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The prevalence of leisure-time physical activity among diabetics in South Carolina.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death among South Carolinians. The benefit of physical activity on the control and prevention of diabetes has been established. This study determined the prevalence of leisure-time physical activity among South Carolinians with and without diabetes and compared the physical activity of those with diabetes between 1990 and 2000. METHODS: Data from the South Carolina Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System were used to classify adults with and without diabetes into categories of physical activity. RESULTS: Physical inactivity was higher among South Carolinians with diabetes (42%) than in those without (27%). A comparison of physical activity in diabetics between 1990 and 2000 demonstrated a slight decrease (2%) in physical inactivity. CONCLUSION: The decrease in physical inactivity among diabetics is encouraging; however, further promotion of physical activity is recommended to encourage diabetics to engage in physical activity on a regular basis.

Adult↗

Support for instruction about homosexuality in South Carolina public schools.

Research has demonstrated that recognition of sexual orientation begins in adolescence. However, students who identify as gay or lesbian report that the subject of homosexuality is virtually absent from classroom instruction. In South Carolina public schools, the subject of homosexuality may not be discussed except during instruction about sexually transmitted diseases. In 1997, survey data were obtained from 534 South Carolina registered voters to determine level of support for school-based sexuality education, including support for instruction about homosexuality. Overall, support for sexuality education was strong, however, homosexuality was the least-supported subject in the survey. In addition, registered voters were less sure as to what grade level instruction about homosexuality should begin. Characteristics of voters who supported and opposed instruction about homosexuality in the public schools were examined and compared. These data may be useful in building support for sexuality education programs that address this controversial topic.

Adolescent↗

The occupational and environmental medicine gap in the family medicine curriculum: five key elements in South Carolina. Part II.

Part II of our three-part report examines five of the key elements for occupational and environmental medicine (OEM) training in family medicine residency. These were introduced by the Environmental Medicine Curriculum Committee (EMCC) faculty in South Carolina under a Department of Energy (DOE) grant to the Environmental Hazards Assessment Program (EHAP) of the Medical University of South Carolina, 1992-1997. Each element is being designed, tested, and updated by clinicians in the residency network. A pilot study of 100 third-year medical students conducted in 1996 suggests the difficulty in implementing OEM skills in current family medicine training.

Curriculum↗

Multiple antibiotic resistance in clinical strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolated in South Carolina.

Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values for penicillin G, tetracycline, amoxicillin, and actinomycin D were determined for 81 strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolated from patients attending public health clinics in the Piedmont region of South Carolina. Gonococcal isolates were also screened for highlevel resistance to streptomycin. Significant positive correlations (r >/= 0.45, P </= 0.01) were found between all possible pairs of the antibiotics penicillin G, tetracycline, and amoxicillin. The MIC values of actinomycin D showed no significant positive correlations with the MIC values of the other antibiotics. Gonococcal strains that were resistant to streptomycin tended to be resistant to penicillin G, tetracycline, and amoxicillin. Of the 81 isolates, 18.5% were multiply resistant to penicillin G, tetracycline, amoxicillin, and streptomycin. Spontaneous mutants with reduced antibiotic susceptibility, selected for decreased susceptibility to penicillin G, displayed small decreases in susceptibility to tetracycline, amoxicillin, and actinomycin D. Spontaneous mutants selected for decreased susceptibility to actinomycin D displayed small losses in susceptibility to penicillin G. The results show that multiple antibiotic resistance occurs in clinically isolated gonococcal strains in South Carolina. The results further suggest the presence of a common genetic mechanism determining antibiotic resistance in N. gonorrhoeae.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Intimate partner violence among men and women--South Carolina, 1998.

Few studies provide population-based estimates of intimate partner violence (IPV) for men and women, especially at the state level. IPV may result in adverse health effects for victims and perpetrators (1-3). To estimate the lifetime incidence of IPV by type of violence (e.g., physical, sexual, and perceived emotional abuse) and to explore demographic correlates of reporting IPV among men and women, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control and the University of South Carolina conducted a population-based random-digit-dialed telephone survey of adults in the state. This report summarizes the results of the survey, which indicated that approximately 25% of women and 13% of men have experienced some type of IPV during their lifetime. Although women were significantly more likely to report physical and sexual IPV, men were as likely as women to report emotional abuse without concurrent physical or sexual IPV.

