Effect of short-term administration of dexamethasone on canine antral gastrin gene expression

In a two-part study of the circumcision status of boys with urinary tract infections (UTIs), we reviewed the occurrence of UTIs in 209,399 infants born in US Army hospitals worldwide from 1985 to 1990. During the first year of life, 1,046 (0.5%: 550 girls and 496 boys) were hospitalized for UTIs. Noncircumcised male infants had a 10-fold greater incidence of infection than did circumcised male infants. The frequency rate of circumcision rose significantly, from 70.3% to 80.2%, during the study period. Among uncircumcised boys younger than 3 months with UTIs, 23% had concomitant bacteremia involving the same organism. The second part of the study consisted of a meta-analysis of all nine previous reports on the circumcision status of boys with UTIs. These studies revealed a fivefold to 89-fold increased risk of infection in uncircumcised boys; the combined data yielded a 12-fold increase in UTIs in this population. Parents should be told of the lower risk of UTIs for circumcised boys during informed-consent counseling.     

Anti-Semitism, distraction and physical aggression.

Examined the aggressive responses of persons who varied in level of anti-Semitism and who were either distracted or not distracted from an insulter. 34 male undergraduates, chosen as Ss through a questionnaire which included the 10-item Anti-Semitism Scale and the 28-item California F Scale, participated in a paired associate learning task in which their performance was demeaned by a tape recorded series of disparaging remarks presumably given by their peer. Following this, critical Ss either relaxed under conditions where voice and movement cues from their insulter were heard, or Ss observed a film designed to distract them from their insulter. The critical Ss were then requested to teach their peer a paired associate list under conditions in which they administered shock to their partner. Results of the 3 * 2 * 3 repeated measures analysis of variance with 3 levels of anti-Semitism, 2 distraction conditions, and 3 trials indicate that distraction reduced the intensity of shock delivered to the peer. Ss tended to rate themselves as less annoyed and less anxious under distraction conditions. Ss varying in anti-Semitism did not differ in the amount of shock delivered to their partner. The situational demands may have been powerful enough to override the effects of personality differences. 2 interpretations are offered for the finding that the highly prejudiced Ss perceived the shock delivered to their peer as more painful than the less prejudiced Ss: (a) the possibility that this difference reflected the highly prejudiced Ss' lower guilt level for aggressing; and (b) the possibility that the highly prejudiced Ss used different mechanisms to reduce the discomfort engendered by harming another person than those used by their less prejudiced peers. (French summary) (25 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Perceptual selectivity, memory, and anti-Semitism.

The effect of attitude (anti-Semitism) upon perceptual accuracy and memory was studied. Ss scoring high and low in anti-Semitism were asked to identify photographs as being of Jewish or non-Jewish people. It was hypothesized that Ss scoring high in anti-Semitism would be more accurate in the identification of Jews, and that once having accomplished this task, the capacity to remember those identified as Jewish or not should be less accurate. The results confirmed the hypotheses. From Psyc Abstracts 36:04:4GD90P. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Epididymitis in children: the circumcision factor?

PURPOSE: Recommendations for circumcision have significantly altered in the last several years. Studies have objectively established an increased risk of urinary tract infection in uncircumcised boys. We evaluated the relationship between epididymitis and circumcision status. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied the relationships among the circumcision status of 36 consecutive boys with epididymitis in a review of 128 with acute scrotal inflammation (group 1), circumcision status of 43 in whom the diagnosis of epididymitis at discharge home had been made elsewhere (group 2), New York State hospital discharge figures for circumcision in newborns (group 3) and the regional prevalence of circumcision in 200 consecutive pediatric emergency department patients at the same institution with nonurological diagnoses (group 4). RESULTS: New York State Department figures indicate that 70% of male newborns are discharged home with a hospital code for circumcision. Similarly an evaluation of 200 consecutive male patients without urological diagnoses younger than 18 years in the emergency department revealed that 131 (65%) were circumcised. Comparatively in groups 1 and 2 only 25 and 26% of patients, respectively, were circumcised. The statistical difference in circumcision status among the 4 groups was significant (p >0.0004). CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate with highly statistical significance that a relationship exists between epididymitis and the presence of a foreskin. We found that an intact foreskin is an important etiological factor in boys with epididymitis.     

