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Health Risks (health + risk)
Kinds of Health Risks Terms modified by Health Risks Selected AbstractsARSENIC IN THE SHALLOW GROUND WATERS OF CONTERMINOUS UNITED STATES: ASSESSMENT, HEALTH RISKS, AND COSTS FOR MCL COMPLIANCE,JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN WATER RESOURCES ASSOCIATION, Issue 2 2006Navin Kumar C. Twarakavi ABSTRACT: A methodology consisting of ordinal logistic regression (OLR) is used to predict the probability of occurrence of arsenic concentrations in different threshold limits in shallow ground waters of the conterminous United States (CONUS) subject to a set of influencing variables. The analysis considered a number of maximum contaminant level (MCL) options as threshold values to estimate the probabilities of occurrence of arsenic in ranges defined by a given MCL of 3, 5, 10, 20, and 50 ,g/l and a detection limit of 1 ,g/l. The fit between the observed and predicted probability of occurrence was around 83 percent for all MCL options. The estimated probabilities were used to estimate the median background concentration of arsenic in the CONUS. The shallow ground water of the western United States is more vulnerable than the eastern United States. Arizona, Utah, Nevada, and California in particular are hotspots for arsenic contamination. The risk assessment showed that counties in southern California, Arizona, Florida, and Washington and a few others scattered throughout the CONUS face a high risk from arsenic exposure through untreated ground water consumption. A simple cost effectiveness analysis was performed to understand the household costs for MCL compliance in using arsenic contaminated ground water. The results showed that the current MCL of 10 ,g/l is a good compromise based on existing treatment technologies. [source] The Effect of Benefits, Premiums, and Health Risk on Health Plan Choice in the Medicare ProgramHEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH, Issue 4p1 2004Adam Atherly Objective. To estimate the effect of Medicare+Choice (M+C) plan premiums and benefits and individual beneficiary characteristics on the probability of enrollment in a Medicare+Choice plan. Data Source. Individual data from the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey were combined with plan-level data from Medicare Compare. Study Design. Health plan choices, including the Medicare+Choice/Fee-for-Service decision and the choice of plan within the M+C sector, were modeled using limited information maximum likelihood nested logit. Principal Findings. Premiums have a significant effect on plan selection, with an estimated out-of-pocket premium elasticity of ,0.134 and an insurer-perspective elasticity of ,4.57. Beneficiaries are responsive to plan characteristics, with prescription drug benefits having the largest marginal effect. Sicker beneficiaries were more likely to choose plans with drug benefits and diabetics were more likely to pick plans with vision coverage. Conclusions. Plan characteristics significantly impact beneficiaries' decisions to enroll in Medicare M+C plans and individuals sort themselves systematically into plans based on individual characteristics. [source] Some Simple Tests for Spatial Effects Around Putative Sources of Health RiskBIOMETRICAL JOURNAL, Issue 4 2007Andrew B. Lawson Abstract The need for tests dealing with different features of small area health data is less important with the increase in computation speed of computers and the access to MCMC methods. However there are many situations where exploratory testing could be useful and where MCMC methods are not readily useable or available. In this paper, a number of simple tests are derived for the logistic model for case events. This model assumes that a control disease is available and that the events have a binary label relating to case or control state. The tests are derived from likelihood considerations and Monte Carlo critical regions are examined. A simulated evaluation of the tests is presented in terms of Monte Carlo power. A data example is considered. (© 2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] Knowledge and Use of Measures to Reduce Health Risks by Corporate Expatriate Employees in Western GhanaJOURNAL OF TRAVEL MEDICINE, Issue 1 2009Subhash C. Arya No abstract is available for this article. [source] Health Risks Among Travelers,Need for Regular UpdatesJOURNAL OF TRAVEL MEDICINE, Issue 3 2008Robert Steffen MD No abstract is available for this article. [source] Discussing the Health Risks of DouchingNURSING FOR WOMENS HEALTH, Issue 2 2006Barbara Hansen Cottrell MSN First page of article [source] Rural-Urban Differences in Health Risks, Resource Use and Expenditures Within Three State Medicaid Programs: Implications for Medicaid Managed CareTHE JOURNAL OF RURAL HEALTH, Issue 1 2002Janet M. Bronstein Ph.D. This study uses Medicaid claims data for income-eligible enrollees in California, Georgia and Mississippi to compare expenditures, resource usage and health risks between