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S C Lapham

Publications and source records attributed to S C Lapham.

29 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

HMO databases: fertile ground for epidemiological research.

The computerized databases maintained by health maintenance organizations (HMOs) are a rich new source for health research. The authors describe the process by which health-related research became sanctioned at Lovelace Medical Center in Albuquerque, N.M., and its affiliated HMO. They review research conducted with several other HMO databases and suggest numerous possibilities for studying the incidence, distribution and control of disease using the vast data collected in managed care database systems.

Confidentiality↗
PubMed1989

Health implications of radionuclide levels in cattle raised near U mining and milling facilities in Ambrosia Lake, New Mexico.

This study was conducted to determine radionuclide tissue levels in cattle raised near U mining and milling facilities. Ambrosia Lake, New Mexico, has been the site of extensive U mining for 30 y and contains several underground U mines, a processing mill, and two large U tailings piles. Ten cows were purchased from two grazing areas in Ambrosia Lake and ten control animals were purchased from Crownpoint, New Mexico. Muscle, liver, kidney, and bone tissue taken from these animals, and environmental samples, including water, grasses and soil collected from the animals' grazing areas, were analyzed for 238U, 234U, 230Th, 226Ra, 210Pb, and 210Po. Mean radionuclide levels in cattle tissue and environmental samples from Ambrosia Lake were higher in almost every comparison than those found in respective controls. Liver and kidney tissues were particularly elevated in 226Ra and 210Po. Radiation dose commitments from eating cattle tissue with these radionuclide concentrations were calculated. We concluded that the health risk to the public from eating exposed cattle is minimal, unless large amounts of this tissue, especially liver and kidney, are ingested.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

A prospective study of giardiasis and water supplies in Colorado.

A prospective study of 484 visitors to Vail and Aspen/Snowmass, Colorado, was conducted to determine the risk of acquiring giardiasis. Of the 259 visitors to Vail, no cases of giardiasis were confirmed and only one of 12 water filtrates were positive for Giardia cysts. Of 225 visitors to Aspen/Snowmass two cases of giardiasis were confirmed and 12 of 20 water filtrates were positive for Giardia cysts. The regular occurrence of Giardia cysts in Aspen and Snowmass water was associated with lower rates of giardiasis acquisition than reported during outbreaks of waterborne giardiasis.

Colorado↗
PubMed1985

Enterobacter mediastinitis following cardiac surgery.

Eight cases of sternal/mediastinal infection due to Enterobacter species were seen in postoperative cardiac patients during 1980 to 1981. The attack rate was 14.5% (8/55), compared to 3.7% (2/54) for an identical period in 1979 to 1980 (p less than 0.05). Cases varied in severity from fulminant, acute bacteremic infections (one death) to less severe wound infection. Late complications or recurrences were not seen. There was a hospital-wide increase, relative to all other gram-negative bacillary isolates, in Enterobacter laboratory isolations, but no increased rate of infection in any other specific surgical condition. No personnel, materials, or techniques were associated with the outbreak, and all but two environmental cultures were negative. Case-control analysis suggested that surgical complications and prophylactic cephalosporins were associated with infection. Prospectively, an additional 85 cardiac surgery patients had increased Enterobacter skin/wound colonization following perioperative prophylaxis with cephalosporin antibiotics. After introduction of barrier isolation and restriction of contacts no further mediastinitis occurred in 100 subsequent cardiac surgery patients. This study indicates that Enterobacter may be major pathogens causing post-cardiac-surgery infection not prevented by cephalosporin prophylaxis.

Cardiac Surgical Procedures↗
PubMed1984

Risk factors for victimization during the 1980 riot at the Penitentiary of New Mexico.

The New Mexico Penitentiary riot of February 2, 1980, resulted in death for 33 inmates at the hands of their fellow prisoners, and the hospitalization of 62 inmates for treatment of drug overdose or trauma. A case-control study of dead and hospitalized inmates was conducted to determine risk factors for victimization. Twelve (12.5%) of the 96 inmates housed in the protective custody unit were killed, compared with an overall penitentiary death rate of 2.9% (p = 0.0003). These 12 individuals were similar to the general inmate population with respect to age, race, years of education, crimes, time served, and prison rule infractions committed. In contrast, the 21 homicide victims housed in other areas were younger and had committed significantly greater numbers of rule infractions during incarceration. Prisoners hospitalized for drug overdose, but not those hospitalized for traumatic injuries, could be differentiated from the remaining prison population by increased convictions for homicide and higher prison infraction rates. Inmates in protective custody were targeted selectively for death; other subgroups of victims of violence appear to share characteristics often associated with perpetrators of violence.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Survey of health department-based environmental epidemiology programs.

A survey of state epidemiologists in all 50 states and New York City was conducted between October 1982 and January 1983 to determine which states had existing programs in environmental epidemiology. We identified 29 environmental epidemiology programs with at least one full-time state-funded staff member. The most common areas of responsibility included investigations of indoor air pollution (96 per cent), exposures to toxic or hazardous substances (93 per cent), and pesticide exposures (93 per cent).

Environmental Pollution↗
PubMed1983

Isolation of Salmonella enteritidis, serotype Horsham, from three American Indian Tribes.

Salmonella enteritidis, serotype Horsham, identified rarely worldwide, was isolated from the stools of six American Indians with gastroenteritis. The patients were from separate tribes located in three geographically distinct villages. Although significant contact was demonstrated between ill individuals within two tribes, no common source for the organism has been identified.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Alcohol use inventory: screening and assessment of first-time driving-while-impaired offenders. I. Reliability and profiles.

This study evaluated the use of the Alcohol Use Inventory (AUI) in a drink-driving offender population court-mandated to attend a screening programme. We compared offenders' scale scores, reliability statistics and profiles to those from two clinical populations on which the AUI was normed. Among offenders, males and females had similar levels of involvement with alcohol, and Native Americans had higher scale scores than other ethnic groups. Comparisons with the normative population revealed lower mean scale scores and lower reliability scores among offenders. Differences between the offender and normative populations were most pronounced for the primary scales. We also found inconsistencies in offenders' responses to certain questions. To address this, we recommend that, when using the AUI for screening offenders: (1) screeners place more emphasis on second- and third-order scales than primary scales; (2) lower cut-off points be used for identifying problem drinkers; (3) counsellors conduct in-person interviews with clients to develop rapport and encourage self-disclosure.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Alcohol use inventory: screening and assessment of first-time driving-while-impaired offenders. II. Typology and predictive validity.

This study evaluated the use of Alcohol Use Inventory (AUI) for driving-while-impaired (DWI) screening, by determining whether DWI offenders (n = 1644), grouped according to their reported alcohol involvement on the AUI, would have different rates of recidivism in a 5-year follow-up. Cluster analysis using the six second-order scales produced six groups (clusters 1-6) described as the Low-Profile (50%), Alcohol-Preoccupation (14%), Enhanced (22%), Enhanced-Disrupt (9%), Anxious-Disrupt (3%), and High-Profile (1%) types. They were characterized by different sociodemographic profiles. Members of cluster 4 were associated with the highest DWI recidivism rate (40%), committing one or more further DWI, and clusters 5 and 6 were associated with the highest rate of committing two or more DWIs. Rates of subsequent traffic convictions and crashes were, however, not statistically different among the clusters. Predictors of DWI recidivism included male gender, young age, less-educated, high blood-alcohol concentration at arrest, and clusters of 3 and 4. Different typologies indicated that the needs for treatment might be different. Evaluators should keep in mind the strength of AUI, use risk factors identified in the study, and take measures of test-taking defensiveness to enhance overall predictive validity.

Adolescent↗