A review on male circumcision procedures among South African blacks

In this article, the authors attempted to review all available literature which shed light on various aspects of male circumcision in South Africa and world wide. However, the main aim of the authors was to highlight the health problems associated with traditional circumcision which is widely practised by tribal groupings in the country in general and by Xhosas and Sothos in particular. The background of the problem is primarily focused in the Eastern Cape Province which is predominantly Xhosa speaking and touches on limited interventions by health professionals to limit the health hazards which accompany traditional circumcision rites. Health problems encountered during circumcision are gleaned from literature and dealt with extensively in the article. Significantly, the authors also attempted to point out the benefits that may be obtained from medical intervention in circumcision rites from a cultural perspective. The recommendations regarding the performance of male circumcision are highlighted. These were made by health workers, consumers and political parties. Finally, the authors highlighted the needs for research and practice of community health nursing.     

The prejudiced personality, racism, and anti-Semitism: the PR scale forty years later

The relationship of prejudiced personality traits with racism and anti-Semitism was examined with 150 Asian American and White university students. The Prejudice (PR) scale, composed of 32 items from the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, was administered along with the McConahay racism scale and the Selznick and Steinberg Anti-Semitism scale. Results indicated that for Whites, the PR scale was significantly correlated with old-fashioned and modern racism and anti-Semitism, replicating Gough's 1951 study (Gough, 1951b) with the PR scale. However, no such relationship was observed for the Asian American group. This suggests that personality traits of prejudicial attitudes may be relatively stable for Whites but may not be related to outgroup bias for other racial or ethnic groups.     

Shock. Physiological principles for resuscitation

As the epidemic of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in sub-Saharan Africa enters its second decade, much has been learned about the distribution and determinants of the disease and its causative agent, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Over 6 million people, or 2.5% of the adult population, are thought to be infected with HIV. The distribution of HIV is largely determined by sexual behavior; as for other sexually transmitted diseases, the characteristics of sexual networks determine the extent and rate of spread of HIV. Female sex workers and their male clients are at high risk for HIV and have been important in initiating the epidemic in many African countries. The dynamics of HIV in the rest of the population are complex; men with multiple sexual partners are largely responsible for transmission of HIV to women in the general population. Other sexually transmitted diseases and lack of male circumcision may increase the probability of transmission of HIV during sexual intercourse and probably are partially responsible for the rapid diffusion of HIV in Africa. Interventions among high-risk groups are needed, but they must be accompanied by attempts to induce behavior change among men and women in the general population. Epidemiologic studies of the determinants of sexual behavior and sexual contact patterns, as well the design and evaluation of interventions, are urgently needed. Key areas for development are the study of behavioral exposures and outcomes, the evaluation of interventions, developing new methods for conducting interventions in resource-poor environments, and increasing the number of African scientists with the skills and resources to conduct epidemiologic studies.     

