Peer Victimization and Mental Health Problems: Racial-Ethnic Differences in the Buffering Role of Academic Performance

Despite research highlighting the importance of academic performance in reducing youth's bullying involvement, little attention has focused on its role in moderating the association between peer victimization and youth maladjustment, further, there have been even fewer studies examining potential racial-ethnic differences in the association. This cross-sectional study examined the function of academic performance, as a moderator, in the associations between peer victimization and youth mental health problems (i.e., internalizing, externalizing, and substance use problems) and whether and how this function varied by the youth's racial-ethnic background. Self-report data were collected from 69,244 middle and high school youth (45.96% were middle schoolers; 49.7% were females; 25.72% were Black and African American youth, 9.64% Latinx American youth, 5.95% Asian American youth, and 10.47% Bi- and Multi-racial youth, and 48.22% White American youth). Multi-level models indicated that academic performance was negatively related to internalizing problems and substance use more strongly in victimized youth than in non-victimized youth, suggesting itself as a buffering factor. Moreover, this buffering function of academic performance in victimized youth was more pronounced in some ethnic groups (i.e., Asian American) than in others (i.e., Black and Latinx American), yet, notably, it was a buffer across all ethnic groups. These findings underscore the importance of academic strength in protecting victimized youth of all ethnicities against mental health difficulties, while recognizing that additional foci on improving academic performance and addressing academic-related norms are needed for racial-ethnic minority subgroups.

Carpal tunnel syndrome. Testing the sensitivity and validity of four "localized discomfort" instruments

A convenience sample of 52 participants was used to examine the construct validity and sensitivity of four "localized discomfort" instruments and the severity of clients with carpal tunnel syndrome, using the "known group" method. Three groups known to have severe, mild, or no carpal tunnel syndrome based on either nerve conduction studies or an inability to complete a physical challenge (exercise) were used. The participants rated the amount of localized discomfort for one hand, wrist, and arm on four different instruments. Following a physical challenge, strenuous enough to result in an increase in localized discomfort, the four instruments were readministered. The difference in the pre- and posttest scores was compared for both sensitivity and validity. The ease of administration of the four instruments was also assessed. All four instruments were found to demonstrate sensitivity. Two of the four instruments, the Unipolar Borg Scale and the first Visual Analog Scale, were found to be most valid and easiest to administer. Occupational health nurses could use these two valid and sensitive tools as early markers for future injury. The tools also could be used to measure the progress of an intervention or therapy following an injury and gauge readiness for return to work.

Randomized study of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and vincristine versus etoposide and cisplatin versus alternation of these two regimens in extensive small-cell lung cancer: a phase III trial of the Southeastern Cancer Study Group

PURPOSE

The trial was undertaken to determine (1) the relative efficacy/toxicity of two commonly used combination chemotherapy regimens in patients with extensive small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) and (2) whether the rapid alternation of these two regimens could provide superior therapeutic results compared with either regimen alone.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In this phase III trial, 437 eligible patients were stratified by performance status (PS) and sex and were randomly assigned to receive either 12 weeks of cisplatin and etoposide (EP); 18 weeks of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and vincristine (CAV); or 18 weeks of alternation of these two regimens (CAV/EP).

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in treatment outcome for EP, CAV, or CAV/EP in terms of response rate (61%, 51%, 59%, respectively), complete response rate (10%, 7%, 7%, respectively), or median survival (8.6 months, 8.3 months, 8.1 months, respectively), with a non-statistically significant trend toward a longer median time to progression with alternating therapy (4.3 months, 4.0 months, 5.2 months, respectively). Crossover second-line chemotherapy given at progression produced low response rates and short survival, regardless of the regimen used. Myelosuppression was the dose-limiting toxicity for all patients, although the pattern and severity differed among the treatment arms.

CONCLUSIONS

The combination regimens EP and CAV can be considered equivalently effective induction therapies in extensive SCLC, and these two regimens are, to some degree, crossresistant. Alternating therapy provides no therapeutic advantage compared with the use of either of these regimens alone and should not be considered as standard treatment in this clinical setting.

Comparative bactericidal effect of ceforanide (BL-S 786) and five other cephalosporins in an in vitro pharmacokinetic model

The bactericidal activity of ceforanide was compared, in an in vitro kinetic model, with that of five other cephalosproins: cephalothin, cefazolin, cefamandole, cefuroxime, and cefoxitin. Cultures of various pathogens in 95% human serum were incubated for 12 hours in the presence of the cephalosporins whose concentrations were modified periodically-by addition of a concentrated solution of drug or dilution with unmedicated serum-in order to simulate the variation of antibiotic concentration in human blood after one-gram intramuscular dose. One Gram-positive strain and six Gram-negative strains were used. Bactericidal activity was assessed by monitoring changes in the number of colony-forming units. Tests showed that against Klebsiella pneumoniae, ceforanide was the most active of the six cephalosporins. Proteus mirabilis was more susceptible to ceforanide and cefuroxime than to the other compounds; Enterobacter cloacae to ceforanide, cefuroxime, and cefamandole; Escherichia coli to ceforanide, cefuroxime, cefamandole, and cefazolin. The number of viable cells of Staphylococcus aureus was reduced below detectable levels by all cephalosporins except cefoxitin. On the other hand, Providencia stuartii was virtually unaffected by all of the cephalosporins except cefoxitin.