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Race, ethnicity, and racism (RER) are interconnected with the critical problems tackled in the Grand Challenges for Social Work (GCSW). Yet, the extent to which the GCSW discuss the central role of RER is less clear. This article investigates how the GCSW integrate RER in their discourse. Using content analysis, authors examined all 21 concept papers that comprise the 12 initial GCSW to determine their attention to RER. Authors assessed whether each paper made any reference to race or ethnicity, whether race or ethnicity was considered as a primary theme, and whether racism was mentioned. Nine GCSW had at least one paper that mentioned race or ethnicity; seven had at least one paper that treated race and ethnicity as a major construct. Five GCSW contained at least one paper that discussed racism's impacts on their topical interests. None of the papers analyzed in the study defined or specified their conceptualization of racism. The GCSW are strategically positioned to widen and deepen social work's focus on RER, and the recent adoption of the 13th GCSW to "Eliminate racism" is an important first step. Authors encourage the social work field to embrace a more explicit, renewed, and continued commitment to eradicating systemic racism., (© 2021 National Association of Social Workers.)

Lind is revered as the first doctor to conduct systematic clinical trials of potential cures for scurvy-trials in which oranges and lemons came out as decisive winners. The following paper argues that our modern understanding of scurvy and vitamin C has hindered our understanding of Lind's own conception of his work and of the place within it of his clinical trials. Lind conceived of scurvy not as a disease of dietary deficiency, but of faulty digestion. In the full context of his Treatise of the Scurvy, and of his own medical practice, the seeming decisiveness of the trials fades, to be replaced by a sense of Lind's bafflement at the nature of the disease to which he had devoted his career.

A panel of 4 monoclonal antibodies (mabs) of the IgG1 subclass have been made against a cytoplasmic antigen of Cryptococcus neoformans. Mab 4E2 recognized isolates of C. neoformans var. gatti by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), whilst the other antibodies did not recognize these antigens. By Western blot 4E2 recognized determinants at 110-125, 65-70, 45-50 and 36-38 kDa. Mabs 9E6, 7C7 and 5D9 recognized bands at 36-38 and approximately 30 kDa. All 4 mabs (4E2, 9E6, 7C7 and 5D9) recognized both non-encapsulated and encapsulated isolates of C. neoformans var. neoformans by ELISA, and in addition showed reactivity to only the cytoplasm and cell membrane of yeasts by immunofluorescence. Mab 7C7 recognized antigens of the closely related fungus Trichosporon beigelii by ELISA but did not recognize any other fungal antigens. The other 3 mabs showed no recognition of T. beigelii or any other fungal pathogens tested.

Three murine monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) were raised against a cytoplasmic antigen of the yeast phase of the pathogenic fungus Sporothrix schenckii using a modification of standard hybridoma technology incorporating the immunosuppressive drug cyclophosphamide. When tested for species-specificity within the pathogenic dimorphic fungi one of these Mabs (S5) showed little cross-reactivity by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blot, though there was some recognition of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis antigen. This Mab recognized a 70-75 kDa molecule on reduced Western blots of S. schenckii antigen. The other two Mabs (S12 and S15) showed cross-reactivity with all dimorphic fungal antigens tested, though they appeared to recognize a molecule of similar molecular weight. This is the first report of any attempt to raise species-specific Mabs against this important causative agent of dermatological disease.

The immunosuppressive drug cyclophosphamide was used to facilitate the production of monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) which differentiated between the yeast phase of the two variants of the dimorphic fungus Histoplasma capsulatum by both enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blot. Two Mabs are described, identifying epitopes on a 70-75 kDa molecule, which are specific to H. capsulatum var. capsulatum and which do not identify epitopes of H. capsulatum var. duboisii. These Mabs have potential use in the epidemiology and serodiagnosis of histoplasmosis in areas where both classical and African forms of the disease occur.

