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Biomedical subjects

J A Farrow

Publications and source records attributed to J A Farrow.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

Pregnant adolescents in chemical dependency treatment. Description and outcomes.

This study examines the treatment, maternal and infant outcomes of pregnant adolescents (16-19 years) enrolled in an adult perinatal chemical dependency treatment program. Twenty-one adolescent subjects were compared to 323 adult women (mean age, 27.4 years) after enrollment into a randomized treatment trial consisting of intensive outpatient or short-term residential conditions. The results show a similar treatment retention rate. Adolescents differed from adult women on marital status, drugs of choice (alcohol, marijuana vs. opiates and cocaine) and method of administration, with no injection drug users in the adolescent cohort. Tobacco use was high (> 85%) in both groups. Obstetric, maternal, and infant outcomes to 1 year were comparable. Older adolescents who are chemically dependent and pregnant have treatment needs similar to adult women and can benefit from programs designed to treat older women. Recruitment difficulties for adolescents in need of treatment is discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Incarcerated adolescents in Washington state. Health services and utilization.

This study describes the health services for incarcerated adolescents in Washington State and their utilization, in 12 juvenile detention facilities statewide, including six state (long-term, postadjudication) and six county (short-term, preadjudication) facilities. Findings differed by facility type, with youth at county facilities having more total visits to emergency rooms and more health care visits per inmate for health problems presenting acutely, such as sexually transmitted disease, pregnancy, urologic problems, and trauma. More were on suicide watch and on psychiatric medication. Health care used by youth at state facilities tended to be for more chronic conditions such as dental, dermatologic, nutritional, and respiratory problems. When utilization was analyzed by size of facility, small facilities had fewer health care visits and fewer nursing hours per inmate. According to our findings, there are at least 14 pregnant adolescents and 2 HIV-infected adolescents incarcerated in this state at any time.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Use of false ID cards and other deceptive methods to purchase alcoholic beverages during high school.

Altered motor vehicle drivers's licenses or other falsified or counterfeit photo identification cards are widely and illegally used by teenagers to obtain beer and other alcohol beverages. We obtained information on the methods currently used by teenagers to purchase beer and wine by asking nine hundred teenagers, between 16-19 years old to complete a brief, confidential questionnaire. High school students most often obtained alcoholic beverages by requesting someone of legal age to purchase it for them. College students used borrowed, altered, or counterfeit identification (ID) more often than high school students. Photo IDs purchased through mail order from a magazine advertisement were used infrequently and when use was attempted, they were sometimes (25%) unsuccessful. Fifteen percent of high school students, 14% of college freshmen, and 24% of teenage drug abusers were able to purchase beer by the case with borrowed, altered, or fake ID. Suggestions to reduce sales of alcohol-containing beverages to minors include universal "carding" of prospective purchasers, use of two view or hologram photos on a drivers' license, requiring three different ID cards at the point of purchase, and penalties to stores that fail to make a good effort to identify underage customers.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

"Streptococcus milleri" strains displaying a gliding type of motility.

Isolates belonging to the "Streptococcus milleri" species group that appear to exhibit a gliding type of motility, which is expressed as spreading growth on certain types of agar media, are described. These strains resembled a biotype of "S. milleri" that is usually isolated from genitourinary sources and is notable for its ability to ferment a wide array of carbohydrates. This biotype, which is currently included in the species Streptococcus anginosus, has been implicated in cases of neonatal infection. The "S. milleri" isolates which we studied lacked any observable organelles of motility and gave negative results when they were tested in conventional motility test medium stab cultures. Colonies growing on certain agar media, however, spread over the surfaces of plates and increased in area with increasing time of incubation. Chocolate agar supported maximum spreading, while this characteristic was barely discernible on blood agar. Electron microscopy studies revealed that there was more production of extracellular glycocalyx by motile strains than by a nonmotile isolate having a similar biotype. The results of an analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences suggested that the motile strains are closely related to S. anginosus and represent a distinct rRNA population within the "S. milleri" species complex.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Phylogenetic evidence that the gram-negative nonsporulating bacterium Tissierella (Bacteroides) praeacuta is a member of the Clostridium subphylum of the gram-positive bacteria and description of Tissierella creatinini sp. nov.

The 16S rRNA gene sequence of the type strain of Tissierella praeacuta (formerly Bacteroides praeacutus) was determined by PCR direct sequencing. A comparative sequence analysis showed that T. praeacuta is a member of the Clostridium subphylum of the gram-positive bacteria and has a close phylogenetic affinity with the species that form Clostridium cluster XII (M. D. Collins, P. A. Lawson, A. Willems, J. J. Cordoba, J. Fernandez-Garayzabal, P. Garcia, J. Cai, H. Hippe, and J. A. E. Farrow, Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 44:812-826, 1994). Although T. praeacuta is gram negative and does not produce endospores, 16S rRNA sequence data showed that it is closely related genealogically (level of sequence similarity, 99.9%) to Clostridium hastiforme. On the basis of our results and the results of previous studies, a second species of Tissierella, Tissierella creatinini sp. nov., is described.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1995

Phylogenetic analysis of the genus Corynebacterium based on 16S rRNA gene sequences.

