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Harmful Effects (harmful + effects)
Kinds of Harmful Effects Selected AbstractsESTIMATING HARMFUL EFFECTS OF CANNABIS AND USE FOR POLICY MAKERS SHIFTING FROM ONE MISTAKE TO THE NEXT?ADDICTION, Issue 8 2010HANS-ULRICH WITTCHEN No abstract is available for this article. [source] Oestradiol Protects Against the Harmful Effects of Fluoride More by Increasing Thiol Group Levels than Scavenging Hydroxyl RadicalsBASIC AND CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY & TOXICOLOGY, Issue 6 2009Anna Dlugosz Interactions between xenobiotics and oestrogens need to be investigated, especially as many chemicals interact with the oestrogen receptor. It is still unknown whether free radical-generating xenobiotics can influence the antioxidative ability of oestradiol (E2). In an in vitro examination of human placental mitochondria, thiobarbituric active reagent species (TBARS), hydroxyl radical (,OH) generation and protein thiol (,SH) groups were detected. 17,-E2 was examined in physiological (0.15,0.73 nM) and experimental (1,10 µM) concentrations and sodium fluoride (NaF) in concentrations of 6,24 µM. E2 in all the concentrations significantly decreased lipid peroxidation measured as the TBARS level, in contrast to NaF, which increased lipid peroxidation. Lipid peroxidation induced by NaF was decreased by E2. The influence of E2 on ,OH generation was not very significant and depended on the E2 concentration. The main mechanism of E2 protection in NaF exposure appeared to be connected with the influence of E2 on thiol group levels, not ,OH scavenging ability. The E2 in concentrations 0.44,0.73 nM and 1,10 µM significantly increased the levels of ,SH groups, in contrast to NaF, which significantly decreased them. E2 at every concentration reversed the harmful effects of NaF on ,SH group levels. No unfavourable interactions in the influence of E2 and NaF on TBARS production, ,OH generation, or ,SH group levels were observed. The results suggest that postmenopausal women could be more sensitive to NaF-initiated oxidative stress. [source] Review on the effects of exposure to spilled oils on human healthJOURNAL OF APPLIED TOXICOLOGY, Issue 4 2010Francisco Aguilera Abstract Harmful effects of oil spills on diverse flora and fauna species have been extensively studied. Nevertheless, only a few studies have been compiled in the literature dealing with the repercussions of oil exposure on human health; most of them have focused on acute effects and psychological symptoms. The objective of this work was to gather all these studies and to analyze the possible consequences of this kind of complex exposure in the different aspects of human health. Studies found on this topic were related to the disasters of the Exxon Valdez, Braer, Sea Empress, Nakhodka, Erika, Prestige and Tasman Spirit oil tankers. The majority of them were cross-sectional; many did not include control groups. Acute effects were evaluated taking into account vegetative-nervous symptoms, skin and mucous irritations, and also psychological effects. Genotoxic damage and endocrine alterations were assessed only in individuals exposed to oil from Prestige. The results of the reviewed articles clearly support the need for biomonitoring human populations exposed to spilled oils, especially those individuals involved in the cleanup, in order to evaluate not only the possible immediate consequences for their health but also the medium- and long-term effects, and the effectiveness of the protective devices used. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Phagocyte activation in preterm infants following premature rupture of the membranes or chorioamnionitisACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 10 2000I Nupponen Phagocyte activation was studied in 48 preterm infants, gestational age 27.3 ± 0.3 wk, birthweight 968 ± 40 g, during the first postnatal week. Human neutrophil lipocalin as a marker of neutrophil activation was measured in plasma and tracheal aspirate fractions; and lysozyme, as a marker of monocyte and macrophage activation, in plasma. The concentration of plasma human neutrophil lipocalin was 69 (46,126) ,g/l (median and quartiles), tracheal aspirate fraction fluid 213 (71,433) (,g/l and plasma lysozyme 1337 (923,1764) ,g/l. Infants born to mothers with premature rupture of the membranes or clinical chorioamnionitis (group A, n 20) had significantly higher plasma [73 (58,151) vs 53 (38,108) ,g/l; p 0.027], and tracheal aspirate fraction human neutrophil lipocalin [319 (129,540) vs 190 (57,324) ,g/l; p= 0.019], and plasma lysozyme [1739 (1356,2021) vs 1140 (739,1557) ,g/l; p 0.0001] than did infants whose mothers had intact membranes and who had no suspicion of infection (Group B, n 28). In infants born to mothers receiving corticosteroids ante partum, correlations existed between time from treatment to delivery and plasma (r 0.322, p 0.0256) and tracheal aspirate fraction human neutrophil lipocalin (r= 0.314, p 0.0096). Infants born to mothers with at risk of infection are exposed to the potentially harmful effects of activated neutrophils. Premature rupture of the membranes, even without signs of clinical infection of the mother or the fetus, is associated with phagocyte activation that may begin already in utero. Corticosteroid treatment of the mother may cause transient inhibition of neutrophil activation in the newborn. [source] The Product Piracy Conflict Matrix , Finding Solutions to Prevent Product PiracyCREATIVITY AND INNOVATION MANAGEMENT, Issue 2 2009Günther Schuh Product and brand piracy has developed into a worldwide mass phenomenon. Affected companies are not only burdened with commercial losses such as lost sales volume and lower sales prices, but also by decreasing brand value and company reputation, lower licence revenues and, finally, costs for counteracting product piracy. Companies are gradually facing up to the challenge and taking action. Besides legal measures, an increasing number of firms are also willing to implement strategic and technical measures in their organizations or products respectively. A number of non-legal mechanisms have recently been identified, and efforts to structure these mechanisms are in progress. However, so far systematic, methodological guidance in matching mechanisms with specific products and corporate boundary conditions is basically non-existent. Focusing on this issue, the paper introduces a new TRIZ-based method to create solutions concerning product piracy. The so-called Product Piracy Conflict matrix (PPC matrix) resembles the well-established TRIZ contradiction table and has been designed to help companies create powerful protection concepts while avoiding undesired or harmful effects within their own value chains. [source] Dietary Supplements in the Setting of Mohs SurgeryDERMATOLOGIC SURGERY, Issue 6 2002Siobhan C. Collins MD background. The use of dietary supplements has become increasingly popular. While many are safe in small doses, others may have potentially harmful effects, particularly in surgical