residents of rural and urban areas of the states. Resource use is measured using the Resource Based Relative Value Scale (RBRVS) system for professional services, hospital days and outpatient facility visits; it also is valued at private insurance reimbursement rates for the states. Health risks are measured using the diagnosis-based Adjusted Clinical Group system. Resource use is compared on a risk-adjusted basis with the use of urban Medicaid enrollees as the benchmark. We find that actual expenditures for rural care users are lower than for urban care users. However, because the proportion of Medicaid enrollees who use care is higher in rural than in urban areas in all three states, expenditures per rural enrollee are not consistently lower. Case mix is more resource intensive for rural compared to urban residents in all three states. Although resource usage is not systematically lower owerall for rural enrollees, on a risk-adjusted basis they tend to use less hospital resources than urban enrollees. Capitation rates based on historical per enrollee expenditures would not appear to under-reimburse managed care organizations for the care of rural as opposed to urban residents in the study states. [source] How Much Do Rural Hispanics Know About the Adverse Health Risks of Smoking?THE JOURNAL OF RURAL HEALTH, Issue 3 2001Tania Butkovic B.S. ABSTRACT: The object of this study was to measure knowledge in a rural Hispanic community about the adverse health effects of smoking and to compare knowledge between current smokers and nonsmokers. A survey was administered to waiting room patients (n=137) over 16 years old at three predominantly Hispanic rural community health centers in the central San Joaquin Valley of California. Proportions of respondents who believed that smoking caused a specific consequence were calculated and compared between smokers and nonsmokers by chi-square tests. Likelihood of attributing negative health consequences to smoking was determined and compared between smokers and nonsmokers. A majority of all participants (smokers and nonsmokers) knew that smoking causes lung cancer (93 percent) and emphysema (91 percent). Many fewer participants knew that smoking contributes to problems such as osteoporosis (39 percent) or sexual dysfunction (33 percent). Current smokers were less likely than nonsmokers (P=0.01) to say that smoking causes any adverse health outcome, including those not known to be related to smoking. Although this is a culturally, ethnically and geographically unique group, knowledge of smoking risks among smoking and nonsmoking rural Hispanics is similar to that found in the general population. When compared with nonsmokers, current smokers underestimate the risk that smoking poses to health. [source] Common Health Hazards in French Pilgrims During the Hajj of 2007: A Prospective Cohort StudyJOURNAL OF TRAVEL MEDICINE, Issue 6 2009Philippe Gautret MD Background. The majority of published studies on Hajj-related diseases were based on hospitalized patient cohorts. Methods. A total of 545 Hajj pilgrims from Marseille were enrolled in a prospective epidemiological study to evaluate the incidence of common health hazards. They were administered a questionnaire before traveling addressing demographic factors and health status indicators and a post-travel questionnaire about travel-associated diseases. Results. Respondents had a median age of 61 years and originated mainly from North Africa (81%). A significant proportion of individuals had chronic medical disorders such as walking disability (26%), diabetes mellitus (21%), and hypertension (21%). A total of 462 pilgrims were administered a questionnaire on returning home. A proportion of 59% of travelers presented at least one health problem during the pilgrimage and 44% of the cohort attended a doctor during travel; 3% were hospitalized. Cough was the main complaint among travelers (attack rate of 51%), followed by headache, heat stress, and fever. Few travelers suffered diarrhea and vomiting. Cardiovascular diseases, neurological disorders, trauma, skin and gastrointestinal problems were not frequently observed in our survey, suggesting that their prevalence among the causes of admission to Saudi hospitals reflects a bias of selection. Cough episodes were significantly more frequent in individuals >55 years. We also evidenced that women were more likely to present underlying chronic cardiovascular disorder and diabetes compared to men and that they more frequently suffered from cough episodes associated with fever during the Hajj. Conclusions. Health risks associated with the Hajj in our experience are much more related to crowding conditions than to travel. Our work suggests that the studies performed in Saudi specialized units probably overestimate the part of certain diseases within the spectrum of Hajj-associated diseases. Our results also suggest that old female Hajjes should be considered as a high-risk population and that preventive measures should be reinforced before departing for Saudi