The 16S rRNA gene sequences of 30 strains representing 23 validated Corynebacterium species and 7 currently non-valid Corynebacterium species were determined. These sequences were aligned with the sequences of other Corynebacterium species and related actinomycete taxa. A comparative sequence analysis revealed that there is considerable phylogenetic depth and internal structure in the genus Corynebacterium. Turicella otitidis and the amycolate species Corynebacterium amycolatum were located at the periphery of the genus Corynebacterium. It was evident that the species of the genus Corynebacterium form a monophyletic association and, together with other chemotype IV and mycolic acid-containing taxa (including the genera Dietzia, Gordona, Mycobacterium, Nocardia, Rhodococcus, and Tsukamurella), form a natural suprageneric group.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Smoking patterns and cessation motivations during adolescence.

With increased knowledge of effective prevention of adolescent smoking, there is a concomitant lack of research on effective adolescent smoking cessation. This study surveyed 77 adolescents (mean age 15.8 years) at a youth detention center in Seattle, Washington, about smoking patterns, cessation attempts, and motivations as well as withdrawal symptoms from nicotine. The results revealed that the majority of smokers had previously attempted smoking cessation (72%). The most common reasons for wanting to quit were for health concerns. Only 30.8% abstained for more than 1 month, and 35.9% abstained for less than 3 days. Nicotine craving was the most severe and most commonly reported withdrawal symptom.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Pregnant teens in prison. Prevalence, management, and consequences.

To estimate the number of pregnant and parenting teens currently incarcerated and to assess the correctional health care and social services provided to this target population, we surveyed 430 juvenile detention and long-term correctional facilities in the United States that incarcerate adolescent girls. Of these, 261 (61%) institutions responded and are included in the analysis. Of these facilities, 68% estimated that they were holding 1 to 5 pregnant adolescents on a given day, with a reported yearly (September 1991 to September 1992) census of 2,000 pregnant teenagers and 1,200 teenaged mothers. Nearly half of the facilities (45%) continue to incarcerate after it is determined that a youth is pregnant. Of those institutions that incarcerate pregnant adolescents, 31% provide no prenatal services and 70% provide no parenting classes. Of these facilities, 60% reported at least 1 obstetric complication in their pregnant population. A substantial number of pregnant and parenting adolescents are in custody in the United States. General community standards of health and social services for pregnant and parenting teenagers are not being met by the institutions that incarcerate them.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Phylogenetic interrelationships of round-spore-forming bacilli containing cell walls based on lysine and the non-spore-forming genera Caryophanon, Exiguobacterium, Kurthia, and Planococcus.

The 16S rRNA gene sequences of "Bacillus aminovorans" and several species considered to be phylogenetically related to the group 2 bacilli of Ash et al. (C. Ash, J. A. E. Farrow, S. Wallbanks, and M. D. Collins, Lett. Appl. Microbiol. 13:202-206, 1991) were determined. A comparative analysis of the sequence data revealed that the round-spore-forming group 2 bacilli, together with some asporogenous taxa (the genera Caryophanon, Exiguobacterium, Kurthia, Planococcus), form a phylogenetically distinct cluster that is only remotely related to Bacillus subtilis, the type species of the genus Bacillus. Within this cluster, planococci, kurthiae, Caryophanon spp., and two lines defined by Bacillus sphaericus and Bacillus fusiformis and by Sporosarcina ureae, Bacillus pasteurii, Bacillus globisporus, and Bacillus psychrophilus were found to be distinct genera. Exiguobacterium aurantiacum and Brevibacterium acetylicum were found to form a distinct clade, which was peripherally related to this cluster. "B. aminovorans" exhibited no specific relationship with the group 2 bacilli or with any of the other reference species examined.

Bacillus↗
PubMed1994

The phylogeny of the genus Clostridium: proposal of five new genera and eleven new species combinations.

The 16S rRNA gene sequences of 34 named and unnamed clostridial strains were determined by PCR direct sequencing and were compared with more than 80 previously determined clostridial sequences and the previously published sequences of representative species of other low- G + C-content gram-positive genera, thereby providing an almost complete picture of the genealogical interrelationships of the clostridia. The results of our phylogenetic analysis corroborate and extend previous findings in showing that the genus Clostridium is extremely heterogeneous, with many species phylogenetically intermixed with other spore-forming and non-spore-forming genera. The genus Clostridium is clearly in need of major revision, and the rRNA structures defined in this and previous studies may provide a sound basis for future taxonomic restructuring. The problems and different possibilities for restructuring are discussed in light of the phenotypic and phylogenetic data, and a possible hierarchical structure for the clostridia and their close relatives is presented. On the basis of phenotypic criteria and the results of phylogenetic analyses the following five new genera and 11 new combinations are proposed: Caloramator gen. nov., with Caloramator fervidus comb. nov.; Filifactor gen. nov., with Filifactor villosus comb. nov.; Moorella gen. nov., with Moorella thermoacetica comb. nov. and Moorella thermoautotrophica comb. nov.; Oxobacter gen. nov., with Oxobacter pfennigii comb. nov.; Oxalophagus gen. nov., with Oxalophagus oxalicus comb. nov.; Eubacterium barkeri comb. nov.; Paenibacillus durum comb. nov.; Thermoanaerobacter kivui comb. nov.; Thermoanaerobacter thermocopriae comb. nov.; and Thermoanerobacterium thermosaccharolyticum comb. nov.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Youth in detention and handguns.

