Hurricane Isabel-related mortality--virginia, 2003.

BACKGROUND: Hurricane Isabel had a massive negative environmental, public health, and economic impact; Virginia bore the highest death toll (32) among nine states affected by this storm. A descriptive mortality analysis was conducted to identify modifiable risk factors and corresponding injury prevention measures that might mitigate future natural disaster-related morbidity and mortality in Virginia. METHODS: Information for the decedents, including demographic data, health status, and injury circumstances, was collected from the records of the Virginia Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and Office of Vital Records/Health Statistics. Criteria from the National Hurricane Center were used to classify deaths as direct or indirect. Storm assessments and emergency-response reports were also reviewed. RESULTS: A total of 32 deaths associated with Hurricane Isabel occurred in several densely populated localities in southeastern and central Virginia. The median age of decedents was 48 years (range: 7-85 years). A disproportionately higher mortality (21 [66%] of 32) occurred among persons older than 45 years (Virginia 2000 Census data). Twelve deaths were directly caused by environmental factors related to the storm (eg, seven drowning deaths and five traumatic head injuries from falling trees). Twenty deaths were indirectly associated with the storm and its effects: six fatal motor vehicle crashes, five related to clean-up operations, seven associated with power outages, and two stress-related (ie, myocardial infarction and suicide). The presence of alcohol or drugs was observed in 9 (28%) of 32 deaths. CONCLUSIONS: Classifying deaths as direct or indirect facilitates better target interventions on the basis of the identification of modifiable risk factors underlying hurricane-associated fatal injuries. Public education messages that reinforce avoidance of use of alcohol and drugs during natural disaster situations might reduce risk for injury.

Pro-opiocortin peptides in rat cerebrospinal fluid.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) taken from rats implanted with chronic cisternal cannulae was subjected to gel filtration chromatography on Sephadex G-50. Fractions were monitored using radioimmunoassays for N-terminal pro-opiocortin (N-POC), gamma 3-melanotropin (gamma 3-MSH), C-terminal adrenocorticotropin (C-ACTH), alpha-endorphin, beta-endorphin, gamma-lipotropin (gamma-LPH) and alpha-MSH. Two peaks which corresponded in elution position to rat N-POC (1-74) and gamma 3-MSH were detected. The major C-ACTH-immunoreactive (IR) peak was found to correspond to 14k ACTH. While no alpha-endorphin immunoreactivity was detected in rat CSF, three beta-endorphin-IR peaks were identified in positions expected for beta-LPH, beta-endorphin (1-31) and beta-endorphin (1-27), as well as a major peak of activity with the elution characteristics and cross-reactivity of rat gamma-LPH. HPLC of the alpha-MSH-IR material in rat CSF revealed the presence of a major peak of immunoreactivity whose retention time did not correspond to the known oxidised and reduced forms of alpha-MSH and its desacetylated and diacetylated derivatives. The identity of this peak is unknown.

Pro-enkephalin peptides possessing Met-enkephalin-Arg6-Gly7-Leu8-immunoreactivity in rat CSF, striatum and adrenal gland.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) taken from rats implanted with chronic cisternal cannulae and extracts prepared from rat adrenal gland and striatum were subjected to Sephadex G-50 chromatography and HPLC. Fractions were monitored using specific radioimmunoassays (RIA) for the pentapeptide methionine enkephalin (Met-Enk) and methionine enkephalin-Arg6-Gly7-Leu8 (Met-EnkRGL). In rat CSF, striatum and adrenal gland, three Met-EnkRGL-immunoreactive (IR) peaks of Mrs 8000, 5000 and 1000 daltons were detected. The same peaks were also found to possess Met-Enk-immunoreactivity after enzyme digestion of Sephadex G-50 fractions with trypsin and carboxypeptidase B (CPB), suggesting their derivation from proenkephalin. HPLC of the 8K and 5K peaks on a column of Ultrapore RPSC showed them to elute discretely with similar retention times, indicative of hydrophobic peptides of large molecular weight. Their similar hydrophobicities yet significant separation during gel filtration would suggest that the 8K and 5K peptides are structurally closely related yet different with respect to their molecular weights. HPLC of the small molecular weight material from rat striatum and adrenal gland revealed the presence of Met-EnkRGL and Met-EnkRGL sulphoxide in both tissues. In rat striatum Met-Enk and its sulphoxide were also detected. The oxidised pentapeptide was found to be present in rat CSF, together with two unidentified small molecular weight Met-Enk-IR peaks detected without prior enzyme digestion of fractions. The small molecular weight Met-EnkRGL-IR material in rat CSF was found to be comprised of two unknown peptides which were less hydrophobic than Met-EnkRGL and its sulphoxide derivative.