Childhood cancer incidence and trends in Minnesota, 1988-1994

Childhood cancer incidence patterns for Minnesota, obtained from the Minnesota Cancer Surveillance System, were compared with national rates as well as with historic data from eight Minnesota counties. In total, 1,140 neoplasms were diagnosed in children (ages 0 to 14) between 1988 and 1994. Leukemias were the most common diagnosis for boys (30.3%) and girls (29.6%), followed by central nervous system tumors. The average annual age-adjusted incidence rates for all cancer sites were 167.2 and 136.2 per million for boys and girls, respectively. These rates were somewhat higher than national rates. In particular, the incidence rate for astrocytoma in boys was significantly elevated. Childhood cancer incidence, particularly brain tumors, has increased in the eight-county region from 1969 to 1994. This analysis demonstrated the Minnesota's childhood cancer incidence patterns are similar to national patterns.     

Cocaine trends and other drug trends in New York City, 1986-1994

Cocaine, mainly in the form of crack, continues to dominate New York City's illicit drug scene. Trends in cocaine-involved deaths, hospital emergencies, arrest and treatment admissions are reviewed from the late 1980s to the early 1990s. Also, street studies conducted at drug coping areas throughout New York City during this period yield ethnographic insights. At the same time that cocaine trends were showing increases in the 1990s, heroin trends and marijuana trends were also showing decisive increases. An upsurge in heroin activity may be directly related to cocaine activity. Heroin's ameliorative effects for the cocaine user are the most direct association. The sequence-first cocaine, then heroin-has been documented by historians in the field. The association between cocaine trends and marijuana trends is less direct, and may represent the substitution of or a retreat to marijuana, a drug that is perceived as much safer.     

Cancer mortality in Italy, 1994, and an overview of trends from 1955 to 1994

BACKGROUND: Data and statistics are presented on cancer death certification in Italy, updating previous publications covering the period 1955-1993. METHODS: Data for 1994 and the quinquennium 1990-94 subdivided into 30 cancer sites are presented in 8 tables, including age- and sex-specific absolute and percentage frequencies of cancer deaths, and crude, age-specific and age-standardized rates, at all ages and truncated for the 35-64 year age group. Trends in age-standardized rates for major cancer sites are plotted from 1955 to 1994. RESULTS: The age-standardized (world standard) death certification rates from all neoplasms steadily declined from the peak of 199.2/100,000 males in 1988 to 186.3 in 1994, and in females from 102.5 in 1989 to 98.6 in 1994. Ever larger was the decline in truncated rates, for males from the peak of 275.1/100,000 in 1983 to 223.2 (-19%) in 1994, and for females from 151.6/100,000 in 1987 to 136.4 (-10%). A major component of the favourable cancer mortality trends in males was lung cancer (accounting for 31,000 deaths in both sexes combined in 1994), whose overall age-standardized rates declined from 60.3 in 1987-89 to 54.6/100,000 males in 1994 (-9%), and from the peak of 96.7 in 1983 at ages 35 to 64 to 72.7 in 1994 (-25%). In contrast, female lung cancer rates have remained stable from 1992 onwards, but have increased from 7.2 to 7.7 at all ages and from 10.6 to 11.0 at age 35-64 between 1985-89 and 1990-94. These different trends in the two sexes reflect the patterns and trends in smoking among Italian males and females. CONCLUSIONS: Cancer mortality trends in Italy over the period 1990-94 were relatively favourable, mainly reflecting the decline in lung cancer rates in males, together with the persistent declines in gastric cancer in both sexes and in cervix uteri for women. Continuous advancements were registered for neoplasms amenable to treatment, essentially testicular cancer, Hodgkin's disease and childhood leukaemias. The major unfavourable trends were observed for non Hodgkin's lymphomas, and require therefore further monitoring, besides a clearer understanding of their determinants. Italy maintains an intermediate level of cancer mortality on a European scale, suggesting that further progress is possible, mostly for tobacco-related neoplasms in males.     