Arabia. [source] Rural-Urban Differences in Health Risks, Resource Use and Expenditures Within Three State Medicaid Programs: Implications for Medicaid Managed CareTHE JOURNAL OF RURAL HEALTH, Issue 1 2002Janet M. Bronstein Ph.D. This study uses Medicaid claims data for income-eligible enrollees in California, Georgia and Mississippi to compare expenditures, resource usage and health risks between residents of rural and urban areas of the states. Resource use is measured using the Resource Based Relative Value Scale (RBRVS) system for professional services, hospital days and outpatient facility visits; it also is valued at private insurance reimbursement rates for the states. Health risks are measured using the diagnosis-based Adjusted Clinical Group system. Resource use is compared on a risk-adjusted basis with the use of urban Medicaid enrollees as the benchmark. We find that actual expenditures for rural care users are lower than for urban care users. However, because the proportion of Medicaid enrollees who use care is higher in rural than in urban areas in all three states, expenditures per rural enrollee are not consistently lower. Case mix is more resource intensive for rural compared to urban residents in all three states. Although resource usage is not systematically lower owerall for rural enrollees, on a risk-adjusted basis they tend to use less hospital resources than urban enrollees. Capitation rates based on historical per enrollee expenditures would not appear to under-reimburse managed care organizations for the care of rural as opposed to urban residents in the study states. [source] FS13.5 Occupational contact dermatitis: printer worker's viewpointsCONTACT DERMATITIS, Issue 3 2004Terry Brown Introduction:, Occupational contact dermatitis (OCD) is very common in the printing industry due to contact with chemicals, paper, and wet work. It can be avoided by adequate protective measures, but the effectiveness of intervention depends heavily on the employer's and employee's awareness of this health risk. Objectives:, The study aimed to collect information on the knowledge, attitudes and beliefs of print workers about the risk of OCD and methods of prevention. Methods:, A series of focus groups were held with print workers, health and safety officers and managers to discuss their awareness of dermal risk factors, risk behaviour at work, attitudes to health and safety and options on possible preventive measures. A number of companies were also visited to observe, overtly and covertly, the normal work practices. Results:, OCD was not perceived to be either a major problem or a health and safety priority. There was general agreement about the processes and work practices that could cause skin problems. However, work practices varied considerably and did not always reflect this awareness. There was general concern about the type and availability of personal protective equipment, especially gloves and after-work skin cream. The provision of an occupational health service was generally felt to be inadequate, and no company had a policy in place that specifically addressed skin care. Conclusions:, These findings highlight the urgency to intensify health and safety education on skin care within the printing industry. Recommendations were developed for the evaluation of a series of risk reduction strategies. [source] The development and validation of the Indigenous Risk Impact Screen (IRIS): a 13-item screening instrument for alcohol and drug and mental health riskDRUG AND ALCOHOL REVIEW, Issue 2 2007CARLA M. SCHLESINGER Abstract The study aimed to assess the psychometric properties of the Indigenous Risk Impact Screen (IRIS) as a screening instrument for determining (i) the presence of alcohol and drug and mental health risk in Indigenous adult Australians and (ii) the cut-off scores that discriminate most effectively between the presence and absence of risk. A cross-sectional survey was used in clinical and non-clinical Indigenous and non-Indigenous services across Queensland Australia. A total of 175 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from urban, rural, regional and remote locations in Queensland took part in the study. Measures included the Indigenous Risk Impact Screen (IRIS), the Severity of Dependence Scale (SDS), the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and the Leeds Dependence Questionnaire (LDQ). Additional Mental Health measures included the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) and the Self-Report Questionnaire (SRQ). Principle axis factoring analysis of the IRIS revealed two factors corresponding with (i) alcohol and drug and (ii) mental health. The IRIS alcohol and drug and mental health subscales demonstrated good convergent validity with other well-established screening instruments and both subscales showed high internal consistency. A receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis was used to generate cut-offs for the two subscales and t-tests validated the utility of these cut-offs for determining risky