The heroin epidemic in San Francisco: estimates of incidence and prevalence

Much attention has recently been focused on the question of the extent of heroin use in America. In a worthwhile effort to call public attention to the problem, many estimates of its size have evidenced a tendency toward exaggeration and aggrandizement. This paper presents methods of estimation of the extent of heroin addiction which, when carefully employed, should effectively correct such distorted estimates. Two general types of estimation are employed, incidence and prevalence. Incidence estimates are concerned with new cases of heroin addiction that occur in a specific population within a given amount of time. These estimates are based upon self-report data from addicts regarding date of first addiction. When corrected for the "lag phase" (that period of time between onset of first addiction and eventual visit to a treatment program), these data permit accurate retrospective charting of incidence trends. Prevalence estimates focus on all known cases of heroin addiction in a specific population within a given amount of time. Three separate types of prevalence estimates from three separate sources are outlined in this article: estimates based on overdose death data, estimates based on crime statistics, and estimates of "unknown" addicts. In outlining these methods, this article describes the fluctuations in heroin addiction in one major American city, San Francisco, California. After analyzing data gathered from a sample of 2,367 addicts contacted over a 3-year period, this study suggests that the incidence of heroin addiction seems to have declined after 1970. Possible factors underlying this apparent decline in heroin addiction are then discussed, including the post-1970 maturation of the "population at risk," the effectiveness of antidrug media messages, the changing drug fashions in the heroin subculture, and the gradual deterioration of the quality and potency of street heroin.     

Music preference as a factor of music distraction

The present study is an experimental analysis of music preference as a factor of music distraction measured by the Stroop tests. Significant differences were found amoung groups given, most preferred music, least preferred music, and no music (quiet). Each group of 10 subjects were randomly chosen from 42 screened subjects. Performance was better without music and better with most preferred than with least preferred music. The results were not consistent with those previously found for the effects of noise upon Stroop test performance.     

A method for defining competency in Pediatrics

In 1972 the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) initiated studies leading to a report which identifies the important components of competency needed in the practice of pediatrics. The development of the report involved a group process engaging ABP board members and examiners. The outcome has been (a) the delineation of a process for establishing definitions of competency in a medical discipline; (b) the development of a framework for specifying the abilities needed to perform the tasks required of pediatricians; (c) an elaboration of samples of pediatric subjects to which these abilities and tasks are relevant; and (d) the development of a basis for choice of methods to use for purposes of certification.     

Lateral hypothalamic syndrome in rats: a comparison of the behavioral and neurochemical effects of lesions placed in the lateral hypothalamus and nigrostriatal bundle

The effects of total (T-NSB) and subtotal (S-NSB) destruction of the nigrostriatal bundle were compared with the effects of large lateral hypothalamic (LH) lesions on various aspects of the lateral hypothalamic syndrome. The T-NSB and LH lesions produced equivalent decreases in caudate and telencephalic contents of dopamine and norepinephrine, while with the exception of telencephalic dopamine, S-NSB lesions had consistently smaller effect. The T-NSB and LH lesions produced equivalent effects on duration of aphagia and adipsia (Stages 1 to 3) and on long-term decreases in body weight and ad lib water consumption, and these effects were always greater than those produced by the S-NSB lesion. These aspects of the lateral hypothalamic syndrome appeared to be related to the interruption of the nigrostriatal bundle and consequent decrease in caudate dopamine. The T-NSB and S-NSB lesions produced equivalent long-term deficits in water regulation as measured by drinking in the absence of food or in response to intra- and extracellular dehydration, but these deficits were always significantly less than those produced by the LH lesion. It was concluded that these regulatory deficits were not related to destruction of catecholamine pathways. All three lesions totally blocked eating in response to a glucoprivic challenge. This aspect of the lateral hypothalamic syndrome, therefore, results from destruction of a small portion of the lateral diencephalon and may be related to the interruption of the dopaminergic mesolimbic system.     

Automation in the hematology laboratory

In the routine laboratory for hematology conflicting results may be obtained for the red blood cell parameters with the Coulter Counter Model S. These parameters2) are: mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC). When the values of the MCHC are above 36 g/dl something must be wrong with the blood sample of the patient. One of the reasons can be agglutination e.g. by cold agglutinins. The blood sample should be reanalysed before and after heating for 1 hour at 37 degrees C. If the values change: cold agglutinins are present; if no change occurs paraproteins, or other disturbing factors, such as bilirubin or high leucocyte levels, will be found. MCH values may also be high in some cases e.g. if the red blood cells are coated with antibodies (Coombs test positive) or after ingestion of medicines like Azathioprine. These examples show that it is possible in some cases to correlate immunological findings with the red blood cell parameters. In addition to the results with the Coulter Counter Model S, some observations on the Hemalog (Technicon) are also presented.     

An analysis of the need for pediatric surgeons in the United States

A questionnaire study covering all major population areas in the United States indicated that pediatric surgeons and potentially capable hospitals are already well-distributed throughout the country. The estimation of need for pediatric surgeons based on the area questionnaires is close to the present number of surgeons. A computer analysis was made to project numbers of pediatric surgeons per unit population to the year 2000 with differing levels of trainee output. The study indicates that 14-15 training programs are sufficient to allow for slow, modest growth of the specialty if current population trends continue.