patients. objective. To study the incidence of dietary supplement use in patients presenting for Mohs surgery. methods. One hundred consecutive patients presenting for Mohs surgery completed a questionnaire providing all current medications. During the consultation, the patients were then asked specifically about their current use of any dietary supplements. Responses differing from those on the questionnaire were recorded. results. Forty-nine of 100 patients (49%) were currently taking dietary supplements. Of this group, 17 patients (35%) self-reported the use of supplements; 32 patients (65%) did not. Thirty women (59%) were currently using dietary supplements regularly compared to 19 men (39%). Women were also more likely to self-report the use of supplements compared to men: 14 women (47%) versus three men (15%). Forty-eight of the 100 study patients (48%) were currently taking anticoagulant medications such as aspirin, warfarin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), or clopidogrel bisulfate. Fifty instances were noted where patients were taking one or more dietary supplements that have demonstrated anticoagulant properties. Of this group, 21 instances (42%) where patients took a combination of prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) anticoagulants and one or more dietary supplements shown to have effects on coagulation were recorded. conclusion. Of the almost 50% of patients taking dietary supplements, one-third reported usage, while two-thirds did not. Women used dietary supplements more frequently than men and were more than three times more likely to offer this information. Furthermore, many supplements have been shown to have effects on coagulation, including vitamin E, garlic, ginkgo, feverfew, and fish oils. Use of these substances alone or in combination may potentiate the anticoagulant effects of each other or prescribed medications. It is therefore important for the dermatologic surgeon to communicate openly with patients regarding dietary supplements to avoid potential complications during or following surgery. [source] The Impact of Herbal Medicines on Dermatologic SurgeryDERMATOLOGIC SURGERY, Issue 8 2001Lawrence K. Chang MD Background. In recent years herbal medicines and supplements have become increasingly popular. With their increased popularity, more publications are warning about the potential harmful effects of some of these products. Objective. To present scientific evidence of the benefits and surgical risks of herbal products. Methods. A Medline search and review of the literature was performed. Results. Many herbal medicines are relevant in dermatologic surgery since Ginkgo biloba, garlic, ginger, ginseng, feverfew, and vitamin E may increase the risk of bleeding, and ephedra may potentiate the side effects of epinephrine. Conclusion. Dermatologists should be aware of these herbal products and their uses. Many of these products prescribed by alternative medicine physicians or purchased over the counter should be discontinued prior to dermatologic surgery to minimize the risk of surgical complications. [source] Psychological effects of prevention: do participants of a type 2 diabetes prevention program experience increased mental distress?DIABETES/METABOLISM: RESEARCH AND REVIEWS, Issue 1 2009Katrin E. Giel Abstract Objective To evaluate the mental health outcome of a lifestyle intervention for the prevention of type 2 diabetes and to exclude possible harmful psychological effects. Background There is little empirical data on potential harmful effects of prevention programs. However, information, education, diagnostic procedures, phenotyping and risk assessment may cause or intensify psychological distress such as anxiety, depression or somatization in vulnerable individuals. Methods The Tuebingen Lifestyle Intervention Program (TULIP) for the prevention of type 2 diabetes has assessed mental health outcome in the participants after 9 months of program participation using the Symptom Checklist-90-R (SCL-90-R). The 24-months lifestyle intervention TULIP comprises regular exercise and changes in nutrition and assesses both, a broad range of somatic parameters as well as psychometric variables. For an interim analysis of psychological outcome, complete data sets of the SCL-90-R assessed at baseline and after 9 months of intervention were available for 195 participants (125 females, 70 males; age: 46.1 ± 10.6 years). Data on somatization, anxiety, depression and overall psychological distress were compared to baseline levels. Results SCL-90-R scores of the TULIP-participants did not significantly differ from the German healthy reference population. Compared to baseline, a significant decrease in SCL-90-R scores was found for anxiety, depression and overall psychological distress at re-assessment after 9 months. Conclusion The interim analysis on mental health outcome of a type 2 diabetes prevention program comprising extensive phenotyping and risk assessment rules out adverse psychological effects, suggesting rather beneficial changes concerning symptoms of anxiety, depression and overall psychological distress. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Naturalization and invasion of alien plants: concepts and definitionsDIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS, Issue 2 2000David M. Richardson Abstract., Much confusion exists in the English-language literature on plant invasions concerning the terms ,naturalized' and ,invasive' and their associated concepts. Several authors have used these terms in proposing schemes for conceptualizing the sequence of events from introduction to invasion, but often imprecisely, erroneously or in contradictory ways. This greatly complicates the formulation of robust generalizations in invasion ecology. Based on an extensive and critical survey of the literature we defined a minimum set of key terms related to a graphic scheme which conceptualizes the naturalization/invasion process. Introduction means that the plant (or its propagule) has been transported by humans across a major geographical barrier. Naturalization starts when abiotic and biotic barriers to survival are surmounted and when various barriers to regular reproduction are overcome. Invasion further requires that introduced plants produce reproductive offspring in areas distant from sites of introduction (approximate scales: > 100 m over < 50 years for taxa spreading by seeds and other propagules; > 6 m/3 years for taxa spreading by roots, rhizomes, stolons or creeping stems). Taxa that can cope with the abiotic environment and biota in the general area may invade disturbed, seminatural communities. Invasion of successionally mature, undisturbed communities usually requires that the alien taxon overcomes a different category of barriers. We propose that the term ,invasive' should be used without any inference to environmental or economic impact. Terms like ,pests' and ,weeds' are suitable labels for the 50,80% of invaders that have harmful effects. About 10% of invasive plants that change the character, condition, form, or