Green micellar factorial design optimized first derivative synchronous spectrofluorimetric method for tripelennamine and diphenhydramine determination in pharmaceutical gel.

A green micellar synchronous spectrofluorimetric method was developed and validated for simultaneous determination of tripelennamine hydrochloride and diphenhydramine in bulk and combined pharmaceutical formulation. Synchronous fluorescence of tripelennamine hydrochloride and diphenhydramine was determined using Δλ = 60 nm. The first derivative of synchronous fluorescence was computed to resolve overlap in the synchronous fluorescence spectra. Tripelennamine hydrochloride was quantified at 375 nm, whereas diphenhydramine was quantified at 293 nm; each is the zero-crossing point of the other. As diphenhydramine exhibited weak native fluorescence, micelle enhancement upon incorporation of sodium dodecyl sulfate was considered. Two-level full factorial design was carried out to optimize experimental parameters. Optimum conditions involved using SDS (2% w/v) along with Teorell and Stenhagen buffer (pH 9). The method was found to be linear over the range 0.2-4.5 and 0.2-5 µg/mL for tripelennamine and diphenhydramine, respectively, with limits of detection 0.211 and 0.159 µg/mL. The method was successfully applied for simultaneous determination of tripelennamine hydrochloride and diphenhydramine in laboratory-prepared gel containing all possible excipients with mean percent recoveries ±SD 100.59 ± 0.79 and 98.99 ± 0.98 for tripelennamine hydrochloride and diphenhydramine, respectively. The proposed method was proved to be eco-friendly using different greenness assessment tools.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Integrating Ultrasound and Shear Wave Elastography in Assessing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Severity: a Prospective Observational Study.

Purpose: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a common condition characterized by compression of the median nerve (MN) within the carpal tunnel. Accurate diagnosis and assessment of CTS severity are crucial for appropriate management decisions. This study aimed to investigate the combined diagnostic utility of B-mode ultrasound (US) and shear wave elastography (SWE) for assessing the severity of CTS in comparison to electrodiagnostic tests (EDT). Materials and Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted over 9-month periods at a tertiary care hospital. A total of 48 patients (36 females, 12 males; mean age 44 ± 10.9 years; age range 28-57 years) with clinically suspected CTS were enrolled. All patients underwent EDT, US, and SWE. Based on the EDT results, CTS cases were categorized into four groups: mild, moderate, severe, and negative. The cross-sectional area (CSA) and elasticity (E) of the MN were measured at the tunnel inlet (CSAu and Eu) and pronator quadratus region (CSAo and Eo). The differences (CSAu-CSAo and Eu-Eo) were calculated. The primary outcomes were the diagnostic performance of CSAu, CSAu-CSAo, Eu, and Eu-Eo in differentiating moderate/severe from mild/negative CTS compared to EDT findings. Secondary outcomes included a correlation of US/SWE parameters with EDT grades and between each other. ANOVA, correlation, regression, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were performed. Results: CSAu and CSAu-CSAo increased progressively with worsening CTS severity. E measurements were significantly higher in moderate-to-severe CTS compared to mild or negative cases. The combined metric of CSAu-CSAo at a 5 mm threshold exhibited enhanced performance, with a higher sensitivity (83.3%), specificity (100%), and area under the curve (AUC) (0.98), surpassing the results of CSAu when used independently. Similarly, the SWE measurements indicated that Eu-Eo at a 56.1kPa cutoff achieved an AUC of 0.95, with a sensitivity of 93.3% and specificity of 94.4%, outperforming the metrics for Eu when used alone, which had an AUC of 0.93, with identical sensitivity and specificity values (93.3% and 94.4%, respectively). Conclusion: The integration of ultrasound, shear wave elastography, and electrodiagnostic tests provides a comprehensive approach to evaluate anatomical and neurological changes and guide management decisions for CTS.

