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Three oxidative dyes were screened for mutagenic and teratogenic potential. A range of mutagenic response was observed using Salmonella typhimurium tester strains, TA 1538 and TA 98 in the presence or absence of metabolic activation. M-phenylenediamine exhibited activity with both strains while 4-chlororesorcinol showed no response in either strain. Pyrogallol exhibited a weak response that showed no linear correlation only in TA 98 in the absence of activation. In teratogenicity studies, the 3 oxidative dyes were administered by gavage to Sprague-Dawley rats on days 6 through 15 of gestation at the following dose levels: 4-chlororesorcinoI at 50,100, and 200 mg/kg; m-phenylenediamine at 45,90, and 180 mg/kg; and pyrogallol at 100,200, and 300 mg/kg. A significant reduction in mean maternal weight gain was noted at the high dose level of each dye. The high dose levels of 4-chlororesorcinol and pyrogallol were embryolethal as indicated by an increase in resorptions. The high dose level of pyrogallol was fetotoxic as evidenced by a decrease in fetal body weights. Evaluation of the number of gross, visceral, or skeletal anomalies/variations revealed no statistically significant differences between dye treated and control groups. Exposure to the positive control agents, Vitamin A and aspirin, resulted in a statistically significant increase in abnormal fetuses with a broad spectrum of gross visceral and skeletal anomalies ranging from a frequency of 18-60%. These studies indicated that the predictability of teratogenicity from bacterial mutagenicity screening is low with the chemical categories under investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract Countless barriers come between people who are struggling with substance abuse and those charged with providing substance abuse treatment. The check-up, a form of motivational enhancement therapy, is a harm reduction intervention that offers a manner of supporting individuals by lowering specific barriers to reaching those who are untreated. The check-up was originally developed to reach problem drinkers who were neither seeking treatment nor self-initiating change. The intervention, marketed as an opportunity to take stock of one's experiences, involves an assessment and personalized feedback delivered with a counseling style termed motivational interviewing. Check-ups can be offered in care settings to individuals who, as a result of screening, manifest risk factors for specific disorders such as alcoholism. They can also be free-standing and publicized widely to the general public. This paper will discuss illustrations of in-person, computerized, in-school, and telephone applications of the free-standing type of check-up with reference to alcohol consumers, adult and adolescent marijuana smokers, and gay/bisexual males at risk for sexual transmission of HIV. The paper's major focus is to highlight how unique features of each application have the potential of reducing barriers to reaching specific at-risk populations. Also considered are key policy issues such as how check-up services can be funded, which venues are appropriate for the delivery of check-up interventions, pertinent competency criteria in evaluating staff who deliver this intervention, how marketing can be designed to reach contemplators in untreated at-risk populations, and how a check-up's success ought to be defined.

Background: Home exposure to high levels of house dust mite allergen has been shown to aggravate airways reactivity and asthma., Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine whether specific house dust mite control measures could reduce exposure levels and asthma severity., Methods: This double-blinded, randomized trial compared asthma progression over 1 year in children whose homes received standard environmental control intervention with those whose homes received aggressive intervention for dust mite elimination. The primary end point was doubling in PD20 methacholine., Results: Symptom scores and quality-of-life scores were similar for the standard and aggressive intervention groups. PD20 methacholine doubling occurred in 9 members of the aggressive intervention group vs 4 control patients (P <.05). Dust mite levels decreased in the aggressive intervention homes compared with the standard intervention homes (P <.05)., Conclusion: Aggressive dust mite intervention decreased dust mite levels and improved bronchial hyperresponsiveness.

Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in a health maintenance organization (HMO) were randomized to a preventive services benefit package for 2 years or to usual care. At 24- and 48-month follow-ups, the treatment group had completed more advance directives, participated in more exercise, and consumed less dietary fat than the control group. Unexpectedly, more deaths occurred in the treatment group. Surviving treatment-group enrollees reported higher satisfaction with health, less decline in self-rated health status, and fewer depressive symptoms than surviving control participants. Despite these changes, the intervention did not yield lower cost per quality-adjusted life year in this historically prevention-oriented HMO.

The present study interviewed gay (n = 473) and bisexual men (n = 146) as part of an HIV prevention program and investigated social cognitive factors associated with HIV risk. Results indicated that HIV risk in homosexual men was associated with sexual openness and connections to gay communities, factors not associated with risk for bisexual men. Compared with men at lower risk, those who practiced high-risk sex scored lower on measures of perceived safer sex norms, safer sex self-efficacy, and social skills. Bisexual men with primary female partners often had not disclosed their bisexuality to female partners (75%), and 64% had not modified their behavior to protect female partners. Bisexual men who engage in high-risk behaviors therefore pose a risk to female partners who may be unaware of their involvement with men.

The oxidative dyes 6-chloro-4-nitro-2-aminophenol and o-chloro-p-phenylenediamine were administered by gavage to Sprague-Dawley rats on days 6-15 of gestation at dose levels of 87.5, 175 and 350 mg 6-chloro-4-nitro-2-aminophenol/kg body weight/day and 100, 200 and 400 mg o-chloro-p-phenylenediamine/kg/day. Maternal body-weight gain was significantly reduced by the high dose of each dye and the intermediate dose of o-chloro-p-phenylenediamine. Rats given the high dose of the latter dye showed a significant increase in resorptions and a significant decrease in foetal body weights. No embryotoxic or foetotoxic effects were observed with 6-chloro-4-nitro-2-aminophenol. Evaluation of foetuses for gross, visceral and skeletal anomalies revealed no statistically significant differences between dye-treated and vehicle-control groups but showed a significant increase (to 25-91%) in the incidence of abnormal foetuses in the group exposed to vitamin A, the positive control.

The oxidative dyes, 4,4'-diaminodiphenylene sulfate, N'-(2-hydroxyethyl)-4-nitro-O-phenylenediamine, N,N-dimethyl-p-phenylenediamine, 2,3-dihydroxynaphthalene, and resorcinol, were evaluated for teratogenic potential. Dyes were administered by gavage to pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats on gestation Days 6 through 15 at doses ranging from 12.5 to 500 mg/kg. No overt signs of toxicity were observed during the treatment period. A significant reduction in mean maternal weight gain was noted during the treatment period at the high dose for 4,4'-diaminodiphenylene sulfate, N'-(2-hydroxyethyl)-4-nitro-O-phenylenediamine, and 2,3-dihydroxynaphthalene. The high dose for N,N-dimethyl-p-phenylenediamine and resorcinol, which exceeded a 100-fold exaggeration of human exposure, did not produce a significant reduction in maternal weight gain. An evaluation of fetal external, visceral, and skeletal anomalies revealed no statistically significant differences between dye-treated and vehicle control groups. Administration of 100,000 units of vitamin A, the positive control, on Day 9 of gestation resulted in a significant increase in abnormal fetuses.

The shortage of medical librarians is felt most acutely by the small library, because the librarian's job may not seem challenging or the parent institution or organization is not willing or able to pay a competitive salary. The librarian's position often is filled, therefore, by an unqualified person, or a single professional librarian may have nonprofessionals as assistants. This paper discusses cooperative arrangements for sharing the service of a professional librarian and enumerates means of providing instruction for nonprofessional personnel.