Diagnostic efficiency of different amphetamine screening tests - the search for an optimal cutoff

Increased use of designer drugs (amphetamines and amphetamine-like substances) raises the need for fast screening tests in urine in clinical settings, workplace and drug rehabilitation. Immunological assays currently used are subject to unwanted crossreactivities, partly depending on the cutoff concentrations used. The values recommended in Europe and the USA are 500 and 1000 ng/ml, respectively. In Switzerland, the recommended concentration of 300 ng/ml results in a high rate of false-positive urine samples and expensive, time-consuming confirmation testing. Using the Abbott Axsym analyzer, we found numerous false positives from patients in rehabilitation centers due to concomitant medication. Therefore, the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of the Abbott test at different cutoff concentrations and the sensitivity of the Roche Cobas Integra, Beckman Synchron and Biosite Triage point-of-care test were examined. HPLC Bio-Rad Remedi was chosen as the method of higher hierarchical order. The specificity of the Axsym analyzer (300 ng/ml) was 86%. At 500 ng/ml or 1000 ng/ml the specificity was increased to 99 or 100%, respectively, while the sensitivity only decreased from 97 to 91 or 81%, respectively. In summary, the cutoff concentration for amphetamine screening tests should not be below 500 ng/ml to avoid a high rate of false-positive result

A comparative analysis of aquatic and polyethylene-associated antibiotic-resistant microbiota in the mediterranean sea

In this study, we evaluated the microbiome and the resistome profile of water and fragments of polyethylene (PE) waste collected at the same time from a stream and the seawater in a coastal area of Northwestern Sicily. Although a core microbiome was determined by sequencing of the V3–V4 region of the bacterial 16S rDNA gene, quantitative differences were found among the microbial communities on PE waste and the corresponding water samples. Our findings indicated that PE waste contains a more abundant and increased core microbiome diversity than the corresponding water samples. Moreover, PCR analysis of specific antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) showed that PE waste harbors more ARGs than the water samples. Thus, PE waste could act as a carrier of antibiotic-resistant microbiota, representing an increased danger for the marine environment and living organisms, as well

Oral Health Self-Care Behaviors of Rural Older Adults

Objectives: This analysis describes the dental self-care behaviors used by a multiethnic sample of older adults and delineates the associations of self-care behaviors with personal characteristics and oral health problems. Methods: A cross-sectional comprehensive oral health survey conducted with a random, multiethnic (African-American, American Indian, white) sample of 635 community-dwelling rural adults aged 60 years and older was completed in two rural southern counties. Results: Rural older adults engage in a variety of self-care behaviors, including the use of over-the-counter (OTC) medicine (12.1 percent), OTC dental products (84.0 percent), salt (50.9 percent), prayer (6.1 percent), and complementary therapies (18.2 percent). Some gender and ethnic class differences are apparent, with greater use by women of OTC medicine and salt and greater use by African-Americans and American Indians of OTC medicine and OTC dental products. The use of dental self-care behaviors appears to be driven by need. Those reporting oral pain, bleeding gums, and dry mouth have greater odds of engaging in most of the dental self-care behaviors, including the use of complementary therapies. Conclusions: The major factor leading to the use of self-care behaviors is need. Although oral pain does increase the use of self-care behaviors, so do bleeding gums and dry mouth. Research and practice should address self-care behaviors used for oral health problems in addition to pain. Investigators should expand analysis of dental self-care behavior and the relationship of self-care behavior to the use of professional services. Further research also should explore the use of complementary therapies in dental self-care

Severe tooth loss in older adults as a key indicator of compromised dietary quality

Objective. Poor oral health influences the dietary quality of older individuals. The objective of the present study was to relate the number of teeth to adherence to the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans among an ethnically diverse sample of older adults, Design. A block cluster design was used to obtain a sample of older adults, Data were weighted to census data for ethnicity and gender, Dietary intakes were assessed using an FFQ and converted into Healthy Eating Index-2005 (HEI-2005) scores, Setting. Two counties in North Carolina, USA, with large African-American and American Indian populations, Subjects. Community-dwelling older adults (N635), Results. Three hundred and twenty-six participants had severe tooth loss (0–10 teeth remaining), compared with 305 participants with 11+ teeth, After controlling for socio-economic factors, those with 0–10 teeth had lower total HEI-2005 scores and consumed less Total Fruit, Meat and Beans, and Oils, and more energy from Solid Fat, Alcohol and Added Sugar, compared with those with 11+ teeth, Less than 1 % of those with 0–10 teeth and 4 % of those with 11+ teeth met overall HEI-2005 recommendations, Those with 0–10 teeth were less likely to eat recommended amounts of Total Vegetables, Dark Green and Orange Vegetables, and energy from Solid Fat, Alcohol and Added Sugar, Conclusions. Older adults with severe tooth loss are less likely than those with moderate to low tooth loss to meet current dietary recommendations, Nutrition interventions for older adults should take oral health status into consideration and include strategies that specifically address this as a barrier to healthful eating

