Microbiologic effectiveness of boiling and safe water storage in South Sulawesi, Indonesia

In Indonesia, where diarrhea remains a major cause of mortality among children <5 years, the government promotes boiling of drinking water. We assessed the impact of boiling on water quality in South Sulawesi. We surveyed randomly selected households with at least one child <5 years old in two rural districts and tested source and stored water samples for Escherichia coli contamination. Among 242 households, 96% of source and 51% of stored water samples yielded E. coli. Unboiled water samples, obtained from 15% of households, were more likely to yield E. coli than boiled samples [prevalence ratios (PR) = 2.0, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.7-2.5]. Water stored in wide-mouthed (PR = 1.4, 95% CI = 1.1-1.8) or uncovered (PR = 1.8, 95% CI = 1.3-2.4) containers, or observed to be touched by the respondent's hands (PR = 1.6, 95% CI = 1.3-2.1) was more likely to yield E. coli. A multivariable model showed that households that did not boil water were more likely to have contaminated stored water than households that did boil water (PR = 1.9, 95% CI = 1.5-2.3). Although this study demonstrated the effectiveness of boiling in reducing contamination, overall impact on water quality was suboptimal. Future studies are needed to identify factors behind the success of boiling water in Indonesia to inform efforts to scale up other effective water treatment practices.

Examining Cognitive Biases in Patients With Delusions of Reference

Cognitive biases may not be seen in all subtypes of delusions, and might be more involved in the etiology of some delusional subtypes than others. A sample of patients with delusions of reference did not show the jumping to conclusions (JTC) bias. JTC appears to be more closely related to paranoia than referential delusions.

Prognostic indicators of aggressive disease in patients with locally advanced or metastatic prostate cancer: A focus on neutrophil to lymphocyte and platelet to lymphocyte ratios

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Background: Prostate specific antigen (PSA) and Gleason Score (GS) are helpful in predicting aggressive disease. Recently, the neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platlet:lymphocyte ratio (PLR) were identified as prognostic indicators in gastric cancer which has an inflammatory pathogenesis. We hypothesized that these indicators may be prognostic in prostate cancer which is also postulated to have an inflammatory mechanism of carcinogenesis. Our goal was to assess if NLR and PLR is predictive of aggressive prostate cancer, which will be measured by metastasis and overall survival in patients on hormonal therapy as treatment.

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 246 patients that were being treated with hormone therapy for either locally advanced or metastatic disease, or who were not surgical candidates or refused surgery. A logistic regression model was used to analyze various prognostic factors including total GS, pre-biopsy PSA, perineural invasion, % of core biopsies positive, NLR, and PLR. Endpoints studied were overall survival and metastasis.

Results: The logistic regression showed only pre biopsy PSA as a predictor of metastasis (n=82). The increased risk when measured continuously was 0.6% increase in odds ratio (p<0.015). When PSA was measured categorically the % biopsy cores positive were predictive of increased risk of metastatic disease with a 2.9% increase in odds ratio (p<0.002). The % biopsy cores positive were predictive of a 3.7% increased odds ratio in cancer-specific mortality (p<0.002). These results were controlled for age, which gave a 7% increase in odds ratio of overall survival (p<0.049).

Conclusions: Despite the thought that prostate cancer has an inflammatory pathogenesis, no correlation was found between N:L and P:L ratios and overall survival or bone metastasis in patients on hormone therapy for locally advanced disease. There was a negative correlation between increased % positive biopsy cores a decreased risk of survival. Further investigation is necessary to investigate the role of NLR and PLR as prognostic indicators in organ confined prostate cancer.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Synthesis of Co/Co3O4 nanocomposite particles relevant to magnetic field processing

Co/Co3O4 nanocomposite particles of various morphologies were synthesized by the reverse micelle technique. Equiaxed, rod and faceted crystals with rectangular, pentagonal and hexagonal cross sections were observed. Annealing resulted in the formation of a composite of cobalt oxide (Co3O4) and fcc cobalt (Co). Removal of boron residues from the final product was established by surface characterization. Magnetic moment of these nanocomposite particles is relevant to magnetic field processing.