Risky Sexual Behaviors, Substance Use, and Perceptions of Risky Behaviors Among Criminal Justice Involved Women Who Trade Sex.

This study examined risky sexual behaviors, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.; DSM-IV)-defined alcohol and substance use disorders, and perceptions of risky behaviors among community released, justice-involved women, who are currently trading sex (CTS), formerly traded sex (FTS), or have never traded sex. Data were derived from 266 sexually active women recruited from a Municipal Drug Court System in St. Louis, Missouri. In an adjusted multinomial regression model, being dependent on alcohol and cocaine was the most robust correlate of sex-trading status (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: CTS = 4.21, FTS = 4.66). Perceptions of sexual risk and HIV were significantly associated with CTS (AOR = 3.39), however, not FTS. Other significant correlates of sex trading status included age, lifetime injection drug use, lower education, child sexual abuse, and unstable housing. Gender-specific interventions tailored toward currently and formerly sex-trading women are needed.

Gender and race matching preferences for HIV post-test counselling in an African-American sample.

This study tested whether having racially and gender-matched counsellors for HIV Post-test counselling were preferred. In the NIDA-funded EachOneTeachOne study, 115 African American respondents (19-68) were asked would they rather talk to someone of the same sex and race. Forty-three percent of the counsellor-respondent pairs were race concordant, and 58% were gender concordant. Chi-square statistics examined effects of gender, race and match. Out of those who desired a gender-match, 89% were men compared to 11% of women. Only 9% of African-Americans reported that they would feel more comfortable talking to an African-American counsellor. The sample size dropped due to non-response of the matching reference questions. Among the 39 race-counsellor concordant respondents (n=98), 23% expressed a preference for a race matched counsellor while no one with a race discordant counsellor expressed such a preference. Among the 56 respondents with a gender concordant counsellor (n=102), 27% said they would prefer a gender matched counsellor in the future; only 7% of those with a gender discordant counsellor expressed such as preference. Previously matched respondents were more likely to desire matched counsellors, but the majority still did not. Assumptions that race and gender matching are imperative are not supported by these findings.

Simultaneous measurement of specific serum IgG responses to five select agents.

Select Agents are defined by CDC and the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) as biological agents or toxins deemed a threat to public, animal, or plant health, or to animal or plant products. They are classified on the basis of their ease of dissemination, mortality/morbidity rate, and potential for social disruption. A subset of these agents includes Bacillus anthracis, Yersinia pestis, Francisella tularensis, ricin toxin (RT), and staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB). Infection or intoxication with these agents has been shown to elicit an antigen-specific serum IgG response. We describe a fluorescent covalent microsphere immunoassay (FCMIA) for measurement of specific IgG antibodies to seven different antigens from five different select agents; B. anthracis [protective antigen (PA) and lethal factor (LF)], Y. pestis (F1 and V antigens), F. tularensis, RT and SEB simultaneously in human B. anthracis vaccinee sera (containing anti-PA and anti-LF IgG) which had been spiked with animal specific IgG antibodies to the other select agents. Inter-assay and intra-assay coefficients of variation were 6.5 and 13.4%, respectively (N = 4). There were no significant differences (P > 0.70) between assay responses when the assays were performed individually or multiplexed. When the observed versus expected interpolated concentrations were compared, highly linear relationships were observed (r2 values from 0.981 to 0.999, P < 0.001). Minimum detectable concentrations (MDC) ranged from 0.3 ng mL(-1) (Y. pestis F1) to 300 ng mL(-1) (RT). Finally, the curves showed responses were linear for most analytes from their MDC to 125 (SEB) to 1,300 (Y. pestis F1) x their MDC. These data indicate that multiplexed FCMIA is a sensitive and accurate method for simultaneous measurement of specific IgG in serum to CDC select agents and may be of value in screening either decontamination workers or the general population for exposure to/infection with these agents.

Determination of serum IgG antibodies to Bacillus anthracis protective antigen in environmental sampling workers using a fluorescent covalent microsphere immunoassay.

