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Kinds of Volunteers Terms modified by Volunteers Selected AbstractsINFECTIVE DOSE OF FOODBORNE PATHOGENS IN VOLUNTEERS: A REVIEWJOURNAL OF FOOD SAFETY, Issue 1 2001MAHENDRA H. KOTHARY ABSTRACT Risk assessment and impact of foodborne pathogens on the health of different populations was one of the goals identified in the Presidential Food Safety Initiative three-year plan. This entailed estimation of dose-response relationship for foodborne pathogens to humans, either by feeding studies or from outbreaks. For certain pathogens, such as Listeria monocytogenes and Escherichia coli O157:H7, there are no feeding studies due to ethical reasons, and the results from outbreaks are normally used to estimate the infectious dose. The focus of this review is to compile dose-response information in volunteers for several foodborne pathogens including Salmonella, Shigella spp., Campylobacter jejuni, Vibrio spp., Escherichia coli, Cryptosporidium parvum and Entamoeba coli. The infectious dose for different serovars of Salmonella and strains of E. coli was quite large (> 105 organisms), while the infectious dose for some Shigella spp. seemed to be as low as less than 10 organisms. Toxigenic V. cholerae (O1 and O139 serotypes) were infective at a dose of 104 organisms; a non-O1 strain was infective at a much higher dose (106 organisms). C. jejuni, C. parvum and Entamoeba coli appeared to have infectious doses as low as 500 organisms, 10 oocysts, and 1 cyst, respectively. The infectious dose and the dose response are dependent upon the strains used, and the age and physical condition of the individuals, and can therefore show wide variations. In addition, since many of the volunteer studies are carried out by feeding the organisms in a nonfood matrix after neutralizing the stomach acidity, results obtained may not reflect the true dose response. [source] THE INFLUENCE OF VOLUNTEERS, DONATIONS AND PUBLIC SUBSIDIES ON THE WAGE LEVEL OF NONPROFIT WORKERS: EVIDENCE FROM AUSTRIAN MATCHED DATAANNALS OF PUBLIC AND COOPERATIVE ECONOMICS, Issue 1 2010Astrid Haider ABSTRACT,:,In this article we add to the literature analyzing wages in the nonprofit sector by estimating a wage function based on employer-employee matched data for Austria. We concentrate on the influence of voluntary contributions on the wage level of paid workers. By using a quantile regression approach we find that the existence of volunteers reduces the wages of paid employees in nonprofit organizations. The number of volunteers does not have an influence on the wage level. Donations have a small but positive effect for higher income groups only. Public subsidies increase wages of all paid workers in a nonprofit organization. [source] EFFECTS OF AGAR AND PECTIN ON GASTRIC EMPTYING AND POST-PRANDIAL GLYCAEMIC PROFILES IN HEALTHY HUMAN VOLUNTEERSCLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL PHARMACOLOGY AND PHYSIOLOGY, Issue 11 2007Masaki Sanaka SUMMARY 1Dietary fibre, such as pectin, delays gastric emptying and may enhance post-prandial glucose tolerance. Agar, which is high in fibre content, is widely used in the traditional Japanese diet. Although long-term diet therapy with agar decreases fasting plasma glucose levels in diabetes, knowledge is lacking about the acute effects of agar on gastric emptying and the post-prandial glycaemic profiles. The present study was designed to investigate the acute effects of agar. 2Ten healthy male volunteers were studied on three occasions with three different test meals (450 kcal/500 mL): (i) a fibre-free meal; (ii) a meal with 2.0 g agar; or (iii) a meal with 5.2 g pectin. On each occasion, participants underwent a [13C]-acetate breath test along with serial blood sampling. To quantify gastric emptying, the half [13CO2] excretion time () and the time for maximal [13CO2] excretion rate (tlag) were determined. The post-prandial glycaemic response was expressed as an incremental change from the fasting value at each sampling time. Data were analysed using repeated-measures analysis of variance (anova), followed by a post hoc paired Student's t -test with Bonferroni adjustment. 3The time-course for respiratory [13CO2] excretion differed significantly among the three test meals (P = 0.0004, anova). Compared with the control meal, [13CO2] excretion was significantly lower following consumption of the agar meal (between 40 and 105 min post-prandially; P < 0.025, Student's t -test) and the pectin meal (between 40 and 180 min post-prandially; P < 0.025, Student's t -test). Among the three meals, significant differences were found in (P = 0.002, anova) and tlag (P = 0.011, anova). Compared with the control meal, the agar and pectin meals exhibited a significantly prolonged (P = 0.007 and P < 0.0001, respectively, Student's t -test) and tlag (P = 0.006 and P = 0.002, respectively, Student's t -test). Neither the agar nor pectin meal affected the post-prandial glucose profile. 4In healthy adults, agar and pectin delay gastric emptying but have no impact on the post-prandial glucose response. [source] A Comparative Pharmacokinetic Study in Healthy Volunteers of the Effect of Carbamazepine and Oxcarbazepine on Cyp3a4EPILEPSIA, Issue 3 2007Astrid-Helene Andreasen Summary:,Purpose: Carbamazepine (CBZ) and oxcarbazepine (OXCZ) are well-known inducers of drug metabolism via CYP3A4. Indirect interaction studies and clinical experience suggest that CBZ has a stronger potential in this regard than OXCZ. However this has never been subject to a direct comparative study. We performed a study in healthy volunteers to investigate the relative inductive effect of CBZ and OXCZ on CYP3A4 activity using the metabolism of quinidine as a biomarker reaction. Methods: Ten healthy, male volunteers participated in an open, randomized crossover study consisting of two periods separated by a 4-week wash-out period. The subjects received 1200 mg oral OXCZ daily for 17 days and 800 mg oral CBZ for 17 days. A single 200 mg oral dose of quinidine was administered at baseline and following administration of CBZ and OXCZ. Outcome parameters were the formation clearance of 3-hydroxyquinidine dose and the ratio of the AUCs of 3-hydroxyquinidine to quinidine. Results: Formation clearance of 3-hydroxyquinidine was increased by means of 89% (CI: 36,164; p = 0.0022) and 181% (CI: 120,260, p < 0.0001) after treatment with OXCZ and CBZ, respectively, compared to baseline. The relative inductive effect of CBZ was 46% higher than for OXCZ. AUC ratio increased by means of 161% (CI: 139,187, p < 0.0001) (OXCZ) and 222% (CI: 192,257, p < 0.0001) (CBZ). Quinidine Cmax decreased by means of 29% (CI: 16,40, p = 