levels of drinking. The study validated statistically the utility of the IRIS as a screen for alcohol and drug and mental health risk. The instrument is therefore recommended as a brief screening instrument for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. [source] Identifying young people who drink too much: the clinical utility of the five-item Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT)DRUG AND ALCOHOL REVIEW, Issue 1 2001HELEN MILES Researcher Abstract The current study investigated the patterns and consequences of alcohol use among young people and their perceptions of associate health risk, and explored the clinical utility of the five-item version of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) in screening young people for hazardous drinking. A cross-sectional sample of 393 young people aged 16,19 years were accessed through two tertiary colleges in South London and self-completed an anonymous, confidential questionnaire recording the five-item AUDIT, patterns of alcohol consumption, hazardous consequences and perception of associate health risk. Over 90% of the sample reported drinking alcohol regularly, commonly excessive weekend use and related physical, psychological and social consequences. A significant minority (20.4% of males, 18.0% of females) reported consumption of alcohol in excess of UK recommended limits, while almost a third (34.2% of males, 30.2% of females) reported scores in the ,hazardous' range of the five-item AUDIT. However, the majority had little perception of associate health risk, perceiving their use to be ,light' and unproblematic. Only one in 10 of those drinking at ,hazardous' levels recognized their alcohol use as problematic, most believing the hazardous consequences of this use were acceptable. Self-reported patterns of alcohol consumption (except age first used) and total number of psychological and social hazardous consequences were found to significantly predict AUDIT scores using linear regression analysis. Therefore the five-item AUDIT appears to have predictive validity, reflecting self-reported alcohol consumption, perception of associate health risk and hazardous consequences among young people. It is concluded that it may consequently have clinical utility as a simple screening tool (suitable for use by a variety of professionals in contact with young people) for the identification of hazardous alcohol consumption among this population. [source] Deliberate induction of alcohol tolerance: empirical introduction to a novel health riskADDICTION, Issue 10 2010Julia A. Martinez ABSTRACT Aims Alcohol tolerance is a hallmark indicator of alcohol dependence. Even so, the allure of peers' admiration for having the ability to drink heavily may lead some adolescents and young adults to practice, or ,train', to increase their tolerance (particularly at US colleges, where heavy drinking is highly prevalent and central to the social culture). This is a potential health hazard that has not been documented empirically. Thus, we initiated a study of tolerance ,training' and its association to risky and heavy drinking. Design, setting and participants A cross-sectional online survey of 990 college student life-time drinkers at a large Midwestern US university. Findings Of the sample, 9.9% (n = 97) reported deliberately ,training' to increase tolerance. On average, they reported increasing from approximately seven to 10 US standard drinks in a night prior to ,training' to 12,15 drinks at the end of ,training,' over approximately 2,3 weeks' duration. Although the proportion of frequent binge drinking among ,non-trainers' (34.4%) was similar to national rates, ,trainers' were much more likely to be frequent bingers (76.3%; OR = 6.15). Conclusions A number of students report deliberately inducing alcohol tolerance, probably directly increasing the risk for alcohol poisoning and other acute harms and/or dependence. This phenomenon might additionally be applicable to other populations, and deserves further study and attention as a potential personal and public health risk. Prevention efforts might aim to reduce the perceived importance of heavy-drinking abilities. [source] Proximity to the US,Mexico border: a key to explaining geographic variation in US methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin purityADDICTION, Issue 10 2010James K. Cunningham ABSTRACT Aims Although illicit drug purity is a widely discussed health risk, research explaining its geographic variation within a country is rare. This study examines whether proximity to the US,Mexico border, the United States' primary drug import portal, is associated with geographic variation in US methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine purity. Design Distances (proximity) between the US,Mexico border and locations of methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin seizures/acquisitions (n = 239 070) recorded in STRIDE (System to Retrieve Information from Drug Evidence) were calculated for the period of 1990,2004. The association