[Knowledge and attitude to sexually transmitted diseases and condoms in students and undergraduate students]

Since sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are a serious health problem among youth, proper understanding of knowledge about STDs, beliefs about condom use and associated factors are public health necessities. A self-administered questionnaire was sent to 2,920 randomly selected students and was returned by 59.3% of the sample. We observed a lack of knowledge in one third of students, negative beliefs on condom use for at least 20% of students and a low perceived risk to contract STDs. With multivariate analyses, we observed that male students, youths between 18-21 years of age and those who didn't have any sexual partner since their admission to the university should be the target of intervention programs.

University students' intention to seek medical care promptly if symptoms of sexually transmitted diseases were suspected

The aim of this study was to identify the factors explaining intention to seek medical care promptly if STD symptoms were suspected. A random sample of 1617 undergraduate students completed a questionnaire assessing intention, attitude, perceived norm among friends, perceived behavioral control, and risk of disease, along with different socio-demographic variables. The regression of intention on all variables yielded an adjusted R2 of 0.32 (P < 0.0001). The factors explaining this variance were the perceived advantages, easiness, and social norm among friends regarding seeking medical care promptly, age, and gender. Perception of risk to delay seeking medical care and perceived personal risk of getting STDs were not significant variables. Overall, the results indicate the need to develop programs for male first-year students. These programs will have to influence the attitude, that is, the perceived advantages of seeking medical care promptly if STD symptoms are suspected. Seeking advice from students' friends, and perception of these friends as a significant reference source if STD symptoms are suspected, should also be promoted.

In vivo desensitization to leukotriene B4 (LTB4) in the rabbit. Inhibition of LTB4-induced neutropenia during intravenous infusion of LTB4

Bolus injections of leukotriene B4 (LTB4) at 30-min intervals repeatedly induced similar profound and reversible neutropenias. In contrast, after a 30-min infusion of LTB4, the neutropenia induced by bolus injections of LTB4 was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner; a threshold inhibition was seen at the infusion rate of 10 ng LTB4/min/kg, whereas almost complete inhibition was observed at 50 ng LTB4/min/kg. Steady state arterial plasma concentrations of LTB4 increased proportionally to LTB4 infusion rate, ranging from 0.15 +/- 0.01 nM (control) to 2.80 +/- 0.16 nM (100 ng/min/kg). Extending the infusion period of LTB4 up to 330 min did not result in an enhanced inhibition of the neutropenia in response to bolus injections of LTB4. Reversibility of the desensitization was shown by an almost complete recovery of the neutropenic response within 30 min after cessation of the infusion. The desensitization achieved towards LTB4 showed some specificity, inasmuch as a profound and reversible neutropenia was observed in response to a bolus of either FMLP or C5a under conditions in which sensitivity to LTB4 was lost. These findings suggest that a specific desensitization to LTB4 is feasible in vivo and may constitute a useful approach, in addition to the use of 5-lipoxygenase inhibitors and LTB4 antagonists, to delineate the significance of LTB4 as a mediator of inflammation.

In vivo desensitization to leukotriene B4 (LTB4) in the rabbit. Inhibition of LTB4-induced neutropenia during intravenous infusion of LTB4

Bolus injections of leukotriene B4 (LTB4) at 30-min intervals repeatedly induced similar profound and reversible neutropenias. In contrast, after a 30-min infusion of LTB4, the neutropenia induced by bolus injections of LTB4 was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner; a threshold inhibition was seen at the infusion rate of 10 ng LTB4/min/kg, whereas almost complete inhibition was observed at 50 ng LTB4/min/kg. Steady state arterial plasma concentrations of LTB4 increased proportionally to LTB4 infusion rate, ranging from 0.15 +/- 0.01 nM (control) to 2.80 +/- 0.16 nM (100 ng/min/kg). Extending the infusion period of LTB4 up to 330 min did not result in an enhanced inhibition of the neutropenia in response to bolus injections of LTB4. Reversibility of the desensitization was shown by an almost complete recovery of the neutropenic response within 30 min after cessation of the infusion. The desensitization achieved towards LTB4 showed some specificity, inasmuch as a profound and reversible neutropenia was observed in response to a bolus of either FMLP or C5a under conditions in which sensitivity to LTB4 was lost. These findings suggest that a specific desensitization to LTB4 is feasible in vivo and may constitute a useful approach, in addition to the use of 5-lipoxygenase inhibitors and LTB4 antagonists, to delineate the significance of LTB4 as a mediator of inflammation.

Growth inhibition and loss of virulence in cultures of Agrobacterium tumefaciens treated with acetosyringone

Acetosyringone, a phenolic inducer of the virulence (vir) genes of Agrobacterium tumefaciens, inhibited the growth of the nopaline-type strains T37 and C58 incubated under acidic conditions. In the course of a 6-day incubation with acetosyringone, avirulent clones were produced in different proportions by strains T37 and C58 and also by a spontaneous variant of strain C58, denominated C58F. The proportion of avirulent clones in acetosyringone-treated cultures often exceeded 50% for strains T37 and C58F and was of the order of 1% for strain C58. Control cultures not exposed to acetosyringone did not yield avirulent clones. Two other vir inducers, sinapinic acid and syringaldehyde, also inhibited growth and promoted accumulation of avirulent clones in cultures of strains C58F and T37. On the other hand, various acetosyringone analogs reported not to induce the vir genes did not act as growth inhibitors. All of the T37 and most of the C58F avirulent clones examined still carried a Ti plasmid. In all instances examined, avirulent clones still carrying a Ti plasmid were mutated in this plasmid. Mutants of strain C58F lacked the capacity to induce a virB::lacZ fusion in the presence of acetosyringone.

