A survey of risk factors for cryptosporidiosis in New York City: drinking water and other exposures

We conducted a survey to determine the prevalence of known and theoretical exposure risks for cryptosporidiosis among selected New York City residents. Subjects were recruited from outpatients attending either a practice for persons with HIV infection (n=160), or other medical practices (n=153), at The New York Hospital–Cornell Medical Center. Despite a greater concern for waterborne infection, 82% of HIV-infected subjects reported consuming municipal tap water compared to 69% of subjects from other medical clinics (OR 2·1, 95% CI 1·2–3·6, P=0·006). Although 18% and 31% of subjects, respectively, denied any tap water consumption at home or work, all but one from each cohort responded positively to having at least one possible alternate source of tap water ingestion such as using tap water to brush teeth or drinking tap water offered in a restaurant. 78% and 76% of subjects, respectively, had at least one potential risk for exposure other than municipal water consumption, such as swimming in pools or contact with animals. Our findings indicate that it is possible to stratify the population into subsets by the amount of tap water consumed. This suggests that an observational epidemiologic study of the risk of contracting cryptosporidiosis from everyday tap water consumption is feasible.</jats:p

Liquido cefalorraqueano no récem-nascido pré-termo sadio

Estudo da composição do LCR de 54 recém-nascidos prematuros sadios no segundo dia de vida. Os prematuros estudados precediam de gestações sem inter-corrências com parto não-traumático, apresentavam Apgar entre 6 e 9 aos 5 minutos de vida e não apresentavam anormalidades quanto ao exame clínico, neurológico, hematimétrico e gasométrico. Da composição do LCR foram estu-dades a citometria e as concentrações de proteínas totais, glicose, bilirrubina e hemoglobina. As estimativas encontradas permitem aceitar como limites das variações fisiológicas da composição do LCR do RN-PT os seguintes valores: leucócitos até 16 por mm ³; hemácias até 1.280 por mm3; proteínas totais até 300 mg/100 ml; bilirrubina de 10 a 80 µM/l; hemoglobina até 8 µM/l; glicose: cerca de 2/3 da concentração no sangue. Em relação à composição do LCR de 79 recém-nascidos normais a termo, avaliada mediante os mesmos métodos e no mesmo laboratório, são significativamente maiores as concentrações de proteínas totais e de bilirrubina, bem como estar presente a hemoglobina, pigmento não demonstrado no recém-nascido a termo. É discutida a importância da imaturidade da barreira hêmato-liquórica quanto às características do LCR apontadas, considerando-se encontrar-se ela ainda menos diferenciada no recém-nascido prematuro que no recém-nascido a termo

The Economics of Food Insecurity in the United States

Food insecurity is experienced by millions of Americans, and its prevalence has increased dramatically in recent years. Due to its prevalence and many demonstrated negative health consequences, food insecurity is one of the most important nutrition-related public health issues in the U.S. In this article, we cover how economic insights and models have improved our understanding of the determinants of food insecurity, the effects of food insecurity on health outcomes, and the impact of food assistance programs on food insecurity. We conclude with a discussion of several issues where economists can provide further insights