Validating Brain Tumor Reporting and Data System (BT-RADS) as a Diagnostic Tool for Glioma Follow-Up after Surgery.

Gliomas are a type of brain tumor that requires accurate monitoring for progression following surgery. The Brain Tumor Reporting and Data System (BT-RADS) has emerged as a potential tool for improving diagnostic accuracy and reducing the need for repeated operations. This prospective multicenter study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy and reliability of BT-RADS in predicting tumor progression (TP) in postoperative glioma patients and evaluate its acceptance in clinical practice. The study enrolled patients with a history of partial or complete resection of high-grade glioma. All patients underwent two consecutive follow-up brain MRI examinations. Five neuroradiologists independently evaluated the MRI examinations using the BT-RADS. The diagnostic accuracy of the BT-RADS for predicting TP was calculated using histopathology after reoperation and clinical and imaging follow-up as reference standards. Reliability based on inter-reader agreement (IRA) was assessed using kappa statistics. Reader acceptance was evaluated using a short survey. The final analysis included 73 patients (male, 67.1%; female, 32.9%; mean age, 43.2 ± 12.9 years; age range, 31-67 years); 47.9% showed TP, and 52.1% showed no TP. According to readers, TP was observed in 25-41.7% of BT-3a, 61.5-88.9% of BT-3b, 75-90.9% of BT-3c, and 91.7-100% of BT-RADS-4. Considering >BT-RADS-3a as a cutoff value for TP, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the BT-RADS were 68.6-85.7%, 84.2-92.1%, and 78.1-86.3%, respectively, according to the reader. The overall IRA was good (κ = 0.75) for the final BT-RADS classification and very good for detecting new lesions (κ = 0.89). The readers completely agreed with the statement "the application of the BT-RADS should be encouraged" (score = 25). The BT-RADS has good diagnostic accuracy and reliability for predicting TP in postoperative glioma patients. However, BT-RADS 3 needs further improvements to increase its diagnostic accuracy.

Therapeutic Response to Treatment of a Papillomatous Ocular Surface Squamous Neoplasia With Intramuscular Human Papillomavirus Vaccine.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to describe the response of a papillomatous ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN) to the intramuscular (IM) 9-valent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine after failed medical and surgical interventions. METHODS: A 79-year-old White man with a conjunctival lesion underwent a biopsy which revealed OSSN and positivity for high-risk HPV. Initially treated with medical therapy and surgical excisions, the patient developed a recurrence and refused further surgery. He was given 4 doses of IM HPV vaccine at the 6-week interval. RESULTS: A dramatic reduction in lesion size and reduced epithelial thickening and hyperreflectivity was noted on slitlamp examination and high-resolution anterior segment optical coherence tomography after receiving the IM HPV vaccine. Although lesion size was markedly reduced, the therapy did not achieve total resolution, resulting in further treatment with topical 1% 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) eye drops and later 0.04% mitomycin C eye drops. The patient then elected to discontinue further treatment and solely observe. CONCLUSIONS: This case report adds to the growing literature demonstrating the potential therapeutic use of vaccines in cancer treatment. Although HPV vaccination is currently approved for prophylaxis, the use of HPV vaccines as a therapeutic option for various HPV-mediated diseases, including OSSN, should be further explored. The HPV vaccine yielded significant initial improvement in this patient who refused further surgical interventions. The use of IM HPV vaccine as an adjunctive treatment of papillomatous OSSN may represent a potential therapeutic option in cases refractory to standard treatment modalities.

Predicting the Consistency of Pituitary Macroadenomas: The Utility of Diffusion-Weighted Imaging and Apparent Diffusion Coefficient Measurements for Surgical Planning.