nature of ecosystems over substantial areas may be termed ,transformers'. [source] Direct and indirect effects of a potential aquatic contaminant on grazer,algae interactionsENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 2 2009Michelle A. Evans-White Abstract Contaminants have direct, harmful effects across multiple ecological scales, including the individual, the community, and the ecosystem levels. Less, however, is known about how indirect effects of contaminants on consumer physiology or behavior might alter community interactions or ecosystem processes. We examined whether a potential aquatic contaminant, an ionic liquid, can indirectly alter benthic algal biomass and primary production through direct effects on herbivorous snails. Ionic liquids are nonvolatile organic salts being considered as an environmentally friendly potential replacement for volatile organic compounds in industry. In two greenhouse experiments, we factorially crossed four concentrations of 1-N-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide (bmimBr; experiment 1: 0 or 10 mg/L; experiment 2: 0, 1, or 100 mg/L) with the presence or absence of the snail Physa acuta in aquatic mesocosms. Experimental results were weighted by their respective control (no bmimBr or P. acuta) and combined for statistical analysis. When both bmimBr and snails were present, chlorophyll a abundance and algal biovolume were higher than would be expected if both factors acted additively. In addition, snail growth rates, relative to those of controls, declined by 41 to 101% at 10 and 100 mg/L of bmimBr. Taken together, these two results suggest that snails were less efficient grazers in the presence of bmimBr, resulting in release of algae from the grazer control. Snails stimulated periphyton primary production in the absence, but not in the presence, of bmimBr, suggesting that bmimBr also can indirectly alter ecosystem function. These findings suggest that sublethal contaminant levels can negatively impact communities and ecosystem processes via complex interactions, and they provide baseline information regarding the potential effects of an emergent industrial chemical on aquatic systems. [source] Combined effects of the fungicide propiconazole and agricultural runoff sediments on the aquatic bryophyte Vesicularia dubyanaENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 9 2005Qinglan Wu Abstract Pesticides, firmly attached to the topsoil, might enter nearby watercourses at periods with high erosive loss of sediments. Therefore, exposure of aquatic organisms to these low mobility pesticides, in many cases, will coincide with a high sediment concentration. In this study, both individual and combined effects of propiconazole and runoff sediment on the aquatic model bryophyte Vesicularia dubyana are studied. Individual exposure to propiconazole induced responses in V. dubyana at rather low concentration levels (,1 ,g/L), showing that harmful effects of propiconazole potentially may occur in watercourses draining propiconazole-treated fields. Individual exposure to the sediment size fractions S1 (0.16,2 ,m) and S2 (0.03,0.16 ,m) caused plant stress at a concentration of 100 mg/L. The coarser fraction S1 showed strong inhibition effects on photosynthesis, probably due to light attenuation. Compared to S1, the suspension with the finer fraction S2 showed lower turbidity, higher nutrient content, and a higher proportion of sediment-bound propiconazole. The combined effects of propiconazole and suspended sediment are dependent on concentrations of sediment and propiconazole. At low sediment concentration (e.g., 100 mg/L), neither S1 nor S2 reduce the toxicity of propiconazole, as only 2% of propiconazole are bound to particles. An increase in sediment concentration decreases the bioavailable concentration of propiconazole; however, at the same time, this increases the turbidity, thereby inhibiting plant photosynthesis. [source] Consequences of youth tobacco use: a review of prospective behavioural studiesADDICTION, Issue 7 2006M. Mathers ABSTRACT Background Cigarette smoking represents a significant health problem and tobacco has been identified as causing more preventable diseases and premature deaths than any other drug. Although health consequences from smoking have been documented, there has been a surprising lack of research into behavioural consequences. Aims To review what is known of the long-term relationship between patterns of tobacco use prior to age 18 years and behavioural consequences in adulthood. Method A literature search of electronic abstraction services from 1980 to September 2005 was conducted. To be included in the review, studies had to have large, representative samples, be longitudinal studies with baseline age under 18 years and follow-up age 18 years or older and clarify effects due to attrition, leaving 16 articles that met the inclusion criteria. Two reviewers evaluated each paper. Findings Adolescent tobacco use predicts a range of early adult social and health problems. Surprisingly few studies met the inclusion criteria. The limited evidence available suggests that adolescent tobacco smoking increases the likelihood of early adult tobacco use and the initiation of alcohol use or the development of alcohol-related problems. The link between adolescent tobacco use and subsequent cannabis use was not resolved convincingly from the studies summarized. The effects of tobacco use on later illicit drug use tended to fall away when adjusting for underlying risk factors. Existing studies of the effects of tobacco use on later mental health have many limitations. Nevertheless, a finding that youth tobacco use may predict subsequent mental health problems deserves further investigation. The possible effects of tobacco use on academic/social problems and sleep problems also warrant further investigation. Conclusion This review highlights links between youth tobacco use and subsequent behavioural and mental health problems. It provides health care professionals with evidence of the possible harmful effects of youth tobacco smoking on later social, emotional, and behavioural well-being. [source] Characterization of a novel silkworm (Bombyx mori) phenol UDP-glucosyltransferaseFEBS JOURNAL, Issue 3 2002Teresa Luque Sugar conjugation is a major pathway for the inactivation and excretion of both endogenous and exogenous compounds. We report here the molecular cloning and functional characterization of a phenol UDP-glucosyltransferase (UGT) from the silkworm, Bombyx mori, which was named BmUGT1. The complete cDNA clone is 1.6 kb, and the gene is expressed in several tissues of fifth-instar larvae, including fat body, midgut, integument, testis, silk gland and haemocytes. The predicted protein comprises 520 amino acids and has ,,30% overall amino-acid identity with other members of the UGT family. The most conserved region of the protein is the C-terminal half, which has been implicated in binding the UDP-sugar. BmUGT1 was expressed in insect cells using the baculovirus expression system, and a range