0.0018) (OXCZ) and 33% (CI: 18,45, p = 0.0020) (CBZ). T½ decreased by means of 12% (CI: 6,17, p < 0.0014) (OXCZ) and 32% (CI: 25,38, p < 0.0001) (CBZ). tmax was not changed in either period. Conclusion: We confirm a clinically significant inductive effect of both OXCZ and CBZ. The inductive effect of CBZ was about 46% higher than that of OXCZ, a difference that may be of clinical relevance. [source] Transcranial magnetic stimulation of the human frontal eye field facilitates visual awarenessEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, Issue 11 2003Marie-Hélène Grosbras Abstract What are the brain mechanisms allowing a stimulus to enter our awareness? Some theories suggest that this process engages resources overlapping with those required for action control, but experimental support for these ideas is still required. Here, we investigated whether the human frontal eye field (FEF), an area known to control eye movements, is involved in visual awareness. Volunteers participated in a backward masking task in which they were able to detect a target in a small proportion of trials. We observed that a single pulse of transcranial magnetic stimulation applied over the FEF shortly before the target's onset facilitated visual sensitivity; subjects were able to detect an otherwise subliminal object. These results show that modulating the neuronal activity of the FEF can enhance visual detection, thereby yielding new insights into the neural basis of visual awareness. [source] Ability of different restorative materials to prevent in situ secondary caries: analysis by polarized light-microscopy and energy-dispersive X-rayEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ORAL SCIENCES, Issue 4 2008Thaís Cachuté Paradella Secondary caries is the main cause of direct restoration replacement. The purpose of this study was to analyze enamel adjacent to different restorative materials after in situ cariogenic challenge using polarized-light microscopy (PLM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDS). Twelve volunteers, with a low level of dental plaque, a low level of mutans streptococci, and normal salivary flow, wore removable palatal acrylic appliances containing enamel specimens restored with Z250 composite, Freedom composite, Fuji IX glass-ionomer cement, or Vitremer resin-modified glass-ionomer for 14 days. Volunteers dripped one drop of 20% sucrose solution (n = 10) or distilled water (control group) onto each specimen 8 times per day. Specimens were removed from the appliances and submitted to PLM for examination of the lesion area (in mm2), followed by dehydration, gold-sputtering, and submission to SEM and EDS. The calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) contents were evaluated in weight per cent (%wt). Differences were found between Z250 and Vitremer, and between Z250 and FujiIX, when analyzed using PLM. Energy-dispersive X-ray analysis results showed differences between the studied materials regarding Ca %wt. In conclusion, enamel adjacent to glass-ionomer cement presented a higher Ca %wt, but this material did not completely prevent enamel secondary caries under in situ cariogenic challenge. [source] Influence of Colors on Habituation of Visual Evoked Potentials in Patients With Migraine With Aura and in Healthy VolunteersHEADACHE, Issue 1 2000J. Áfra MD Objective., To investigate whether colored glasses influence the habituation of visual evoked potentials. Background., We have previously shown that during pattern-reversal stimulations lasting 2 minutes the amplitude of the visual evoked potential increases in migraine with and without aura between attacks, whereas it decreases in healthy volunteers. Red light was found to increase visually evoked EEG fast activity only in children with migraine with aura. Wearing rose-tinted glasses for 4 months decreased attack frequency in parallel with a reduction of the visually evoked EEG fast activity. Methods., We compared the change in amplitude of the visual evoked potential using five different tinted glasses in 12 patients with migraine with aura and in 10 healthy volunteers. During continuous stimulation at 3.1 Hz, five blocks of 50 responses were sequentially averaged using red, yellow, green, blue, and grey glasses and without glasses in a random order and analyzed in terms of latencies and N1-P1 amplitudes. Amplitude changes were calculated for each block by comparison with the first block in every condition and analyzed statistically using Zerbe's method. Results., In healthy volunteers, the visual evoked potential amplitude increased with red glasses compared to without glasses (P=.05) or with green glasses (P=.03). In patients with migraine with aura, no significant difference was detected using colored glasses. Our findings in healthy volunteers are in line with earlier reports of increased excitability of the human visual cortex when exposed to red light. The lack of such a pattern in patients with migraine with aura suggests that the visual cortex is interictally hypoexcitable rather than hyperexcitable, which is consistent with studies of transcranial magnetic stimulation. [source] Healthcare in a land called PeoplePower: nothing about me without meHEALTH EXPECTATIONS, Issue 3 2001Tom Delbanco MD In a 5-day retreat at a Salzburg Seminar attended by 64 individuals from 29 countries, teams of health professionals, patient advocates, artists, reporters and social scientists adopted the guiding principle of ,nothing about me without me' and created the country of PeoplePower. Designed to shift health care from ,biomedicine' to ,infomedicine', patients and health workers throughout PeoplePower join in informed, shared decision-making and governance. Drawing, where possible, on computer-based guidance and communication technologies, patients and clinicians contribute actively to the patient record, transcripts of clinical encounters are shared, and patient education occurs primarily in the home, school and community-based organizations. Patients and clinicians jointly develop individual ,quality contracts', serving as building blocks for quality measurement and improvement systems that aggregate data, while reflecting unique attributes of individual patients and clinicians. Patients donate process and outcome data to national data banks that fuel epidemiological research and evidence-based improvement systems. In PeoplePower hospitals, constant patient and employee feedback informs quality improvement work teams of patients and health professionals. Volunteers work actively in all units, patient rooms are information centres that transform their shape and decor as needs and individual preferences dictate, and arts and