Understanding the consistency of pituitary macroadenomas is crucial for neurosurgeons planning surgery. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the utility of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) as non-invasive imaging modalities for predicting the consistency of pituitary macroadenomas. This could contribute to appropriate surgical planning and therefore reduce the likelihood of incomplete resections. The study included 45 patients with pathologically confirmed pituitary macroadenomas. Conventional MRI sequences, DWIs, ADC maps, and pre- and post-contrast MRIs were performed. Two neuroradiologists assessed all of the images. Neurosurgeons assessed the consistency of the tumor macroscopically, and histopathologists examined it microscopically. The MRI findings were compared with postoperative data. According to the operative data, macroadenomas were divided into the two following categories based on their consistency: aspirable (n = 27) and non-aspirable tumors (n = 18). A statistically significant difference in DWI findings was found when comparing macroadenomas of different consistencies (p < 0.001). Most aspirable macroadenomas (66.7%) were hyperintense according to DWI and hypointense on ADC maps, whereas most non-aspirable macroadenomas (83.3%) were hypointense for DWI and hyperintense on ADC maps. At a cut-off value of 0.63 × 10-3 mm2/s, the ADC showed a sensitivity of 85.7% and a specificity of 75% for the detection of non-aspirable macroadenomas (AUC, 0.946). The study concluded that DWI should be routinely performed in conjunction with ADC measurements in the preoperative evaluation of pituitary macroadenomas. This approach may aid in surgical planning, ensure that appropriate techniques are utilized, and reduce the risk of incomplete resection.

Role of Topical 5-Fluorouracil in Demodex -Associated Blepharitis.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to report clinical observations suggesting the efficacy of topical 1% 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in treating Demodex -associated blepharitis. METHODS: An observational retrospective review of 13 eyes from 13 individuals with conjunctival neoplastic lesions and concomitant Demodex lash infestation that received topical 1% 5-FU eye drops. Patients underwent slit-lamp examination at each follow-up visit. Clinical photographs of the lash line were obtained after treatment initiation. In a subset of patients, lashes were epilated bilaterally and microscopically analyzed for presence of Demodex mites before and after treatment initiation. RESULTS: The mean age of the population was 68 ± 14 years (range: 30-84 years) and 92% were male. In all 13 patients, a marked reduction in cylindrical dandruff was noted in the treated eye by slit-lamp examination after 2 cycles of 5-FU. There was complete resolution of cylindrical dandruff in 10 of 13 treated eyes compared with 0 resolution of cylindrical dandruff in untreated eyes ( P = 0.0001). In the 6 patients who received epilation, the lashes from the treated eye showed no Demodex , whereas lashes from the fellow untreated eye revealed persistent Demodex . CONCLUSIONS: Topical 1% 5-FU shows efficacy in treating Demodex -associated blepharitis. Further studies are indicated to reproduce our findings and evaluate the potential use of 5-FU as a treatment ingredient.

Traumatic rupture of the inferior rectus muscle: case report and review of the literature.

Traumatic inferior rectus muscle rupture secondary to blunt injury in the absence of associated orbital or ocular fractures or injury is rarely encountered, and there are limited published reports on subsequent surgical repair. We present the case of a 74-year-old man with complete inferior rectus transection following a fall with facial strike. A computed tomography scan of the face was unremarkable. Surgical exploration and repair of the muscle was performed by hooking the inferior oblique muscle to identify the inferior rectus muscle. Subsequent strabismus surgery was performed for residual binocular diplopia, resulting in excellent anatomic and visual outcomes and postoperative ocular alignment.

Green micellar stability-indicating high-performance liquid chromatography method for determination of rupatadine fumarate in the presence of its main impurity desloratadine: Oxidative degradation kinetics study.

