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Substances Used (substance + used)
Selected AbstractsAdolescent emergency department presentations with alcohol- or other drug-related problems in Perth, Western AustraliaADDICTION, Issue 7 2001Gary K. Hulse Aims. To identify the morbidity, type of substance used and the pattern of presentation by adolescents with problems related to alcohol or other drug (AOD) use. Design. A 4-week retrospective review of hospital records. Setting. Four metropolitan hospitals in Perth, Australia. Participants. There were 1064 presentations by people aged 12-19 years of which 160 (15%) were related to AOD use. The median age of the AOD cases was 17 (interquartile range 16-19) of whom 97 (61%) were male and 19 (12%) were Indigenous Australians. Findings. Alcohol was the most frequent precursor to presentation (66, 41%) followed by heroin (24, 15%) and prescription/over-the-counter drugs (24, 15%). Injury was the most common diagnosis at presentation (50, 31%), followed by overdose/drug use (47, 29%). A diagnosis of injury was significantly more likely following the use of alcohol than other categories of substances (,2 = 42.07, df = 3, p < 0.001). Deliberate self-harm (DSH) occurred in more female than male cases (,2 = 7.4, df = 1, p < 0.01). Presentations were more frequent over the weekend (102, 64%) than on weekdays, and the length of stay was significantly shorter for weekend cases (Mann-Whitney U 2132, p < 0.05). Conclusions. Given the small window of opportunity to provide AOD treatment to youth following hospital presentation, a number of suggestions are made. From a harm-minimization perspective the focus of interventions should be on alcohol use by male youth and DSH associated with prescription/over-the-counter drug use by female adolescents. In addition, Indigenous youth are over-represented in hospital presentations, but there is currently a lack of evaluated interventions designed for them. [source] Medical rhinoplasty with hyaluronic acid and botulinum toxin A: a very simple and quite effective techniqueJOURNAL OF COSMETIC DERMATOLOGY, Issue 3 2008Alessio Redaelli MD Summary Objective, The management of nasal deformities, and in particular those with "plunging" tip, has always been a typical area of interest in surgery. In the author's experience many of these problems can be successfully approached with a new medical technique, which consists of using only hyaluronic acid for the correction of nasal angles and botulinum toxin for patients with hyperactivity of the depressor septi nasi muscle. The present study aims to illustrate this new technique and evaluates safety and results. Materials and methods, Ninety-five patients were treated between January 2006 and July 2007. The average age of the patients was 42.7 years. In 45% of the cases, botulinum toxin was employed. In all of the cases, the treatment was conducted with hyaluronic acid (24 mg/mL), the same substance used for face rejuvenation. The amount varied from 0.6 to 1.4 mL. Results Results were evaluated using a definitive graduated score calculated by patient's and doctor's satisfaction score (range, 1,10) and by photographs' score at time 0, after 30 days, and after 180 days. It ranged from 8 to 10 (average of 9.1). No significant side effects were reported. Conclusion, The medical rhinoplasty for a "plunging" nose is a simple and very effective technique with immediate results. It can be used in those cases where patients are reluctant to undergo surgery, or as primary indication in the correction of minor nose defects. Results are satisfactory and no side effects have been reported so far. Results will last for a long time. [source] Impact of antimicrobial drug usage measures on the identification of heavy users, patterns of usage of the different antimicrobial classes and time-trends evolutionJOURNAL OF VETERINARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 4 2008C. CHAUVIN Several measurement units are available to quantify antimicrobial usage in veterinary medicine, to obtain diverse measures such as the weight of active substance used, the live weight (LW) treated, the fraction of animals exposed, the number of treatments recorded or the cost represented. These measures can be applied to study practices variability between farms, to characterize patterns of usage of the different antimicrobial classes or to follow evolution of antimicrobial usage with time. An investigation was carried out to specifically explore the influence of measurement units on the conclusions obtained from such studies. Antimicrobial exposure was explored in a sample of turkey and chicken broiler flocks, using six different units [kg of active compound, treatments, days of administration, kg of LW treated, animal daily dose to treat 1 kg of LW (ADDkg) and euros] to