The genus Hexidionis (Acari:Trombiculidae) with the description of a new species from Texas

Hexidionis garfieldi is described as new from specimens collected off a domestic cat. Felis silvestris f. catus Schreber, in Corpus Christi, TX. The genus Hexidionis Vercammen-Grandjean & Loomis, 1967, is rediagnosed and a key to the 11 included species given.     

An agency-based representative payee program and improved community tenure of persons with mental illness

OBJECTIVE: Representative payee programs help severely mentally ill individuals manage money from their Social Security payments to cover expenses for necessities and to avoid homelessness and rehospitalization. This study examined a representative payee program operated by a community mental health center to determine the criteria used by clinicians and ease managers to refer clients to the program and to learn whether participation in the program was associated with reductions in hospitalization. METHODS: The retrospective study included 56 individuals with severe mental illness who were enrolled in the representative payee program at Community Counseling Centers of Chicago for one year and who also had received services from the agency for at least one year before enrollment. Criteria used to refer clients to the representative payee program were determined through chart reviews. Data on state hospitalizations before and after enrollment were available for the entire sample; additional data on Medicaid-funded private hospitalizations were available for a subset of 33 clients. RESULTS: The most common criteria for enrollment in the representative payee program were comorbid substance abuse or dependence (49 percent), a history of homelessness (33 percent), and frequent hospitalizations (32 percent). During the year of participation in the representative payee program, the mean number of days spent in state hospitals decreased markedly compared with the year before enrollment, from 68 days to seven days. A similar reduction was noted in the number of days spent in state and private hospitals, from 97 days to 15 days. CONCLUSIONS: Findings from this pre- and postintervention retrospective study are tentative in the absence of a more rigorous design. However, the results suggest that the representative payee program is quite effective in reducing hospital stays.     

Preventing Halloween arson in an urban setting: a model for multisectoral planning and community participation

Arson is a violent crime and a public health problem that causes injuries and deaths, destroys homes, and destabilizes neighborhoods. During the late 1970s, pre-Halloween pranks in Detroit, Michigan, turned destructive when hundreds of fires were set deliberately throughout the city; in 1984, a record of 810 fires were set during the Halloween period. In 1985, a city wide anti-arson campaign that involved the mobilization and training of thousands of community volunteers was begun in Detroit. This report describes the multiple components of the anti-arson intervention from 1985 through 1996 and changes in the incidence of Halloween fires. Both the decrease in annual Halloween arson fires after the intervention began and the inverse relationship between the number of volunteers and the number of fires suggest a causal effect. This study illustrates the capacity of an urban community to mobilize its residents and stakeholders, the importance of community participation and multisectoral partnerships in program planning and implementation, and the challenges faced in retrospectively evaluating an apparently successful, complex, community-based intervention.     

Does captopril have a direct pro-apoptotic effect?

Police departments in the 194 U.S. cities with a population of 100,000 or more were surveyed in 1996 to identify strategies they used to obtain input from the mental health system about dealing with mentally ill persons. A total of 174 departments responded (90 percent). Ninety-six departments had no specialized response for dealing with mentally ill persons. Among the 78 departments with special programs, three basic strategies were found: a police-based specialized police response, a police-based specialized mental health response, and a mental-health-based specialized mental health response. At least two-thirds of all departments, even those with no specialized response program, rated themselves as moderately or very effective in dealing with mentally ill persons in crisis.     

Volunteer facilitators assist community practices with enhancing cancer control

OBJECTIVE: To explore the feasibility of recruiting, training, and placing in the field volunteers to assist community practices in enhancing the provision of preventive care. DESIGN: A case series design followed up a cohort of volunteers prospectively as they were recruited, trained, and assigned to practices. SETTING: The New Hampshire Division of the American Cancer Society recruited and trained the volunteer facilitators. INTERVENTION: Assistance from the volunteers in implementing a preventive services office system served as the intervention for practices. Volunteers were trained and supported by professional staff and an implementation manual. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Recruitment, training, and volunteer experiences in working with practices, as well as the costs of supporting the program, were assessed. RESULTS: Twenty-six volunteers were trained. Of the 15 assigned to practices, 11 had begun to assist their assigned practices to establish a preventive services office system. Extensive planning, patience, and support were required. CONCLUSION: Volunteers recruited and supported by an intermediary organization can provide assistance to practices in implementing a preventive services office system.     

