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The purpose of this article is to describe the history, current practices, and future directions in intellectual assessment of children and youth in Mexico. Differences and similarities with the United States are explored through the analysis of theoretical perspectives, practices, and policies. A summarized history of intellectual assessment is presented with a critical view of instruments used. Current practices, dominated by the use of the Wechsler Intelligence Scales that originated in the United States, but adapted and standardized in Mexico, contrast with the emergence of neuropsychological tests developed by Mexican scholars making efforts to dominate the field. Organizational, prescriptive, and instrumental limitations are analyzed in order to understand the many challenges and problems with the use of results from intellectual assessment in the school system. It is argued that the assessment of intellectual functioning in Mexican schools will only acquire relevance when the Mexican educational system is ready to dictate, based upon results, pathways of servicing children in effective ways.

The article aims to depict the most common ideas regarding wisdom from young people across different countries: Latvia, Lithuania, Mexico, Republic of Korea and the United States. A questionnaire was administered to nearly 800 adolescents from these countries and comparisons by country and gender were made regarding participants' perceptions of a wise man and a wise woman. Although differences were found between countries, more consistent differences by gender were reported. From a global perspective, factor analysis established three major traits to describe wise people: charismatic, goal oriented and unconventional. Also, participants consistently excluded a person from the concept of wise if they were poor, pessimistic, naïve or inconsistent. Results indicate a lack of values attached to the description of wisdom and it is argued that schools should foster the development of conceptions of wisdom as a desirable stage in human development that includes values such as justice, equity and respect for others. Difficulties in international comparative research are discussed.

The study aims to depict the most common ideas regarding wisdom from young people (ages 15-18) in Latvia, Lithuania, Mexico, Korea and the United States. A questionnaire was administered to nearly 800 adolescents from these countries and comparisons, by country and gender were made regarding participants perceptions of a wise man and a wise woman. Although differences were found between countries, more consistent differences by gender are reported. This research establishes three general traits to describe wise people: charismatic, goal-oriented, and unconventional. Also, participants consistently excluded a person from the concept of wise if they were poor, pessimistic, naïve, or inconsistent. A lack of values attached to the description of wisdom were found, and it is argued that school should foster the development of conceptions of wisdom as a desirable stage in human development that includes values such as justice, equity and respect for others. Difficulties in international comparative research are discussed.

The question regarding the appropriateness of the use of tests of intelligence and cognitive abilities developed in the United States to assess people from other countries was renewed in the debate between Suen and Greenspan (2008) and Sanchez-Escobedo and Hollingworth (2009). This controversy arose from challenges in the translation, adaptation, and norm development of an intelligence test (in this case, the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Third Edition) for use with the Mexican population. Suen and Greenspan argued against the use of Mexican norms in high-stakes decision cases regarding Mexicans. In this article, the authors attempt to advance and extend the scrutiny of intelligence tests in bilingual or Spanish-speaking populations by examining differences in three versions of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Fourth Edition (WISC-IV): (1) the tests and norms created for use with English-speaking American children; (2) Spanish-speaking children in American schools; and (3) Spanish-speaking children in Mexico. This is an exploration of the challenges and demands for adapting tests beyond mere language translation, and the effects of using norms developed in different cultural contexts to evaluate test takers. (Contains 2 figures, 2 footnotes, and 3 tables.)