of drug purity with these distances and other variables, including time and seizure/acquisition size, was examined using hierarchical multivariate linear modeling (HMLM). Setting Coterminous United States. Findings Methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin purity generally decreased with distance from the US,Mexico border. Heroin purity, however, after initially declining with distance, turned upwards,a U-shaped association. During 2000,04, methamphetamine purity also had a U-shaped association with distance. For each of the three drugs, temporal changes in the purity of small acquisitions (<10 g) were typically more dynamic in areas closer to the US,Mexico border. Conclusions Geographic variance in methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin purity throughout the coterminous United States was associated with US,Mexico border proximity. The U-shaped associations between border-distance and purity for heroin and methamphetamine may be due to imports of those drugs via the eastern United States and southeast Canada, respectively. That said, areas closer to the US,Mexico border generally had relatively high illicit drug purity, as well as more dynamic change in the purity of small (,retail level') drug amounts. [source] DNA damage in leukocytes of workers occupationally exposed to arsenic in copper smeltersENVIRONMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MUTAGENESIS, Issue 2 2005Jadwiga Palus Abstract Inorganic arsenic (i-As) is a known human carcinogen; however, humans continue to be exposed to i-As in drinking water and in certain occupational settings. In this study, we used the Comet assay to evaluate DNA damage in the somatic cells of workers from three Polish copper smelters who were occupationally exposed to i-As. Blood samples were collected from 72 male workers and 83 unexposed male controls and used for the detection of DNA damage, oxidative DNA damage, and DNA damage after a 3-hr incubation in culture. Urine samples were collected to assess the level of exposure. The mean concentration of arsenic metabolites in urine [the sum of arsenite (AsIII), arsenate (AsV), monomethylarsenate (MMA) and dimethylarsenate (DMA)] and the concentrations of DMA (the main metabolite in urine) were higher in workers than in controls, but the differences were not statistically significant. By contrast, the level of DNA damage, expressed as the median tail moment, was significantly higher in the leukocytes of workers than in the controls. Comet assays conducted with formamidopyrimidine glycosylase (FPG) digestion to detect oxidative DNA damage indicated that oxidative lesions were present in leukocytes from both the exposed and control groups, but the levels of damage were significantly higher among the workers. Incubation of the cells in culture resulted in a significant reduction in the levels of DNA damage, especially among leukocytes from the workers, suggesting that the DNA damage was subject to repair. Our findings indicate that copper smelter workers have increased levels of DNA damage in somatic cells, suggesting a potential health risk for the workers. Although i-As was present in air samples from the smelters and in urine samples from workers, no clear association could be made between i-As exposure and the DNA damage. Environ. Mol. Mutagen., 2005. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] UK smokers' and ex-smokers' reactions to cigarettes promising reduced riskADDICTION, Issue 1 2007Saul Shiffman ABSTRACT Aims This study evaluated the impact of exposure to information about a novel cigarette claiming to reduce exposure to tobacco toxins (,potential reduced exposure product' cigarette or PREP-C) on smokers' and ex-smokers' perceptions of PREP-C, on quit interest among smokers and on interest in resuming smoking among ex-smokers. Design and Participants A random digit-dialed telephone survey was conducted in the United Kingdom with 500 current smokers and 106 ex-smokers who had quit within the last 2 years. Intervention The interviewer described a novel cigarette that claimed to significantly reduce exposure to smoke toxins. Measurements Respondents' interest in purchasing the PREP-C, beliefs about its safety and risk reduction and smokers' quit interest, as measured by stage of change, before and after exposure to PREP-C information. Findings Among smokers, 76.5% were interested in purchasing PREP-C; interest did not vary by stage of change. Almost all smokers (90.6%) thought PREP-C was safer than regular cigarettes, with 5.4% indicating that the health risks were equivalent to not smoking at all. Exposure to PREP-C description did not change quit interest. Among ex-smokers, 5.6% believed PREP-C carried no health risk and 7.1% expressed purchase interest. Conclusions Smokers and ex-smokers interpreted claims of reduced toxin exposure as reduced health risk and responded positively towards PREP-Cs. With the increasing introduction of PREP-Cs world-wide, evaluation of these products and their claims on quitting among smokers