of compounds belonging to diverse chemical groups were assessed as potential substrates for the enzyme. The expressed enzyme had a wide substrate specificity, showing activity with flavonoids, coumarins, terpenoids and simple phenols. These results support a role for the enzyme in detoxication processes, such as minimizing the harmful effects of ingested plant allelochemicals. This work represents the first instance where an insect ugt gene has been associated with a specific enzyme activity. [source] Ferulic acid, a natural protector against carbon tetrachloride-induced toxicityFUNDAMENTAL & CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY, Issue 4 2005M. Srinivasan Abstract The present work is aimed at evaluating the protective effect of ferulic acid (FA), a naturally occurring phenolic compound on CCl4 induced toxicity. The activities of liver markers (alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, , -glutamyl transferase), lipid peroxidative index (thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, hydroperoxides, nitric oxide, protein carbonyl content), the antioxidant status (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and reduced glutathione) were used as biomarkers to monitor the protective role of FA. The liver marker enzymes in plasma and lipid peroxidative index in liver and kidney were increased in CCl4 -treated groups, which were decreased significantly on treatment with FA. The antioxidants, which were depleted in CCl4 -treated groups, were improved significantly by FA treatment. Administration of FA to normal rats did not produce any harmful effects. Thus our results show that FA is an effective antioxidant without any side-effects and may be a great gain in the current search for natural therapy. [source] Hillslope-swamp interactions and flow pathways in a hypermaritime rainforest, British ColumbiaHYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES, Issue 15 2003D. F. Fitzgerald Abstract The process of water delivery to a headwater stream in a hypermaritime rainforest was examined using a variety of physical techniques and tracing with dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and the stable isotopes of water. Headwater swamps, often the major discharge zones for water draining off steep forest slopes, strongly affect the physical and chemical character of streamflow in the region. The headwater swamp selected for detailed investigation was sustained by relatively constant groundwater input from the steep colluvial slopes that maintained the water table above the ground surface. During significant storm events the water table rose quickly and the swamp expanded to engulf marginal pools that developed rapidly on the adjacent ground surfaces. The corresponding release of surface water directly to the stream typically comprised up to 95% of total stream discharge. The proportion of groundwater seepage to the stream by matrix flow (<1%) and via macropore-fed springs (up to 73%) increased during the recession period, but could not be sustained over the longer term. In more protracted drying periods, deep groundwater contributions to the stream were routed first to the headwater swamp. Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in the stream, measured daily or more frequently during storm events, was found to be directly proportional to discharge, owing to the domination of DOC-rich headwater-swamp water sources. Although ,18O and ,2H composition of rainwater, groundwater and stream flow were found to be similar, deuterium excess (d ,2H , 8,18O) of water components was often found to be distinct, and suggested short water residence times of roughly 12 days for one event. Overall, observations of a typical headwater swamp reveal that the groundwater regime is dominated by rapid infiltration and short, emergent flow paths. With a relatively short turnover time, potential disturbances to the system by harvesting of upslope areas can be expected to occur rapidly. Forest managers can mitigate some of the harmful effects of logging operations by respecting the integrity of headwater wetland systems. The nature and magnitude of such perturbations will require further study. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Semen quality and sedentary work positionINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ANDROLOGY, Issue 1 2004Julie Støy Summary Increased scrotal temperature can, in experimental settings, markedly disturb the production of semen. Sedentary work position may increase the temperature of the scrotum, but previous studies have failed to determine whether changes in scrotal temperature caused by sedentary work actually do affect semen quality. This study was carried out to elucidate the possible harmful effects of sedentary work on sperm count and other semen characteristics. In 1981,1983 a semen sample was obtained from 3119 men who attended an infertility workup in one of four Danish fertility centres. A total of 2517 men returned a postal questionnaire with information on life style, leisure time activities, occupational history and job duties. Information on job specific work position was obtained from The Danish Work Environment Cohort study 1990 (DWECS). In this analysis DWECS data for a total of 1747 men was included from men aged 18,39 years with >30 h of work per week. For all job titles represented in the DWECS, the mean proportion of sedentary work was estimated. The sperm cell concentration was 30.6 million/mL among men in the quintile with lowest job specific sedentary work compared with 40.5 million/mL in the highest quintile. The difference was, however, not statistically significant. Stratification on infertility period, educational level of the man, fertility centre, and fertility-related disease of the spouse did not influence the results. The analyses do not suggest that sedentary work is a risk factor for abnormal semen characteristics. [source] Accelerated repair and reduced mutagenicity of oxidative DNA damage in human bladder cells expressing the E. coli FPG proteinINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER, Issue 7 2006Monica Ropolo Abstract Repair of some oxidized purines such as 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine (8-oxoG) is inefficient in human cells in comparison to repair of other major endogenous lesions (e.g. uracil, abasic sites or oxidized pyrimidines). This is due to the poor catalytic properties of hOGG1, the major DNA glycosylase involved in 8-oxoG removal. The formamidopyrimidine DNA glycosylase (FPG) protein from E. coli is endowed with a potent 8-oxoG glycolytic activity coupled with a ,,,-AP lyase. In this study, we have expressed FPG fused to the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) in human bladder cells to accelerate the repair of oxidative DNA damage. Cells expressing the fusion protein EGFP,FPG repaired 8-oxoG and AP sites at accelerated rates, in particular via the single-nucleotide insertion base excision repair (BER) pathway and were resistant to mutagenicity of the oxidizing carcinogen potassium bromate. FPG may stably protect human cells from some harmful effects of oxidative DNA damage. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Cigarette pack and advertising displays at point of purchase: community demand for restrictionsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CONSUMER STUDIES, Issue 6 2008Jacqueline A. Hickling Abstract Tobacco promotion influences tobacco consumption. Traditional forms of tobacco promotion have been heavily restricted in response to the harmful effects of tobacco. Tobacco displays at the point of purchase are increasingly important as a means of communicating brand imagery for the tobacco industry, especially when advertising is restricted at these points. Previous research has demonstrated that children exposed to tobacco advertising at the point of purchase have inflated perceptions of availability, use and popularity of tobacco. Internationally, laws are being debated and implemented to prohibit or restrict the display of tobacco at the point of purchase or put tobacco out of sight. Such measures would reduce tobacco product exposure and, hence, tobacco marketing among youth and the community. In South Australia, a ban on all cigarette advertising at the point of purchase was introduced in 2005. This study was designed to assess community support for restrictions on cigarette displays and advertising at the point of purchase. A telephone survey was conducted with a random sample of 2026 South Australian adults (aged 18 years and over) in July 2005. Overall, 63% of the community approved of a hypothetical total ban on cigarette displays at the point of purchase, with over three-quarters believing this should happen in the next 12 months. A further 24% believed that cigarette displays should be restricted and 82% would approve of a ban on displays in stores that sell confectionary. Only 7% of adult smokers reported making their decision about the brand of cigarettes to buy at the point of purchase and 90% made their decision before they even entered the shop. The results strengthen arguments that cigarette displays are not necessary to maintain brand loyalty or to encourage brand switching of established smokers. Instead, the results make arguments more credible that cigarette displays normalize and promote smoking among young people and may also promote unplanned purchase or increased consumption among less frequent smokers or former smokers. Placing cigarettes out of sight would be unlikely to impact on brand choice for most smokers, who have already made up their mind before they enter the store. [source] Prophylactic steroids for paediatric open-heart surgery: a systematic reviewINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EVIDENCE BASED HEALTHCARE, Issue 4 2008Suzi Robertson-Malt BHSc PhD Background, The immune response to cardiopulmonary bypass in infants and children can lead to a series of post-operative morbidities and mortality, that is, hemodynamic instability, increased infection and tachyarrhythmias. Administration of prophylactic doses of corticosteroids is sometimes used to try and ameliorate this pro-inflammatory response. However, the clinical benefits and harms of this type of intervention in the paediatric patient remain unclear. Objectives, To systematically review the beneficial and harmful effects of the prophylactic administration of corticosteroids, compared with placebo, in paediatric open-heart surgery. Search strategy, The trials registry of the Cochrane Heart Group, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials in The Cochrane Library (Issue 4, 2006), MEDLINE (1966 to January 2007), EMBASE (1980 to January 2007) were searched. An additional hand-search of the EMRO database for Arabic literature was performed. Grey literature was searched, and experts in the field were contacted for any unpublished material. No language restrictions were applied. Selection criteria, All randomised and quasi-randomised controlled trials of open-heart surgery in the paediatric population that received corticosteroids pre-, peri- or post-operatively, with reported clinical outcomes in terms of morbidity and mortality. Data collection and analysis, Eligible studies were abstracted and evaluated by two independent reviewers. All meta-analyses were completed using RevMan4.2.8. Weighted mean difference (WMD) was the primary summary statistic with data pooled using a random-effects model. Main results, All cause mortality could not be assessed as the data reports were incomplete. There was weak evidence in favour of prophylactic corticosteroid administration for reducing intensive care unit stay, peak core temperature and duration of ventilation (WMD (95% confidence intervals) ,0.50 h (,1.41 to 0.41); ,0.20°C (,1.16 to 0.77) and ,0.63 h (,4.02 to 2.75) respectively). [source] The Role of Immigrants in the Italian Labour MarketINTERNATIONAL MIGRATION, Issue 3 2001Murizio Ambrosini In little more than a decade, Italy has become a country characterized by immigration from abroad. This pattern is far removed from what central-northern European countries experienced during the 1950s and the 1960s. Immigration has not been explicitly demanded by employers, nor has it been ruled by agreements with the immigrants' countries of origin, nor perceived as necessary for the economic system. For all these reasons, immigration has been chaotic and managed in an emergency and approximate way, even though it is deemed useful and is requested by the "informal" as well as the "official" economy. Following presentations of statistics on trends in the phenomenon, three issues are analysed: - how immigrants are integrated into a labour market that has not called them and into circumstances characterized by the absence of public policies to help them in their job search. - whether it is possible to separate regular immigration involved in the "official" market from irregular immigration in the hidden economy, considering advantages of the first and harmful effects of the second for the Italian socio-economic system. - whether it is appropriate to address complementarity between immigrant labour and the national labour force in a country with 2,500,000 unemployed workers and heavy territorial unbalances. [source] Beliefs about the causes of cervical cancer in Botswana: implications for nursingINTERNATIONAL NURSING REVIEW, Issue 4 2009D. M. McFarland rn Background:, Cervical cancer is the most common cause of cancer mortality and morbidity for women in Botswana. Yet, little is known about what women believe to be the causes of the disease. Aim:, This paper presents data on factors women in Botswana believe are responsible for the high incidence of cervical cancer in their country. Data were part of a larger study that explored knowledge and perceptions about cervical cancer and Pap smear screening from the perspectives of the clients and the healthcare providers. Methods:, The study that generated the data included 30 women of all socio-economic levels, recruited by network sampling. The women's ages ranged from 31 to 54 years. Demographic data