A green micellar stability-indicating high-performance liquid chromatography method was developed for rupatadine fumarate determination in existence with its main impurity desloratadine. Separation was attained using Hypersil ODS column (150 × 4.6 mm, 5 µm), the micellar mobile phase consisted of 0.13 M sodium dodecyl sulfate, 0.1 M disodium hydrogen phosphate adjusted by phosphoric acid to pH 2.8 and 10% n-butanol. The column was maintained at 45◦ C and detection was carried out at 267 nm. A linear response was achieved over the range of 2-160 µg/ml for rupatadine and 0.4-8 µg/ml for desloratadine. The method was applied for rupatadine determination in alergoliber tablets and alergoliber syrup without the interference of methyl paraben and propyl paraben present as main excipients. Rupatadine fumarate revealed pronounced susceptibility to oxidation; further study of oxidative degradation kinetics was carried out. Rupatadine was found to follow pseudo-first-order kinetics when exposed to 10% H2 O2 at 60 and 80°C and the activation energy was found to be 15.69 Kcal/mol. At a lower temperature (40°C), degradation kinetics regression was best fitted as a polynomial quadratic relationship, thus rupatadine oxidation at a lower temperature tends to adopt a second-order kinetics rate. Oxidative degradation product structure was revealed using infrared and found to be rupatadine N-oxide at all temperature values.

Recurrent Lisch Epithelial Corneal Dystrophy Treated With 5-Fluorouracil: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to describe a case of Lisch epithelial corneal dystrophy (LECD), review its clinical and histopathological features and diagnostic imaging, and introduce a novel treatment approach using topical 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). METHODS: A 65-year-old woman presented with a recurrent left-sided corneal lesion consistent with LECD. The lesion was evaluated clinically, with high-resolution optical coherence tomography (HR-OCT), and histologically. The lesion was successfully treated with two 1-week cycles of topical 5-FU. RESULTS: Slit-lamp examination showed an opalescent, whorl-shaped corneal lesion. HR-OCT revealed a trapezoidal area of normal thickness epithelial hyperreflectivity. Histopathology demonstrated a mucosal epithelium with foamy cytoplasm and increased cell size consistent with LECD. Treatment with topical 5-FU resulted in marked clearance of the corneal lesion on slit-lamp examination and HR-OCT. CONCLUSIONS: 5-FU may be considered as a treatment option for LECD.

Long Noncoding RNA NEAT1 Expression and Its Target miR-124 in Diabetic Ischemic Stroke Patients.

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a known risk factor for stroke and may be linked to poorer post-stroke outcomes. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain to be fully identified. In this study we assessed the association of the lncRNA Nuclear enriched abundant transcript 1 (NEAT1)'s expression and its target miRNA-124 with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) in type II diabetic patients (T2DM). Methods and Results: Diabetic patients with stroke, non-diabetics with stroke, diabetics without stroke, and controls were recruited. NEAT1 and miR-124 expression levels in plasma samples from the participants were investigated using real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). C reactive protein (CRP) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) were measured using an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. In the DM+AIS group, NEAT1 expression was considerably higher, compared with AIS group and with control group. In comparison to the AIS-only patients, DM patients and controls, miR-124 expression was considerably lower in the DM+AIS group. NEAT1 was shown to have good predictive value for AIS risk in diabetics, based on Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. In both the DM+AIS and the AIS group, NEAT1 levels was strongly linked with the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score. Also, a significant positive correlation was observed between NEAT1 expression and the inflammatory markers CRP and TNF-α and significant negative association with miRNA-124 in patient groups. Conclusion: In diabetic patients, the lncRNA NEAT1 may influence the incidence, severity, inflammation, and prognosis of AIS. NEAT1 expression levels could be used as a diagnostic marker of stroke in diabetic patients.

Stability indicating RP-HPLC method for methylcobalamin determination in different dosage forms: Application to photodegradation kinetics and pH rate profiling.