Our experience with silicone in rhinomentoplasty

Twelve young (mean age 23 years, range 18-28) and 12 elderly (mean age 76 years, range 65-89) volunteers were given a single oral dose of 80 mg valsartan after an overnight fast. Each group consisted of six male and six female subjects. Mean systemic exposure to valsartan was higher in the elderly when compared with the young (AUC(0-24 h), 52% increase and AUC(0-infinity), 70% increase). Variability, as shown by the coefficient of variation (CV), was larger for the elderly subjects and ANOVA of the log transformed AUC showed a significant difference between the two groups. This difference was largely brought about by five elderly subjects (one male, four females), whose AUC was about 2-fold higher than the rest of the group. For the remaining elderly subjects, plasma valsartan AUC was similar to that observed for the young volunteers. This higher systemic exposure in five of the elderly subjects is not thought to be of clinical relevance when data from the patient population are considered. Other covariates--such as body weight, comedication, creatinine clearance, valsartan kinetics (absorption rate, distribution, and elimination)--did not explain the higher AUC in this subset of the elderly group. Data from the present study were compared with population kinetic data obtained from larger clinical trials including hypertensive patients in all age groups. Using this population approach, there was no difference in the pharmacokinetics of valsartan between male and female patients. Also, a relationship between plasma clearance of valsartan and age was established. The median age of patients in the hypertensive pool was 55 years. For an average 70-year-old patient, plasma clearance of valsartan is predicted to fall by 22% compared with an average 55-year-old. For the population this difference is not sufficient to warrant initial dose adjustment based on age per se. The covariate age, does not completely explain the variability in the pharmacokinetics of valsartan within the general population. The treatment was well tolerated.     

Modern anti-Semitism and anti-Israeli attitudes.

Anti-Semitism is resurgent throughout much of the world. A new theoretical model of anti-Semitism is presented and tested in 3 experiments. The model proposes that mortality salience increases anti-Semitism and that anti-Semitism often manifests as hostility toward Israel. Study 1 showed that mortality salience led to greater levels of anti-Semitism and lowered support for Israel. This effect occurred only in a bogus pipeline condition, indicating that social desirability masks hostility toward Jews and Israel. Study 2 showed that mortality salience caused Israel, but no other country, to perceptually loom large. Study 3 showed that mortality salience increased punitiveness toward Israel’s human rights violations more than it increased hostility toward the identical human rights violations committed by Russia or India. Collectively, results suggest that Jews constitute a unique cultural threat to many people’s worldviews, that anti-Semitism causes hostility to Israel, and that hostility to Israel may feed back to increase anti-Semitism. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Does circumcision alter the periurethral bacterial flora?

A prospective study of 25 boys who underwent circumcision for medical reason was performed. Specimens of periurethral bacterial flora were taken before operation as well as 3 weeks after surgery, so that each boy acted as his own control. Before circumcision, 13 (52%) harboured uropathogenic organisms (Escherichia coli and other coliforms, Enterococcus spp, Proteus spp, Pseudomonas spp, and Klebsiella spp); after circumcision, none of the boys had uropathogens, the only organisms cultured from the periurethral region being skin commensals. We postulate that circumcision converts a 'cul-de-sac' that is a reservoir of organisms capable of causing ascending urinary tract infection into a surface colonised by natural skin organisms. This study provides circumstantial evidence supporting the idea that circumcision in well-selected patients may confer protection from urine infection.     

The culture of female circumcision

The issue of female circumcision takes on special significance as more women migrate to the United States from countries where the practice has religious and traditional underpinnings. Female circumcision is a problem unfamiliar to most Western health care practitioners. This article describes an ethnographic study of the types of female circumcision, the reasons for and against the practice, the health implications of this practice, and cultural attitudes of circumcised women both in Western Africa and as migrant refugees living in the United States. Ethical dilemmas in dealing with this practice and implications for nurses and health care providers are discussed.     

Comparison of ring block, dorsal penile nerve block, and topical anesthesia for neonatal circumcision: a randomized controlled trial