and on relapse among ex-smokers is a matter of public health urgency. [source] Iron status in Danish men 1984,94: a cohort comparison of changes in iron stores and the prevalence of iron deficiency and iron overloadEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF HAEMATOLOGY, Issue 6 2002Nils Milman Abstract:,Background and objectives : From 1954 to 1987, flour in Denmark was fortified with 30 mg carbonyl iron per kg. This mandatory fortification was abolished in 1987. The aim of this study was to compare iron status in Danish men before and after abolition of iron fortification. Methods : Iron status (serum ferritin, haemoglobin), was assessed in population surveys in Copenhagen County during 1983,84 comprising 1324 Caucasian men (1024 non-blood-donors, 300 blood donors) and in 1993,94 comprising 1288 Caucasian men (1103 non-blood-donors, 185 donors), equally distributed in age cohorts of 40, 50, 60 and 70 yr. Results : In the 1984 survey median serum ferritin values in the four age cohorts in non-blood-donors were 136, 141, 133 and 111 µg/L, and in the 1994 survey 177, 173, 186 and 148 µg L ,1 , respectively. The difference was significant in all age groups ( P <0.001). There was no significant difference between the two surveys concerning the prevalence of small iron stores (ferritin 16,32 µg L ,1 ), depleted iron stores (ferritin <16 µg L ,1 ) or iron-deficiency anaemia (ferritin <13 µg L ,1 and Hb <5th percentile for iron-replete men). However, from 1984 to 1994, the prevalence of iron overload (ferritin >300 µg L ,1 ) increased from 11.3% to 18.9% ( P <0.0001). During the study period there was an increase in body mass index ( P <0.0001), alcohol consumption ( P <0.03) and use of non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) ( P <0.0001), and a decrease in the use of vitamin,mineral supplements ( P <0.04) and in the prevalence of tobacco smoking ( P <0.0001). In contrast, median ferritin in blood donors showed a significant fall from 1984 to 1994 (103 vs. 74 µg L ,1 , P <0.02). Conclusion : Abolition of iron fortification reduced the iron content of the Danish diet by an average of 0.24 mg MJ ,1 , and the median dietary iron intake in men from 17 to 12 mg d ,1 . From 1984 to 1994, body iron stores and the prevalence of iron overload in Danish men increased significantly, despite the abolition of food iron fortification. The reason appears to be changes in dietary habits, with a lower consumption of dairy products and eggs, which inhibit iron absorption, and a higher consumption of alcohol, meat, and poultry, containing haem iron and enhancing iron absorption. The high prevalence of iron overload in men may constitute a health risk. [source] Seasonal dynamics and toxicity of Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii in Lake Guiers (Senegal, West Africa)FEMS MICROBIOLOGY ECOLOGY, Issue 3 2006Céline Berger Abstract Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii is a toxic bloom-forming cyanobacterium that occurs at tropical and temperate latitudes. Despite several reports from Africa, no data were previously available about its dynamics or toxic potential there. We therefore carried out a 1-year survey of the dynamics of C. raciborskii in the main water reservoir in Senegal, Lake Guiers. Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii never formed a bloom in this lake during the period studied, but was dominant during the dry season. The only observed bloom-forming species was a diatom, Fragilaria sp., which displayed a seasonal pattern contrary to that exhibited by C. raciborskii. Principal component analysis applied to environmental and phytoplankton data showed that high C. raciborskii biomasses were mainly related to high temperature and water column stability. Tests for C. raciborskii species-related toxicity and/or toxin synthesis were performed on 21 isolated clones. All the strains isolated tested negative in mouse toxicity bioassays, toxin analysis (MS/MS) and tests for known cylindrospermopsin genes (ps, pks). The limited number of isolates studied, and the occurrence of toxic and nontoxic clones in natural cyanobacterial populations, mean that we cannot conclude that there is no C. raciborskii- associated health risk in this drinking water reservoir. [source] Do elevated atmospheric CO2 and O3 affect food quality and performance of folivorous insects on silver birch?GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY, Issue 3 2010PETRI A. PELTONEN Abstract The individual and combined effects of elevated CO2 and O3 on the foliar chemistry of silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) and on the performance of five potential birch-defoliating insect herbivore species (two geometrid moths, one lymantrid moth and two weevils) were examined. Elevated CO2 decreased the water concentration in both short- and long-shoot leaves, but the effect of CO2 on the concentration of nitrogen and individual phenolic compounds was mediated by O3 treatment, tree genotype and leaf type. Elevated O3 increased the total carbon