Self-concept therapy for adolescent females.

14 adolescent females referred for delinquent and acting-out behaviors were compared pre- and posttreatment on measures of self-concept, ideal self-concept, and anxiety. These Ss were in a 10-wk socialization program designed to produce positive changes in self-concept; 9 Ss were in a group run by community volunteers, and 5 Ss were in a group run by mental health professionals. Self-concept changes in a nonreferred comparison group of 8 nondelinquent Ss appeared nearly random in contrast to the systematic improvement for the 14 Ss in therapy. There was some evidence of differential affectiveness in that Ss in the professionally led group appeared to undergo the most marked changes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A four year study of therapeutical observation of patients with hypertension

We attempt to quantify compliance with hypotension medication regimens in 620 patients with hypertension at the Centros de Salud (community health centers) of Novelda and Elche (in the province of Alicante) and to assess the impact of a mixed-strategy health education program. The method used to evaluate compliance is the self-communicated interview as indicated by Haynes-Sackett. The intervention consisted of individualized instruction, family support, educational leaflets, and written instructions. Among the results obtained, we emphasize the following. First, 64% completed the treatment as prescribed, 16% stopped taking the medication, and 20% followed the regimen in a sporadic fashion, lack of motivation and forgetfulness being the main reasons cited for the latter. Second, 27% of the patients with hypertension--among them, primarily young people and men--do not visit the center for monitoring. Third, the health education program is responsible for a significant increase in blood pressure measurements and in therapeutic compliance, also reducing the number of drop-outs. Fourth, 26% did not come to the unit at the end of the study period (four years) despite phone calls and house visits as reminders.     

A census of subject pool characteristics and policies.

A census of the 366 psychology departments that have subject pools and graduate programs yielded an 89% response rate. Of the 74% that reported having a subject pool, 93% recruit from introductory courses. An experiment within the survey indicated that respondents were generally candid. Many departments were found to be not entirely in conformance with American Psychological Association (APA) ethical guidelines or federal law: For example, subject pools that offer no clear educational benefit and have only unattractive alternatives to participation are actually nonvoluntary. Some departments evinced (a) exemplary procedures for making participation an educational experience; (b) readable subject pool announcements that had clear rules, were not coercive, and were respectful in tone and content; or (c) subject pool administration that provided accurate record keeping, appropriate channels of ethical review, and responsiveness to student concerns, questions, and complaints. These procedures, which deserve emulation by other departments, are summarized, and copies of the actual departmental documents are available from the National Auxiliary Publication Service. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effect of a community health center intervention on breast cancer screening among Hispanic American women

OBJECTIVE: A multiple component intervention in a community health center is presented, and its effect on breast cancer screening participation by Hispanic American women between the ages of 45 and 75 years is discussed. DATA SOURCES/STUDY SETTING: In 1990, data were collected through a retrospective audit (at least as far back as 1987) of community health center medical records, as well as from a client referral log. The health center, located in a small Massachusetts city, primarily serves clients of Latino heritage. STUDY DESIGN: The study used a nonexperimental pretest-posttest intervention design to document clients' screening activities. To control for uneven length of enrollment, aging of the population, and sporadic utilization, the unit of analysis chosen for the principle study variables was an "eligible year." DATA COLLECTION: Variables of interest included screening (clinical breast exam and mammography), periodicity of screening, and compliance with referrals. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Postintervention, considerably greater screening mammography occurred among all age groups, more women had at least one screening mammogram during the period, more clinical breast exams included a mammogram referral, and the compliance rate improved. The rate of clinical breast exam did not significantly improve, showing a downward trend.     

