Rationale, design and methods of the HEALTHY study nutrition intervention component.

The HEALTHY study was a randomized, controlled, multicenter and middle school-based, multifaceted intervention designed to reduce risk factors for the development of type 2 diabetes. The study randomized 42 middle schools to intervention or control, and followed students from the sixth to the eighth grades. Here we describe the design of the HEALTHY nutrition intervention component that was developed to modify the total school food environment, defined to include the following: federal breakfast, lunch, after school snack and supper programs; a la carte venues, including snack bars and school stores; vending machines; fundraisers; and classroom parties and celebrations. Study staff implemented the intervention using core and toolbox strategies to achieve and maintain the following five intervention goals: (1) lower the average fat content of foods, (2) increase the availability and variety of fruits and vegetables, (3) limit the portion sizes and energy content of dessert and snack foods, (4) eliminate whole and 2% milk and all added sugar beverages, with the exception of low fat or nonfat flavored milk, and limit 100% fruit juice to breakfast in small portions and (5) increase the availability of higher fiber grain-based foods and legumes. Other nutrition intervention component elements were taste tests, cafeteria enhancements, cafeteria line messages and other messages about healthy eating, cafeteria learning laboratory (CLL) activities, twice-yearly training of food service staff, weekly meetings with food service managers, incentives for food service departments, and twice yearly local meetings and three national summits with district food service directors. Strengths of the intervention design were the integration of nutrition with the other HEALTHY intervention components (physical education, behavior change and communications), and the collaboration and rapport between the nutrition intervention study staff members and food service personnel at both school and district levels.

Disposable hydrogel contact lenses for extended wear.

Nine ophthalmologists and nine optometrists conducted a premarket study of the Acuvue disposable contact lens manufactured by Vistakon, Inc. Of the 812 patients offered the lens, 733 accepted it and were enrolled in the study. These patients were fitted with the lens and followed for a period of 8 months. Over 98% of these patients had 20/25 or better vision on initial fitting; and subjective ratings of lens comfort were very good. Only 3.7% (27 of 733) discontinued wearing their lenses during the study period. Thirty-four patients (5.6%) experienced a problem while wearing their contact lenses.

Radial keratotomy increases the effects of disability glare: initial results.

Attempts to correct myopia by surgical intervention (radial keratotomy) are increasing, and disability glare is emerging as a common subjective postsurgical complaint. To date, efforts to quantify this complaint have failed. By measuring increment thresholds in the presence of a point-glare source, we have been able to measure large glare effects (up to six times normal) at low background luminance levels.

Investigation of contrast sensitivity following radial keratotomy.

Radial keratotomy is a surgical procedure for the correction of myopia in which the cornea is flattened by partial-thickness radial incisions. While postoperative visual acuity is usually good, measurements of acuity are of only limited value and do not describe visual performance for a variety of spatial frequencies and contrasts. In the present study, the effect of radial keratotomy on the contrast-sensitivity function was examined. Six spatial frequencies were tested (0.5, 1.0, 3.0, 6.0, 11.4, and 22.8 cycles/degree) using the Nicolet CS 2000 with patients wearing corrective lenses. The results revealed that, at least for the conditions tested, radial keratotomy does not produce a statistically significant decline in contrast sensitivity.

Experience with the Sauflon 70 (Lidofilcon A) soft contact lenses for extended wear in myopia.

Sixty-four myopic patients were studied who wear the Sauflon 70 (Lidofilcon A) lens on an extended wear basis. The study showed that this lens is safe and effective for extended wear. It is a durable lens and can be sterilized by heat as well as chemical means, but seems to develop calcium deposits at the same ratio as other extended-wear lenses used for the correction of myopia.

Pseudo-Meigs syndrome with resulting papillary adenocarcinomas of the ovary and fallopian tube.

The pseudo-Meigs syndrome is clinically important because it resembles metastatic pelvic cancer. However, the prognosis is much more favorable when the syndrome is associated with a benign tumor. The authors point out that a woman with this condition can expect full recovery after surgery.

Prolonged wearing contact lenses and preliminary results.

Extended wear contact lenses are sure to gain approval sometime during 1979. Four such lenses are briefly described, and the author's experience with one of them is discussed. The characteristics that differentiate these lenses from daily wear lenses are the high water content and the thinness.

Ultrasonic fragmentation using the automatic suction aspiration pump.

This technique is a further modification of the original technique as introduced by Dr. Louis Girard thus making this procedure a one man operation instead of the three man operation as originally introduced by Dr. Girard.