ABSTRACT
Drug abuse during pregnancy in rural populations has received less attention than that in urban populations. Urban studies have reported alarming rates, but it is unknown whether the situation is the same in rural areas. To investigate this, urine samples were collected anonymously from 181 pregnant women who presented to the University of Missouri clinics for care and who resided in communities of less than 25,000. Each urine specimen was tested for cocaine, marijuana, amphetamines, barbiturates, opiates, phencyclidine, benzodiazepines, ethanol, and nicotine. Of the 181 specimens, 83 (46%) contained nicotine, 17 (9.4%) contained marijuana, and one each (0.6%) tested positive for cocaine, barbiturates, ethanol, and benzodiazepines. No other tested substances were detected. Excluding nicotine and ethanol, 20 (11%) of the urine samples tested positive for the screened substances. Review of the prenatal records revealed that 46% of the women reported using tobacco, 15% reported using alcohol, and 8.3% reported illicit drug use during pregnancy. This study indicates that there is a substantial drug abuse problem in rural populations, and that the profile of abuse differs from that of urban populations. Tobacco, ethanol, and marijuana were the most prevalent substances abused during pregnancy, but cocaine was a minor problem. This information may help in directing resources to reduce drug abuse during pregnancy.
Subject(s)
Pregnancy Complications/epidemiology , Substance-Related Disorders/epidemiology , Female , Humans , Missouri/epidemiology , Pregnancy , Pregnancy Complications/urine , Rural Population , Substance-Related Disorders/urineABSTRACT
Analysis of C-dependent lysis of sensitized SRBC by C2-deficient sera (C2D) led to the characterization of a C2 bypass pathway. Lysis in the total hemolytic C assay by C2D sera was Ca2+-dependent and required a high concentration of hemolysin to sensitize E. Selective component depletion indicated a requirement for C1 and C4 of the classical pathway (CP) and proteins B, P, and probably D of the alternative pathway (AP). Total hemolytic C could be restored to normal in these C2D sera by utilizing heavily sensitized E or by the addition of a supranormal concentration of B. This system most closely resembles a pathway described by J. E. May and M. M. Frank which requires antibody, C1, and the AP but not C4 or C2. It differs in its requirement for C4. We hypothesize that this pathway represents vestiges of a more primitive C pathway. It becomes evident and possibly clinically important in the setting of C2 deficiency, by allowing C activation, other than the AP, and perhaps in normal individuals, by damaging microorganisms that have evolved means to inhibit early components of the CP.
Subject(s)
Complement Activation , Complement C2/deficiency , Erythrocytes/immunology , Hemolysis , Adult , Animals , Complement Activating Enzymes/metabolism , Complement C1/metabolism , Complement C1q , Complement C4/metabolism , Complement Pathway, Alternative , Edetic Acid , Egtazic Acid , Female , Humans , Kinetics , Male , Middle Aged , SheepABSTRACT
This month two software packages designed to display graphic data from the research laboratory are reviewed. interactive Microware's CURVE FITTER-PC and SCIENTIFIC PLOTTER-PC are written in Basic and allow data to be entered from the keyboard. landel Corporation's DIGITAL PAINTBRUSH uses a digitizing pen to enter data and allows for computerized measurement of lines, curves and areas.
