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Biomedical subjects

S J Levy

Publications and source records attributed to S J Levy.

17 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1990

Predictors of marijuana use and uptake among teenagers in Sydney, Australia.

Information on drug-related behaviors was obtained from a random sample of teenagers aged 14 to 19 years in Sydney, Australia, interviewed in their homes in 1985 (N = 996) and 1986 (N = 756). The 1985 prevalence of current marijuana use was 10%. The predictors of marijuana use were: male sex; heavier, more frequent alcohol use; use of drugs other than alcohol, tobacco, or marijuana; marijuana use by siblings, friends, and other acquaintances; attitudes and beliefs favoring drug use; the attitude that possession of marijuana should not be a criminal offense; and the attitude that marijuana is not an important drug issue. In the 756 reinterviewed respondents, prevalence of marijuana use rose from 7% in 1985 to 9% in 1986. The rate of uptake was 6% and peaked at 12% at age 17. The predictors of uptake were: age; male sex; heavier, more frequent alcohol use; tobacco smoking; attitudes and beliefs favoring drugs use; and the attitude that marijuana smoking should be legal. Strategies to prevent marijuana use need to take into account the strong association between heavy drinking and marijuana use, the influence of drug users in the social network, and attitudes and beliefs about drugs.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Predicting intention to use cocaine in teenagers in Sydney, Australia.

Recently in Australia, the question has been raised of whether cocaine poses a threat to our community. We investigated this question in a random community sample of 1002 teenagers aged 14 to 19 years in Sydney, Australia. Subjects were asked whether they or members of their social network used drugs, and questioned on their beliefs about and attitudes to drugs. Intention to use cocaine was measured by the statement, "If a friend I trusted offered me cocaine, I might try it." The predictors of intention were: personal use of illicit drugs, tranquilizers, or inhalants; exposure to cocaine users; pro-drug beliefs; self-perceived consumption of too much alcohol; age; and parental use of drugs. The results suggest that a demand for cocaine--indicated by intention to use cocaine--already exists in the community. The association between intention to use cocaine, drug beliefs, personal use of drugs and exposure to drug users in the social network should be kept in mind when proposing strategies for preventing a cocaine problem in Australia.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Drug use among Sydney teenagers in 1985 and 1986.

To investigate adolescent drug use behaviour, a random community sample of Sydney teenagers aged 14 to 19 years was interviewed at home in 1985 (N = 996) and again in 1986 (N = 756). Respondents were asked about current use of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, other illicit drugs, medications and inhalants. Drug use was common: 16 per cent of respondents were heavy drinkers, 28 per cent smoked tobacco, 10 per cent used marijuana and 4 per cent used drugs other than alcohol, tobacco or marijuana. Seventeen per cent were multiple drug users. Drug use was more common among boys than girls, except for tobacco smoking, and increased with age: older males had particularly high prevalences of heavy drinking, tobacco and marijuana use. The prevalence of heavy drinking, tobacco and marijuana use increased by 2-3 per cent over the one year follow-up period. About half of the heavy drinkers and marijuana users, and 80 per cent of tobacco smokers had not changed one year later, which indicates the stability of these behaviours. One-third of eligible teenagers contacted at the first interview declined to participate: it is likely that this study underestimates the prevalence of drug use in the community. Heavy drinking, tobacco smoking and marijuana use remain important target behaviours for adolescent drug use prevention programs.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1973

Evidence for an amino-terminal extension in high-molecular-weight collagens from mature bovine skin.

Insoluble, mature collagen fibers from bovine skin have been partially solubilized by mild, denaturing, but nonhydrolytic means. The soluble denatured collagen was fractionated by alcohol coacervation, and a fraction rich in high-molecular-weight alpha-chains was obtained. The heavy alpha-chains were isolated by carboxymethylcellulose chromatography. Renaturation, followed by measurements of optical rotation at 365 nm, showed that stable, in-register renaturation was more readily accomplished in mixtures of heavy alpha-chains than in alpha1-beta(11)-chain mixtures. Renatured heavy alpha-chain preparations were precipitated in SLS form, negatively stained, and examined by electron microscopy. The SLS precipitates were compared with SLS segments from native soluble collagen and were found to match in band pattern and spacing along their entire length from the COOH-terminal region, except for an NH(2)-terminal extension of 170 +/- 30 A in the heavy alpha-chain SLS. The heavy alpha-chains correspond chromatographically with those previously reported to be intermediates in the conversion of procollagen to collagen, on the basis of their molecular weight and of labeling studies. The presence of NH(2)-terminal extensions, and their existence in mature insoluble collagen, suggest that these intermediates may have a special role in fibril formation.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Fertility and contraception in the Marshall Islands.

Data on fertility and contraception in Micronesian women in the Marshall Islands were collected during a women's health survey in 1985. High total fertility rates were found. The reproductive pattern of many Marshallese women is one that has been associated with adverse health consequences: pregnancies in teenagers and in women over 39 years, high parities of four or more births, and short birth intervals. The practice of breastfeeding is declining in younger women. The prevalence of contraceptive use is low, and the availability of reversible methods is limited. Most contraceptive nonusers would like to practice contraception, but are inhibited by the lack of information about family planning. It is suggested that more attention needs to be given to family planning services in the Marshall Islands, in particular to improving the availability of reversible methods of contraception and of information about family planning. Further research is also needed on how family planning services might best be organized to maximize participation by women and their partners who wish to use such services.

Adolescent↗