Latinx (includes Hispanics and is the non-gendered term for Latino/Latina which is a person of Latin American origin or descent) constitutes the largest racial and ethnic minority group in the United States (US). Many members of this group report limited English proficiency, experience discrimination, feel distrust in the healthcare setting, and face poorer health outcomes than non-Latinx Whites. As healthcare systems assess internal structures of care, understanding the experiences of Latinx patients may inform strategies to improve care. This narrative review describes studies that assessed the experiences of Latinx patients with limited English proficiency (LEP) in the inpatient and outpatient settings in the US. We searched PubMed for studies published between January 1, 1990, and March 2021. We reviewed all citations and available abstracts (n = 429). We classified study titles (n = 156) as warranting detailed consideration of the original article. Limited English proficiency is a well-documented challenge reported by Latinx patients seeking care in the outpatient setting, resulting in mistrust of healthcare organizations and clinicians. The effects of LEP overlap substantially with challenges related to patients' immigration status, cultural traditions, and socioeconomic needs. Use of professional interpretation rather than ad hoc interpretation improves trust and satisfaction. There is no consensus about the most effective mode of delivering professional interpretation (in person, telephonic, video conferencing), although rapid simultaneous telephone translation is a promising modality. Increasing awareness of the barriers to effective communication, improving skills in communicating through translators, and increasing the amount of time spent with patients may improve communication and trust more than structural changes like mode of translation or bedside rounding. Cultural fluency training, standardized language training for providers, and incentive pay for fluency are also deserving of further consideration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The news, editorials and articles in magazines like America or The Commonweal can give insight into the public opinion of United States Catholics towards Francoist Spain during the complex context of World War II. America took a fairly pro-Franco stance, while The Commonweal's approach was more critical. Both publications hoped that Spanish Catholicism would curb Nazi influence, while the Church would promote a process of democratization in Spain deemed unavoidable following the defeat of the Axis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Historia Contemporanea is the property of Historia Contemporania and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Espacio, Tiempo y Forma: Serie V, Historia Contemporánea is the property of Editorial UNED and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: The Age‐Friendly Health Systems (AFHS) aims to improve the experience of care for adults aged 65 years and older through the 4Ms framework, an evidence‐based approach to care planning that emphasizes what matters most to the older person, mentation, mobility, and medication. The aim of this study was to examine clinicians' attitudes, knowledge, and practices concerning AFHS and the 4Ms. Methods: We surveyed U.S.‐based health care providers randomly identified from the Medscape database. The sample was weighted based on sex, U.S. Census region, and ethnic diversity of health occupations. We examined the differences between cohorts using proportions tests and logistic regression models. Results: More than 90% of clinicians (n = 1684) agreed that "older patients require a different approach to care than younger patients." Fifty percent of clinicians "always" take the age of their patient into consideration when determining care. A majority of clinicians said they discuss each of the 4Ms with older patients and/or their family caregivers. Screening for depression and review of high‐risk medication use are among the leading types of age‐friendly care that clinicians provide to older patients. A minority of clinicians are asking older adults about and aligning the care plan with What Matters. Conclusions: A majority of clinicians acknowledged the benefits of providing care via AFHS but reported limited knowledge of the specificities of the 4Ms framework and are not necessarily taking the age of their patients into consideration when determining the best form of care. Health care settings that have implemented the 4Ms framework appear to be doing so in an incomplete way. Our study reinforces the case for training primary care providers on how to adopt the evidence‐based 4Ms framework in clinical practice effectively and consistently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Gaceta Médica de Caracas is the property of Academia Nacional de Medicina and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Purpose: The COVID-19 global pandemic has caused significant disruptions in the way we live our lives. This virus has affected individuals worldwide in a similar fashion with few remaining untouched. The way we work also has been transformed and will continue to change in ways we cannot envision today. It was immediately evident that a new way of management was needed in this time of crisis. A framework of crisis management from Nichols et al. (2020) is presented to identify four essential behaviors required by leaders. Leaders must be able to (a) decide with speed over precision, (b) adapt boldly, (c) reliably deliver, and (d) engage for impact. The three authors, having worked closely as international partners for over 10 years in the care of children with cleft lip and palate, came together to discuss how individuals around the world have managed during this crisis. Conclusions: A common observation among the authors was that many new relationships were forged throughout the pandemic while others strengthened. Relationships were tested daily, if not moment by moment. There was an intensity of work effort that ordinarily would not occur. The words "we have never worked so hard" were heard often. Although the journey was exhausting and resulted in a sense of fatigue for most people, it has brought people together to accomplish goals in unprecedent ways. The boundaries between work and home were erased with a work constancy that seemed relentless. There will be long-lasting unknown repercussions to our work as a result of the pandemic. To close in the way we began, life as we knew it will forever be changed. The ability to remain engaged and focused will allow professionals around the globe to grow and flourish during and after COVID-19. Across work settings, the authors observed a resiliency in the people that will serve as the foundation to propel a worldwide recovery from this pandemic in the years to come. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate physicians' views on advance care planning, goals of care, and end‐of‐life conversations. DESIGN: Random sample telephone survey. SETTING: United States. PARTICIPANTS: Physicians (primary care specialists; pulmonology, cardiology, oncology subspecialists) actively practicing medicine and regularly seeing patients aged 65 and older (N=736; 81% male, 75% white, 66% aged ≥50. MEASUREMENTS: A 37‐item telephone survey constructed by a professional polling group with national expert oversight measured attitudes and perceptions of barriers and facilitators to advance care planning. Summative data are presented here. RESULTS: Ninety‐nine percent of participants agreed that it is important to have end‐of‐life conversations, yet only 29% reported that they have formal training for such conversations. Those most likely to have training included younger physicians and those caring for a racially and ethnically diverse population. Patient values and preferences were the strongest motivating factors in having advance care planning conversations, with 92% of participants rating it extremely important. Ninety‐five percent of participants reported that they supported a new Medicare fee‐for‐service benefit reimbursing advance care planning. The biggest barrier mentioned was time availability. Other barriers included not wanting a patient to give up hope and feeling uncomfortable. CONCLUSION: With more than half of physicians reporting that they feel educationally unprepared, there medical school curricula need to be strengthened to ensure readiness for end‐of‐life conversations. Clinician barriers need to be addressed to meet the needs of older adults and families. Policies that focus on payment for quality should be evaluated at regular intervals to monitor their effect on advance care planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among 10,068 incident cases of invasive melanoma, we examined the effects of patient characteristics and access-to-care on the risk of advanced melanoma. Access-to-care was defined in terms of census tract-level sociodemographics, health insurance, cost of dermatological services and appointment wait-times, clinic density and travel distance. Public health insurance and education level were the strongest predictors of advanced melanomas but were modified by race/ethnicity and poverty: Hispanic whites and high-poverty neighborhoods were worse off than non-Hispanic whites and low-poverty neighborhoods. Targeting high-risk, underserved Hispanics and high-poverty neighborhoods (easily identified from existing data) for early melanoma detection may be a cost-efficient strategy to reduce melanoma mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the new strategy of thinking aloud for effective learning for better academic achievement of the student. Topics discussed include strengthening of inquiry and research skills in elementary students, training students to choose a subject or personality and prepare presentation, and significance of questioning in the research process for teacher candidates.