concentration only in short-shoot leaves. Bioassays showed that elevated CO2 increased the food consumption rate of juvenile Epirrita autumnata and Rheumaptera hastata larvae fed with short- and long-shoot leaves in spring and mid-summer, respectively, but had no effect on the growth of larvae. The contribution of leaf quality variables to the observed CO2 effects indicate that insect compensatory consumption may be related to leaf age. Elevated CO2 increased the food preference of only two tested species: Phyllobius argentatus (CO2 alone) and R. hastata (CO2 combined with O3). The observed stimulus was dependent on tree genotype and the measured leaf quality variables explained only a portion of the stimulus. Elevated O3 decreased the growth of flush-feeding young E. autumnata larvae, irrespective of CO2 concentration, apparently via reductions in general food quality. Therefore, the increasing tropospheric O3 concentration could pose a health risk for juvenile early-season birch folivores in future. In conclusion, the effects of elevated O3 were found to be detrimental to the performance of early-season insect herbivores in birch whereas elevated CO2 had only minor effects on insect performance despite changes in food quality related foliar chemistry. [source] When doctors disagree: a qualitative study of doctors' and parents' views on the risks of childhood food allergyHEALTH EXPECTATIONS, Issue 3 2008Wendy Hu MBBS Dip Paed MHA PhD FRACGP Abstract Objective, To examine the views of doctors which underpin clinical practice variation concerning an uncertain health risk, and the views of parents who had sought advice from these doctors, using the example of childhood food allergy. Study design, Qualitative study involving in-depth interviews and participant observation over 16 months. Focus groups and consultation audio-recordings provided corroborative data. Setting, Three specialist allergy clinics located in one metropolitan area. Participants, Eighteen medical specialists and trainees in allergy, and 85 parents (from 69 families) with food allergic children. Results, Doctors expressed a spectrum of views. The most divergent views were characterized by: scientific scepticism rather than precaution in response to uncertainty; emphasis on quantifiable physical evidence rather than parental histories; professional roles as providers of physical diagnosis and treatment rather than of information and advocacy; libertarian rather than communitarian perspectives on responsibility for risk; and values about allergy as a disease and normal childhood. Parents held a similar, but less divergent range of views. The majority of parents preferred more moderate doctors' views, with 43% (30 of 69) of families expressing their dissatisfaction by seeking another specialist opinion. Many were confused by variation in doctors' opinions, preferring relationships with doctors that recognized their concerns, addressed their information needs, and confirmed that they were managing their child's allergy appropriately. Conclusions, In uncertain clinical situations, parents do not expect absolute certainty from doctors; inflexible certainty may not allow parental preferences to be acknowledged or accommodated, and is associated with the seeking of second opinions. [source] Outcomes of a patient-to-patient outbreak of genotype 3a hepatitis C,HEPATOLOGY, Issue 2 2009Mark E. Mailliard Between March 2000 and July 2001, at least 99 persons acquired a hepatitis C virus genotype 3a (HCV-3a) infection in an oncology clinic. This nosocomial HCV outbreak provided an opportunity to examine the subsequent clinical course in a well-defined cohort. This was a retrospective/prospective observational study of the short-term significant health outcomes of a large, single-source, patient-to-patient HCV-3a outbreak. Outbreak patients or their legal representatives consenting to study were enrolled between September 2002 and December 2007. We measured history and physical examinations, medical records, HCV serology, HCV RNA and genotype, liver enzymes, histology, response to antiviral therapy, and liver-related morbidity and mortality. Sixty-four of the 99 known HCV-3a outbreak patients participated. During a 6-year period, six patients developed life-threatening complications from liver disease, three died, one received a liver transplant, and two were stable after esophageal variceal banding or diuretic therapy of ascites. Thirty-three patients underwent antiviral therapy, with 28 achieving a sustained viral remission. One patient acquired HCV-3a infection sexually from an outbreak patient and was successfully treated. Eleven study patients died of malignancy, including two that had achieved a sustained viral remission after antiviral therapy. Conclusion: Our patient cohort had a nosocomial source and an oncologic or hematologic comorbidity. Compared with previous HCV outcome studies, a patient-to-patient HCV outbreak in an oncology clinic exhibited significant morbidity and mortality. Attention is needed to the public