding behavior. Plasma levels of testosterone (T), estradiol (E2), progesterone (P), and corticosterone (B) were assessed during pre-breeding courtship, while males built nests, while females incubated, while parents fed young, and while males built new nests as pairs continued to care for dependent fledglings. Samples were also taken from unmated males holding spring territories.

Variation in the aerobic demand of running among trained and untrained subjects.

Variation in the aerobic demand (VO2) of submaximal running was quantified among trained and untrained subjects stratified by performance capability. Based on a retrospective analysis of seven published studies, maximal aerobic power (VO2max), and submaximal VO2 values were analyzed in three groups of trained distance runners (Category 1 (C1) (elite runners; N = 22), Category 2 (C2) (sub-elite runners; N = 41), and Category 3 (C3) (good runners; N = 16), and one group (N = 10) of untrained subjects (Category 4; C4). Results indicated that VO2max differed significantly (P < 0.

Cigarette smoke extract inhibits oxidative modification of low density lipoprotein.

Oxidative modification of low density lipoprotein (LDL) by cigarette smoke has been suggested in several recent studies. To characterize possible modification of LDL by cigarette smoke extract (CSE), we incubated LDL with CSE either in the presence or absence of the chemical pro-oxidants, cupric chloride or 2,2'-azo-bis(2-amidinopropane) hydrochloride (AAPH). Surprisingly, CSE inhibited oxidative modification of LDL induced by either copper or AAPH.

Measuring battering: development of the Women's Experience with Battering (WEB) Scale.

Measuring only the physical markers of violence (e.g., slapping, beating) fails to capture the chronic vulnerability and gendered nature of battered women's experiences.

Relationship between VO2max and the aerobic demand of running in elite distance runners.

The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between VO2max and the aerobic demand of running (VO2submax) in elite distance runners. On at least one occasion, VO2max and VO2submax values were obtained on 22 male subjects (mean age = 27 +/- 2 yrs; mean height = 178.6 +/- 6.

Rates of beta-oxidation of fatty acids of various chain lengths and degrees of unsaturation in highly purified peroxisomes isolated from rat liver.

Highly purified peroxisomes were obtained from the liver of untreated rats, and rates of peroxisomal beta-oxidation were measured using fatty acyl-CoAs differing in chain length and degree of unsaturation. A 20-24-fold purification of peroxisomes, indicated by the specific activities of the marker enzymes catalase and urate oxidase, respectively, was obtained from crude liver homogenate using differential centrifugation techniques followed by a 30% Nycodenz gradient separation. The use of a 30% Nycodenz gradient in the final step of purification was extremely effective (e.

Effect of step length optimization on the aerobic demand of running.

To assess whether distance runners displaying uneconomical freely chosen step lengths (FCSL) could be trained to shift FCSL toward a more optimal setting, six males and three females who exhibited uneconomical FCSL [mean optimal step length (OSL) = -9.81% of leg length from FCSL; mean change in oxygen uptake (VO2) (FCSL - OSL) = 1.46 ml.

The importance of emotional and social isolation to loneliness among very old rural adults.

The purpose of this study was to determine the relative importance of emotional and social isolation to loneliness among very old rural adults. The sample (N = 119) was selected using a compact area cluster sampling design. Multiple regression analysis showed that emotional isolation--more specifically, the loss of spouse--accounted for more loneliness than social isolation.

Effects of Ddc cluster lethal alleles on ovary growth, attachment, and egg production in Drosophila.

The Ddc cluster of genes on the left arm of chromosome 2 in Drosophila has been extensively characterized by Wright and coworkers (Wright, '87b). Many of the genes in the cluster are associated with the pigmentation and sclerotization of the cuticle, and at least 12 have been shown to play a role in female fertility. To characterize further the actions of genes in the cluster, we have investigated the effect on fertility of a total of five of the previously untested genes (l(2)37Be, Bb, Bg, Bd, and Cg), and three of the partially characterized genes (l(2)37Ce, Ddc, and amd).

Daily variability in exercise ventilation.

The purpose of this study was to quantify daily variability in ventilation (VE) during submaximal exercise and establish the number of testing sessions required to produce stable exercise ventilation measures. Following 60 min of treadmill accommodation, four male (M) and four female (F) distance runners completed 5 weeks of daily treadmill testing at the same time of day while engaged in a normal routine of training and racing. During each test session, subjects completed three 6-min level treadmill runs at either 3.

In support of a gerontological nursing program: a resource exchange model.

Master's programs in gerontological nursing have not proven to be popular over the years, and that is still true today despite the increasing numbers of older adults with multiple health care needs. In an effort to market a new gerontological nursing masters' project successfully, a resource exchange network was developed to build a support system rather than a traditional advisory group. This article describes the Gerontological Nursing Network (GNN), provides examples of how resource exchange between GNN members and the project have been beneficial to each, and discusses pluses and problems in using such a model.

Psychological skills for enhancing performance: arousal regulation strategies.

This review summarizes and integrates current empirical and theoretical research on arousal regulation strategies for enhancing athletic performance. The need to view arousal as a multifaceted construct made up of both cognitive and physiological components was emphasized, as well as the importance of understanding arousal-performance relationship theories that go beyond a simple inverted-U notion. Categories of arousal regulation strategies were discussed and included: arousal energizing techniques, biofeedback techniques, relaxation response strategies, cognitive behavioral interventions, and mental preparation routines.

Vitamin E effects on indexes of lipid peroxidation in muscle from DHEA-treated and exercised rats.

Sixty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to one of eight treatment groups to determine the effects of vitamin E (VitE), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and exercise on antioxidant status in plasma and skeletal muscle. Indexes of oxidative stress were determined by measuring two markers of lipid peroxidation and the activity of two free radical scavenging enzymes. One-half of the rats had their diets supplemented with 250 IU VitE/kg of diet.

Searching for a dean: getting the qualities you want.

The committee had a strong sense of accomplishment when they submitted the names to the Provost. Both the process and the screening tool worked well for the search process.

Daily variation in step length of trained male runners.

The purpose of this study was to quantify daily intra-individual variability in mean step length, a basic descriptor for the running pattern. Following 60 minutes of treadmill accommodation, nine trained male subjects (X age = 34.2 yrs +/- 7.

Removal of the vomeronasal organ reduces reproductive performance and aggression in male prairie voles.

Several short-duration tests have demonstrated that the surgical removal of the vomeronasal organ (VNX) from sexually-inexperienced male rodents results in a reduction in copulatory behavior, compared to the effects of sham surgery (SHAM). We extended these studies to adult male prairie voles, Microtus ochrogaster, and substantially increased the duration of the tests. During the initial interactions with females, VNX males spent significantly less time with their noses in close proximity to the females than did SHAM males.