Histological observations on some of the endocrine glands in the ironfish, with special regard to the hypophysis

Endocrine glands of the ironfish were studied light microscopically to elucidate the relationship between the races of the genus Carassius. The rostral pars distalis of the adenohypophysis consists mainly of acidophils corresponding to prolactin cells and lead-hematoxylin positive cells corresponding to corticotrophs (ACTH cells). The prolactin cells are obviously arranged in the form of follicles. The proximal pars distalis contains orangenophils (STH cells) and two types of basophils (TSH and GTH cells). In the pars intermedia, three types of cells are identified: periodic acid Schiff positive cells, lead-hematoxylin stainable cells and orangenophils containing PAS positive coarse granules. In addition, small agranular cells are seldom demonstrated in the entire adenohypophysis. A considerable amount of aldehyde fuchsin positive neurosecretory material is laden in the cells of the nucleus preopticus and in the pars nervosa. The nucleus lateralis tuberis is composed of three portions: pars anterior, pars posterior, and pars lateralis. The thyroid follicles found in the pharyngeal region and head kidney show a mild state of activity. The interrenal cells intermingled with the chromaffin cells have a considerable amount of eosinophil cytoplasm. Judging from the gonadal condition, the breeding season of the ironfish may extend to the end of July.     

Side-effects of ritonavir and its combination with saquinavir with special regard to renal function

PURPOSE: To report two patients with severe fungal corneal ulcers who were treated successfully with topical amphotericin B ointment. METHODS: Two eyes of two patients developed corneal ulcers and hypopyon after corneal foreign body removal. Aspergillus fumigatus and Fusarium solani were isolated in Patients 1 and 2, respectively. By antifungal susceptibility testing, amphotericin B was shown to have the lowest minimal inhibitory concentration. RESULT: Topical administration of amphotericin B ointment resulted in dramatic improvement in fungal corneal ulcers. CONCLUSIONS: Antifungal susceptibility tests may aid with selection of antifungal agents. Amphotericin B ointment is one of the promising therapies for keratomycosis caused by antimycotic-resistant fungi.     

Sensitivity of Streptococcus agalactiae and Staphylococcus aureus to antibiotics in the Slovak Socialist Republic in the year 1974

In 1974, the State veterinary institutes in the Slovak Socialist Republic studied the sensitivity of 4420 strains of Streptococcus agalactiae and 1056 strains of Staphylococcus aureus to eight antibiotics. The strains were isolated from milk samples obtained from dairy cows suffering from mastitis. 100 per cent of the strains of Streptococcus agalactiae was sensitive to ampicillin, 99.23% to erythromycin, 98.70% to oxytetracycline, 93.02% to bacitracin, 90.77% to chloramphenicol, 41.97% to penicillin, 12.39% to neomycin, 9.73% to streptomycin. As to the strains of Staphylococcus aureus, 98.68 were sensitive to chloramphenicol, 98.50% to ampicillin, 97.92% to erythromycin, 94.98% to oxytetracycline, 93.85% to neomycin, 92.67% to bacitracin 87.50% to streptomycin, and 46.24% to penicillin. The results are discussed in relation to the use of antibiotics in the treatment of mastitis in dairy cows.     

Secular trends in the etiology of nosocomial infection at a teaching hospital in Taiwan, 1981-1994

Surveillance system of nosocomial infection was established in 1980 at the National Taiwan University Hospital (NTUH). To identify pathogens and the secular trends in the etiology of nosocomial infection from 1981 to 1994, the prospective, hospital-wide nosocomial surveillance data were analysed. During this period, 22,146 pathogens causing nosocomial infections were isolated. Gram-negative aerobic bacteria remained the major pathogens, but gram-positive cocci and fungi increased rapidly in the past 14 years. When the overall pathogen distribution is examined, Pseudomonas areuginosa was the most frequently isolated pathogen, but Candida albicans and other yeasts have taken the leading position since 1993. Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci also increase significantly in recent years. When the pathogens causing infection at the 4 major sites were examined. P. aeruginosa was the pathogen most often associated with respiratory tract and surgical wound infections. In blood stream and urinary tract infections, we observed Escherichia coli was replaced by C. albicans and other yeasts as a most common isolate in these years. In addition, C. albicans and other yeasts and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) are emerging as major nosocomial pathogens at NTUH. C. albicans and other yeast increased from 1.8% in 1981 to 14.9% in 1994 in the overall nosocomial infection. The increase was found in the blood stream (2.1% to 16.2%) and urinary tract infections (5.4% to 24.7%). Of 1,742 nosocomial S. aureus isolates, the percentage of MRSA rose from 12.5% in 1981 to 55.2% in 1994. The high percentage of MRSA was observed at 4 major anatomic sites of infection. In summary, significant shifts in the pathogens of nosocomial infection have occurred in the past 14 years at NTUH, and the distribution of nosocomial pathogens was similar to those reported in the United States in recent years.     