compare flocks usage variability and patterns of use of the different antimicrobial classes. Time-trends evolutions of macrolides usage in turkey broilers, characterized by percentage of flocks exposed and LW treated, were also compared. In all analyses, the measure gave different results without equivalences, highlighting the necessity for care in choosing the measurement unit and caution in interpreting the figures obtained. [source] Alcohol use and abuse in adolescence: proposal of an alternative analysisCHILD: CARE, HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT, Issue 3 2008C. Simões Abstract Background A national, representative, school-based sample of Portuguese youths was used to examine the prevalence of alcohol use in this population and to analyse differences between demographic variables such as gender and age, as well as to propose a statistical procedure that optimally quantifies categorical variables. Methods Data on 6109 state school students from Portugal, in the 6th, 8th and 10th grades, aged 11,18, who participated in the 2002 (Health Behaviour in School-aged Children/WHO) survey of adolescent health, were analysed. Adolescents aged between 11 and 14 were placed in the younger group, and those 15,18 years old were placed in the older group. Optimal scaling was used to optimize the computation of factor scores, which were subsequently submitted to multiple regression analysis in order to analyse the impact of gender and age on alcohol use. Results The results of this study show that the majority of Portuguese school-aged adolescents attending regular school at 6th, 8th and 10th grades do not drink alcoholic beverages (beer, wine or spirits) on a regular basis (at least once a month). However, about 8% of these adolescents do drink beer, 3% do drink wine and 12% do drink spirits on a regular basis. With regard to age and gender, about a quarter of the older boys stated that they drink beer or spirits regularly. The multiple regression analysis showed that age and gender had a significant impact on alcohol use. Conclusion Alcohol , in particular spirits , is a substance used by some Portuguese adolescents. Alcohol use and abuse is more frequent in boys and increases with age. The importance of these findings for health promotion strategies is discussed. [source] Lifetime multiple substance use pattern among heroin users before entering methadone maintenance treatment clinic in Yunnan, ChinaDRUG AND ALCOHOL REVIEW, Issue 4 2010LEI LI Abstract Introduction and Aims. Multiple substance use leads to greater levels of psycho-behavioural problems, unsafe sex, and therefore a high risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases, and is also more difficult to treat. This study aims to determine pattern of lifetime multiple substance use among Chinese heroin users before entering methadone maintenance treatment clinic. Design and Methods. A survey to obtain retrospective longitudinal data on lifetime multiple substance use was conducted among 203 heroin users in two of the biggest methadone maintenance clinics in Kunming City, Yunnan province. Results. All participants used more than one substance in their lifetime. Most of them used four or more substance groups (range two to seven groups). The most common substance patterns in lifetime use were alcohol, tobacco, opiates and depressants. Approximately 80% of them had a history of simultaneous substance use (co-use). The most common combination of co-use pattern was heroin with depressant. Common reasons for co-use were to get high, to experiment, to sleep and to increase the potency of other drugs. Determinants of co-use were education, marital status and family relationship. Discussion and Conclusions. Multiple substance use is highly prevalent among Chinese heroin users. Depressants are the most common substances used in combination with heroin.[Li L, Sangthong R, Chongsuvivatwong V, McNeil E, Li J. Lifetime multiple substance use pattern among heroin users before entering methadone maintenance treatment clinic in Yunnan, China. Drug Alcohol Rev 2010] [source] Comment on: Tattooing of skin results in transportation and light-induced decomposition of tattoo pigmentsEXPERIMENTAL DERMATOLOGY, Issue 1 2010Gregor B. E. Jemec Abstract:, Decorative tattoos have become a common feature of many societies. Their popularity appears mainly driven by fashion, and scant attention has been paid to any associated risk. The risks can be associated either with the tattooees' proclivity for risk taking in general, or with the substances used in the tattoos. It is well established that tattoo pigments wander widely in the body after they have been injected, and research now suggests that azo pigments may become mutagenic after exposure to either natural light or laser light. This may not only affect