CONTEXT: Beliefs about the safety and effectiveness of current anesthetics have resulted in many newborns being circumcised without the benefit of anesthesia. OBJECTIVE: To compare ring block, dorsal penile nerve block, a topical eutectic mixture of local anesthetics (EMLA), and topical placebo when used for neonatal circumcision. The placebo represented current practice, with no anesthetic for neonatal circumcision. DESIGN: A randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Antenatal units in 2 tertiary care hospitals in Edmonton, Alberta. PARTICIPANTS: A consecutive sample of 52 healthy, full-term, male newborns, aged 1 to 3 days. INTERVENTIONS: Physiological and behavioral monitoring occurred in a series of trials: baseline, drug application, preparation, circumcision, and postcircumcision. Surgical procedures defined the following 4 stages of the circumcision: cleansing, separation, clamp on, and clamp off. Methemoglobin level was assessed 6 hours after surgery. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Heart rate, cry, and methemoglobin level. RESULTS: Newborns in the untreated placebo group exhibited homogeneous responses that consisted of sustained elevation of heart rate and high-pitched cry throughout the circumcision and following. Two newborns in the placebo group became ill following circumcision (choking and apnea). The 3 treatment groups all had significantly less crying and lower heart rates during and following circumcision compared with the untreated group. The ring block was equally effective through all stages of the circumcision, whereas the dorsal penile nerve block and EMLA were not effective during foreskin separation and incision. Methemoglobin levels were highest in the EMLA group, although no newborn required treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The most effective anesthetic is the ring block; EMLA is the least effective. It is our recommendation that an anesthetic should be administered to newborns prior to undergoing circumcision.     

Posttreatment changes in male and female patients: a comparative study

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the posttreatment changes in patients with Class II, Division 1 malocclusions who were treated with either extraction or nonextraction express similar trends in the male and female patients. The material for this investigation was obtained from the records available in the Graduate Orthodontic Clinic at the University of Iowa. Ninety-one patients were treated for their Class II, Division 1 malocclusions, 44 subjects (21 males and 23 females) had four first premolar extractions and 47 subjects (20 males and 27 females) were treated with nonextraction. Matched normal subjects included 20 male and 15 female subjects for whom complete sets of data were available for the period of this study. None of these subjects had undergone orthodontic therapy. Thirty-nine cephalometric anteroposterior and vertical skeletal, dental, and soft tissue linear and angular measurements were derived. Twenty-four dental arch parameters were evaluated and included: overbite, overjet, maxillary and mandibular arch lengths, and arch widths, as well as tooth size-arch length discrepancies. Student t tests were used to compare male and female subjects for the following parameters: (1) absolute dimensions recorded before treatment, after treatment, and at retention; (2) the incremental changes between the various stages; (3) the relative posttreatment changes. The level of significance was predetermined at p < 0.05. From the current findings the following can be concluded: (1) There were significant differences in the size as well as the incremental changes of the various cephalometric dentofacial parameters between normal male and female subjects. (2) There were significant differences in the absolute posttreatment cephalometric changes between male and female subjects, particularly in linear dimensions. Similar, but less frequent, findings were observed in the relative posttreatment changes. (3) Significant differences in the posttreatment dental arch changes between male and female subjects were the least frequent. (4) Male and female subjects expressed similar statistical trends in the direction of posttreatment changes. Therefore clinicians should not expect to observe significant differences in the posttreatment trends on the basis of the gender of the patient. On the other hand, the changes in linear dimensions are larger in male than female subjects. Therefore, for a more accurate interpretation of growth and/or treatment changes, it is advisable to independently analyze data on male and female subjects.     

Factors associated with the knowledge, treatment, and control of arterial hypertension in an adult population of the community of Valencia

OBJECTIVE: To identify the level of hypertension awareness, treatment and control in the adult population (14 years and older) at the Valencian Region. Type of treatment and associated factors to the hypertension awareness will be also explored. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study (population survey). SETTING: Valencian Region, Spain. PARTICIPANTS AND MEASUREMENTS: Data from this study are based on a representative sample of the adult population collected for the Nutrition and Health Examination Survey carried out in the Valencian Region in 1994. Blood pressure measurement was based in two readings on each person at a single sitting. RESULTS: Awareness of hypertension among subjects classified as hypertensive was 50%. The frequency of treated patients among all those subjects who knew as hypertensive, was 85%. The proportion of well controlled among treated hypertensive people was lightly higher than 50%. 14.6% of people aware of being hypertensive were not under treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The rule of halves still applies to the Valencian Region, though the proportion of diagnosed hypertensive under treatment is much better (> 85%).     

Maternal response to childhood aggression and subsequent anti-Semitism.

