Prevalence and correlates of the injection of methadone syrup in Sydney, Australia

A sample of 312 heroin users was interviewed on their injection of methadone syrup. Methadone injecting was widespread, with 52% of subjects having injected methadone syrup, 29% in the preceding six months. Males and females were equally likely to report methadone injecting. Forty per cent Of current methadone injectors reported weekly or more frequent methadone injecting over the preceding six months. A history of methadone injecting was;associated with abscesses and infections in injection sites, having been diagnosed with a venous thrombosis and a history of heroin overdose. Current methadone injectors were in poorer general health, had more injection-related symptoms, higher levels of psychological distress, were more likely to have recently passed on used injecting equipment and to have recently committed criminal acts. Implications for the reduction in the prevalence of methadone injecting and associated harm are discussed.

Falling incidence of amputations for peripheral occlusive arterial disease in western Australia between 1980 and 1992

Objectives: To assess temporal trends in the incidence of surgical procedures for peripheral occlusive arterial disease (POAD) and associated changes in outcome as measured by the rate of major lower limb amputations for POAD. Design: a retrospective descriptive population-based study was conducted of the geographically isolated population of Western Austrialia between 1980 and 1992. Methods: Vascular procedures with an accompanying diagnosis of POAD were identified in a computerised system of name-identified records of all discharges from hospital for the population. These procedures were detected using relevant codes from the International Classification of Disease and Procedures. Records of angioplasty and thrombolysis procedures were augmented by searches of hospital-based registers of invasive radiological procedures. The data for the remaining procedures were validated by a review of a random sample of medical records. Results: over the 13 years of the study, rates of major amputations fell significantly for in non-amputation vascular surgery for individuals under the age of 60. In addition, rather than an overall rise in surgery there was shift away from sympathectomy and thromboendarterectomy to angioplasty and bypass surgery. Furthermore, an increasing proportion of all major amputations had a prior attempt at arterial reconstruction. Conclusion: These observations suggest the decrease in major amputations for POAD may reflect a fall in the incidence of POAD, possibly aided by move effective surgery, rather than increased rates of vascular surgery.

Postlepidapedon Zdzitowiecki, 1993 and Gibsonivermis n g (Digenea: Lepocreadiidae) from fishes of the southern Great Barrier Reef, Australia, and their relationship to Intusatrium Durio & Manter, 1968

The genus Intusatrium Durio & Manter, 1968 is redefined based on a re-examination of paratypes of the type-species, I. robustum Durio & Manter, 1968, and is considered monotypic with characteristic terminal genitalia: internal seminal vesicle elongate tubular, with rather thick wall, divided by slight change in wall thickness into longer proximal and shorter distal region; pars prostatica subcylindrical; ejaculatory duct relatively short, with wrinkled/wall. The genus Postlepidapedon Zdzitowiecki, 1993 is redefined and Intusatrium secundum Durio & Manter, 1968 is attributed to it as a new combination. Postlepidapedon secundum n. comb. is redescribed from a paratype and new material from Choerodon graphicus. P. spissum n. sp. from Choerodon venustus, C. cyanodus, C. fasciatus and C. schoenleinii is recognised on the basis of its thick-walled internal seminal vesicle. I! uberis n. sp. from Choerodon schoenleinii and C. venustus is distinguished by the shape and contents of the cirrus-sac with narrow, convoluted internal seminal vesicle, large vesicular pars prostatica and short, muscular ejaculatory duct. A new genus, Gibsonivermis, erected for Intusatrium berryi Gibson, 1987, is characterised by the elongate narrow cirrus-sac and a uroproct. G. berryi n. comb. is redescribed from Sillago ciliata, S. maculata and Sillago sp.

The impact of diabetes on survival among patients with first myocardial infarction

OBJECTIVE - The purpose of this paper is to estimate the impact of diabetes on survival among patients with first acute myocardial infarction, using data from the World Health Organization (WHO) Monitoring Trends and Determinants of Cardiovascular Disease (MONICA) Project in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS - The WHO MONICA Project is a community-based surveillance system that monitors coronary heart disease morbidity and mortality. All patients with suspected coronary events were observed for 28 days after the onset of symptoms. RESULTS - Of 5,322 patients with acute myocardial infarction and no previous history of ischemic heart disease (3,643 men and 1,679 women), 333 men (9%) and 224 women (13%) had a history of diabetes. The age-adjusted 28-day case fatality for women with diabetes (25%) was significantly higher than for women without diabetes (16%); relative risk 1.56 (95% CI: 1.19-2.04). The difference for men was also significant (25% with diabetes and 20% without diabetes); relative risk 1.25 (95% CI: 1.02-1.53). Age-specific case fatality increased significantly with age in both men and women without diabetes, but systematic age effects were not so apparent in patients with diabetes. Case fatality significantly decreased over the study period in patients without diabetes, but not among the diabetic patients. CONCLUSIONS - The increased risk of death in the diabetic patients remained after accounting for their poorer risk factor profiles; even if they reached the hospital alive, diabetic patients were also less likely to survive than nondiabetic patients. The relative impact of diabetes on survival is greater in women than in men.