Trends in the incidence of myocardial infarction and in mortality due to coronary heart disease, 1987 to 1994

BACKGROUND AND METHODS: To clarify the determinants of contemporary trends in mortality from coronary heart disease (CHD), we conducted surveillance of hospital admissions for myocardial infarction and of in-hospital and out-of-hospital deaths due to CHD among 35-to-74-year-old residents of four communities of varying size in the United States (a total of 352,481 persons in 1994). Between 1987 and 1994, we estimate that there were 11,869 hospitalizations for myocardial infarction (on the basis of 8572 hospitalizations sampled) and 3407 fatal coronary events (3023 sampled). RESULTS: The largest average annual decrease in mortality due to CHD occurred among white men (change in mortality, -4.7 percent; 95 percent confidence interval, -2.2 to -7.1 percent), followed by white women (-4.5 percent; 95 percent confidence interval, -0.7 to -8.2 percent), black women (-4.1 percent; 95 percent confidence interval, -10.3 to +2.5 percent), and black men (-2.5 percent; 95 percent confidence interval, -6.9 to +2.2 percent). Overall, in-hospital mortality from CHD fell by 5.1 percent per year, whereas out-of-hospital mortality declined by 3.6 percent per year. There was no evidence of a decline in the incidence of hospitalization for a first myocardial infarction among either men or women; in fact, such hospital admissions increased by 7.4 percent per year (95 percent confidence interval for the change, +0.5 to +14.8 percent) among black women and 2.9 percent per year (95 percent confidence interval, -3.6 to +9.9 percent) among black men. Rates of recurrent myocardial infarction decreased, and survival after myocardial infarction improved. CONCLUSIONS: From 1987 to 1994, we observed a stable or slightly increasing incidence of hospitalization for myocardial infarction. Nevertheless, there were significant annual decreases in mortality from CHD. The decline in mortality in the four communities we studied may be due largely to improvements in the treatment and secondary prevention of myocardial infarction.     

Epidemics of syphilis in the Russian Federation: trends, origins, and priorities for control

After continuous decline throughout the 1980s, surveillance-defined estimates of the incidence of syphilis in Russia have shown a rapid and substantial increase during the 1990s. The reasons for this epidemic are unclear, but must be sought among changes both in sexual behaviour and in the patterns of provision, use, and effectiveness of diagnostic, treatment, and contact tracing services. High incidence of sexually transmitted disease causes correspondingly high levels of morbidity and suffering as well as significant health-care and other economic costs. Our current understanding suggests that the transmissibility of HIV is increased by infection with sexually transmitted disease. The syphilis epidemic together with changes in sexual behaviour, increased travel and migration, and rapid increases in injecting drug use may create the conditions for an epidemic of sexually acquired HIV infection in Russia that substantially outstrips those encountered in most Western European countries.     

The pattern of acute poisonings with pesticides in Poland during the periods 1989-1990 and 1994-1995

Pesticide constitute a large group of commonly used chemicals with diverse chemical structure and toxicity. They are intended mostly to protect plants and plant products from the activity of various harmful organisms but they can also be used as biocides. Pesticide poisonings may be due to suicidal attempts or accidental ingestion associated with improper storage in unlabelled containers. Severe cases are treated at the regional poison units while others in the in-patient and out-patient clinics all over the country. The study made us draw the conclusion that poisonings with organophosphates and dipyridyl derivatives pose an essential toxicological problem. They are usually severe and require long hospitalisation. The highest morality rate was noted also for the poisonings with organophosphates and dipyridyl derivatives. Suicidal attempts constitute the most frequent cause of the poisonings. The results of the analysis imply a necessity to replace the most harmful organophosphate and dipyridyl pesticides with others of a lower toxicity class. It should be underlined that in order to avoid an accidental misuse, pesticides should be stored in the original, labelled containers.     