the risk profile of tattoos themselves, but also tattoo removal using lasers. [source] Numerical simulation of dense gas flows on unstructured grids with an implicit high resolution upwind Euler solverINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL METHODS IN FLUIDS, Issue 7 2004P. Colonna Abstract The study of the dense gas flows which occur in many technological applications demands for fluid dynamic simulation tools incorporating complex thermodynamic models that are not usually available in commercial software. Moreover, the software mentioned can be used to study very interesting phenomena that usually go under the name of ,non-classical gasdynamics', which are theoretically predicted for high molecular weight fluids in the superheated region, close to saturation. This paper presents the numerical methods and models implemented in a computer code named zFlow which is capable of simulating inviscid dense gas flows in complex geometries. A detailed description of the space discretization method used to approximate the Euler equations on unstructured grids and for general equations of state, and a summary of the thermodynamic functions required by the mentioned formulation are also given. The performance of the code is demonstrated by presenting two applications, the calculation of the transonic flow around an airfoil computed with both the ideal gas and a complex equation of state and the simulation of the non-classical phenomena occurring in a supersonic flow between two staggered sinusoidal blades. Non-classical effects are simulated in a supersonic flow of a siloxane using a Peng,Robinson-type equation of state. Siloxanes are a class of substances used as working fluids in organic Rankine cycles turbines. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Elderly skin and its rejuvenation: products and procedures for the aging skinJOURNAL OF COSMETIC DERMATOLOGY, Issue 1 2007Marcia Ramos-e-Silva MD Summary In the last few decades, there has been a substantial increase in the population of people over 60 years of age. Most of them maintain a good general health and physical activity and fitness. For these individuals there is a good number of dermatologic procedures, medications, and cosmetics that can be prescribed to improve the aspect of skin aging, providing an improvement in their self-esteem and quality of life as a result of their better look. We will discuss the mechanisms of skin aging, and the procedures and substances used to minimize its deleterious effects, such as sunscreens, estrogens, chemical peels, toxin botulinum, fillers and surgical procedures, among others. The use of makeup and the adverse reactions to cosmetics will also be mentioned. [source] Attribution of tumour lethality and estimation of the time to onset of occult tumours in the absence of cause-of-death InformationJOURNAL OF THE ROYAL STATISTICAL SOCIETY: SERIES C (APPLIED STATISTICS), Issue 2 2000H. Ahn A new statistical approach is developed for estimating the carcinogenic potential of drugs and other chemical substances used by humans. Improved statistical methods are developed for rodent tumorigenicity assays that have interval sacrifices but not cause-of-death data. For such experiments, this paper proposes a nonparametric maximum likelihood estimation method for estimating the distributions of the time to onset of and the time to death from the tumour. The log-likelihood function is optimized using a constrained direct search procedure. Using the maximum likelihood estimators, the number of fatal tumours in an experiment can be imputed. By applying the procedure proposed to a real data set, the effect of calorie restriction is investigated. In this study, we found that calorie restriction delays the tumour onset time significantly for pituitary tumours. The present method can result in substantial economic savings by relieving the need for a case-by-case assignment of the cause of death or context of observation by pathologists. The ultimate goal of the method proposed is to use the imputed number of fatal tumours to modify Peto's International Agency for Research on Cancer test for application to tumorigenicity assays that lack cause-of-death data. [source] Mass transport studies of different additives in polyamide and exfoliated nanocomposite polyamide films for food industryPACKAGING TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE, Issue 2 2010David Antonio Pereira de Abreu Abstract The development of new food packaging films through the incorporation of nanoparticles, and the effect of the nanoparticles on the process of migration of the substances used in manufacturing the new films is expected to lead to an improvement in the shelf life of food and thus, consumer safety and health. In recent years, attention has focused on nanocomposites because