Forests protect water quality by reducing soil erosion, sedimentation, and pollution; yet there is little information about the economic value of conserving forests for water quality protection in much of the United States. To assess this value, we conducted a meta-analysis of willingness-to-pay (WTP) for protecting unimpaired waters, and econometrically determined several significant drivers of WTP: type of conservation instrument (tool), aquatic resource type, geographic context, spatial scale, time, and household income. Using a benefit transfer to two highly forested sites, we illustrate the importance of these factors on WTP for water quality protection programs, forest conservation and policy design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Managing Pinus elliotii forests for timber production and/or carbon sequestration is a common management objective, but can negatively affect water yield due to high losses from evapotranspiration. Thus, understanding the trade-offs and potential synergies among multiple ecosystem goods services, as well as the drivers influencing these interactions, can help identify effective forest management practices. We used available data from 377 permanent plots from the USDA Forest Service Forest Inventory and Analysis Program for 2002-2011, and a forest water yield model to quantify provision levels and spatial distribution and patterns of carbon sequestration, timber volume and water yield for Pinus elliotii ecosystems in North Florida, USA. A ranking-classification framework and statistical analyses were used to better understand the interactions among ecosystem services and the effect of biophysical drivers on ecosystem service bundles. Results indicate that increased biomass reduced water yield but this trade-off varied across space. Specific synergies, or acceptable provision levels, among carbon sequestration, timber volume and water yield were identified and mapped. Additionally, stand age, silvicultural treatment, and site quality significantly affected the provision level of, and interactions among, the three ecosystem goods and services. The framework developed in this study can be used to assess, map, and manage subtropical forests for optimal provision of ecosystem services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Coastal communities in the southeast United States have regularly experienced severe hurricane impacts. To better facilitate recovery efforts in these communities following natural disasters, state and federal agencies must respond quickly with information regarding the extent and severity of hurricane damage and the amount of tree debris volume. A tool was developed to detect downed trees and debris volume to better aid disaster response efforts and tree debris removal. The tool estimates downed tree debris volume in hurricane affected urban areas using a Leica Airborne Digital Sensor (ADS40) and very high resolution digital images. The tool employs a Sobel edge detection algorithm combined with spectral information based on color filtering using 15 different statistical combinations of spectral bands. The algorithm identified downed tree edges based on contrasts between tree stems, grass, and asphalt and color filtering was then used to establish threshold values. Colors outside these threshold values were replaced and excluded from the detection processes. Results were overlaid and an “edge line” was placed where lines or edges from longer consecutive segments and color values within the threshold were met. Where two lines were paired within a very short distance in the scene a polygon was drawn automatically and, in doing so, downed tree stems were detected. Tree stem diameter–volume bulking factors were used to estimate post-hurricane tree debris volumes. Images following Hurricane Ivan in 2005 and Hurricane Ike in 2008 were used to assess the error of the tool by comparing downed tree counts and subsequent debris volume estimates with post-hurricane photo-interpreted downed tree counts and actual field measured estimates of downed tree debris volume. The errors associated with the use of the tool and potential applications are also presented. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article reports on the intervention of international travelers with tuberculosis (TB) at U.S. ports of entry from 2007 to 2012. It mentions that the Secretary of the U.S. The TB control and prevention activities mentioned include arranging safe transport, restricting travel and issuing isolation orders. Department of Health and Human Services is authorized to prevent the transmission, introduction and spread of communicable diseases by travelers.