2 measures of anti-Semitism were obtained from 39 college women. Information concerning maternal handling of their childhood aggression was obtained from their mothers. The results showed that relatively stern maternal discipline toward childhood aggressive behavior was associated with a relatively high level of anti-Semitism in the women. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of iron supplementation and discontinuation on serum copper, zinc, calcium, and magnesium levels in women

The purpose of this study was: 1) to establish the prevalence of depleted iron stores, iron deficiency, and low serum levels for copper, zinc, calcium, and magnesium in a healthy female population; and 2) to examine the effects of iron supplementation and discontinuation on the serum levels of the above minerals. One hundred eleven healthy women between the ages of 18 and 40 yr reported for fasted morning blood sampling for iron, copper, zinc, calcium, and magnesium status. Forty-five subjects were either iron-deficient as defined by a hemoglobin level below 120 g.l-1 (four subjects) or iron deplete as defined by a serum ferritin value below 20 micrograms.l-1 (43 subjects). Two subjects fit both criteria. This subgroup continued with the study and were prescribed a normal therapeutic iron dose (320 mg elemental iron per day, taken as two Slow-Fe tablets.d-1 for a period of 12 wk). The subjects then discontinued the iron supplementation for a further 12 wk. The response of the various blood minerals was monitored at 6-wk intervals. Twenty-five subjects completed the full 24-wk treatment. The main conclusions to be made from this study were that: 1) For this sample population of women, iron depletion was quite common (39%), although low hemoglobin values (< 120 g.l-1) were only seen in 3.6%. No subjects fell below the criteria for low serum copper levels (< 13.3 mumol.l-1) nor low serum magnesium levels (< 0.6 mmol.l-1). Seven subjects (6.5%) fell below the criteria for low serum zinc levels (< 11.5 mumol.l-1) while two subjects (1.8%) were below the criteria for low serum calcium levels (< 2.20 mmol.l-1). 2) Therapeutic oral iron supplementation was successful in raising mean serum ferritin values from 15.9 micrograms.l-1 to 36.5 micrograms.l-1 but was not associated with decrements in serum copper or calcium levels. 3) The treatment did not significantly effect serum zinc and magnesium levels during the supplementation period, but a downward trend continued through the discontinuation phase so that at 18 and 24 wk serum zinc and magnesium levels were significantly lower than baseline. 4) Oral contraceptive use was associated with elevated serum copper and ferritin values and lowered serum magnesium levels.     

HIV-1 infection in Juba, southern Sudan

Thirty years of civil war in the Sudan have resulted in the isolation of the southern provinces which border Central and East Africa. Consequently, little is known about the epidemiology of HIV-1 infection in this region. To estimate the prevalence of HIV-1 infection in southern Sudan and the risk factors associated with disease transmission, a seroepidemiologic survey was conducted in the township of Juba. Study subjects invited to participate in this study included medical outpatients, inpatients hospitalized for active tuberculosis, and female prostitutes. A total of 401 subjects participated in the study. HIV-1 infection was confirmed in 25 subjects. The prevalence of HIV-1 infection was 19% (8/42) among tuberculosis patients, 16% (8/50) among prostitutes, and 3% (9/309) among outpatients. A significantly higher prevalence of HIV-1 infection was found among female prostitutes when compared to female outpatients: 16% (8/50) vs. 2% (4/178), P < 0.001. Correspondingly, the prevalence of seropositives was significantly higher among male outpatients reporting a history of sexual relations with prostitutes during the prior 10 years compared to male outpatients denying relations with prostitutes: 14% (5/37) vs. 0% (0/94), P = 0.0011. A history of a sexually transmitted disease (STD) was also associated with HIV-1 infection among male outpatients. The findings of this study indicate that HIV-1 infection is highly prevalent in southern Sudan and that prostitutes and their sexual partners represent a major reservoir of HIV infection in this population. This epidemiologic pattern resembles that seen in the African nations neighboring southern Sudan.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Thickened palms and soles in a toddler

The continuing practice of female circumcision (removal of varying degrees of external genitalia) was perhaps the most emotional issue discussed at the Ninth International Congress on Women's Health Issues, held in June in Alexandria, Egypt. The results of two studies presented at the Congress have resulted to an argument. Others view female circumcision as a traditional folk practice, similar to scarring of the skin or elongation of the lips among certain African tribes and should not be subjected to "cultural imperialism" from abroad. Instead, the procedure could best be eradicated through focused education--telling patients that it is not required by Islam and that it can be detrimental to health. However, this suggestion was hotly debated by members of the audience who insisted that female circumcision should be considered as a form of child abuse and thus properly addressed as a political issue.     