Occurrence of cutaneous infections of Myxobolus episquamalis (Myxozoa: Myxobolidae) in sea mullet, Mugil cephalus L, in Australia

Objective To report the occurrence of Myxobolus episquamalis in sea mullet, Mugil cephalus L, caught in estuaries in eastern and western Australia. Design A prospective study of commercial catches of mullet in the Clarence River of NSW and individual cases from other areas. Results The organism caused pale, white to pink, raised lesions on the scales and fins of sea mullet. Occurrence of infection was highest in spring and in a marine (down-river) environment compared to a brackish environment. Up to 6% of fish were affected in commercial catches. Conclusion The infection is widespread in Australian mullet, but rarely causes significant economic loss.

Magnesium in tropical and subtropical soils from north-eastern Australia .1. Magnesium fractions and interrelationships with soil properties

The magnesium (Mg) status of 52 highly weathered, predominantly acidic, surface soils from tropical and subtropical north-eastern Australia was evaluated in a laboratory study. Soils were selected to represent a range of soil types and management histories. Exchangeable Mg concentrations were generally low (median value 0.37 cmol(+)/kg), with deficient levels (<0.3 cmol(+)/kg) being measured in 22 of the soils, highlighting the potential for Mg deficiency as a limitation to plant growth in the region. Furthermore, acid-extractable Mg concentrations, considered a reserve of potentially available Mg, were generally modest (mean and median values, 1.6 and 0.40 cmol(+)/kg, respectively). The total Mg content of the soils studied ranged from 123 to 7894 mg/kg, the majority present in the mineral pool (mean 71%), with smaller proportions in the acid-soluble (mean 11%) and exchangeable (mean 17%) pools, and a negligible amount associated with organic matter (mean 1%). A range of extractant solutions used to displace exchangeable Mg was compared, and found to yield similar results on soils with exchangeable Mg <4 cmol(+)/kg. However, at higher exchangeable Mg concentrations, dilute extractants (0.01 M CaCl2, 0.0125 M BaCl2) displaced less Mg than concentrated extractants (1 M NH4Cl, 1 M NH4OAc, 1 M KCl). The concentrated extractants displaced similar amounts of Mg, thus the choice of extractant is not critical, provided the displacing cation is sufficiently concentrated. Exchangeable Mg was not significantly correlated to organic carbon (P > 0.05), and only 45% of the variation in exchangeable Mg could be explained by a combination of pH(w) and clay content.

Magnesium in tropical and subtropical soils from north-eastern Australia .2. Response by glasshouse-grown maize to applied magnesium

A glasshouse trial, in which maize (Zea mays L. cv. Pioneer 3270) was grown in 35 north-eastern Australian soils of low magnesium (Mg) status, was undertaken to study the response to applied Mg. Of the soils studied, 20 were strongly acidic (pH(1:5 soil:water) <5.4), and in these soils the response to Mg was studied in both the presence and absence of lime. Magnesium application significantly (P < 0.05) increased dry matter yield in 10 soils, all of which were strongly acidic. However, significant Mg responses were recorded in 6 soils in the presence of lime, indicating that, in many situations, liming strategies may need to include consideration of Mg nutrition. Critical soil test values for 90% relative yield were 0.21 cmol(+)/kg of exchangeable Mg or 7% Mg saturation, whilst the critical (90% yield) plant tissue Mg concentration (whole shoots) was 0.15%.