We analyze the surface water flow of Rio Grande between El Paso-Ciudad Juarez and Fort Quitman and estimate the structural changes occurred during 1923-2005. The study is based on a set of econometric equations to examine trends and turning points in data of time series. We find that water flow registered two important structural changes estimated in 1950 and 1972. There was a reduction in the water flow after the first structural change that is linked to the 1944 Treaty; while the second structural change is associated to increases of the water flow that seem to respond to the observation of the American flower and fauna law. In conclusion, the lower Rio Grande located between Ciudad-Juarez and Fort Quitman has received a minor water flow from 1950. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the outbreak of intestinal parasites among children from the communities near the U.S.-Mexico border as of December 2004. Problems inherent in the communities; Types of parasites identified; Factors which promote the growth of the parasites.

This article demonstrates some of the problems that arise in an economic analysis of the distribution of surface water when a river basin is shared by several countries. A case study is presented on the distribution of surface waters from the Rio Grande, which marks the border between Mexico and the United States, to determine whether there are non-cooperation strategies in relation to the Convention of 1906 for the Equitable Distribution of the waters of the Rio Grande for Irrigation Purposes. Water flows are analyzed by using a time series for observing cooperative behavior representing a Pareto optimal outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the use of emergency medical service (EMS) data for detecting infectious diseases in people entering the U.S. It states that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) made use of the EMS logs of people crossing El Paso, Texas using the Fire Department's computer software FirstWatch. The article explains that the computer alerts the quarantine station medical officer for presence of infections. According to the article, the use of EMS data helps in the detection of outbreaks and health concerns.