Split hand/split foot, syndactyly, urinary tract obstruction, radial, diaphragmatic, and neural tube defects: Czeizel-Losonci syndrome?

There has been considerable debate as to the risk of suicide, accidents, and homicide in populations at high risk for HIV infection. The purpose of the present investigation was to determine the incidence of sudden and unexpected deaths in a well-defined cohort of homosexual and bisexual men prospectively studied since 1984. All subjects were enrolled in the Pitt Men's Study, the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, component of the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study. Of this group, 861 were between the ages of 20 and 44, and 35% were seropositive for HIV. There were 70 deaths attributed to AIDS. Five additional deaths were classified as sudden and unexpected, an annual rate of 0.08% (80/100,000). Only one of these was classified by the coroner's office as a suicide; three were due to accidents, and one was a drug overdose of undetermined cause. Only two of the five unexpected deaths were HIV seropositive, and none had the diagnosis of AIDS. The sudden and unexpected death rate in this cohort did not significantly differ from the 0.07% (70/100,000) yearly incidence in the age- and race-matched male population. Thus, in this well-defined male gay cohort, there does not appear to be an increased risk of violent and drug-related deaths in persons at risk for, or with a diagnosis of, AIDS.     

Prevalence of retinopathy in people with diabetes, impaired glucose tolerance, and normal glucose tolerance

OBJECTIVE: Recently, an international expert committee published new revised criteria for diagnosing diabetes. According to the new criteria, the 2-h glucose level for diabetes in the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) is the same as in the previous World Health Organization criteria, but the cut point for the fasting blood glucose level has been lowered to be equivalent to the 2-h OGTT level. Measurement of the fasting blood glucose level is preferred to the 2-h OGTT glucose level. The ability of the new cut point for fasting blood glucose to discriminate between those at a high and a low risk for retinopathy was tested in a population-based study RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: The population consisted of all the 1,008 subjects (456 men) born in 1935 and living in a Finnish city A screening for type 2 diabetes was carried out in the first phase. All participants who were not on antidiabetic medication were invited for an OGTT in the second phase. A fasting blood glucose value was measured from the diabetic subjects on antidiabetic medication. In addition, measurements of serum cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides were made, and fundus photographs were taken. Altogether, 831 subjects (368 men) (82%) participated and constitute the eligible study population for the present analyses. Fundus photographs were available for 790 subjects (347 men) (95%). RESULTS: There were 28 subjects (3.5%) who had mild retinopathic changes in the fundus photographs. Retinopathic changes were associated with higher fasting blood glucose levels, but not with any of the other background factors. The prevalence of retinopathy was 10.2% (95% CI 4.8-18.5) in subjects with a fasting blood glucose of > or =6.1 mmol/l, while it was 2.6% (1.5-4.0) in those with a lower fasting blood glucose level. In the former group, a majority (seven of nine) of the subjects with retinopathy were previously diagnosed diabetic patients. Some cases of retinopathy were found regardless the level of glycemia, and measurement of the 2-h OGTT glucose levels did not increase information. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this population study give support to the use of fasting blood glucose levels in diagnosing type 2 diabetes. The lower limit of the highest decile of the fasting glucose level was 6.1 mmol/l, and it discriminated subjects at a high risk for retinopathy from those at a low risk. Because of the limited number of subjects with retinopathy in this study, the level of hyperglycemia associated with retinopathy cannot be estimated accurately.