A stability-indicating RP-HPLC method for methylcobalamin determination was developed. Stress degradation under variable conditions was carried out. Methylcobalamin had pronounced susceptibility to hydrolysis under acidic, alkaline, and photolytic conditions; further study of photolytic degradation kinetics and pH rate profiling over pH range 2-11 was carried out. Photodegradation of methylcobalamin followed zero-order kinetics with half-life 0.99 h equivalent to 1971.53 lux. Methylcobalamin followed pseudo-first-order kinetics upon exposure to acidic and alkaline hydrolysis with highest stability at pH 5 and least stability at pH 2. Optimization of chromatographic conditions was performed using two level full factorial design, and chromatographic analysis was executed using Inertsil column (250 × 4.6 mm, 5 µm) maintained at 25◦ C. Elution was carried out using 25 mM potassium dihydrogen phosphate (pH adjusted with phosphoric acid to 3.8): methanol:acetonitrile (55:35:10, v/v) as mobile phase. The flow rate was 1.0 ml/min. Detection was carried out at 220 nm using diode array detector. The method was validated as per ICH guidelines; the linearity was over concentration range 2-160 µg/ml with coefficient of determination 0.9995. The method was effectively applied for determination of methylcobalamin in Cobalvex ampoule, Cobal tablet, Cobal-F tablet, and Methyltechon oral dissolvable film without interfering from excipients within run time 6 min.

Stability indicating RP-HPLC method for determination of dimethyl fumarate in presence of its main degradation products: Application to degradation kinetics.

A stability-indicating reverse phase-high-perfromance liquid chromatography method for the quantitative determination of dimethyl fumarate in presence of its main degradation products was developed. The chromatographic conditions were optimized using two-level full factorial design, chromatographic analysis was performed using Inertsil® column (250 × 4.6 mm, 5 µm) maintained at 25°C. Mobile phase was a mixture of water (pH 2.6 adjusted with phosphoric acid) and methanol (40:60, v/v) at a flow rate 1.0 mL/min, detection was performed at 210 nm using diode array detector. Stress degradation of dimethyl fumarate under acidic, alkaline, neutral, oxidative, photolytic, and thermal conditions was carried out, it was found to be very susceptible to hydrolysis under acidic and alkaline conditions; further investigation of degradation kinetics over pH range 1-9 was carried out. The degradation rate constant (K), t1/2 and t90 were calculated. Dimethyl fumarate show decreasing in stability in the following pH order: 7 < 5 < 3 < 1 < 9. The method was validated as per ICH guidelines, the method was found to be linear over concentration range 10-150 µg/mL with coefficient of determination (r2 ) 0.9997. The method was successfully applied for dimethyl fumarate determination in Marclerosis® dosage form within run time less than eight minutes without interference from excipients.

Brain magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) as a diagnostic tool for detecting early neurological changes in children with Wilson's disease.

PURPOSE: Although brain magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) imaging findings in adult Wilson disease (WD) have been explained in extensive details, a paucity of information currently exists regarding brain MRS imaging findings in pediatric WD. The purpose of this study was to clarify the role of brain MRS in detecting early metabolite abnormalities in children with WD. PATIENT AND METHODS: A case-controlled prospective study included 26 children with WD and 26 healthy controls. All children were subjected to examination on a 1.5 T MRI scanner. The spectra of N-acetyl aspartate (NAA), choline (Cho), and creatine (Cr), as well as the metabolite ratios of NAA/Cho, NAA/Cr, and Cho/Cr, were measured and compared between two groups. RESULTS: Eight patients revealed increased signal intensity in the basal ganglia at T1-weighted images. When compared with healthy controls, WD patients showed a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in NAA (63.8 ± 9.6 vs 97.6 ± 3.8), Cho (46.7 ± 8.9 vs 87.3 ± 4.7), Cr (44 ± 10.1 vs 81.9 ± 4.05), NAA/Cho (1.92 ± 1.2 vs 3.34 ± 0.55), NAA/Cr (1.29 ± 0.7 vs 2.46 ± 0.34), and Cho/Cr (0.78 ± 0.4 vs 2 ± 0.13). Patients complicated with liver cell failure showed a significant decrease in all previous parameters (p < 0.05) than patients without complications. Patients with mixed neurological and hepatic diseases showed a severe reduction in NAA, NAA/Cr, and NAA/Cho compared with patients with hepatic disease only. CONCLUSION: MRS in pediatric WD detects early neurological changes even with normal MRI.