humanities programmes nourish the spirit. In the community, from the earliest school days the citizenry works with health professionals to adopt responsible health behaviours. Communities join in selecting and educating health professionals and barter systems improve access to care. Finally, lay individuals partner with professionals on all local, regional and national governmental and private health agencies. [source] Caffeine levels in saliva: associations with psychosocial factors and behavioural effectsHUMAN PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY: CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL, Issue 7 2001Carolyn Brice Abstract The present study had two main aims. The first was to examine associations between psychosocial factors, health-related behaviours, regular level of caffeine consumption, time of day and levels of caffeine in saliva following acute caffeine challenges. The second aim was to determine whether individual differences in changes in performance following ingestion of caffeine were related to levels of caffeine in saliva. One hundred and forty-four young adults participated in the study. Questionnaires were administered prior to the study to measure psychosocial characteristics, health-related behaviours and habitual levels of caffeine consumption. Two double-blind acute caffeine challenges were then carried out 1 week apart. Volunteers were given either placebo or 1.5 or 3,mg/kg of caffeine on each occasion. The challenges were carried out at 8,:,00, 11,:,00, 14,:,00 or 18,:,00,h so that the impact of time of day could be assessed. In the week between the two challenges the volunteers consumed either caffeinated or decaffeinated products. This allowed investigation of the effects of caffeine withdrawal on caffeine metabolism. Prior to each caffeine challenge volunteers performed a range of tasks, and a baseline saliva sample was taken. The tasks were repeated 1,h after ingestion of the caffeine, with saliva samples being taken at the start and end of the 1,h test battery. The results showed that the level of caffeine in the saliva was a good indicator of the dose of caffeine consumed and of compliance with the withdrawal manipulation. Caffeine levels were not influenced by time of day, habitual caffeine consumption, psychosocial factors or health-related behaviours. Individual differences in caffeine levels in saliva were not related to the individual variation in the effects of caffeine on performance. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Recovering from recurrent mental health problems: Giving up and fighting to get betterINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MENTAL HEALTH NURSING, Issue 1 2010Yulia Kartalova-O'Doherty ABSTRACT The purpose of this paper is to present selected findings of a grounded theory study that aims to explore individual processes and desired outcomes of recovery from recurrent health problems in order to build up a theoretical framework of recovery in an Irish context. Volunteers included mental health service users or participants of peer support groups who have experienced recurrent mental health problems for two or more years, consider themselves in improvement, and are willing to participate in individual interviews. The current paper is based on the analysis of 15 audiorecorded and transcribed interviews. We identified two open codes of ,giving up' and ,fighting to get better'. Giving up was associated with accepting a passive identity of a patient with a chronic mental illness and a lack of intrinsic motivation to get better. Fighting had both positive (fighting for) and negative (fighting against) dimensions, as well as internal and external ones. The fight for recovery entailed substantial and sometimes risky effort. Starting such a fight required strong, self-sustained motivation. Service providers might need to discuss internal and external motivators of fighting for recovery with service users, with a view to including such motivators in the care plans. [source] The face and voice of volunteering: a suitable case for branding?INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NONPROFIT & VOLUNTARY SECTOR MARKETING, Issue 2 2005Philippa Hankinson Volunteers make a substantial contribution to UK society but the level of volunteering has peaked and may, in part, be due to the poor ,image' of volunteering. Through qualitative research, this study explores the need to re-shape perceptions of volunteering and the extent to which this may be achieved through branding. Key findings suggest that although there is much consistency in perceptions about generic volunteering, perceptions of the different strands of volunteering, such as governance and campaigning, are different and may require individual development as sub-brands. It is argued that Volunteering England is best placed to lead a brand development programme, supported by managers of national and local bodies as well as volunteers to create a new visual identity and, importantly, key messages that will resonate with current and potential volunteers across different areas of activity. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] The importance of volunteers in a capital campaignINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NONPROFIT & VOLUNTARY SECTOR MARKETING, Issue 4 2002Article first published online: 12 JUL 200, Linda Lysakowski One of the most significant factors in the success of any capital campaign is the number, quality and commitment of volunteers used to guide, implement and promote the campaign. This paper will discuss the importance of using volunteers and the critical roles they play within the campaign. The volunteer as giver, asker and motivator will be explained. An example of a typical campaign organisational chart is provided to help the reader identify the number and types of volunteers necessary to implement a successful campaign. Volunteers have many roles to play, and getting the right person to fill each of these roles is essential to success. Methods for recruiting volunteers and the materials that are needed to implement a successful recruitment strategy are included in this discussion. Particular emphasis is placed on the role of the campaign chair as the leader of the campaign effort. The unique role of the Board of Directors as volunteers during a capital campaign is addressed in this paper. Strategies for keeping volunteers involved and motivated are discussed, along with tips to make the volunteer campaign experience a satisfying one for both staff and volunteer. In summary, the author contends that the use of volunteers in a capital campaign is essential to the success of the