Adult↗

Borrelia, Coxiella, and Rickettsia in Carios capensis (Acari: Argasidae) from a brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) rookery in South Carolina, USA.

Argasid ticks are vectors of viral and bacterial agents of humans and animals. Carios capensis, a tick of seabirds, infests the nests of brown pelicans, Pelecanus occidentalis, and other ground nesting birds along the coast of South Carolina. This tick is associated with pelican nest abandonment and could pose a threat to humans visiting pelican rookeries if visitors are exposed to ticks harboring infectious agents. We collected ticks from a pelican rookery on Deveaux Bank, South Carolina and screened 64 individual ticks, six pools of larvae, and an egg mass for DNA from Bartonella, Borrelia, Coxiella, and Rickettsia by polymerase chain reaction amplification and sequencing. Ticks harbored DNA from "Borrelia lonestari", a novel Coxiella sp., and three species of Rickettsia, including Rickettsia felis and two undescribed Rickettsia spp. DNA from the Coxiella and two undescribed Rickettsia were detected in unfed larvae that emerged in the laboratory, which implies these agents are transmitted vertically by female ticks. We partially characterize the novel Coxiella by molecular means.

Animals↗

Establishing brain death in South Carolina: a clinician's guide.

With recent technological and medical advances, basic cardiopulmonary function can now be prolonged in many patients. Concurrently, organ transplantations have become more common and interest in living wills has increased. As a result, the South Carolina physician is increasingly obligated to determine whether a patient receiving cardiopulmonary support is dead due to irreversible cessation of brain function (ICBF) (brain dead). Here we review the bedside clinical valuation of brain death (ICBF), the adjunctive use of the EEG and other tests, and the South Carolina laws pertaining to this complex decision.

Brain Death↗

Underreporting of AIDS cases in South Carolina, 1986 and 1987.

An evaluation of the completeness and accuracy of case reporting of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) for the 18-month period from January 1, 1986, through June 30, 1987, was conducted for South Carolina. A total of 596,585 hospital discharge billing records were searched by computer for conditions defining AIDS. The resulting 1513 records were manually reviewed. Of these, 349 discharges for 163 individuals were classified as being definitely AIDS related, the clinical features of these cases meeting Centers for Disease Control criteria for AIDS diagnosis. Of these cases, 153 were reportable to the South Carolina AIDS registry at the time of their diagnosis. Comparison of this case list with registry records revealed that only 91 (59.5%) had been reported. Reporting was significantly poorer for cases among blacks (53.1%) than for cases among whites (71.6%). These findings may have important implications for the interpretation of AIDS surveillance data and for planning activities in which awareness of complete case counts may be critical.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Knowledge, perceived risk, and beliefs about AIDS among high school and college students in South Carolina.

Our study reveals that high school and college students in South Carolina have a fairly high level of knowledge about AIDS. High school students have lower level of knowledge about AIDS than college students. High school students also have higher perception of risk of acquiring HIV infection and do not consider the AIDS epidemic as a very serious health threat. School-based AIDS education is critically needed to increase students' knowledge about AIDS and to develop skills which will help them adopt and maintain risk prevention behaviors. Physicians play a very important role in developing effective school-based AIDS education and prevention programs.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Diabetes and pregnancy in South Carolina: prevalence, perinatal mortality, and neonatal morbidity in 1978.

Through retrospective analysis of vital records and hospital discharge data, this study examines the prevalence of diabetes in pregnancy and diabetes-related perinatal mortality and neonatal morbidity in South Carolina in 1978. Diabetes was observed in 5.9/1000 deliveries. Diabetic natality rates for whites and nonwhites were 5.1/1000 and 6.9/1000, respectively. In comparison with comprehensive screening programs, these rates suggest that more than half of all diabetic pregnancies in South Carolina are unrecognized. The overall diabetic perinatal mortality rate was 102 deaths/1000 deliveries, in contrast to the nondiabetic perinatal mortality rate of 25 deaths/1000 deliveries. The risk of perinatal mortality is greater for nonwhites (153 deaths/1000 deliveries) and for women on insulin (182 deaths/1000 deliveries). One-fourth of the pregnancies among nonwhite women on insulin resulted in fetal or neonatal death. Observed neonatal morbidity was high, with respiratory distress syndrome, hypoglycemia, infections, and congenital anomalies the most frequent complications reported. Documentation of assessment for other common neonatal complications was limited.