Copyright of Historia y Politica: Ideas, Procesos y Movimientos Sociales is the property of Departamento De Historia del Pensamiento y de los Moviemientos Sociales y Politicos (Madrid) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The Neonatal Workgroup of the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation recently made available their rigorous review of the scientific evidence base for selected neonatal resuscitation issues. The Neonatal Resuscitation Program guidelines have been recently revised based on that review and published as the Textbook of Neonatal Resuscitation, 5th edn. This review article highlights pertinent changes in recommendations, including revisions in: oxygen use; CO2 detectors for confirmation of intubation; management of the infant born through meconium-stained amniotic fluid; initial ventilation devices and strategies; thermal protection of very small preterm infants; medications, including doses and routes of delivery; postresuscitation therapies for consideration and ethical issues in initiation and discontinuation of resuscitation.Journal of Perinatology (2008) 28, S35–S40; doi:10.1038/jp.2008.48 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since it first appeared in 1992, white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) has become the most threatening infectious agent in shrimp aquaculture. Within a decade, this pathogen has spread to all the main shrimp farming areas and has caused enormous economic losses amounting to more than seven billion US dollars. At present, biosecurity methods used to exclude pathogens in shrimp farms include disinfecting ponds and water, preventing the entrance of animals that may carry infectious agents and stocking ponds with specific pathogen-free post-larvae. The combination of these practices increases biosecurity in shrimp farming facilities and may contribute to reduce the risk of a WSSV outbreak. Although several control methods have shown some efficacy against WSSV under experimental conditions, no therapeutic products or strategies are available to effectively control WSSV in the field. Furthermore, differences in virulence and clinical outcome of WSSV infections have been reported. The sequencing and characterization of different strains of WSSV has begun to determine aspects of its biology, virulence and pathogenesis. Knowledge on these aspects is critical for developing effective control methods. The aim of this review is to present an update of the knowledge generated so far on different aspects of WSSV organization, morphogenesis, pathology and pathogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes a 3-year pilot study that addressed persistence and retention of developmental students at a multi-campus community college in the Southwest The study was conducted as part of a U.S. Department of Education Hispanic Serving Institution grant program. Qualitative research and formative evaluation with outcomes on data for three fall cohorts were collected and analyzed. Analysis of the data revealed that there was a significant difference between the persistence rates of three fall cohorts compared to the general population. The intervention strategies applied to the fall cohorts resulted in increased persistence rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on the prevalence of dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) in the U.S.-Mexico border, investigated by the Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS), Mexican authorities and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2005. A case report of a woman from Brownsville, Texas with signs and symptoms of DHF is presented. The TDSHS revealed that DHF in the border state had grown to 1,251 cases that met the Mexican case definition.