Serological responses in Lyme disease: the influence of sex, age, and environment

Social workers in a rehabilitation hospital established an outreach service through which volunteers with previous amputations visited patients with recent amputations, acting as role models and offering emotional support and information. Volunteers received in-depth training and continued with their own system of support. Patients who were visited had strong positive responses to the program. Critical components of the program were developing a collaborative partnership between volunteers and social workers; demonstrating credibility to health care professionals; linking emotional support, information, and affirmation; providing benefits to both patient and volunteer; and strengthening linkages among patient, community, and institution.     

Grass roots participation in health care reform

Concerned citizens have responded to the health care crisis by developing the health decisions movement. American Health Decisions, a national consortium of 21 state organizations, leads a grass roots discussion network of community meetings committed to education and consensus on the ethical, technologic, legal, and economic issues (the tough issues) of health policy. The movement (with its stages of development, structure, process, and accomplishments) is described, and potential roles for physician cooperation and participation in forging functional, community-based health policy are delineated.     

Influence of the oxygen uptake slow component on the aerobic energy cost of high-intensity submaximal treadmill running in humans

The international health cooperation of Japan for developing countries has been mostly concentrated on matters such as improvement of hygienic environment, prevention of tropical infectious diseases, establishment of hospitals with modern medical instruments and devices, and dispatch of medical experts. PHC (Primary Health Care) activities based on voluntary participation of local inhabitants in developing countries have been largely neglected. In the field of health and medical care, sufficient effect may not be achieved unless the local health activity is based on voluntary participation of the inhabitants. The introduction of highly advanced modern medical techniques may be beneficial to some of the inhabitants, while most of the local inhabitants may not have the chance to receive such benefits, and additionally it is difficult to propagate modern medical care and technique widely to rural areas in Thailand. In Thailand, PHC activity based on community participation was started in 1985, with the following three items as main themes: (1) Training of Village Health Volunteers (VHV) and Village Health Communicators (VHC), and development of their activities. (2) Establishment and operation of Health Centers. (3) Establishment and operation of Drug Cooperative System (DC). Earlier, as one of PHC activities developed by Japan, "Thailand Local Health Activity Improvement Project" based on the program of Thailand-Japan Partnership was initiated in 1976 in rural areas of Chanthaburi Prefecture. From 1982, third country training programs have been carried out by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Since 10 years have elapsed the initiation of PHC activity in rural areas in Thailand under the cooperation of the Governments of Thailand and Japan, it seems to be time to reconsider and study again how PHC activity should be developed in future based on candid evaluation of achievements and results.     

Genetic analysis and functional characterization of prothrombins Corpus Christi (Arg382-Cys), Dhahran (Arg271-His), and hypoprothrombinemia

The structural abnormalities and functional characteristics of dysfunctional prothrombin variants in two new kindreds have been determined. Prothrombin Corpus Christi (family 1) was purified and found to have markedly reduced fibrinogen clotting activity, yet normal amidolytic and near-normal platelet aggregating activity. A transition (C to T) at nucleotide position 8885, present in the heterozygous form in affected family members, resulted in the substitution of Cys for Arg 382. This substitution results in the loss of a positive charge within the fibrinogen-binding exosite of thrombin, thus accounting for the observed functional defect. A heterozygous C to T transition was also present at position 19994 in other family members with a hypoprothrombinemic phenotype. This mutation results in the replacement of Gln 541 (CAA) by a premature stop codon (TAA). Prothrombin Dhahran (family 2) was found to have markedly reduced fibrinogen clotting activity, but normal amidolytic activity. Affected family members were found to have a G to A transition at nucleotide position 7312 resulting in the substitution of His for Arg 271. This substitution results in the abolition of a factor Xa cleavage site, yielding meizothrombin rather than thrombin, on activation of prothrombin Dhahran by factor Xa. All but one of the above mutations occur at CpG dinucleotides, thus further supporting the observation of a high incidence of CpG transitions in hereditary dysprothrombinemia. The significant bleeding tendencies of individuals homozygous for prothrombin Dhahran (prothrombin clotting activity 5% to 7%) contrast sharply with the absence of significant chronic bleeding in the proband expressing prothrombin Corpus Christi (prothrombin clotting activity 2%). Our findings underscore the capacity of thrombin to contribute to clinical hemostasis by mechanisms other than its fibrinogen clotting activity.     

