Condom use among the young engaging in vaginal intercourse

OBJECTIVE: To describe young people's use of condoms in penetrative vaginal intercourse, and to identify the factors associated with this use. METHOD: The information was collected using a self-administered questionnaire put in 1,000 people between 14 and 24 years of age resident in the region of Andalusia (Spain). The results of the sample were representative and the trust interval was 95%. A bivariante analysis was carried out and hierarchical logistic regression equations were adjusted to verify associations between the dependent variable use of the condom in the vaginal intercourse and the variables proposed from PRECEDE model (predisposing, enabling, and reinforcing). The adjustment of the model was of a 38%, according to the Nagelkerke's statistic. RESULTS: Of the people surveyed, 750 had affective and/or sexual relations with physical contact, and 63% of these had vaginal intercourse (47% of all surveyed). Of those, people that only had vaginal intercourse once (12% of all surveyed), 83% (10,3% of all surveyed) used a condom, whereas, people that had sex more than once (34% of all surveyed), 49% always used a condom (16,9% of all surveyed). The variables associated with always using a condom were: intention of safe behaviour with their regular partner and low frequency of practice. The variables associated with never using a condom were: living emancipated, having an external locus of control (thinking that becoming infected depends upon external factors), low number of zones of the body identified as pleasure-sensitive, thinking that a condom is not necessary if one trusts his or her partner, intention of unsafe behaviour with their regular partner, and not talking with the partner about preventive methods before having sex. DISCUSSION: The most associated factors with using or not a condom in vaginal intercourse are predisposing (attitudes, values and believes) that are related with the kind of sexual partner. Interventions (based on the young active participation) are suggested to make them perceived the compatibility between the trust with the partner and the use of condom, and put in doubt the false safety given by a partner perceived as habitual.     

Aortoiliac thrombosis in antiphospholipid syndrome-case report and literature review

Antiphospholipid syndrome is accepted as one of the most important causes of hypercoagulable states. Thrombotic events in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome, predominantly women, occur at a younger age than in those suffering from atherosclerotic disease. The majority of the thrombotic events affect the deep venous system of the lower limbs and arterial thrombosis predominates in the cerebral territory. The use of anticoagulant therapy prevents recurrent thrombosis but the duration and intensity of treatment remain controversial. Aortic disease is an anecdotal fact in the literature. A case of infrarenal aortic occlusion involving both iliac arteries associated with primary antiphospholipid syndrome is presented.     

Assessment and intervention for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in the schools. Lessons from the MTA study

The MTA experience provides several lessons that may have clinical relevance. First, the MTA study identified six key instruments (see Table 1) that clinicians may want to use, but even on these instruments discrepancies in parent and teacher sources should be expected. We believe that unnoticed or unresolved discrepancies may be important factors contributing to the "disconnect" identified by the Consensus Conference Panel. Based on the MTA experience, we recommend a telephone call to the child's teacher, specifically to inquire about any discrepancy in the "source by domain" summary, as an efficient way to make a meaningful connection "... between developmental or educational (school-based) assessments and health-related (medical practice-based) services" for children with ADHD. Second, evaluation of pharmacologic intervention in the MTA study confirmed that teachers' reports are crucial for documenting efficacy, whereas parent reports are crucial for documenting side effects. Based on the MTA experience, we recommend frequent telephone contact with the teacher specifically to inquire about the peak effects and dissipation of effects of medication that are expected to occur during the school hours as a way to improve "... communication between diagnosticians and those who implement and monitor treatment in the schools."     

Primary lesions caused by explosions]

The lesions produced by the expansive wave are characteristic of severe injury produced by explosion. This type of injury is being classified as primary lesion. We report a 28 years old male patient who suffered amputation of both lower extremities associated with hypovolemic shock. The patient presented primary tympanic perforation and pneumothorax after initiation of mechanical ventilation at positive pressure. In the discussion section we analyze the physical mechanisms leading to this primary lesion and we indicate the organs most commonly affected. We rise general considerations dealing with the management of these patients and we remark the advantages of a coordinated medical attendance policy.     

Transmission risk of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato from Ixodes ricinus ticks to humans in southwest Germany.

The risk of Borrelia burgdorferi infection and the value of antibiotic prophylaxis after tick bite are controversial. In this study, performed in two areas of southwestern Germany, ticks were collected from 730 patients and examined by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for B. burgdorferi. To assess whether transmission of B. burgdorferi occurred, the patients were clinically and serologically examined after tick removal and during follow-up examinations. Data from all tick bites gave a total transmission rate of 2.6% (19 patients). Eighty-four ticks (11.3%) were PCR positive. Transmission occurred to 16 (26.7%) of 60 patients who were initially seronegative and could be followed up after the bite of an infected tick. These results indicate that the transmission rate from infected ticks in Europe is higher than previously assumed. Examination of ticks and antibiotic prophylaxis in the case of positivity appears to be indicated.     

Regional haemodynamic effects of angiotensin II (3-8) in conscious rats.

1. It has been reported that angiotensin II (AII) (3-8) causes endothelium-dependent renal cortical vasodilatation, in anaesthetized rats, through interaction with a novel receptor that shows no affinity for the AT1-receptor antagonist, losartan. Therefore in order to get a fuller profile of the regional haemodynamic effects of AII (3-8) in conscious rats we assessed its renal, mesenteric and hindquarters vascular effects, and compared them to the responses elicited by AII and AIII. 2. AII and AIII (1.25, 12.5 and 125 pmol kg-1) caused dose-dependent pressor and renal and mesenteric vasoconstrictor effects. At doses up to 125 pmol kg-1, AII (3-8) was without any cardiovascular effects, but with doses of 1.25 and 12.5 nmol kg-1 there were dose-dependent increases in mean arterial blood pressure and reductions in renal and mesenteric flows and vascular conductances. The responses to AII (3-8) (12.5 nmol kg-1) were abolished by losartan (20 mumol kg-1). 3. Since it has been found that pretreatment with L-arginine can reveal a vasodilator effect of AII (3-8) on rabbit pial arterioles, we assessed responses to AII (3-8) (12.5 nmol kg-1) before and 5 min after onset of a primed infusion of L-arginine (1.4 mmol kg-1 bolus, 1.4 mmol kg-1 h-1 infusion). Responses to AII (3-8) were unchanged by L-arginine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)