were analysed descriptively. Individualized interview data were content-analysed. Findings:, The identified causes of cervical cancer were classified as cervical irritants and non-irritants. The most commonly cited cervical irritants were vaginally inserted chemical agents and traditional medicine. Discussions:, Participants identified vaginally inserted chemical substances and traditional medicines as possible explanations for the high incidence of cervical cancer in Botswana. They reported that women used these substances for sexual and hygienic purposes. Although these factors are believed to be the causes of cervical cancer and have not yet been medically acknowledged, verbal reports suggest that their use is problematic. Conclusion:, There is a need for health education and for further research to affirm women's beliefs about the harmful effects of intravaginal agents. [source] Arms Transfers beyond the State-to-State RealmINTERNATIONAL STUDIES PERSPECTIVES, Issue 2 2009Denise Garcia Arms transfers beyond the state-to-state realm can have harmful effects for international security dramatically affecting the relations and behavior of states. This article examines why an emerging international norm on "prohibiting states to transfer arms to nonstate groups" has failed to diffuse at the international level. It discusses the already available international law framework existing at the regional and international levels upon which the potential norm could be built. The failure of the norm to diffuse at the international level can be primarily explained by the existence of a long-consolidated norm: the customary practice of states to transfer weapons to nonstate actors, that is, groups they deem legitimate to, without any interference or constraint.1 The unrestrained transfer of weapons is an established foreign-policy practice. It is the way states form, uphold alliances, extend friendships, and build spheres of influence (Sorokin 1994). Clearly, no state willingly wants to give this up. Therefore, the multilateral agreement on a norm barring most or all transfers of weapons to nonstate actors would curtail the freedom of action to build spheres of influence as states please. There are genuine ethical and moral dilemmas in this discussion, a nonstate actor may be a freedom fighter or a terrorist depending on different perspectives. The distinction between the categories "state" and "nonstate" actors may risk classifying actors in two camps: the good and the bad, respectively. This is problematic as a few states are known to be the most brutal perpetrators of egregious violations against their own citizens, whereas certain nonstate actors are legitimately fighting for the protection of vulnerable populations. [source] Why amphibians are importantINTERNATIONAL ZOO YEARBOOK, Issue 1 2008T. R. HALLIDAY The world's amphibians face an imminent extinction crisis, with nearly a third of species categorized as threatened. The principal cause of amphibian declines is the destruction of freshwater habitats. Many other causes have been identified, which act synergistically; these include pollution, climate change and disease. Amphibian declines and extinctions are evidence of the harmful effects of humans on natural ecosystems. [source] Sulfation of nitrotyrosine: Biochemistry and functional implicationsIUBMB LIFE, Issue 10 2007Ming-Cheh Liu Abstract Nitration of tyrosine, in both protein-bound form and free amino acid form, can readily occur in cells under oxidative/nitrative stress. In addition to serving as a biomarker of oxidative/nitrative stress, elevated levels of nitrotyrosine have been shown to cause DNA damage or trigger apoptosis. An important issue is whether the human body is equipped with mechanisms to counteract the potentially harmful effects of nitrotyrosine. Sulfate conjugation, as mediated by the cytosolic sulfotransferases (SULTs), is widely used for the biotransformation and disposal of a variety of drugs and other xenobiotics, as well as endogenous thyroid/steroid hormones and catecholamine neurotransmitters. Recent studies have revealed that the sulfation of nitrotyrosine occurs in cells under oxidative/nitrative stress, and have pinpointed the SULT1A3 as the responsible SULT enzyme. In this review, we summarized the available information concerning the biochemistry of nitrotyrosine sulfation and the effects of genetic polymorphisms on the nitrotyrosine sulfating activity of SULT1A3. Functional implications of the sulfation of nitrotyrosine are discussed. IUBMB Life, 622-627, 2007 [source] Management of childhood fever by parents: literature reviewJOURNAL OF ADVANCED NURSING, Issue 2 2006Anne Walsh MHSc RN Aim., This paper reports a review which draws together findings from studies targeting parents' temperature-taking, antipyretic administration, attitudes, practices and information-seeking behaviours. Background., Parents' concerns about the harmful effects of fever have been reported for more than two decades. These concerns remain despite successful educational interventions. Method., Medline, CINAHL, PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES and Web of Science databases were searched from 1980 to 2004 during November 2004. The search terms were fever, child, parent, education, knowledge, belief, concern, temperature, antipyretic and information, and combinations of these. Findings., In the 1980s, studies were mainly descriptive of small single site samples of parents with a febrile child seeking assistance from healthcare professionals. From 1990, sample sizes increased and multi-site studies were reported. Educational interventions were designed to increase knowledge and reduce unnecessary use of health services. One 2003 study targeted knowledge and attitudes. Parental knowledge about normal body temperature and the temperature that indicates fever is poor. Mild fever is misclassified by many as high, and they actively reduce mild fever with incorrect doses of antipyretics. Although some parents acknowledge the benefits of mild fever, concerns about brain damage, febrile convulsions and death from mild to moderate fever persist irrespective of parental education or socio-economic status. Many base their fever management practices on inaccurate temperature readings. Increased use of antipyretics to reduce fever and waking sleeping febrile children for antipyretics or sponging reflects heightened concern about harmful effects of fever. Educational interventions have reduced unnecessary use of healthcare services, improved knowledge about fever and when to implement management strategies, and reduced incorrect parental accuracy of antipyretic dosing. Information-seeking behaviours in fever management differ according to country of origin. Conclusion., Despite successful educational interventions, little has changed in parents' fever management knowledge, attitudes and practices. There is a need for interventions based on behaviour change theories to target the precursors of behaviour, namely knowledge, attitudes, normative influences and parents' perceptions