Personal contact from friends to increase mammography usage

To increase the use of mammography among women 40 years of age and older, the American Cancer Society (ACS) designed a telephone intervention strategy (the "Tell A Friend" program) that relied on ACS volunteers. During a half-day training session, each volunteer provided a list of 10 women she was willing to contact over a 6-month period and encourage to have a mammogram. Each list was randomized, and five names were returned to each volunteer for inclusion in the intervention. The other women served as controls and were not contacted by the volunteers. All women were subsequently interviewed at the end of the intervention period. Forty-nine percent of the women in the intervention group (n = 289) had received their most recent mammogram since the start of the intervention period, whereas 34% of control women (n = 305) received mammograms during the same time period (p < or = .001, rate ratio = 1.4, 95% confidence interval = 1.2, 1.7). The effectiveness of the intervention remained after controlling for demographic characteristics. The strategy was effective for both black and white women of all ages, but principally among women with annual household incomes of less than $40,000. We conclude that a telephone intervention strategy of personal contacts between acquainted women can significantly increase mammography use, particularly among women with low-to-moderate income.     

The Fresno Asthma Project: a model intervention to control asthma in multiethnic, low-income, inner-city communities

The Fresno Asthma Project targeted the entire low-income, inner-city, multiethnic population of Fresno, California. For 36 months following a 6-month planning phase, continuing education was provided to a high proportion of physicians, pharmacists, nurses/respiratory therapists, emergency medical technicians, school personnel, and allied health professionals involved in asthma care in Fresno, including virtually all those providing care/services to the target population. Small group patient education was made available and provided in age- and culturally appropriate formats to patients/families in clinics, hospitals, and schools. General and ethnic media and a Speakers Bureau were used to raise public awareness of asthma as a serious but controllable health problem. This community intervention model is particularly appropriate to multiethnic communities. It is relatively low cost (total direct costs were $140,000 per year), uses existing educational resources, and appears to have minimized counterproductive competition. Although morbidity and mortality trend data are not yet available to monitor program impact, penetration into the target community has been substantial: community physicians refer patients to asthma classes, asthma educator training is ongoing through the local American Lung Association chapter, hospitals and managed care systems serving low- income/MediCal patients offer asthma classes, and public schools and HeadStart are institutionalizing asthma awareness and self-management classes.     

Community leadership opportunities for psychologists.

Changes in the health care marketplace call for skills that practitioners typically have not been taught in graduate school. One such skill is community outreach and leadership. This skill was a theme featured at an American Psychological Association (APA) Practice Directorate State Leadership Conference on "Psychology and Community: Creating Connections for Health." First-person accounts from that conference are provided to illustrate community leadership opportunities that some professional leaders have pursued. These leadership opportunities include involvement with community boards and participation in community leadership training programs sponsored by the National Association of Community Leadership. The authors' community involvement can serve as a role model for other psychologists. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A new context for psychology: Social ecology.

Describes an undergraduate program in applied psychology which uses an interdisciplinary approach to study man in relation to his social and biological environment. The program includes field study in 1 of the following areas: community psychology; urban and regional planning; environmental quality and health; human ecology; criminal justice; or educational policy and institutions. The curricula prepares students for BA-level professional roles, graduate work, and effective citizen participation in the community. A list of courses and requirements is presented. Preliminary evidence suggests that the model is workable and satisfying to students. (15 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)