campaign. Copyright © 2002 Henry Stewart Publications [source] Simvastatin Causes Changes in Affective Processes in Elderly VolunteersJOURNAL OF AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY, Issue 1 2006Knashawn Morales ScD OBJECTIVES: To test for simvastatin-induced changes in affect and affective processes in elderly volunteers. DESIGN: Randomized, clinical trial. SETTING: The Geriatric Behavioral Psychopharmacology Laboratory at the University of Pennsylvania. PARTICIPANTS: Eighty older volunteers, average age 70, with high normal/mildly elevated serum cholesterol. INTERVENTION: Simvastatin up to 20 mg/d or placebo for 15 weeks. MEASUREMENTS: Daily diary records of positive and negative affects and of events and biweekly measures of depressive symptoms. Affect ratings were obtained using the Lawton positive and negative affect scales; independent raters coded the valences of events. RESULTS: Thirty-one of 39 subjects assigned to placebo and 33 of 41 receiving simvastatin completed the study. During biweekly assessments, four subjects on simvastatin and one on placebo experienced depressive symptoms, as manifest by Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale scores greater than 16 (exact P=.36). Diary data demonstrated significant effects on affective processes. For positive affect, there was a significant medication-by-time interaction that reflected decreases in positive affect in subjects receiving simvastatin, greatest in those patients whose final total cholesterol levels were below 148 mg/dL. For negative affect, there were significant medication-by-event, and medication-by-event-by-time interactions, reflecting a time-limited increase in the apparent effect of negative events. CONCLUSION: Simvastatin has statistically significant effects on affect and affective processes in elderly volunteers. The decrease in positive affect may be significant clinically and relevant to the quality of life of many patients. [source] Estimation of Glomerular Filtration Rate in Older Patients with Chronic Renal Insufficiency: Is the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease Formula an Improvement?JOURNAL OF AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY, Issue 7 2003Edmund J. Lamb PhD OBJECTIVES: To evaluate a new formula for glomerular filtration rate (GFR), derived from the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) study in older people. DESIGN: An observational study of the performance of the MDRD formula compared with other formulae and creatinine clearance (ClCr) as measures of the GFR. SETTING: Volunteers were recruited via outpatient clinics. PARTICIPANTS: Fifty-two patients (27 men, 25 women: mean age 80, range 69,92) with a variety of medical diagnoses. Mean GFR was 53.3 mL/min/1.73 m2 (range 15.9,100.2). Exclusion criteria included renal replacement therapy/renal transplantation and cognitive impairment. MEASUREMENTS:51Chromium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (51Cr EDTA) was used as the reference method against which the formulaic estimates of GFR were compared using bias plot and regression analyses. RESULTS: The MDRD and Cockcroft and Gault formulae (both coefficient of determination (R2) = 0.84) gave the best fit with GFR, followed by the Jelliffe formula (R2 = 0.81), ClCr (R2 = 0.73) and the Baracskay formula (R2 = 0.56). ClCr (,1.2%) demonstrated minimal bias compared with the MDRD (8.0%) and Cockcroft and Gault (,10.4%) formulae. However, imprecision compared with 51Cr EDTA was lowest for the Cockcroft and Gault formula, with 50% of estimates lying between ,9.5 and ,0.5 mL/min/1.73 m2 of measured 51Cr EDTA clearance. This compares with ,6.7 and 10.1 mL/min/1.73 m2 for ClCr and 0.0 and 12.7 mL/min/1.73 m2 for the MDRD formula. CONCLUSION: Calculated estimates of GFR are an improvement over ClCr estimation. On balance, the MDRD formula does not improve the estimate of GFR compared with the Cockcroft and Gault formula in older Caucasian patients with chronic renal insufficiency. [source] Disaster Exercise Outcomes for Professional Emergency Personnel and Citizen VolunteersJOURNAL OF CONTINGENCIES AND CRISIS MANAGEMENT, Issue 2 2004Ronald W. Perry It has long been argued in the research literature that conducting disaster exercises produces a variety of benefits that promote effective emergency management. In spite of nearly universal acceptance of the claim, there are few empirical studies that have explored the effects of exercises on participants. This paper reviews the role of exercises in the creation of community disaster preparedness, while making explicit the links among planning, training and exercising. Using a quasi-experimental design, the effects of disaster exercise participation on perceptions of response knowledge and teamwork are studied for police officers, fire-fighters and civilian volunteers. The exercise studied involved an annual airport disaster drill required for continuing certification. It was found that participation enhanced the perceptions of response knowledge and teamwork for all three types of participants. [source] Effects of a Brazilian herbal compound as a cosmetic eyecare for periorbital hyperchromia ("dark circles")JOURNAL OF COSMETIC DERMATOLOGY, Issue 2 2009Samara Eberlin PhD Summary Background, Evidence suggests that periorbital hyperchromia (dark circles) occurs mainly as a consequence of postinflammatory hemodynamic congestion producing a typical bruising aspect on the lower eyelids. Aims, To evaluate the clinical effects of Pfaffia paniculata/Ptychopetalum olacoides B./Lilium candidum L.-associated compound (PPLAC) on periorbital hyperchromia and to study in vitro its underlying anti-inflammatory and antioxidant mechanisms. Methods, Twenty-one volunteers presenting with periorbital hyperchromia received a serum sample containing 5.0% PPLAC, which was applied topically in the periorbital area twice a day for 28 days. Skin color was measured using variations in the individual typological angle (,ITA0) and skin luminance (,L*) calculated in the area around the eyes and in the adjacent area. Colorimetric readings were taken at the onset and end of the 28-day treatment. Volunteers were also asked to fill out a questionnaire concerning the improvement in "dark circles." The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of PPLAC were measured by quantification of prostaglandin E2, leukotriene B4, histamine, and superoxide dismutase levels using an in vitro model of human skin culture. Results, Topical application of PPLAC led to a significant improvement in skin luminance and tone in the periorbital area, which was demonstrated by increased values of ITA0 and L* in about 90% of volunteers. In