The authors explored two methodological issues in the estimation of smoking-attributable mortality for the United States. First, age-specific and age-adjusted relative risk, attributable fraction, and smoking-attributable mortality estimates obtained using data from the American Cancer Society's second Cancer Prevention Study (CPS II), a cohort study of 1.2 million participants (1982–1988), were compared with those obtained using a combination of data from the National Mortality Follow-back Survey (NMFS), a representative sample of US decedents in which information was collected from informants (1986), and the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), a nationally representative household survey (1987). Second, the potential for residual confounding of the disease-specific age-adjusted smoking-attributable mortality estimates was addressed with a model-based approach. The estimated smoking-attributable mortality based on the CPS II for the four most common smoking-related diseases—lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, coronary heart disease, and cerebrovascular disease—was 19% larger than the estimated smoking-attributable mortality based on the NMFS/NHIS, yet the two data sources yielded essentially the same smoking-attributable mortality estimate for lung cancer alone. Further adjustment of smoking-attributable mortality for disease-appropriate confounding factors (education, alcohol intake, hypertension status, and diabetes status) indicated little residual confounding once age was taken into account. Am J Epidemiol 2000;152:573–584. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The long-term supply of ecosystem services is dependent on properly functioning ecosystems and their susceptibility to natural and anthropogenic disturbances such as climate change and urbanization, as they can alter ecosystem structure and function. Forest function is not static, but rather a risky asset that fluctuates and can decrease as a result of forest disturbance. Therefore, concepts such as resilience and insurance value as well effective policy formulation, management, and restoration are key to maintaining these benefits. This study estimates the insurance value that the public places on a policy that promotes restoration for increased resilience and ecosystem services using binary choice (BC) and best-worst scaling (BWS) models to estimate willingness to pay (WTP) and to vote for the restoration of longleaf pine (LLP) forests in the southeastern United States. Our BWS findings indicate that respondents seemed to only prefer programs with low risk of forest damage and lower monthly costs, while BC models show that low and moderate risk programs increased the likelihood of voting for them and that excellent wildlife habitat was also highly valued by our respondents. Positive attitudes towards the environment also positively influence voting for forest restoration programs. Findings contribute to an emerging body of literature on social-ecological systems and how the voting public conceptualizes trade-offs among ecosystem services, insurance value, and resilience. Results may help assess the use and incorporation of concepts such as resilience, ecosystem services, and insurance value in restoration, environmental, fire management, and climate change-related policy instruments and programs. • The flow of ecosystem goods and services to society is a risky asset. • A survey estimates willingness to pay for ecosystem resilience and other attributes. • The value of resilience may be important in environmental restoration and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. To assess long-term trends in cigarette smoking according to the combined influence of sex and education. this study examined smoking prevalence in successive US birth cohorts. Methods. Data from nationally representative surveys were examined to assess smoking prevalence for six successive 10-year birth cohorts stratified by race or ethnicity, sex, and educational attainment. Results. Substantial declines in smoking prevalence were found among men who had a high school education or more, regardless of race or ethnicity, and slight declines among women of the same educational back-ground were revealed. However, little change was found in smoking prevalence among men of all race/ethnic groups with Jess than a high school education, and large increases were found among women with the same years of schooling, especially if they were White or African American. conclusions, These data suggest that persons of low educational attainment have yet to benefit from policies and education about the health consequences of cigarette smoking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analyzes data from the Teenage Attitudes and Practices Survey in the United States, to assess the relationship between depressive symptoms and cigarette smoking. Method in which the analysis was conducted; Details on the results; Discussion based on the findings.

Examines the relationships between anabolic-steroid use and the use of other drugs, sports participation, strength training and school performance among a sample of high school students in the United States. Determination of the prevalence of anabolic-steroid use; Association of the use of anabolic-steroid with cocaine, drugs, tobacco smoking and alcohol use.

Investigates cigarette smoking initiation in relation to key sociodemographic variables that may be useful in defining areas of priority for smoking prevention in the U.S. Definition of smoking initiation; Incidence of smoking initiation by age, sex and Hispanic group; Rates of smoking initiation by sex, age at smoking onset, race and ethnicity.

Investigates historical trends of cigarette smoking among Mexican-Americans, Cuban-Americans and Puerto Rican-Americans by conducting a birth cohort analysis of smoking prevalence using smoking histories of 8286 adults and adolescents from the 1982-1983 Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Construction of smoking prevalence curves for men and women among successive ten-year birth cohorts.

Analyzes data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Epidemiologic Follow-up Study to obtain a national perspective on the role of depression in the dynamics of smoking in the U.S. Definition of depression; Relationship between depression and smoking status, age, sex and level of education; Method to determine whether the severity of depressive symptoms was related to smoking status.