these compounds often exhibit unexpected hybrid properties derived from synergistic reactions between nanoparticles and the polymeric matrix. The exfoliation of nanoclays in polyamide film provides a film with better barrier properties than that obtained through the intercalation of nanoclays. Migration of chemicals from food packaging into food may produce potential adverse health effects because of exposure to toxic compounds. The present study addressed the migration of caprolactam, 5-Chloro-2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)phenol (triclosan) and trans,trans-1,4-diphenyl-1,3-butadiene (DPBD) from polyamide and polyamide-nanoclays to different types of food simulants. The values for limit of detection (LOD) obtained for caprolactam, triclosan and DPBD was 0.5,mg/L, 0.02,mg/L and 0.01,mg/L, respectively. Furthermore, instrumental precision was evaluated through repeatability injections, resulting in relative standard deviations lower than 3.08%. Diffusion coefficients were calculated according to a mathematical model based on Fick's Second Law, and the results were discussed in terms of the parameters that may have the greatest effect on migration. The presence of polymer nanoparticles was found to slow down the rate of migration of substances from the matrix polymer into the food up to six times. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Test substance characterization for the EPA: what you've always wanted to know but were afraid to ask,QUALITY ASSURANCE JOURNAL, Issue 3-4 2007William Barta Abstract The Society of Quality Assurance (SQA) GLP Specialty Section, a member of the SQA Regulatory Forum, is a group of participants from the regulated community which provides insight and guidance to our membership and the regulated community. The Specialty Section has encountered several participants who want to know what types of information and data are needed during an inspection by the US EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA). The OECA is responsible for monitoring studies submitted to the Office of Pesticide Programs in support of pesticide registrations as defined under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). All submitted studies are to be conducted according to the FIFRA US Good Laboratory Practice Standards (GLPS). The GLPS contain specific language concerning the characterization of test, control and reference substances used in these studies. This article clarifies those requirements and provides perspective on the EPA expectations on meeting those requirements. The topics of discussion include: regulatory requirements responsibilities of the testing facility management, study director, Quality Assurance Unit and the sponsor preparing for an inspection overview of data to be made available at the time of inspection composition of a Certificate of Analysis. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Substance use during pregnancy: risk factors and obstetric and perinatal outcomes in South AustraliaAUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 3 2005Robyn KENNARE Abstract Objective: To determine the prevalence of self-reported substance use during pregnancy in South Australia, the characteristics of substance users, their obstetric outcomes and the perinatal outcomes of their babies. Methods: Multivariable logistic regression with STATA statistical software was undertaken using the South Australian perinatal data collection 1998,2002. An audit was conducted on every fifth case coded as substance use to identify the actual substances used. Results: Substance use was reported by women in 707 of 89 080 confinements (0.8%). Marijuana (38.9%), methadone (29.9%), amphetamines (14.6%) and heroin (12.5%) were most commonly reported, with polydrug use among 18.8% of the women audited. Substance users were more likely than non-users to be smokers, to have a psychiatric condition, to be single, indigenous, of lower socio-economic status and living in the metropolitan area. The outcome models had poor predictive powers. Substance use was associated with increased risks for placental abruption (OR 2.53) and antepartum haemorrhage from other causes (OR 1.41). The exposed babies had increased risks for preterm birth (OR 2.63), small for gestational age (OR 1.79), congenital abnormalities (1.52), nursery stays longer than 7 days (OR 4.07), stillbirth (OR 2.54) and neonatal death (OR 2.92). Conclusions: Substance use in pregnancy is associated with increased risks for antepartum haemorrhage and poor perinatal outcomes. However, only a small amount of the variance in outcomes can be explained by the substance use alone. Recent initiatives to improve identification and support of women exposed to adverse health, psychosocial and lifestyle factors will need evaluation. [source] | |||||||||||||