addition, subjects reported reduced intensity and improved appearance of "dark circles." A dose-dependent decreased production of inflammatory mediators, concomitant to increased antioxidant enzyme levels, was observed in our in vitro studies, under basal and lipopolysaccharide-stimulated conditions. Conclusions, Although the precise mechanisms related to PPLAC remain to be clarified, our results indicate that the reduction in the inflammatory process as well as the antioxidant protection against deleterious elements may be considered as an integral approach to preserve the integrity of vascular endothelium, preventing the hemodynamic congestion that culminates in the formation of "dark circles" around the eyes. [source] Sunscreen application at the beachJOURNAL OF COSMETIC DERMATOLOGY, Issue 2 2004J Lademann Summary Background, The sun protection factor (SPF) of sunscreens is determined after application of a standard amount. The European Cosmetic Toiletry and Perfumery Association (COLIPA) standard amount is 2 mg/cm2. Real-life application of sunscreen is probably less than this. Aim, To determine the amount of sunscreen present on the skin of people at the beach. Methods, Volunteers at the beach were selected randomly and were not aware of being tested for the adequacy of their sunscreen application. All volunteers had applied sunscreen. Application had been more than 30 min before testing (sometimes up to 4 h earlier). The amounts of sunscreen applied to different body sites were determined quantitatively by tape stripping. Actual amounts of sunscreen applied were compared with the COLIPA standard. Also, sunscreen containing a fluorescent dye was applied to the skin of volunteers in a laboratory setting. The distribution of sunscreen application was visualized by UVA photography in a darkened room. Results, Sixty volunteers, 33 males and 27 females, aged 17,68 years (median 32 years), were recruited at the beach. Sunscreen coverage was inadequate at all body sites. Coverage at various body sites differed greatly. Most volunteers had applied 10% or less of the COLIPA standard amount to all body sites assessed. The best protected areas were the upper arm and décolleté but, even in these areas, most volunteers had only applied 10% of the COLIPA standard amount. The worst protected areas were the ears and top of the feet. The back was typically badly protected if treated by the volunteers themselves. The back was better protected if another person had applied the sunscreen. In the laboratory, the fluorescent dye-containing sunscreen showed the same pattern of sunscreen application as at the beach. Conclusions, In real life, at the beach, very little sunscreen remains present on the skin. [source] Intravenous Ethanol Infusions Can Mimic the Time Course of Breath Alcohol Concentrations Following Oral Alcohol Administration in Healthy VolunteersALCOHOLISM, Issue 5 2009Vijay A. Ramchandani Background:, Our previous studies have used intravenous (IV) clamping methods to demonstrate that family history positive (FHP) subjects exhibit a greater initial response to alcohol than family history negative (FHN) subjects. These results differ from other studies of family history of alcoholism (FHA) influences, most of which have used an oral alcohol challenge, suggesting that the route of administration may influence both the response to alcohol and FHA-related differences in response. To examine this possibility, one approach would be to directly compare responses following oral and IV alcohol administration in the same subjects. There is, however, a 3- to 4-fold variance, between- and within-subjects, in the breath alcohol concentrations (BrACs) following oral alcohol administration. Thus, our objective was to characterize the between-subject variability in the time course of BrACs following oral alcohol administration in healthy volunteers and to develop an IV infusion method to mimic the BrAC-time course attained following oral alcohol in the same subject. Methods:, This was a 2-session study in young adult, healthy, nondependent drinkers. In the first session, subjects ingested an oral dose of alcohol, based on total body water, to achieve a target peak BrAC of 80 mg%. In the second session, subjects received an IV infusion of ethanol designed to achieve the same BrAC time course as that achieved in the first session. The individualized infusion-rate profile was precomputed using a physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model for alcohol with model parameters adjusted to the individual's physiology. The peak BrACs (Cmax), times of peak BrAC (Tmax), and the areas under the BrAC vs. time curve (AUC) were compared between sessions to assess how closely the BrAC exposure during the IV infusion session mimicked the exposure following oral alcohol. Results:, The time course of BrACs following oral alcohol administration showed a high degree of between-subject variability. Mean Cmax, Tmax, and AUC did not differ by gender, indicating that calculation of oral doses based on total body water results in comparable BrAC-time courses, on average, for females and males. The IV infusion driven BrAC-time profiles demonstrated good fidelity to the BrAC-time curves resulting from oral alcohol: the mean %difference in Cmax and AUC were both 11%, while the mean %difference for Tmax was 27%. This degree of variability is less than half that seen across individuals following oral alcohol administration, which was substantial [coefficient of variation (%CV) ranging from 22 to 52%]. Conclusions:, Despite the use of standardized doses and controlled experimental conditions, there was substantial between-subject variability in the BrAC time course following oral administration of alcohol. The PBPK-model-based infusion method can mimic the BrACs attained with oral alcohol for individual subjects. This method provides a platform to evaluate effects attributable to the route of administration on the response to alcohol, as well as the influence of determinants such as family history of alcoholism on the alcohol response. [source] Coffee and Cigarette Consumption and Perceived Effects in Recovering Alcoholics Participating in Alcoholics Anonymous in Nashville, TennesseeALCOHOLISM, Issue 10 2008Michael S. Reich Background:, Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) members represent an important and relatively understudied population for improving our understanding of alcohol dependence recovery as over 1 million Americans participate in the program. Further insight into coffee and cigarette use by these individuals is necessary given AA members' apparent widespread consumption and the recognized health