Understanding physicians' decision to perform a clinical examination on an HIV seropositive patient

The main purpose of this study was to identify the psychosocial factors explaining a physician's decision to perform a clinical (physical) examination of an HIV seropositive patient. Eight hundred seventy-nine physicians completed a questionnaire investigating psychosocial variables derived from the theories of Ajzen and Triandis. The mean intention to perform a clinical examination was quite positive (5.4 on a 7-point scale). The regression of intention on all variables yielded an adjusted R2 of .499. Among few significant predictors, by far the most important was the perceived norm among fellow physicians regarding performance of the clinical examination. It is concluded that educational interventions aimed at the physician population should focus on the social role and personal efficacy of physicians regarding this type of clinical examination rather than giving information concerning the low risk of contracting the HIV.

[Not Available]

Research is just one part of an academic physician's activities, which also include teaching, patient care, and administration. Research productivity, however, is still expected for academic advancement and to enhance family medicine as an academic discipline. The five units of Laval University's Department of Family Medicine were surveyed to determine the effect of family physicians trained in research on the number and type of publications produced by all of their teachers between 1982 and 1987. A total of 55 articles were published. Forty-eight per cent of the teachers had participated in the generation of at least one publication during the study period. The presence of family physicians trained in research proved to be the most significant factor influencing the number and type of articles published in each unit.

In vivo biostability of four types of arterial grafts with impervious walls; their haemodynamic and pathological characteristics

We describe the haemodynamic and pathological characteristics of four types of four impervious arterial prostheses, two alloplastic (Mitrathane and Gore-Tex), and two chemically processed bovine heterografts (Solcograft and Solco P). They were implanted in the thoracic aortae of dogs for durations of 24 hours, 48 hours, one week, two weeks, one month, three months and six months. Haemodynamic analyses showed no relation between the shear rate index, I.gamma, and compliance, CD. The observed shear rates are 6.5 times lower than those likely to damage the endothelial cell layer. Macroscopic and microscopic observations of explanted grafts showed the presence of obstructive thrombi at the anastomoses of Mitrathane grafts as early as one week. Gore-Tex grafts develop in the area of anastomoses parietal-thrombi which reorganize and become covered with pseudo-endothelial cells. The bovine heterografts show a similar behaviour. However, whereas Solcograft has an irregular thin wall, Solco P had improved characteristics except in the graft implanted for three months which demonstrated, some manufacturing weaknesses. Both types showed the development of anastomotic pannus covered with endothelial-like cells. All grafts, whether alloplastic or chemically processed, suffered from an absence of healing of the middle part of the prosthesis. The cause of this problem will be found in the analysis of the biochemical and enzymatic reactations between the material used and its physiological surrounding.

Pharmacokinetic interaction between amitriptyline and neuroleptics

The influence of amitriptyline on the plasma level of various neuroleptics was studied in 25 chronic schizophrenic patients. The study lasted 20 weeks. Patients were kept first 4 weeks on their former neuroleptic medication, with amitriptyline added for 12 subsequent weeks, and withdrawn during the last 4 weeks when only the neuroleptic medication was continued unchanged. The plasma level of neuroleptics was assayed by gas-liquid chromatography, once weekly throughout the study. The amitriptyline plasma level was also evaluated once weekly during the 12 weeks of its administration. The mean neuroleptic plasma values for each 4-week period were pooled together in three groups: aliphatic, piperdine and piperazine phenothiazine derivatives. Amitriptyline provoked some increase of the plasma level of all phenothiazine derivatives. This augmentation was significant only transitorily, however. The putative mechanisms of this neuroleptic tricyclic antidepressant interaction are discussed.

Growth hormone treatment in hypopituitary dwarfs: longitudinal psychological effects

This is one of a series of studies on the psychological effects of medically induced growth in a group of hypopituitary dwarfs treated with Human Growth Hormone (HGH). Before treatment these dwarfs were found to be psychologically immature and hypoactive, without any manifestation of aggressive drives, and had an underlying low self-esteem when compared with the normal population. When compared with a matched group with constitutional growth delay the hypopituitary patients were found to use denial, whereas the control group used well-organized compensatory mechanisms (9). Immaturity was found in both groups. When the hypopituitary dwarfs reached adolescence they lacked the core attributes of masculinity or femininity and manifested some ambiguity or even inversion in their choice of gender role (10). This report deals with their psychological evolution in relation to physical growth.

[The diagnosis and ego function of child encopretics]

This study of the diagnosis, ego functions and degree of affective deficiency in the encopretic child shows that although the problem remains complex these children can be subdivided into two main categories: neurotics and those suffering from ego disorders. The neurological and intellectual equipment of the latter group is below that of the neurotic children, and they show a marked tendency to an exaggerated or deficient motor control. Family troubles also contribute to the condition which in the case of these children appears to be due to developmental arrest, evident also in other areas.

As to neurotics, the study of their dynamics reveals depressive elements related to separation or threatened separation. The traumatic aspect is often more symbolic than real. Repressed aggressivity appears as an important feature of this category of encopretic children.

Ego-disturbed children present significantly higher indications of affective deficiency, especially due to family environment. It seems that this factor of affective deficiency overlaps diagnostic categories and in some cases appears to be related to serious marital problems of the parents.

This study does not show why such children have ‘chosen’ to become encopretic. It only gives some indications as to the type of family environment where the symptom develops, and identifies certain precipitating conditions. It also appears that the majority of parents will tolerate such a condition for a long time without seeking advice. This confirms the importance of family environment in the development of the symptom, and indicates that further research should concentrate on the study of original mother-child relationships, inasmuch as they influence sphincter control, and also on the whole family network, which seems to be frequently implicated in the child's symptomatology.