PPER RESPIRATORY TRACT INfections (URIs) are a significant health burden in childhood. The average child has 6 to 8 colds each year, each lasting 7 to 9 days. [1][2][3] Symptoms frequently require medical attention; during the winter months almost 40% of visits to pediatricians by patients 1 to 5 years old are because of cold and cough symptoms. 4 Up to one third of young children with URIs are diagnosed with secondary bacterial infections such as otitis media or sinusitis, frequently resulting in antibiotic therapy. 2,4 To alleviate the symptoms of URIs, children are frequently given drugs such as decongestants, antihistamines, and cough suppressants. 5 Unfortunately, there is little evidence that these medications are efficacious in children younger than 12 years. [6][7][8] Perhaps because of the lack of efficacy of conventional medications for URIs, a substantial proportion of children receive alternative forms of treatment such as homeopathy and naturopathy. It has been estimated that 11% to 21% of children in the United States and Canada who are receiving care from

In this first-ever, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled pilot study comparing Ayurveda, MTX, and their combination, all 3 treatments were approximately equivalent in efficacy, within the limits of a pilot study. Adverse events were numerically fewer in the Ayurveda-only group. This study demonstrates that double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized studies are possible when testing individualized classic Ayurvedic versus allopathic treatment in ways acceptable to western standards and to Ayurvedic physicians. It also justifies the need for larger studies.

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The CANS-MCI, a computer administered, scored, and interpreted touch screen battery, was evaluated for its ability to screen for mild cognitive impairment. 310 community-dwelling elders enrolled in an NIA-funded study. One-month test-retest reliability correlations were all significant (p<.05-p<.001). Concurrent validity correlations were all significant (p<.001). A high level of diagnostic validity was attained relative to the WMS-R LMS-II test (p<.001). Confirmatory factor analysis supported a three-factor model indicating the tests measure the intended cognitive dimensions of Memory, Language/Spatial Fluency, and Executive Function/Mental Control. Goodness of fit indicators were strong (Bentler Comparative Fit Index = .99; Root Mean Square Error of Approximation=.055). Initial validation analyses indicate that the CANS-MCI shows promise of being a reliable, valid screening tool to determine whether more intensive testing for early cognitive impairment is warranted. KeywordsScreening; Mild Cognitive Impairment; Computer; Neuropsychology; Tests Since most new research and treatments for dementia focus upon slowing the progression of Alzheimer's Disease (AD), 1,2 it is critical to identify the need for intensive diagnostic evaluation so that early treatment can delay AD progression. 3,4 People with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), characterized by marked memory impairment without disorientation, confusion, or abnormal general cognitive functioning, appear to develop AD at a rate of 10-5% a year. 5-7 Research concerning MCI, both as a distinct diagnostic entity and as a precursor to AD, 6-11 suggests that instruments focused upon MCI measurement would provide useful screening information for decisions concerning full diagnostic evaluations for AD. Brief or automated neuropsychological tests may be the preliminary step most suited to determine the need for evaluations, which require costly neuropsychological, biochemical, or neuroimaging techniques. 12 While memory deficits have been found to be the most reliable single predictor, 5,10,13-15 studies indicate that tests sampling different cognitive domains, when combined, significantly enhance the predictive validity of a test battery because of variations in the initial cognitive deficits associated with AD. 15-19 Current methods of detection are costly and often deferred until later in the disease process, when interventions to delay AD are likely to be less effective. Therefore, an effective screening device for MCI would be cost efficient and incorporate tests that assess multiple cognitive domains. In this article, we present a reliability and validity study of a touch screen test battery that accomplishes these goals and is administered, scored, and METHODS SubjectsA community sample of 310 elderly people was recruited through senior centers, American Legion halls, and retirement homes in four counties of Washington State. Exclusionary criteria were non-English language, significant hand tremor, inability to sustain a seated position for 45 minutes, ...

This study analyzed racial differences in the use of public outpatient mental health services in four regions of Washington State. Patients in this study were enrolled in the state's mental health management information system, which contains detailed information about patient characteristics and service utilization. There were distinct racial differences with respect to baseline characteristics, and even after adjusting for these characteristics and region of the state as well, racial differences in the type and amount of services used persisted. In particular, African-Americans were more likely to use crisis services and were less likely to use individual or group treatment. This previously reported finding requires further exploration.

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