Addictive-like behaviours to ultraviolet light among frequent indoor tanners.

BACKGROUND: Frequent, purposeful exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light may induce a compulsive desire to tan despite the negative consequences being known, suggesting a behavioural complex similar to addictive disorders. AIM: To assess the presence of addictive-like behaviours in subjects using indoor tanning salons. METHODS: Subjects (n = 100) were surveyed by two questionnaires: a modified CAGE questionnaire to assess behaviours consistent with problem tanning and a modified Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV) ('substance dependence' criteria) to assess behaviours consistent with a dependence-like disorder. RESULTS: In total, 41% of subjects met criteria consistent with a 'tanning addictive disorder', and an additional 33% met criteria for problematic tanning behaviour based on the modified CAGE criteria or subthreshold criteria on the modified DSM-IV criteria. Female gender and early age of onset were associated with meeting tanning addiction criteria. CONCLUSION: A high percentage of subjects who tan frequently in indoor salons experience behaviours and consequences to their tanning consistent with other identified addictive disorders.

In-patient detoxification procedures, treatment retention, and post-treatment opiate use: comparison of lofexidine + naloxone, lofexidine + placebo, and methadone.

OBJECTIVE: In-treatment and post-treatment outcomes were compared for three detoxification procedures (lofexidine+naloxone, lofexidine+placebo naloxone, and methadone). SAMPLE AND DESIGN: The sample was 137 opiate dependent in-patients. Detoxification treatments were 6-day lofexidine+naloxone (n=45), lofexidine+placebo naloxone (n=46), or 10-day methadone reduction (n=46). A cohort study design was used with double-blind random allocation to lofexidine+naloxone versus lofexidine+placebo. Patients who did not consent to, or who were excluded from randomisation received methadone. RESULTS: Outcome differences between treatment groups at follow-up were generally associated with length of stay post-detoxification rather than detoxification procedure. Among patients who were not opiate abstinent throughout follow-up (n=85), those who received lofexidine+naloxone detoxification reported a longer interval to first heroin use, with an interaction between detoxification medication and subsequent retention in treatment also identified. CONCLUSIONS: Detoxification medication may influence medium-term opiate use outcomes via its effect upon retention in treatment.

Antibiotic prophylaxis for bacterial meningitis: overuse and uncertain efficacy.

BACKGROUND: There is little evidence supporting the efficacy of prophylactic antibiotics in preventing secondary cases of bacterial meningitis, and recent guidance extended the use of prophylactic antibiotics amongst children who attend pre-school groups. METHODS: We examined the volume of rifampicin prescribed, and that recommended to contacts of cases of meningococcal and Hib meningitis in Somerset over a three-year period using case note records of the Consultant for Communicable Disease Control (CCDC) and PACT data. RESULTS: There was evidence of excessive prescribing over and above that recommended by the CCDC. CONCLUSIONS: Excessive prescribing increases the chance of serious drug side effects and the development of antibiotic resistance. It is suggested that both meningitis contacts and information about early symptoms of meningitis, as well as an explanation of the rationale behind the prescribing of antibiotic prophylaxis to contacts. This may reduce the likelihood of unnecessary prescribing and subsequent complications.

The fate of antibiotics added to cell cultures used in virology.

The use of cell cultures has revolutionised virology over the past three decades. Antibiotics have played a key role in this revolution. However, it is curious that there appears to be very little published data on the fate of antibiotics added to cell cultures (as opposed to culture media). The experiments described in this paper were designed to show whether antibiotics added to cell cultures lost potency at a different rate from those added to cell culture media alone. In general, potency was lost more rapidly in the presence of cells but the differences were not such as to suggest enzymic breakdown of the antibiotics, and were only revealed by the more sensitive of the two assay methods used.

Separation of haemopoietic cells for biochemical investigation. Preparation of erythroid and myeloid cells from human and laboratory-animal bone marrow and the separation of erythroblasts according to their state of maturation.

The separation of haemopoietic bone-marrow cells by centrifugation through discontinuous density gradients of Percoll is described. This method was used to prepare fractions enriched in erythroblasts, myeloid blast cells or reticulocytes from bone marrow of anaemic and non-anaemic rabbits, from the marrow of other anaemic laboratory animals and from human samples. It is a simple, rapid, reproducible and inexpensive technique that can be readily adapted to suit individual requirements. Secondly, a convenient method is presented for the separation of large quantities of bone-marrow cells into fractions enriched in erythroblasts at different stages of maturation, by velocity sedimentation through a linear gradient of 1-2% sucrose at unit gravity. In vitro, erythroblasts adhere together strongly via a mechanism almost certainly involving a beta-galactoside-specific surface lectin termed erythroid developmental agglutinin. Since the efficiency of cell-separation techniques depends heavily on the maintenance of a single cell suspension in which each unit can move independently, the presence of an adhesive molecule at the cell surface is of considerable significance. The effect of washing the marrow with a lactose-containing medium, which has been shown to remove the agglutinin, was therefore investigated in relation to both methods. The separation on Percoll gradients is considerably enhanced by this treatment. In addition, the unit-gravity sedimentation gradient can be loaded with 5-10 times more cells after lactose extraction in comparison with intact marrow. Although enrichment is less, a useful fractionation according to maturation is still obtained.

The search for antiviral agents among corynebacteria.

Extracts of strains of Corynebacterium diphtheriae var. mitis avirulent, C. hofmannii, C. xerosis, C. parvum and an unidentified Corynebacterium species were tested for antiviral activity against laboratory strains of echovirus type 11, adenovirus type 2 and vaccinia, and a recent isolate of herpes simplex virus. Unlike a previous study, no appreciable antiviral activity was detected in the extracts tested