Louisiana State University

About: Louisiana State University is a education organization based out in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Poison control. The organization has 40206 authors who have published 76587 publications receiving 2566076 citations. The organization is also known as: LSU & Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College.

Helicobacter pylori Infection in the Colombian Andes: A Population-based Study of Transmission Pathways

Abstract: In 1992, the authors studied Helicobacter pylori infection and exposures relevant to person-to-person, waterborne, foodborne, and zoonotic transmission in a census sample of 684 2-9-year-old children in Aldana, Narino, a rural community in the Colombian Andes. H. pylori prevalence, as determined by the 13C-urea breath test, was 69%, and prevalence increased from 53% in 2 year-olds to 87% in 9 year-olds. Beginning at 3 years of age, a higher percentage of males compared with females were infected. Odds ratios were estimated by multivariate logistic regression to control for mutual confounding by transmission-pathway proxy variables and socioeconomic indicators. Among transmission-pathway proxies, the strongest predictor of H. pylori status was the number of persons who lived in the home, with the number of children apparently being of greater importance than the number of adults. Swimming in rivers, streams, or pools increased the odds of infection, as did using streams as a drinking water source. Children who frequently consumed raw vegetables were more likely to have the infection, and children who had contact with sheep also had increased prevalence odds. Because the results did not implicate a single mode of transmission, the possibility of multiple pathways is indicated.

A randomized comparison of indwelling pleural catheter and doxycycline pleurodesis in the management of malignant pleural effusions.

Abstract: BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness and safety of a chronic indwelling pleural catheter with doxycycline pleurodesis via tube thoracostomy in the treatment of patients with recurrent symptomatic malignant pleural effusions (MPE). METHODS In this multi-institutional study conducted between March 1994 and February 1997, 144 patients (61 men and 83 women) were randomized in a 2:1 distribution to either an indwelling pleural catheter or doxycycline pleurodesis. Patients receiving the indwelling catheter drained their effusions via vacuum bottles every other day or as needed for relief of dyspnea. RESULTS The median hospitalization time was 1.0 day for the catheter group and 6.5 days for the doxycycline group. The degree of symptomatic improvement in dyspnea and the quality of life was comparable in each group. Six of 28 patients who received doxycycline (21%) had a late recurrence of pleural effusion, whereas 12 of 91 patients who had an indwelling catheter (13%) had a late recurrence of their effusions or a blockage of their catheter after the initially successful treatment (P = 0.446). Of the 91 patients sent home with the pleural catheter, 42 (46%) achieved spontaneous pleurodesis at a median of 26.5 days. CONCLUSIONS A chronic indwelling pleural catheter is an effective treatment for the management of patients with symptomatic, recurrent, malignant pleural effusions. When compared with doxycycline pleurodesis via tube thoracostomy, the pleural catheter requires a shorter hospitalization and can be placed and managed on an outpatient basis. Cancer 1999;86:1992–9. © 1999 American Cancer Society.

Insight into the Trophic Ecology of Yellowfin Tuna, Thunnus albacares, from Compound‐Specific Nitrogen Isotope Analysis of Proteinaceous Amino Acids

Abstract: Publisher Summary This chapter tests the premise that a single sample from an upper trophic level pelagic predator fish could provide information on both the trophic level of the fish and the δ15N value at the base of the food web. This chapter analyzes the nitrogen isotopic composition of individual amino acids in white muscle tissue (WMT) of yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) from the eastern tropical Pacific (ETP) to determine if the observed variations in the δ15N values of WMT are primarily controlled by the nitrogen isotopic composition at the base of the food web or the trophic level of the tuna. The difference between the δ15N values of source and trophic amino acids is used to estimate the trophic level of yellowfin, and this is compared to the estimates based on two independent methods, stomach content analysis and the isotopic difference between the δ15N values of mesozooplankton and yellowfin tuna in the ETP. It is found that nitrogen isotopic analyses of individual amino acids in tuna can be used to distinguish between nutrient and trophic dynamics in pelagic ecosystems, and the implications of these results are discussed for investigating the long-term impact of commercial fishing on the food web structure of marine ecosystems.

Development of a modified treatment evaluation inventory

Abstract: Kazdin's (1980a) Treatment Evaluation Inventory (TEI) is the major instrument used to assess parents' acceptance of procedures for behavior problem children. The length of the TEI, however, as well as problems with its scaling and wording limits its value as a clinical research instrument. In the present study, three experiments were conducted to develop a modified TEI. In Experiment 1, 153 parents completed the TEI to evaluate a behavioral treatment for noncompliant and oppositional children. A factor analysis of the data was used to obtain a reliable factor structure for the TEI and to construct a 9-item TEI-Short Form (TEI-SF) with a 5-point scale, consistent anchors on the scale, and simplified text and instructions. Experiment 2 evaluated the psychometric characteristics of the TEI and the TEI-SF. These data indicated the TEI-SF is a sound alternative to the original TEI. Experiment 3 compared the readability and completion time of the two instruments.

Device for cutting and holding a cornea during a transplant procedure

Abstract: A device and surgical method for promoting suitable grafting between a healthy donor cornea button and a recipient's healthy corneal tissue. The device is a cornea transplanter comprising a cutting device, a support block having a removable base plate, and a vacuum device. The cornea transplanter is capable of retaining healthy donor corneal tissue as it is buttoned and placed onto the recipient's eye, with minimal physical manipulation of the donor corneal tissue. Once the cornea button is properly positioned, sutures may be symmetrically placed around the cornea button, using suture grooves that guide the suture needle to a particular depth and length of pass.