consequences and psychopharmacological actions of these substances. Methods:, Volunteers were sought from all open-AA meetings in Nashville, TN during the summer of 2007 to complete a questionnaire (n = 289, completion rate = 94.1%) including timeline followback for coffee, cigarette, and alcohol consumption; the Alcoholics Anonymous Affiliation Scale; coffee consumption and effects questions; the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND); and the Smoking Effects Questionnaire. Results:, Mean (±SD) age of onset of alcohol consumption was 15.4 ± 4.2 years and mean lifetime alcohol consumption was 1026.0 ± 772.8 kg ethanol. Median declared alcohol abstinence was 2.1 years (range: 0 days to 41.1 years) and median lifetime AA attendance was 1000.0 meetings (range: 4 to 44,209 meetings); average AA affiliation score was 7.6 ± 1.5. Most (88.5%) individuals consumed coffee and approximately 33% of coffee consumers drank more than 4 cups per day (M = 3.9 ± 3.9). The most common self-reported reasons for coffee consumption and coffee-associated behavioral changes were related to stimulatory effects. More than half (56.9%) of individuals in AA smoked cigarettes. Of those who smoked, 78.7% consumed at least half a pack of cigarettes per day (M = 21.8 ± 12.3). Smokers' FTND scores were 5.8 ± 2.4; over 60% of smokers were highly or very highly dependent. Reduced negative affect was the most important subjective effect of smoking. Conclusions:, A greater proportion of AA participants drink coffee and smoke cigarettes in larger per capita amounts than observed in general U.S. populations. The effects of these products as described by AA participants suggest significant stimulation and negative affect reduction. Fundamental knowledge of the quantitative and qualitative aspects of coffee and cigarette consumption among AA members will enable future research to discern their impact on alcohol abstinence and recovery. [source] Omeprazole-Mg 20.6 mg is superior to lansoprazole 15 mg for control of gastric acid: a comparison of over-the-counter doses of proton pump inhibitorsALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 8 2010P. B. MINER JR Aliment Pharmacol Ther,31, 846,851 Summary Background, Over-the-counter (OTC) proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) relieve heartburn by decreasing the production of gastric acid, but may not do so with equal effectiveness. It is important for healthcare professionals to compare the ability of OTC PPIs to control gastric acid when recommending them for patients with frequent heartburn. Aim, To compare the effects of omeprazole-Mg 20.6 mg and lansoprazole 15 mg (OTC doses in the US) on 24-h steady state gastric acid suppression. Methods, This single-centre, randomized, double-blind clinical study compared the steady-state gastric acid control of omeprazole-Mg 20.6 mg vs. lansoprazole 15 mg, dosed before breakfast. Volunteers were enrolled in a 3-period, cross-over design (ABB, BAA) with 24-h gastric pH monitoring on dosing day 5. The primary efficacy variable was the percentage time intragastric pH was >4.0 over 24 h on day 5 of dosing. Results, Forty subjects were enrolled; all completed the study. The mean (SE) percentage time pH was >4.0 was 45.7% (3.45%) for omeprazole-Mg 20.6 mg and 36.8% (3.45%) for lansoprazole 15 mg, an absolute difference of 8.9% (P < 0.0001), and a relative difference of 24.2%. Both drugs were well tolerated. Conclusion, Omeprazole-Mg 20.6 mg provided a statistically significantly (P < 0.0001) greater acid control than lansoprazole 15 mg. [source] Dietary poorly absorbed, short-chain carbohydrates increase delivery of water and fermentable substrates to the proximal colonALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 8 2010J. S. BARRETT Summary Background, Functional gut symptoms are induced by inclusion and reduced by dietary restriction of poorly absorbed short-chain carbohydrates (FODMAPs), but the mechanisms of action remain untested. Aims, To determine the effect of dietary FODMAPs on the content of water and fermentable substrates of ileal effluent. Methods, Twelve ileostomates without evidence of small intestinal disease undertook two 4-day dietary periods, comprising diets differing only in FODMAP content in a randomized, cross-over, single-blinded intervention study. Daytime (14 h) ileal effluent was collected on day four of each diet. Patients rated effluent volume and consistency on a 10-cm visual analogue scale. The FODMAP content of the diet and effluent was measured. Results, Ingested FODMAPs of 32% (range 6,73%) was recovered in the high FODMAP diet effluent. Effluent collection weight increased by a mean of 22% (95% CI, 5,39), water content by 20% (2,38%) and dry weight by 24% (4,43%) with the high compared to low FODMAP diet arm. Output increased by 95 (28,161) mL. Volunteers perceived effluent consistency was thicker (95% CI, 0.6,1.9) with the low FODMAP diet than with the high FODMAP diet (3.5,6.1; P = 0.006). Conclusions, These data support the hypothetical mechanism; FODMAPs increase delivery of water and fermentable substrates to the proximal colon. [source] Schistosomiasis in Expatriates in the Arusha Region of TanzaniaJOURNAL OF TRAVEL MEDICINE, Issue 5 2002Joel D. Trachtenberg Background: In 1996 the seroprevalence of schistosomiasis in expatriates and travelers who had contact with Lake Malawi, a fresh water source thought to be schistosomiasis-free, was measured at 32%. Clinicians in Arusha, Tanzania, questioned the prevalence of Schistosoma infection in expatriates living in the Arusha region, and how schistosomiasis might relate to symptoms of chronic fatigue in Arusha expatriates. Method: We performed a cross-sectional survey of 80 expatriates living in the Arusha region of Tanzania to determine the seroprevalence of schistosome infection. Whole blood was analyzed by the Falcon assay screening test-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (FAST-ELISA) for the presence of species-specific Schistosoma mansoni and Schistosoma haematobium antibodies to microsomal antigens of adult Schistosoma worms, followed by confirmatory enzyme-linked immunoelectrotransfer blot (Western blot). Volunteers answered a questionnaire which included length of residence in Arusha, risk factors, symptoms, and previous diagnosis of schistosomiasis. Results: Of the 80 expatriates sampled, 8 (10%) were positive for schistosomiasis (6 to S. mansoni only, 1 to S. haematobium, 1 to both species). Significant risk factors, elicited by questionnaire, included longer residence in the Arusha region (p = .020), history of fatigue (p = .010) and myalgias (p = .047), and previous diagnosis of schistosomiasis