of control. [source] Compensative Effects of Chemical Regulation with Uniconazole on Physiological Damages Caused by Water Deficiency during the Grain Filling Stage of WheatJOURNAL OF AGRONOMY AND CROP SCIENCE, Issue 1 2008L. Duan Abstract Chemical regulation using plant growth regulators has proved to be potentially beneficial in water-saving agriculture. This experiment was conducted with winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. ,Jingdong 6') to study the effect of chemical regulation on alleviation of water deficit stress during the grain filling stage. Uniconazole, a plant growth regulator, was foliar sprayed at 85 % (adequate irrigation) and 60 % (deficit irrigation) field capacity. Results showed that the distribution of 3H-H2O in roots and flag leaf, characteristics of vascular bundle in primary roots and internode below spike, roots activity, transpiration rate and stomatal conductance of flag leaf were negatively affected by deficit irrigation after flowering. Foliar spraying at the early jointing stage with 13.5 gha,1 uniconazole was able to relieve and compensate for the harmful effects of deficit irrigation. Both the area of vascular bundle in primary roots and internode below the ear were increased by uniconazole, while root viability and their ability to absorb and transport water were increased. In the flag leaf, stomatal conductance was reduced to maintain the transpiration rate and water use efficiency (WUE) measured for a single wheat plant was higher. Uniconazole increased WUE by 25.0 % under adequate and 22 % under deficit irrigations. Under adequate irrigations, the 14C-assimilates export rate from flag leaf in 12 h (E12h) was increased by 65 % and 36 % in early and late filling stages, while under deficit irrigations, the E12h of uniconazole-treated plants exceeded that of control plants by 5 % and 34 % respectively. Physiological damages caused by water deficiency during the grain filling stage of wheat was alleviated by foliar spraying with uniconazole. [source] The Role of Benzodiazepines in the Treatment of InsomniaJOURNAL OF AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY, Issue 6 2001Meta-Analysis of Benzodiazepine Use in the Treatment of Insomnia PURPOSE: To obtain a precise estimate of the efficacy and common adverse effects of benzodiazepines for the treatment of insomnia compared with those of placebo and other treatments. BACKGROUND: Insomnia, also referred to as disorder of initiating or maintaining sleep, is a common problem and its prevalence among older people is estimated to be 23% to 34%.1 The total direct cost in the United States for insomnia in 1995 was estimated to be $13.9 billion.2 The complaint of insomnia in older people is associated with chronic medical conditions; psychiatric problems, mainly depression, chronic pain, and poor perceived general condition;1,3,4 and use of sleep medications.5 Thus in most cases, insomnia is due to some other underlying problem and is not just a consequence of aging.6 Accordingly, the management of insomnia should focus on addressing the primary problem and not just short-term treatment of the insomnia. Benzodiazepines belong to the drug class of choice for the symptomatic treatment of primary insomnia.7 This abstract will appraise a meta-analysis that compared the effect of benzodiazepines for short-term treatment of primary insomnia with placebo or other treatment. DATA SOURCES: Data sources included articles listed in Medline from 1966 to December 1998 and the Cochrane Controlled Trials Registry. The medical subject heading (MeSH) search terms used were "benzodiazepine" (exploded) or "benzodiazepine tranquillizers" (exploded) or "clonazepam,""drug therapy,""randomized controlled trial" or "random allocation" or "all random,""human," and "English language." In addition, bibliographies of retrieved articles were scanned for additional articles and manufacturers of brand-name benzodiazepines were asked for reports of early trials not published in the literature. STUDY SELECTION CRITERIA: Reports of randomized controlled trials of benzodiazepine therapy for primary insomnia were considered for the meta-analysis if they compared a benzodiazepine with a placebo or an alternative active drug. DATA EXTRACTION: Data were abstracted from 45 randomized controlled trials representing 2,672 patients, 47% of whom were women. Fifteen studies included patients age 65 and older and four studies involved exclusively older patients. Twenty-five studies were based in the community and nine involved inpatients. The duration of the studies ranged from 1 day to 6 weeks, with a mean of 12.2 days and median of 7.5 days. The primary outcome measures analyzed were sleep latency and total sleep duration after a sleep study, subjects' estimates of sleep latency and sleep duration, and subjects' report of adverse effects. Interrater reliability was checked through duplicate, independent abstraction of the first 21 articles. Overall agreement was between 95% and 98% (kappa value of 0.90 and 0.95 accordingly) for classification of the studies and validity of therapy, and 76% (kappa value of 0.51) for study of harmful effects. A scale of 0 to 5 was used to rate the individual reports, taking into account the quality of randomization, blinding, follow-up, and control for baseline differences between groups. Tests for homogeneity were applied across the individual studies and, when studies were found to be heterogeneous, subgroup analysis according to a predefined group was performed. MAIN RESULTS: The drugs used in the meta-analysis included triazolam in 16 studies; flurazepam in 14 studies; temazepam in 13 studies; midazolam in five studies; nitrazepam in four studies; and estazolam, lorazepam, and diazepam in two studies each. Alternative drug therapies included zopiclone in 13 studies and diphenhydramine, glutethimide, and promethazine in one study each. Only one article reported on a nonpharmacological treatment (behavioral therapy). The mean age of patients was reported in 33 of the 45 studies and ranged between 29 and 82. SLEEP LATENCY: In four studies involving 159 subjects, there was sleep-record latency (time to fall asleep) data for analysis. The pooled difference indicated that the latency to sleep for patients receiving a benzodiazepine was 4.2 minutes (95% CI = (,0.7) (,9.2)) shorter than for those receiving placebo. Patient's estimates of sleep latency examined in eight studies showed a difference of 14.3 minutes (95% CI = 10.6,18.0) in favor of benzodiazepines over placebo. TOTAL SLEEP DURATION: Analysis of two studies involving 35 patients in which total sleep duration using sleep-record results was compared indicated that patients in the benzodiazepine groups slept for an average of 61.8 minutes (95% CI = 37.4,86.2) longer than those in the placebo groups. Patient's estimates of sleep duration from eight studies (566 points) showed total sleep duration to be 48.4 minutes (95% CI = 39.6,57.1) longer for patients taking benzodiazepines than for those on placebo. ADVERSE EFFECTS: Analysis of eight studies (889 subjects) showed that those in the benzodiazepine groups were more likely than those in the placebo groups to complain of daytime drowsiness (odds ratio (OR) 2.4, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.8,3.4). Analysis of four studies (326 subjects) also showed that subjects in the benzodiazepine groups were more likely to complain of dizziness or lightheadedness than the placebo groups. (OR 2.6, 95% CI = 0.7,10.3). Despite the increased reported side effects in the benzodiazepine groups, drop-out rates were similar in the benzodiazepine and placebo groups. For patient reported outcome, there was no strong correlation found for sleep latency data, (r = 0.4, 95% CI = (,0.3) (,0.9)) or for sleep duration (r = 0.2, 95% CI = ,0.8,0.4) between benzodiazepine dose and outcome. COMPARISON WITH OTHER DRUGS AND TREATMENTS: In three trials with 96 subjects, meta-analysis of the results comparing benzodiazepines with zopiclone, did not show significant difference in sleep latency in the benzodiazepine and placebo groups, but the benzodiazepine groups had increased total sleep duration (23.1 min. 95% CI = 5.6,40.6). In four trials with 252 subjects, the side effect profile did not show a statistically significant difference (OR 1.5, CI 0.8,2.9). There was only one study comparing the effect of behavioral therapy with triazolam. The result showed that triazolam was more effective than behavioral therapy in decreasing sleep latency, but its efficacy declined by the second week of treatment. Behavioral therapy remained effective throughout the 9-week follow-up period. There were four small trials that involved older patients exclusively, with three of the studies having less than 2 weeks of follow-up. The results were mixed regarding benefits and adverse effects were poorly reported. CONCLUSION: The result of the meta-analysis shows that the use of benzodiazepines results in a decrease in sleep latency and a significant increase in total sleep time as compared with placebo. There was also a report of significantly increased side effects, but this did not result in increased discontinuation rate. There was no dose-response relationship for beneficial effect seen with the use of benzodiazepines, although the data are scant. Zopiclone was the only alternative pharmacological therapy that could be studied with any precision. There was no significant difference in the outcome when benzodiazepines were compared with zopiclone. There was only one study that compared the effect of benzodiazepines with nonpharmacological therapy; thus available data are insufficient to comment. [source] Psychological Stress and Oxidative Damage in Lymphocytes of Aerobically Fit and Unfit Individuals,JOURNAL OF APPLIED BIOBEHAVIORAL RESEARCH, Issue 1 2008Kelly Z. Knickelbein Habitual aerobic exercise has a beneficial effect on many systems of the body, and psychological stress has a negative influence on several of the same systems. One possible pathway is through those systems that account for the detrimental effects of stress; by buffering these harmful effects, exercise may reduce the consequences of stress. This study examined increased resistance of cells to stress-induced oxidative damage as a result of fitness. Forty healthy participants were assigned to either a stress group or a no-stress control group, and measures of stress and oxidative damage were collected. Variation in fitness level across participants was also measured. Oxidative damage increased as a function of stress, but this was not buffered by fitness level. These results should be interpreted with caution because of the small sample size and the limited variability of cardiorespiratory fitness levels in the sample. [source] Sanitary versus environmental policies: fitting together two pieces of the puzzle of European vulture conservationJOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY, Issue 4 2010Antoni Margalida Summary 1.,Between 1996 and 2000 the appearance of bovine spongiform encephalopathy swiftly became one of the most serious public health and political crises concerning food safety ever experienced in the European Union (EU). Subsequent sanitary regulations led to profound changes in the management of livestock carcasses (i.e. the industrial destruction of around 80% of all animal carcasses), thereby threatening the last remaining healthy scavenger populations of the Old World and thus contradicting the long-term environmental policies of the EU. 2.,Several warning signs such as a decrease in breeding success, an apparent increase in mortality in young age classes of vultures and an increase in the number of cases of vultures attacking and killing cattle, as well as a halt in population growth, suggest that the decrease in the availability of food resources has had harmful effects on vulture populations. 3.,Between 2002 and 2005, a number of dispositions to the EU regulations (2003/322/CE 2005/830/CE) enabled conservation managers to adopt rapid solutions (i.e. the creation of vulture restaurants) aimed at satisfying the food requirements of vultures. However, these conservation measures may seriously modify habitat quality and have indirect detrimental effects on avian scavenger populations and communities. 4.,Synthesis and applications.,Conservation managers and policy-makers need to balance the demands of public health protection and the long-term conservation of biodiversity. The regulations concerning carrion provisioning need to be more flexible and there needs to be greater compatibility between sanitary and environmental policies. We advocate policies that authorize the abandonment of livestock carcasses and favours populations of wild herbivores to help to maintain populations of avian scavengers. Conservation strategies should be incorporated into new European Commission regulations, which should be effective in 2011. [source] Bioremediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: current knowledge and future directionsJOURNAL OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY & BIOTECHNOLOGY, Issue 7 2005Selina M Bamforth Abstract Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a class of organic compounds that have accumulated in the natural environment mainly as a result of anthropogenic activities such as the combustion of fossil fuels. Interest has surrounded the occurrence and distribution of PAHs for many decades due to their potentially harmful effects to human health. This concern has prompted researchers to address ways to detoxify/remove these organic compounds from the natural environment. Bioremediation is one approach that has been used to remediate contaminated land and waters, and promotes the natural attenuation of the contaminants using the in situ microbial community of the site. This review discusses the variety of fungi and bacteria that are capable of these transformations, describes the major aerobic and anaerobic breakdown pathways, and highlights some of the bioremediation technologies that are currently available. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||