A model of cumulative racial-ethnic trauma among Americans of Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) descent.

Americans of Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) descent in the United States have been historically understudied, in part due to limitations of racial classification systems that typically include MENA under the broad umbrella of White. As a result, enormous gaps in knowledge about health and mental health disparities exist, with broad public health significance. In particular, there is an urgent need to attend more specifically to MENA Americans' experiences of cumulative racial-ethnic trauma, which occurs at every level of their social ecologies. This article offers a conceptual model of cumulative racial-ethnic trauma to represent the unique experiences of the MENA American population. Traumatic factors at the macrolevel include historical trauma, pervasive institutional discrimination, and a hostile national context. These factors interact with one another and further impact microlevel traumatic experiences related to interpersonal discrimination and microaggressions, as well as struggles with identity and recognition. The deleterious impacts of these experiences may include a ubiquitous sense of insecurity, hopelessness, and alienation among MENA American individuals, in addition to more specific mental health and physical health concerns. It also compromises the overall well-being of the MENA American population in terms of belonging versus alienation, freedom versus restriction, and opportunities versus disadvantage. We discuss how the model can help to create a foundation for future inquiry and contribute to intervention efforts to find effective ways to support resilience and thriving for the MENA American population. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Immune response genes receptors expression and polymorphisms in relation to multiple sclerosis susceptibility and response to INF-ß therapy.

Interferon (IFN)-ß is one of the disease modifying drugs used in the treatment of multiple sclerosis. A predictive marker that indicates good or poor response to the treatment is highly desirable. We aimed to investigate the relation between the immune response genes receptors (IFNAR1, IFNAR2, and CCR5) expression and their polymorhic variants and multiple sclerosis (MS) susceptibility as well as the response to IFN-ß therapy. The immune response genes receptors expression and genotyping were analyzed in 80 patients with MS, treated with IFN-ß and in 110 healthy controls. There was a significant decrease of IFNAR1 and IFNAR2 mRNA expression and a significant increase of CCR5 mRNA expression in MS patients compared with the control group. Also, the level of IFNAR1, IFNAR2, and CCR5 mRNA expression was found to be significantly lower in the responders than nonresponders. Carriers of IFNAR1 18417 C/C genotype and C allele had an increased risk of developing MS. There was a significant relation between CCR5 Δ32 allele and IFN-ß treatment response in MS patients. Our results highlighted the significance of IFNAR and CCR5 genes in multiple sclerosis risk and the response to IFN-ß therapy. © 2016 IUBMB Life, 68(9):727-734, 2016.

Racial-ethnic differences in access, diagnosis, and outcomes in public-sector inpatient mental health treatment.

This study investigated inequities in access, diagnosis, and treatment for African Americans and Hispanic Americans receiving treatment in northeast, public sector, inpatient mental health settings as part of a Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services Health Disparities Initiative. Data from 1,484 adults were obtained through a random extract of patients admitted to state inpatient facilities between 2002 and 2005. After controlling for demographic variables and symptom severity, logistic and linear regression showed that Hispanic Americans were significantly more likely to enter inpatient care through crisis/emergency sources and were significantly less likely to self-refer or come to inpatient care through other sources (e.g., family, outpatient). After admission, Hispanic Americans were more likely to be diagnosed with other psychotic disorders (e.g., schizoaffective disorder, delusional disorder), were less likely to receive an Axis II diagnosis at discharge, and had a shorter length of stay than non-Hispanic White Americans. African Americans were more likely than other groups to be diagnosed with schizophrenia, drug-related, and Cluster B diagnoses (discharge only), and they were less likely to be diagnosed with mood disorders and other nonpsychotic disorders. Although African Americans were more likely than other groups to come to inpatient units from numerous routes, including self-referral and referral from other sources (e.g., family, outpatient), they were more likely to terminate treatment against medical advice and displayed shorter length of stay despite receiving ratings of greater symptom severity at discharge. These findings highlight the need for policies, programs, and system interventions designed to eliminate disparities and improve the quality and cultural responsiveness of behavioral health services.