by stool or urine ova (p = .0007). Conclusion: The lower seroprevalence of schistosomiasis in Arusha expatriates, compared with expatriates and travelers to Lake Malawi, suggests a regional variation of rate of schistosomiasis infection. Although a history of fatigue and myalgias was related to seropositivity, there is no strong evidence that schistosomiasis infection is the cause of chronic fatigue in Arusha expatriates. [source] Inferior Vena Cava Percentage Collapse During Respiration Is Affected by the Sampling Location: An Ultrasound Study in Healthy VolunteersACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE, Issue 1 2010David J. Wallace MD Abstract Objectives:, Physicians are unable to reliably determine intravascular volume status through the clinical examination. Respiratory variation in the diameter of the inferior vena cava (IVC) has been investigated as a noninvasive marker of intravascular volume status; however, there has been a lack of standardization across investigations. The authors evaluated three locations along the IVC to determine if there is clinical equivalence of the respiratory percent collapse at these sites. The objective of this study was to determine the importance of location when measuring the IVC diameter during quiet respiration. Methods:, Measurements of the IVC were obtained during quiet passive respiration in supine healthy volunteers. All images were recorded in B-mode, with cine-loop adjustments in real time, to ensure that maximum and minimum IVC dimensions were obtained. One-way repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used for comparison of IVC measurement sites. Results:, The mean (±SD) percentage collapse was 20% (±16%) at the level of the diaphragm, 30% (±21%) at the level of the hepatic vein inlet, and 35% (±22%) at the level of the left renal vein. ANOVA revealed a significant overall effect for location of measurement, with F(2,35) = 6.00 and p = 0.006. Contrasts showed that the diaphragm percentage collapse was significantly smaller than the hepatic (F(1,36) = 5.14; p = 0.03) or renal caval index (F(1,36) = 11.85; p = 0.002). Conclusions:, Measurements of respiratory variation in IVC collapse in healthy volunteers are equivalent at the level of the left renal vein and at 2 cm caudal to the hepatic vein inlet. Measurements taken at the junction of the right atrium and IVC are not equivalent to the other sites; clinicians should avoid measuring percentage collapse of the IVC at this location. ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE 2010; 17:96,99 © 2009 by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine [source] ASNE Volunteers Needed; Sponsor/Contributor KudosNAVAL ENGINEERS JOURNAL, Issue 4 2004Capt. Dennis K. Kruse USN (Ret.) No abstract is available for this article. [source] Evaluation of the Acceptability and Usability of a Decision Support System to Encourage Safe and Effective Use of Opioid Therapy for Chronic, Noncancer Pain by Primary Care ProvidersPAIN MEDICINE, Issue 4 2010Jodie Trafton PhD Abstract Objective., To develop and evaluate a clinical decision support system (CDSS) named Assessment and Treatment in Healthcare: Evidenced-Based Automation (ATHENA)-Opioid Therapy, which encourages safe and effective use of opioid therapy for chronic, noncancer pain. Design., CDSS development and iterative evaluation using the analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation process including simulation-based and in-clinic assessments of usability for providers followed by targeted system revisions. Results., Volunteers provided detailed feedback to guide improvements in the graphical user interface, and content and design changes to increase clinical usefulness, understandability, clinical workflow fit, and ease of completing guideline recommended practices. Revisions based on feedback increased CDSS usability ratings over time. Practice concerns outside the scope of the CDSS were also identified. Conclusions., Usability testing optimized the CDSS to better address barriers such as lack of provider education, confusion in dosing calculations and titration schedules, access to relevant patient information, provider discontinuity, documentation, and access to validated assessment tools. It also highlighted barriers to good clinical practice that are difficult to address with CDSS technology in its current conceptualization. For example, clinicians indicated that constraints on time and competing priorities in primary care, discomfort in patient-provider communications, and lack of evidence to guide opioid prescribing decisions impeded their ability to provide effective, guideline-adherent pain management. Iterative testing was essential for designing a highly usable and acceptable CDSS; however, identified barriers may limit the impact of the ATHENA-Opioid Therapy system and other CDSS on clinical practices and outcomes unless CDSS are paired with parallel initiatives to address these issues. [source] Optimizing DNA yield from buccal swabs in the elderly: Attempts to promote buccal cell growth in cultureAMERICAN JOURNAL OF HUMAN BIOLOGY, Issue 5 2003David J. Vandenbergh Participation in genetic studies is often limited by a volunteer's reluctance to donate blood samples. We wished to determine if alternate, less painful, methods to venipuncture could be used to collect cells to provide DNA for genotyping, and whether the cells could be grown in culture for extraction of DNA. Volunteers in the study were comprised of two groups. Nine individuals from a university campus were recruited to provide samples for initial experiments. A second group of 710 twins and singletons from North Carolina and of African-American descent were a part of an ongoing study of age-related traits and participated in collection of buccal swabs via the mail. A protocol was generated that maximizes the recovery of DNA from buccal swabs, which are easier to handle than saline rinses. The DNA recovered is stable over several years, allowing genotype tests at a future date. Attempts to encourage growth of buccal epithelial cells recovered from swabs in tissue culture proved unsuccessful. Buccal swabs work well for the collection of DNA, especially from nonclinic-based volunteers, and can be sent via the mail to the laboratory for DNA extraction. Thus, an inexpensive and efficient method exists for genetic studies of population-based samples. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 15:637,642, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Mitigation of establishment of Brassica napus transgenes in volunteers using a tandem construct containing a selectively unfit genePLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL, Issue 1 2006Hani Al-Ahmad Summary Transgenic oilseed rape (Brassica napus) plants may remain as ,volunteer' weeds in following crops, complicating cultivation and contaminating crop yield. Volunteers can become feral as well as act as a genetic bridge for the transfer of transgenes to weedy relatives. Transgenic mitigation using genes that are positive or neutral to the crop, but deleterious to weeds, should prevent volunteer establishment, as previously intimated using a tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) model. A transgenically mitigated (TM), dwarf, herbicide-resistant construct using a gibberellic acid-insensitive (,gai) gene in the B. napus crop was effective in offsetting the risks of transgene establishment in volunteer populations of B. napus. This may be useful in the absence of herbicide, e.g. when wheat is rotated with oilseed rape. The TM dwarf B. napus plants grown alone had a much higher yield than the non-transgenics, but were exceedingly unfit in competition with non-transgenic tall cohorts. The reproductive fitness of TM B. napus was 0% at 2.5-cm and 4% at 5-cm spacing between glasshouse-grown plants relative to non-transgenic B. napus. Under screen-house conditions, the reproductive fitness of TM B. napus relative to non-transgenic B. napus was less than 12%, and the harvest index of the TM plants was less than 40% of that of the non-transgenic competitors. The data clearly indicate that the ,gai gene greatly enhances the yield in a weed-free transgenic crop, but the dwarf plants can be eliminated when competing with non-transgenic cohorts (and presumably other species) when the selective herbicide is not used. [source] Factors associated with cancer distress in the Asbestos Post-Exposure Survey (APEXS),AMERICAN JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE, Issue 4 2009Marion Maurel MSc Abstract Objectives CT-scan screening programs for lung cancer detection have been proposed in high-risk subjects, and more recently in former asbestos-exposed subjects. However, to date no data are available on psychological impact of such programs. The aim of this study is to examine the risk factors of psychological distress at baseline of a CT-scan screening program among asbestos-exposed subjects. Methods The Asbestos Post-Exposure Survey (APEXS) was carried out in France between October 2003 and December 2005 in order to screen asbestos-related diseases by CT-scan. Volunteers underwent self-administered questionnaires including an asbestos exposure assessment and, for a large sub-sample, a validated psychological distress scale. Non-exposed subjects were used as reference group. Results At baseline, a significant higher level of distress was observed in exposed subjects (n,=,3,122) relative to the reference group (n,=,486) after adjustment on age, sex, and tobacco status. This distress is associated independently with the self-perception of (i) intensity of asbestos exposure and (ii) the risk of current or future disease related to the asbestos exposure. The perception of the cancer risk related to asbestos seems to play a fundamental role in this psychological distress. Conclusion In this study, asbestos-exposed subjects experienced a higher significant cancer distress than previously described in literature. These findings may be of potential public health importance. First, the impact of such occupational exposures on quality of life of patients who suffer from cancer related to these exposures has to be appraised. Secondly, the assessment of psychological impact of CT-scan screening programs among asbestos-exposed subjects is also required. Am. J. Ind. Med. 52:288,296, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] A freezing-like posture to pictures of mutilationPSYCHOPHYSIOLOGY, Issue 3 2005Tatiana M. Azevedo Abstract Postural sway and heart rate were recorded in young men viewing emotionally engaging pictures. It was hypothesized that they would show a human analog of "freezing" behavior (i.e., immobility and heart rate deceleration) when confronted with a sustained block of unpleasant (mutilation) images, relative to their response to pleasant/arousing (sport action) or neutral (objects) pictures. Volunteers stood on a stabilometric platform during picture viewing. Significantly reduced body sway was recorded during the unpleasant pictures, along with increased mean power frequency (indexing muscle stiffness). Heart rate during unpleasant pictures also showed the expected greater deceleration. This pattern resembles the "freezing" and "fear bradycardia" seen in many species when confronted with threatening stimuli, mediated by neural circuits that promote defensive survival. [source] Factors Affecting Satisfaction Levels of Japanese Volunteers in Meal Delivery Services for the ElderlyPUBLIC HEALTH NURSING, Issue 5 2008Hisayo Yanagisawa ABSTRACT Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors affecting satisfaction with volunteer work of participants in a meal delivery service for the elderly. Design: A cross-sectional study with a self-administered survey was carried out. Sample: Of 364 volunteers assisting with a meal delivery service for the elderly in rural towns A (80), B (159), and C (125), 247 responded (response rate: 68%). Method: An anonymous self-administered questionnaire survey was administered seeking information about basic attributes, sense of satisfaction with volunteer work, and working circumstances such as human relationships with fellow volunteers, meal service users or professional staff members, opportunities for meetings or workshop, publicity through public relations magazines, and the like. Results: In multivariate logistic analysis, the sense of satisfaction of volunteers was closely associated with human relations among volunteers (odds ratio [OR] 5.15, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.84,14.40, p<.01), meal service users (OR 3.84, 95% CI 1.37,10.77, p<.05), and professional staff members supervising the meal delivery service (OR 3.53, 95% CI 1.27,9.84, p<.05). Human relations were also affected by the emphasis on communication, consultation with supervisory staff members, having opportunities for meetings, having friends with whom to confer, and publicity through public relations magazines. Conclusion: Satisfaction levels of volunteers in meal delivery services for the elderly were most affected by human relations with fellow volunteers, meal service users, and professional staff members. Increasing opportunities for communication may be important to promote good human relationships among volunteers and volunteer activities. 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