Use of tobacco products among rural older adults: prevalence of ever use and cumulative lifetime use

Tobacco use is a well-documented contributor to morbidity and mortality in the US and worldwide. Information on the comprehensive use of tobacco products is lacking, particularly smokeless tobacco in its various forms. Data from 635 older (>_60 years) African American, American Indian and White adults in rural North Carolina were analyzed to assess current and lifetime use of cigarettes, cigars, pipe, snuff and chewing tobacco. Participants were classified as being current, former or never users of each product, Lifetime use of each product was determined by asking about typical intensity of use per day and length of time the product has been used. About 70% of participants were current or former users of any tobacco product, and about one-third of participants currently used at least one product. Variations in use were observed by ethnicity and sex, particularly for cigarettes, snuff and chewing tobacco. Variations were also seen according to other demographic and health characteristics. These data add to a limited body of literature on lifetime use of smoked and smokeless tobacco products, and are useful in identifying the impact of these products on morbidity and mortality, particularly for vulnerable populations

Effective control of persistent hyperparathyroidism with cinacalcet in renal allograft recipients

Background. Cinacalcet rapidly normalizes serum calcium and reduces intact parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels in renal transplant patients with hypercalcaemia and persistent hyperparathyroidism. The aim of this study is to evaluate the 6 months efficacy of cinacalcet and the effect of cinacalcet withdrawal on serum calcium and PTH in such patients. Furthermore, the impact of cinacalcet on bone turnover and quality of life was assessed. Methods. Twelve renal allograft recipients with hypercalcaemia due to persistent hyperparathyroidism were treated with cinacalcet for 26 weeks. Cinacalcet was then withdrawn to check for recurrence of hypercalcaemia. Results. Cinacalcet maintained normocalcaemia in all patients from week 4 to 26, and PTH significantly decreased and remained suppressed. Serum phosphate increased, whereas the serum calcium-phosphate product remained unchanged. The excretion of calcium and phosphate in the 24 h urine had tendency to decrease. After cinacalcet was withdrawn, hypercalcaemia recurred rapidly and PTH increased to baseline values. Renal function remained stable, proteinuria was unchanged and no allograft rejection was observed. During treatment with cinacalcet, total and bone-specific alkaline phosphatase increased, whereas the urinary deoxypyridinoline-creatinine ratio did not change significantly, suggesting enhanced bone formation. Quality of life assessed at weeks 10 and 26 remained unchanged compared with baseline. Conclusions. In conclusion, continued treatment with cinacalcet is required to maintain long-term normocalcaemia and to suppress the enhanced PTH production in renal transplant recipients with persistent hyperparathyroidis

Food Selection and Eating Patterns: Themes Found among People with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the beliefs and perspectives among people with type 2 diabetes mellitus about dietary requirements, food selection and eating patterns, and attitudes about self-management practices. Design: Semistructured, in-depth interviews explored participants’ experiences with diabetes prior to their diagnosis, participants’ understanding of the guidelines for the nutritional management of diabetes, how participants applied their understanding of dietary guidelines to daily food selection and eating patterns, and the social and personal themes influencing participants’ food selection and eating patterns. Subjects: Interviews were conducted with members of a convenience sample of 45 men and women diagnosed with type 2 diabetes for at least 1 year. Analyses Performed: Interviews were coded using a conceptual matrix derived from participants’ statements. Common characteristics were grouped, and broad themes were identified. Results: Eating patterns were influenced by participants’ knowledge of diabetes management. Challenges that participants encountered when applying nutrition recommendations were linked to their prior eating practices. Dietary self-efficacy, social support, and time management were identified as mediating variables that can influence dietary behaviors. Implications: Diabetes nutrition education programs should increase awareness of eating history, spousal support, and time management practices. Future research should include the refinement and validation of a nutritional management model of diabetes