Almost three decades ago, the birth of Louise Brown in England marked the beginning of the "in vitro" fertilization (IVF) era. IVF is done to overcome infertility problems that some couples experience. Sperm and eggs are collected and fertilized in the lab. ("In vitro" means "in glass" and is used to refer to…

A study of 125 sophomore preclinical dental students found that these young professionals, because of having a low prevalence of herpes simplex virus (HSV) antibodies, are at risk for acquiring a primary HSV infection when treating HSV positive patients and should take precautions to avoid virus transmission. (MSE)

A study investigated patient attitudes toward different disease control measures taken in dental school clinics (n=272 patients) and private practices (n=107 patients). Variables examined included sex, age, educational background, and knowledge of infectious diseases. Patients tended to accept the control measures being used in each context. (MSE)

A study assessed the usefulness of unannounced standardized patients to assess the skills of 284 physicians enrolled in a continuing medical education program in control of sexually transmitted diseases and human immunodeficiency virus. Significant discrepancies were found between physician-reported performance and actual performance, as found in…

The primary goal of this handbook is to provide basic information about human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). It incorporates information on different facets of the HIV pandemic drawn from various sources. Section one addresses facts about the transmission of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, and how the…

A study investigated the degree to which enhancement of instruction in blood transfusion medicine (TM) in the medical school curriculum is reflected in performance on 1989-90 National Board of Medical Examiners examinations in comparison with 1984-85. Students performed better on TM-related items than on items generally in 1989-90, suggesting more…

Undergraduate students' educational needs concerning Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and the faculty role in AIDS education are discussed. Results of a study at the Ursinus College (Pennsylvania) campus to assess both knowledge of and attitudes toward AIDS are summarized. Seventy-three percent of the 141 Introductory Psychology students…

A survey of 149 entering first-year medical residents concerning experiences with and knowledge of infection control investigated occurrence and patterns of accidental needle-sticking and reporting, student immunization for Hepatitis B, and instruction in universal precautions. It is concluded that students are at risk for needle-sticking, but…

This publication contains recommended guidelines for developing an AIDS curriculum that will meet the needs of Arizona school districts and recognize local sensitivities. It is emphasized that parental involvement and community support are the key elements for successful AIDS education. These guidelines suggest appropriate background materials…

This instructor's resource guide, one in a series of products from a project to develop an associate degree program for paraprofessional rural family health promoters, deals with teaching a course in introductory epidemiology. Covered in the first section of the guide are the role of epidemiology in rural health promotional training, general…

College students experience a great deal of life changes during their school career. This article reports on a study that observed how students reacted to life changes and how this influenced the incidence of illness and disease. Results and implications for health educators are presented. (DF)

Classroom activities that geography instructors can use to help students analyze two aspects of a health care system--the amount of disease present and the use of facilities to help cure disease--are suggested. The spatial patterns of morbidity and hospital utilization patterns in Central Harlem are used as examples. (RM)

A study investigated the efficacy of glutaraldehyde and several other disinfectants for disinfecting teeth to be used for teaching and research, as an alternative to autoclaving for teeth with amalgam restorations. Results indicate that formalin was the only disinfectant that penetrated tooth pulp chambers in effective antimicrobial…

Recommendations on how biology teachers can incorporate information into their lessons on cardiovascular disease and the importance of students understanding this disease are discussed. The result of a cardiovascular knowledge test given to college students shows the lack of knowledge students have about this subject. (KR)

Summarizes health hazards associated with air pollution, highlighting the difficulty in establishing acceptable thresholds of exposure. Respiratory disease, asthma, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and other problems are addressed. Indicates that a wide range of effects from any one chemical exists and that there are differences in sensitivity to…