Cross-Sectional Studies↗

Urinary estrogen metabolites, prostate specific antigen, and body mass index among African-American men in South Carolina.

INTRODUCTION: Estrogen metabolites have been linked to risk of breast cancer, and we were interested in whether they are associated with prostate specific antigen (PSA) and other factors associated with prostate cancer. African-American (AA) men in South Carolina have among the highest prostate cancer rates in the world, and thus provide an ideal population in which to investigate this hypothesis. METHODS: We recruited AA men attending prostate cancer screenings in and around Columbia, South Carolina. Because very few men had elevated PSAs, we restricted our study to the 77 men whose PSA was below the cutpoint used by the screening program to indicate need for diagnostic workup. These men provided spot urine samples and answered demographic and lifestyle questions including self-reported body weight, height, exercise, tobacco use, medications, cancer history and age. Levels of urinary 2-hydroxyestrone (2-OHE1) and 16alpha-hydroxyestrone (16alpha-OHE1), and their ratio (2/16) and blood PSA levels were determined. RESULTS: After adjusting for a statistically significant interaction between age and BMI, we found a reduction of 14.2% in 2-OHE1 for each 1.0 ng/ml increase in PSA (p=0.05). For obese AA men only (BMI> or =30 kg/m2), 2-OHE1 increased by 36% for each decade of age (p=0.009). CONCLUSIONS: Estrogen metabolites may be related to PSA level in AA men. Older men with BMIs greater than 30 kg/m2 had an unexpected increase in 2-OHE1, suggesting a dysregulation of this estrogen metabolism pathway. Further studies of estrogen metabolites may provide insights into prostate cancer risk factors.

Adult↗

Mercury in bald eagle nestlings from South Carolina, USA.

Bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) may be at risk from contaminants in their diet and young birds may be particularly sensitive to contaminant exposure. To evaluate potential risks from dietary mercury exposure to eagle nestlings in South Carolina (USA), we surveyed mercury concentrations in 34 nestlings over two breeding seasons (1998 and 1999). Samples were also obtained from several post-fledging eagles in the region. Nestling feather mercury ranged from 0.61-6.67 micrograms Hg/g dry weight, nestling down mercury from 0.50-5.05 micrograms Hg/g dry weight, and nestling blood mercury from 0.02-0.25 microgram Hg/g wet weight. We did not detect significant differences in tissue mercury between nestlings from coastal and inland regions in contrast to some other studies of piscivorous birds. Mercury concentrations were much higher in the post fledging birds we sampled. Our data show that nestling eagles in South Carolina are accumulating mercury, and that concentrations in older birds may exceed regulatory guidelines.

Animals↗

Environmental factors and high risk of esophageal cancer among men in coastal South Carolina.

A case-control study involving interviews of 207 men with esophageal cancer and 422 control subjects or their next of kin was conducted to identify reasons for the unusually high rates of esophageal cancer among men in coastal South Carolina. Tobacco and alcohol, including moonshine, were identified as the major determinants of esophageal cancer risk. Increased risk was also associated with low intake of fresh fruits but not with drinking of local herbal teas. The findings suggest that efforts aimed at reducing tobacco and alcohol use will help to lower the elevated rates of esophageal cancer in coastal South Carolina.

Alcohol Drinking↗

Seasonal abundance of aphids (Homoptera: Aphididae) in wheat and their role as barley yellow dwarf virus vectors in the South Carolina coastal plain.

Aphid (Homoptera: Aphididae) seasonal flight activity and abundance in wheat, Triticum aestivum L., and the significance of aphid species as vectors of barley yellow dwarf virus were studied over a nine-year period in the South Carolina coastal plain. Four aphid species colonized wheat in a consistent seasonal pattern. Greenbug, Schizaphis graminum (Rondani), and rice root aphid, Rhopalosiphum rufiabdominalis (Sasaki), colonized seedlingwheat immediately after crop emergence, with apterous colonies usually peaking in December or January and then declining for the remainder of the season. These two aphid species are unlikely to cause economic loss on wheat in South Carolina, thus crop managers should not have to sample for the subterranean R. rufiabdominalis colonies. Bird cherry-oat aphid, Rhopalosiphum padi (L.), was the second most abundant species and the most economically important. Rhopalosiphum padi colonies usually remained below 10/row-meter until peaking in February or March. Barley yellow dwarf incidence and wheat yield loss were significantly correlated with R. padi peak abundance and aphid-day accumulation on the crop. Based on transmission assays, R. padi was primarily responsible for vectoring the predominant virus serotype (PAV) we found in wheat. Pest management efforts should focus on sampling for and suppressing this aphid species. December planting reduced aphid-day accumulation and barley yellow dwarf incidence, but delayed planting is not a practical management option. English grain aphid, Sitobion avenae (F.), was the last species to colonize wheat each season, and the most abundant. Sitobion avenae was responsible for late-season virus transmission and caused direct yield loss by feeding on heads and flag leaves during an outbreak year.