Breast cancer five-year survival in New South Wales women, 1972 to 1991

This study of breast cancer survival is based on analysis of five-year relative survival of 38 362 cases of invasive breast cancer in New South Wales (NSW) women, incident between 1972 and 1991, with follow-up to 1992, using data from the population-based NSW Central Cancer Registry. Survival was ascertained by matching the registry file of breast cancers against NSW death certificates from 1972 to 1992, mainly by automated probabilistic linkage. Absolute survival of cases was compared with expected survival of age- and period-matched NSW women. Proportional hazard regression analysis was used for examination of the effects on excess mortality of age, period of diagnosis and degree of spread at diagnosis. Relative survival at five years increased from 70 per cent in 1972-1976 to 77 per cent in 1987-1991. Survival improved during the 1970s and in the late 1980s. Regression analysis suggested that part of the improved survival in the late 1980s was due to lesser degree of spread at diagnosis, whereas the improved survival during the 1970s may have been due to treatment. Survival was better for those aged 40-49 years (RR = 0.86) and worse for those aged greater than or equal to 70 years (RR = 1.22) compared with the referent group (60-69 years). Excess mortality was much less for those with invasive localised disease than those with regional spread (RR = 3.1) or metastatic cancer (RR = 15.5) at diagnosis. For the most recent period (1987-1991), relative five-year survival was 90, 70 and 18 per cent, respectively, for the three degree-of-spread categories.

The health of Filipinas in the Hunter region

An interview survey found lifestyle behaviours (including risk factors and screening), social support and psychological health (GHQ-12) among a sample of 198 Filipina-Australians to be conducive to good health, Knowledge of local health services was good, and most women expressed general satisfaction with all aspects of life in Australia, except in the area of employment prospects. Despite these indications of good health in the group, there remains a need for health service providers to be aware of the difficulties faced by a proportion of Filipina migrants to Australia.

Survey of countertrade practices in Australia

This empirical exploratory study is part of a larger comprehensive study of countertrade practices in the Asia-Pacific region. A mail survey of 600 Australian international trading firms reveals that a positive attitude toward countertrade exists among both countertraders and non-countertraders in Australia. Further the study reveals the major motivating factors, the benefits derived difficulties faced and reasons for not countertrading by Australian firms. In addition, the study identifies the forms of countertrade used, the countries sewed, and the product and service categories countertraded. The results are compared to earlier studies of UK and Canadian firms, and the implications for international marketing managers are discussed. (C) Elsevier Science Inc., 1997.

Paralepidapedon ostorhinchi (Korotaeva, 1974) n comb (Digenea: Lepocreadiidae) in Oplegnathus woodwardi (Waite) (Teleostei: Perciformes: Oplegnathidae) from off Rottnest Island, Western Australia

The digenean originally designated Lepidapedon (Lepidapedon) ostorhinchi is redescribed from its type-host, Oplegnathus woodwardi [= Ostorhinchus conwaii], from the waters off Western Australia. The discovery of a uroproct indicates that the generic designation is wrong and the worm should be Paralepidapedon ostorhinchi (Korotaeva, 1974) n. comb. It is distinct from its nearest relative, P. hoplognathi (Yamaguti, 1938), in having: a prominent post-oral ring; a distinct oesophagus; short anterior diverticula on the caeca; a long external seminal vesicle, ensheathed in a membrane bound gland-cell mass; and less anteriorly extensive vitellarium.

A 1-year longitudinal study of severe traumatic brain injury in Australia using the Sickness Impact Profile

Objective: To document outcome and to investigate patterns of physical and psychosocial recovery in the first year following severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) in an Australian patient sample. Design: A longitudinal prospective study of a cohort of patients, with data collection at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months post injury. Setting: A head injury rehabilitation unit in a large metropolitan public hospital. Patients: A sample of 55 patients selected from 120 consecutive admissions with severe TBI. Patients who were more than 3 months post injury on admission, who remained confused, or who had severe communication deficits or a previous neurologic disorder were excluded. Interventions: All subjects participated in a multidisciplinary inpatient rehabilitation program, followed by varied participation in outpatient rehabilitation and community-based sen ices. Main Outcome Measures: The Sickness impact Profile (SIP) provided physical, psychosocial, and total dysfunction scores at each follow-up. Outcome at 1 year was measured by the Disability Rating Scale. Results: Multivariate analysis of variance indicated that the linear trend of recovery over time was less for psychosocial dysfunction than for physical dysfunction (F(1,51) = 5.87, P < .02). One rear post injury, 22% of subjects had returned to their previous level of employability, and 42% were able to live independently. Conclusions: Recovery from TBI in this Australian sample followed a pattern similar to that observed in other countries, with psychosocial dysfunction being more persistent. Self-report measures such as the SIP in TBI research are limited by problems of diminished self-awareness.