Preventing the initiation of cigarette smoking plays a vital role in reducing rates of cigarette smoking. The authors investigated trends in cigarette smoking initiation among Mexican Americans, Cuban Americans, Puerto Rican Americans, compared with whites, by examining the cigarette smoking histories of adults from the 1982-83 Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and the 1987 National Health Interview Survey. To evaluate these trends, they calculated the prevalence of cigarette smoking among 20-24-year-olds, an indicator of the rate of smoking initiation, in successive 5-year birth cohorts from 1908-12 to 1958-62 among Hispanics and from 1908-12 to 1963-67 among whites. Recently, rates of smoking initiation among Mexican American and Cuban American men have declined and converged with rates of initiation among white men. However, rates of initiation among Puerto Rican American men appeared to have remained unchanged since the 1950s. During the 1970s rates of smoking initiation among Cuban American and Puerto Rican American women surpassed those of white women. In the early 1980s, however, rates of initiation among these groups of Hispanic women have declined to levels comparable to or perhaps lower than the rates among white women. Although recently the rates among Mexican American women have been the lowest of all groups of women, they have not experienced appreciable declines. In general, rates of smoking initiation either declined or leveled off later for Hispanics than for whites. These results suggest that Hispanics tended to follow the smoking trends observed among whites and that special efforts are needed to prevent cigarette smoking among Hispanics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a study on whether sociodemographic factors, marijuana use, binge drinking and fighting are correlated to cigarette smoking by United States adolescents. Prevalence of smoking status by risk behavior and sociodemographic characteristics; Likelihood of adolescents who engage in problem behaviors to smoke cigarettes; Prevention of smoking.

Approximately one third of deaths among persons aged 15 to 24 years are the result of motor vehicle-related crashes. Data from a national sample of US high school students were used to assess patterns of alcohol use among adolescents in relation to the risk of drinking and driving. Prevalence and odds ratios were calculated for drinking and driving associated with patterns of alcohol use. Drinking and driving increased with increasing frequency of alcohol use and binge drinking and when alcohol was used in addition to other drugs. Efforts to reduce drinking and driving among adolescents should address underage drinking that is frequent or heavy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies race differential and the incidence of cigarette smoking among adolescents in the United States. Predictors of trial smoking among adolescents; Restrictions of analyses; Control variables; Research implications.

Purpose Danon Disease (DD) is a rare genetic disorder that affects the cardiac, neurologic, and muscular systems in both men and women. Subjects affected typically develop hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and end-stage heart failure requiring transplantation. DD is an X-linked disorder with women typically suffering milder disease presentations that develop later in life. Methods A global retrospective registry for DD was created to understand the disease's natural history. Data including the description of clinical features and age of symptom onset was collected from patients across the world (United States, United Kingdom, and Australia). Information was obtained via medical records and questionnaires that were collected from patients and/or their family. Results The registry includes a total of 33 patients with 54.5% being female. The major demographics of patients were Caucasian (96.9%) and from the United States (78.8%). Impartial of the affected organs, males experienced earlier symptoms compared to females (5.5 (2.0-12.0) vs 16.0 (11.5-27.0) years of age, p = 0.002) which resulted in an earlier DD diagnosis in males at (8.0 (4.0-12.0) vs 26.5 (13.0-41.0) years of age, p = 0.023). The frequency of HCM was higher in males as compared to females, (93.3% vs 44.4%) while females had a higher frequency of tachyarrhythmias compared to males (61.1% vs 13.3%). Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) was absent in males, however was the first symptom of cardiac disease in two female patients (11.1%). Four males (26.7%) and seven females (38.8%) underwent heart transplantation. Death occurred in one (5.6%) female due to post-transplant complications. Neurological symptoms, primarily manifesting as cognitive impairment were documented in 86.7% of males and 61.1% of females and had a similar age of onset (5.0 (4.0-10.0) vs 8.0 (7.0-15.0) years of age, p = 1). 87.9% of subjects presented with symptomatic skeletal myopathy which was more frequent in males (86.7% vs 64.3%). Conclusion Although DD is an X-linked disorder, significant cardiac morbidity develops in women. Females have a higher prevalence of DCM, which may be secondary to delayed symptom presentation and diagnosis. While DD is a rare diagnosis, healthcare providers should be aware that later clinical manifestations occur in women and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of heart failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An interview with librarians Lauren Comito and Franklin L. Escobedo in the U.S. is presented. Comito asserts that library advocacy work varies from one community to another, and emphasizes the need to understand the effort's goals and limitations. Escobedo argues that teens who advocate for libraries recognize the importance of the library in their community. Comito further suggests that librarians should build a good relationship with teens before encouraging them to do advocacy work.