Animals↗

Geographic variation in sarcoidosis in South Carolina: its relation to socioeconomic status and health care indicators.

Geographic patterns of sarcoidosis have been detected and studied on a global scale. However, the associations between these disease patterns and population characteristics have not been determined. The authors studied the geographic pattern of sarcoidosis in South Carolina and its relation to socioeconomic status (SES) and health status indicators. Hospitalization rates for the period 1985-1995 were used as geographic indicators of sarcoidosis. Rates were assessed for the 46 counties in South Carolina, adjusting for differences in SES, availability/accessibility of health care, diagnostic practices, and hospital utilization. Patterns in geographic variation were assessed based on physiographic characteristics and proximity to the Atlantic coastline. Significant variation was identified with an increase in sarcoidosis rates proximal to the Atlantic coastline. Population characteristics were identified that appeared to explain regional variation in sarcoidosis in Caucasians; however, regression analysis was unable to explain the regional differences in disease distribution by variation in SES, diagnostic practices, accessibility/availability, or hospital utilization in African Americans. These results suggest that the development of sarcoidosis is associated with a geographically linked risk factor in African Americans. This work supports the need for additional studies that will identify this risk factor(s).

Adult↗

Outbreak of gastroenteritis due to Salmonella enteritidis from locally produced grade A eggs, South Carolina.

Recent investigations of outbreaks of Salmonella enteritidis gastroenteritis among humans, especially in the northeastern United States, implicate grade A shell chicken eggs as the likely vehicle of transmission. In April 1991 we investigated an outbreak of S enteritidis infections after a wedding anniversary celebration in Beaufort, South Carolina. Sixty-eight percent of persons who ate a macaroni and cheese dish, but none of the 16 attendees who did not, became ill (P < .001). The chef used six grade A eggs in the macaroni and cheese and may have undercooked it. The egg supplier processed eggs exclusively from farms in South Carolina and North Carolina. This outbreak suggests that the epidemic of S enteritidis in flocks of laying hens the consequent threat of human infection has spread to the Carolinas.

Disease Outbreaks↗

Patterns of hospital admissions and emergency room visits among patients with scleroderma in South Carolina, USA.

OBJECTIVE: Little research has examined patterns of hospitalization and use of emergency rooms (ER) among patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). We compared the incidence of hospitalizations and ER visits across 3 race groups (non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black, other) and determined predictors of referral to the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), a major referral center for patients with SSc residing in the southeastern United States. METHODS: Data were obtained on all South Carolina hospitalizations (1996-2000) for patients who were ever hospitalized for a diagnosis of SSc during that time period. Hospitalization and ER incidence rates were determined in conjunction with corresponding population sizes obtained from the 2000 US Census, and rates were compared across race, sex, and age groups using Poisson regression models. Logistic regression was used to determine predictors of being treated at MUSC. RESULTS: The hospitalization incidence rate was significantly (p < 0.05) higher among blacks compared to whites (rate ratio 1.66; 95% confidence interval 1.41, 1.96), as was the ER incidence rate (rate ratio 1.78; 95% CI 1.50, 2.11). Even after adjusting for sex, age, median household income, primary insurance claim payor, county, and comorbidity, blacks were 60% less likely (p < 0.05) than whites to receive inpatient treatment at MUSC. Similar results were observed when comparing other non-whites to whites. CONCLUSION: The increased hospitalizations and ER visits among non-whites provide additional evidence of greater disease burden among these population groups. Despite this increased burden, non-whites are less likely to receive care at a major SSc referral center.

Academic Medical Centers↗