Psychological research with Muslim Americans in the age of Islamophobia: trends, challenges, and recommendations.

Like other minority groups in North America, Muslim Americans have been largely ignored in the psychological literature. The overwhelming pressures faced by this group, including surveillance, hate crimes, and institutional discrimination, stimulate an urgent need for psychologists to better understand and ensure the well-being of this population. This article reviews challenges in conducting research with Muslim Americans in order to offer recommendations for culturally sensitive approaches that can enhance the growth of future scholarship. We first contextualize this endeavor by assessing trends in psychological scholarship pertinent to Muslims in North America over the past two decades. A total of 559 relevant publications were identified through a PsycINFO database search. The 10 years post 9/11 saw a more than 900% increase in the annual number of publications, paralleling a national interest in the Muslim American community subsequent to the World Trade Center attacks. Researchers who conducted these studies faced numerous barriers, including unclear definition of the target sample, unavailability of culturally sensitive measures, sampling difficulties, and obstacles to participant recruitment. To navigate these challenges, we provide a framework for effective research design along the continuum of the research process from study conceptualization to dissemination of results. The challenges and recommendations are illustrated with examples from previous studies.

Experiencing community psychology through community-based learning class projects: reflections from an American University in the Middle East.

Many introductory community psychology courses do not incorporate community-based learning (CBL), and when they do, it is most often in the form of individualized volunteer hours. We present an alternative model for CBL in which the entire class collaborates on an experiential project that promotes community action. We believe that such an approach better embodies the values and methods of the discipline and has a more powerful impact on the students and stakeholders. It may be especially effective in developing countries that do not have an established network of service infrastructures; in such nations the onus is on the teachers and learners of community psychology to contribute to transformative change. In this article practical guidelines are provided by the instructor regarding how to structure and implement this CBL model. Additionally, two students describe how the CBL experience solidified their learning of course concepts and significantly impacted them personally.

Racial-ethnic differences in referral source, diagnosis, and length of stay in inpatient substance abuse treatment.

OBJECTIVE: Racial-ethnic differences in referral source, diagnosis, and length of stay in substance abuse treatment were examined. METHODS: Data from 495 African Americans, 492 Hispanics, and 497 non-Hispanic whites were analyzed. RESULTS: Hispanics were less likely than whites to be referred by crisis services; African Americans were more likely than other groups to be referred from criminal justice settings. At admission Hispanics and African Americans were more likely to have a drug use disorder, and whites were more likely to have an alcohol use disorder. Both African Americans and Hispanics were more likely than whites to have a cluster B personality disorder diagnosis at discharge. African Americans had longer stays than other groups. CONCLUSIONS: The findings could be used to design interventions to reduce disparities in inpatient substance abuse treatment.

Anxiety and depression in a post-September 11 sample of Arabs in the USA.

OBJECTIVE: Scant research has examined the mental health of Arab Americans. This study aimed to determine the levels of anxiety and depression in a sample of Arab Americans and compare the rates to normative community samples and samples of other minority ethnic/racial groups. METHODS: A non-probability sampling approach resulted in 601 adult Arab American respondents from 35 US states. Respondents completed anxiety and depression questionnaires at a form-based Internet site. RESULTS: One-fourth of participants reported moderate to severe anxiety levels as measured by the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and one-half reported depression scores that met clinical caseness as assessed by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D). The present sample of Arab Americans reported significantly higher levels of anxiety and depression compared to standardization samples and community samples of four other minority groups. CONCLUSIONS: Arab Americans may be at risk for anxiety and depression. Further studies should be conducted to replicate and validate these results, identify stressors that affect this population, and develop recommendations for clinical interventions.