Concentrations of triglycerides are increased and concentrations of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol are low in women with hyperandrogenism. These alterations could be related to excessive androgen or estrogen, to hyperinsulinism, or to a combination of these abnormalities. We examined their independent influences on lipids in 21 women with hyperandrogenism, subgrouped according to apparent source of androgen excess. Results for lipid, androgen, and insulin did not differ among subgroups, so these data were pooled. Free plus albumin-bound testosterone (uT) was correlated with triglycerides (r = 0.69, P less than 0.01) and HDL cholesterol (r = -0.56, P less than 0.01). Both triglycerides (r = 0.66, P less than 0.01) and HDL cholesterol (r = -0.48, P less than 0.05) were also correlated with insulin measured during fasting. Partial correlation revealed that, after adjusting for insulin, lipids were associated with uT. This suggests that androgen excess is independently related to lipid excess. Insulin also was correlated with lipids when adjusted for uT. Free plus albumin-bound estradiol was not associated with any of the lipids. We conclude that altered lipids in women with hyperandrogenism result from the independent effects of androgen and insulin.

Five hypogonadal men were treated with transdermal testosterone therapy, using a testosterone patch applied to the scrotal skin. Daily application of the patch, which contained 10 mg testosterone, produced an increase in serum testosterone concentrations from a pretreatment value of 45 +/- 12 (+/- SE; 1.5 +/- 0.4) to 436 +/- 80 ng/dL (15.1 +/- 2.8 nmol/L; P less than 0.001) after 4 weeks of treatment. Normal serum testosterone concentrations were achieved in all men after 6-8 weeks of therapy and were maintained during continued long term therapy for 9-12 months with a patch containing 15 mg testosterone. All men reported a subjective increase in libido and sexual function during therapy, and three men preferred it to testosterone injections. The serum testosterone and estradiol levels did not rise above the normal adult male range at any time during therapy. However, elevated serum dihydrotestosterone (DHT) concentrations occurred during treatment; the pretreatment DHT concentration was 95 +/- 3 ng/dL (3.3 +/- 0.1 nmol/L), and it increased to 228 +/- 40 ng/dL (7.8 +/- 1.4 nmol/L) after 4 weeks of treatment and remained elevated thereafter. The individual mean DHT to testosterone ratio increased from a pretreatment value of 0.2 (range, 0.1-0.3) to 0.6 (range, 0.4-0.7) after 2 weeks of therapy and remained high thereafter. Comparison of the serum DHT levels in patients during therapy with those in normal men who had similar testosterone concentrations [531 +/- 62 vs. 566 +/- 72 ng/dL (18.4 +/- 2.1 vs. 19.6 +/- 2.5 nmol/L); P greater than 0.05] revealed that the mean serum DHT concentration was significantly higher in the patients [315 +/- 69 vs. 87 +/- 6 ng/dL (10.8 +/- 2.4 vs. 2.9 +/- 0.2 nmol/L); P less than 0.001], as was the mean DHT to testosterone ratio [0.6 (range, 0.25- 1.1) vs. 0.16 (range, 0.09- 0.24); P less than 0.001]. The high serum DHT levels presumably were due to increased metabolism of testosterone to DHT by the 5 alpha-reductase in the scrotal skin. Serum 3 alpha-androstanediol glucuronide levels were not elevated in the patients. We conclude that transdermal testosterone therapy is an effective long term treatment for hypogonadism in men. It is, however, associated with high serum DHT levels, whose potential long term effects on the prostate and other tissues need to be investigated.

This study tested the hypothesis that counseling of newly diagnosed cancer patients by former cancer patients will increase the use of coping strategies and reduce psychological stress beyond what can be accomplished by just counseling from professional staff. Thirty-two newly diagnosed patients in a gynecologic oncology service were subjects in this study. All subjects received supportive services from professionals assigned to the service. Control group patients received just the professional support program, while the experimental group patients received professional support plus additional counseling by former cancer patients that emphasized four coping strategies characteristic of patients who have adapted well to cancer. Results 6 and 12 weeks after entering the study showed no statistically significant differences in emotional status between experimental and control groups and only one significant difference in coping behaviors that was opposite to what was predicted. The findings do not support the hypothesis.