AIMS: To evaluate potential exposure to Bacillis anthracis (Ba) spores in sampling/decontamination workers in the aftermath of an anthrax terror attack. METHODS: Fifty six serum samples were obtained from workers involved in environmental sampling for Ba spores at the American Media, Inc. (AMI) building in Boca Raton, FL after the anthrax attack there in October 2001. Nineteen sera were drawn from individuals both pre-entry and several weeks after entrance into the building. Nine sera each were drawn from unique individuals at the pre-entry and follow up blood draws. Thirteen donor control sera were also evaluated. Individuals were surveyed for Ba exposure by measurement of serum Ba anti-protective antigen (PA) specific IgG antibodies using a newly developed fluorescent covalent microsphere immunoassay (FCMIA). RESULTS: Four sera gave positive anti-PA IgG results (defined as anti-PA IgG concentrations > or = the mean microg/ml anti-PA IgG from donor control sera (n = 13 plus 2 SD which were also inhibited > or = 85% when the serum was pre-adsorbed with PA). The positive sera were the pre-entry and follow up samples of two workers who had received their last dose of anthrax vaccine in 2000. CONCLUSION: It appears that the sampling/decontamination workers of the present study either had insufficient exposure to Ba spores to cause the production of anti-PA IgG antibodies or they were exposed to anthrax spores without producing antibody. The FCMIA appears to be a fast, sensitive, accurate, and precise method for the measurement of anti-PA IgG antibodies.

Development of a sensitivity enhanced multiplexed fluorescence covalent microbead immunosorbent assay (FCMIA) for the measurement of glyphosate, atrazine and metolachlor mercapturate in water and urine.

Body burdens from exposures to pesticides may be estimated from urinary analyses of pesticide parent/metabolite concentrations. Pesticide applicators and others are often exposed to numerous unrelated pesticides, either sequentially or simultaneously. Classically, body burdens of pesticides are analyzed using chemical/instrumental analysis (CIM) or enzyme immunoassays (EIAs). Both of these technologies can usually be used to quantitate one analyte (or closely related groups of analytes) per analysis. Alternatively, multiple analytes can be measured simultaneously using a multiplexed fluorescence covalent microbead immunoassay (FCMIA). We developed a multiplexed FCMIA to simultaneously measure glyphosate (Gly), atrazine (Atz), and metolachlor mercapturate (MM) in water and urine. The assay had least detectable doses (LDDs) in water/diluted urine of 0.11/0.09 ng/ml (Gly, water/urine LDD), 0.10/0.07 ng/ml (Atz) and 0.09/0.03 ng/ml (MM). The sensitivity for the measurement of Gly was enhanced by derivatization. All assays gave linear responses from the LDDs for each respective pesticide to 300 ng/ml. There was no cross-reactivity between the three analytes. Using a 96-well microplate and an autosampler, as many as 288 separate analyses can be completed in approximately 120 min with precision, sensitivity, and specificity equivalent to, if not better, than that found when these same analytes are measured by CIM or EIA.

Organizational context and provider perception as determinants of mental health service use.

This study refines and tests an individual client model of service use and contrasts it with a model of service provision based on gateway provider perspectives. Structural equation models demonstrate that provider variables account for more service use variation than client variables. The client model accounts for 24% of the variance in service use, while the provider model accounts for 55% of the variance. Youth self-reported mental health was not positively associated with increased services or with provider perception of youth mental health. The provider model demonstrates the critical role played by provider perceptions, which are influenced more by work environment than by client problems.

Youths' access to mental health services: the role of providers' training, resource connectivity, and assessment of need.

This paper posits that providers with training in and knowledge of mental health resources are more likely to recognize youths' mental health problems, and provide youths with services. In 1994 and 1996, we interviewed 792 adolescents who were involved with St. Louis public health, juvenile justice, child welfare. or education service sectors. Two hundred eighty-two youths had received some services, listing 533 providers. We could identify 364 of those providers, and 61% (222) responded concerning service need, service use, and provider knowledge and behavior. Structural equation models demonstrate that provider assessment of youths' mental health problems is the largest and provider knowledge of service resources the second largest determinant of service provision. Youths' self-reported mental health is not positively associated with increased services and is only minimally associated with provider assessment of their problems. Training (both professional and inservice) contributes to higher assessments of youths' problems and greater resource knowledge, which is associated with increased service provision. Providers from the mental health and child welfare sectors have more professional training in mental health and are more likely to receive inservice training. Inservice training should be offered to all who work with youths.

Adjustable portal film cassette holder for radiation therapy.

An adjustable portal film cassette holder has been designed and constructed. The holder provides for: holding portal film perpendicular to and centered with the central axis of the beam film-to-patient distance to minimize magnification; angling (swivel) film to match collimator angle; and ease of correct repositioning of arrangement when frequent filming is required. This device has now been in use for several months with good results.