The objective of this work was to describe the frequency and correlates of handgun ownership and firearm injury experiences among youth in a detention facility. A convenience sample of 89 males detained in the King County Youth Services Center, a short-term holding facility, voluntarily completed an anonymous survey. Results showed that 59% of the youth reported owning a handgun. Firearm experiences included carrying a gun to school (46%); firing at another person (68% of handgun owners); firearm injury to self (27%); death of a close friend or family member to firearm homicide or suicide (35%). Personal safety far exceeded recreational use of guns as motivation for self-arming (52% versus 4%). Handgun ownership was more common among youth who reported problem behaviors. Adjusting for age and controlling for covariation of the problem behaviors, gang membership [odds ratio (OR) 6.7; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.7-26.1], committing assault and battery (OR 7.7; 95% CI 2.2-26.8) and selling drugs (OR 3.6; 95% CI 0.99-13.4) were associated with handgun ownership. Our conclusion was that firearm experiences for youth in detention pose health risks equal to or far exceeding other high-risk behaviors in this population.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Phylogenetic analysis of the genera Planococcus, Marinococcus and Sporosarcina and their relationships to members of the genus Bacillus.

A phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA was performed on the genera Planococcus, Marinococcus, Sporosarcina and endospore-forming rods. In agreement with earlier 16S rRNA cataloguing data, Planococcus citreus and Sporosarcina ureae clustered with Bacillus pasteurii and other bacilli containing lysine in their cell walls. Sporosarcina halophila was shown to be genetically distinct from S. ureae and formed a loose association with the main Bacillus subtilis grouping. Marinococcus halophilus (formerly Planococcus halophilus) exhibited low levels of relatedness to all reference species examined and formed a distinct line of descent.

Bacillaceae↗
PubMed1992

The adolescent male with an eating disorder.

While it is clear that males and females with eating disorders share more features in common than dissimilarities, males are distinctive in their past histories of obesity, sexual identity concerns, defensive dieting, and dieting in relationship to sports participation. All adolescents with an eating disorder are likely to be guarded in terms of disclosing items affecting their psychological state. Young men may be more so. In light of this fact, diagnosis of these disorders in adolescent male patients still depends on ruling out possible organic etiologies, thoroughly assessing the adolescent's mental status, and looking for underlying psychiatric symptoms. The association between mood disorders, namely depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorder as well as other anxiety disorders is as strong in young males with eating disorders as with females. Assessment of developmental and nutritional status is key to the diagnosis and is helpful in monitoring recovery. Standards of monitoring other than weight are important and have been outlined. Lastly, family psychodynamics must be addressed in order to provide the eating-disordered young man with more control as well as more independence in order that he take more personal responsibility for a healthier lifestyle.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Adolescent drug and alcohol usage: a comparison of urban and suburban pediatric practices.

Few pediatric practice-based drug and alcohol surveys have been conducted with adolescent patients. This study reports on similarities and differences in adolescent drug and alcohol use between urban (95% black) pediatric practices and a suburban (89% white) pediatric practice. While there were greater similarities between patient substance use and reported problems than differences, a number of significant differences emerged. White suburban youth were heavier users of tobacco products, alcohol, and inhalants, and experienced more difficulties with blackouts, family conflict, school absence, suicidal ideation, and loss of peer relationships. Other racial/ethnic and practice site differences are discussed. This study highlights characteristics of youth drug abuse in the private pediatric practice setting and implications for the pediatrician in caring for adolescents.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Tattooing behavior in adolescence. A comparison study.

We characterize associations with and motivations for tattooing in adolescents through data from a controlled, three-group comparison of adolescents from a substance abuse treatment program, detention center, and private pediatric practice. We surveyed 474 adolescents (12 to 18 years old) with tattoos (12%) and without tattoos (88%). The private pediatric practice was the control site. A 34-item questionnaire was used to profile the three groups and their primary associations with tattooing with respect to race, drug use, school attendance, school grades, parental marital status, family income, tattooing by family members, criminal activity, and involvement with satanic rituals. Tattooing was significantly (P less than .005) associated with all of these variables in the ways described, as was knowledge of its association with human immunodeficiency virus infection. No interventions were made. Tattooing is common in adolescents and is associated with low self-esteem, delinquency, drug abuse, family and peer modeling, and participation in satanic rituals. Addressing the behavior as a health problem is discussed.

Adolescent↗