Prevalence, incidence, and correlates of syphilis seroreactivity in multiethnic San Francisco neighborhoods

To examine the extent of infection with syphilis in an inner-city community, we determined the prevalence, incidence, and correlates of syphilis seroreactivity in a representative sample of unmarried whites, African Americans, and Hispanics living in San Francisco during 1988 to 1989 and again 1 year later in 1989 to 1990. One thousand seven hundred seventy single men and women aged 20 to 44 were surveyed in a random household sample drawn from three neighborhoods of varying geographic and cultural characteristics. Syphilitic infection was determined by testing specimens with the microhemagglutination assay for antibodies to Treponema pallidum (MHA-TP). Of blood samples available from 1262 participants from the initial survey, 32 (2.5%) were MHA-TP reactive. After adjustment for age, a reactive syphilis serology was significantly predicted (P < 0.05) by African American race, homosexual activity (men), and less education. In homosexually active men, lifetime number of male sex partners and the presence of antibody to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) significantly predicted syphilis seroreactivity (P < 0.01). One year later, of 841 specimens available for testing, an additional 13 (1.5%) had become MHA-TP reactive. Eleven (85%) of the new cases were in heterosexual men and women. Although San Francisco citywide incidence data indicate that syphilis may be decreasing for the city as a whole, incidence data on a community level suggests that syphilitic infection is increasing in high-risk heterosexual communities. Thus, syphilis prevention programs should rely on serologic testing at the community level to plan effective intervention strategies.     

Recent trends in incidence of respiratory tract pathogens and antimicrobial susceptibilities of Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Moraxella catarrhalis isolated in 1994 and 1995

The incidence of pathogenic bacteria in respiratory tract infections in 1994 and 1995 was investigated using quantitative cultures of sputa from patients with the infections in our department. Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Moraxella catarrhalis were isolated at high rates (70.5% in 1994 and 73.8% in 1995) from the specimens of out-patients, and the incident rates were similar to the past data. The antimicrobial susceptibilities of these three pathogens were examined with the agar dilution method. The incidence of penicillin (Pc) resistant S. pneumoniae against which MIC of Pc-G was higher than 0.125 microgram/ml was markedly increased from 24% in 1994 to 34.9% in 1995. Most of the Pc resistant isolates were also resistant to other antibiotics including erythromycin, minocycline and tosufloxacin. Serotype of strains against which MIC of Pc-G was higher than 1.0 microgram/ml was 19. The ratios of beta-lactamase-producing strains among H. influenzae isolated in 1994 and 1995 were 20 and 15.8%, respectively, which were slightly higher than those in the past. One quinolone resistant strain was isolated in this study. Although the ratio of beta-lactamase-producing strains among M. catarrhalis was as high (96.7%) as in the past, no increased resistance against the drugs examined was observed.     

A follow-up study of a child psychiatric clientele with special regard to the diagnosis of psychosis

The 10 chief offenders among food allergens are cow's milk, chocolate and cola (the kola nut family), corn, eggs, the pea family (chiefly peanut, which is not a nut), citrus fruits, tomato, wheat and other small grains, cinnamon and artificial food colors. Food allergy results in a remarkable variety of clinical syndromes. Diagnois rests on an elimination and challenge process. Treatment is avoidance. Desensitization does not work.     

Application of carbon paste electrodes to elucidate hydrometallurgical dissolution processes with special regard to chalcocite and covellite

Carbon paste electroactive electrodes offer possibilities for the investigation of hydrometallurgical dissolution processes. In this study the oxidation and reduction reactions of copper sulphides are examined by means of such a system. It was established that the anodic oxidation of Cu₂S proceeds in two steps. The first step of oxidation is the Cu₂S-CuS transition, which results in nonstoichiometric intermediate compounds and the reaction rate is controlled by solid state diffusion.