health risk of nosocomial HCV transmission, emphasizing infection control, early diagnosis, and therapy. (HEPATOLOGY 2009.) [source] "Unknown Risks" of non-steroid topical medications for atopic dermatitisINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 6 2007Anne Marie McNeill PhD Introduction, Tacrolimus ointment is a nonsteroid treatment for atopic dermatitis which is both effective and has a minimal side-effect profile. However, some clinicians may be reluctant to use tacrolimus ointment due to the "unknown risks", meaning those that have not been uncovered in human studies conducted thus far. Therefore, the available animal data regarding the "unknown risks" of topical tacrolimus therapy are reviewed, and a discussion of the interpretation of this available but limited data is presented. Animal studies, Some of the fear on the part of clinicians regarding the use of topical tacrolimus may come from the results of animal studies which showed an increase in lymphoma and UV-induced skin cancer after treatment with topical tacrolimus in animal models of carcinogenesis. However, rigorous assessment of these studies suggest that it is somewhat likely that these represent a species-specific response to tacrolimus in an animal already predisposed to tumor formation, and therefore may not be relevant in assessing the possibility of an increased human health risk. Conclusions, Animal and human studies suggest that topical tacrolimus is a safe alternative to topical steroids, with the major known adverse effect being a transient burning sensation, compared with the known adverse effects of topical steroids, including long-lasting ones. Therefore, in the opinion of the authors, currently available data, including animal studies, does not suggest that "unknown risks" of topical tacrolimus need be any more concerning than the known side-effects of the topical steroids. [source] Detection of potentially enterotoxigenic food-related Bacillus cereus by PCR analysisINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, Issue 6 2010Elisabetta Bonerba Summary This study provides data on the prevalence of potentially pathogenic Bacillus cereus in foods from catering kitchens by evaluating the occurrence of B. cereus and the presence of virulence-associated genes. B. cereus was detected in 72/250 (28.8%) food samples. Specifically, B. cereus was highlighted in 34/74 (45.9%) pastries, 16/40 (40%) rice samples, 4/38 (10.5%) potato meals, 6/54 (11.1%) mozzarella samples and 12/44 (27.3%) meat meals. PCRs aimed at the hbl (C, D, A, B), nhe (A, B, C), bceT and cytK genes demonstrated a widespread distribution of the toxin-encoding genes among B. cereus isolates. The results highlight the frequent failure of control measures in catering kitchens and the need for intensive and continuous monitoring in order to assess the human health risk, as proposed by Regulation (EC) no. 1441/2007 on microbiological criteria for foodstuffs. [source] ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Brain and hypophyseal acetylcholinesterase activity of pubertal boars fed dietary fumonisin B1JOURNAL OF ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY AND NUTRITION, Issue 5 2010F. A. Gbore Summary The effects of dietary fumonisin B1 (FB1) on regional brain and hypophyseal activities of AChE (EC 3117), the enzyme which catalyses the hydrolysis of acetylcholine, were studied using 24 male Large White weanling pigs divided into four groups. Each group received one of the four diets containing 0.2, 5.0, 10.0 and 15.0 mg FB1/kg in a 6-month feeding trial. All animals were slaughtered at the end of the feeding trial; the brains and the hypophyses obtained were carefully dissected out. Significant (p < 0.05) influence of dietary FB1 on regional brain and hypophyseal AChE activities were observed. The AChE activities in the pons, amygdala, hypothalamus and the medulla oblongata declined significantly (p < 0.05) with increased dietary FB1 concentrations. The findings of this study suggest that diets containing 5.0 mg FB1/kg and above significantly (p < 0.05) altered regional brain and hypophyseal AChE activities in the animals. Dietary exposure to FB1 at a concentration of approximately 5.0 mg/kg or more for a 6-month period is a potential health risk that may induce adverse physiological response resulting from altered brain neurochemistry in growing pigs. [source] Health insurance and savings over the life cycle,a semiparametric smooth coefficient estimationJOURNAL OF APPLIED ECONOMETRICS, Issue 3 2004Prof. Shin-Yi Chou Individuals save for future uncertain health care expenses. This is less efficient than pooling health risk through insurance. The provision of comprehensive health insurance may raise welfare by providing the missing market to smooth out consumption through the life cycle. We employ a semiparametric smooth coefficient model to examine the effects of the introduction of the National Health Insurance in Taiwan in 1995 on savings and consumption over the life cycle. The idea is to estimate the coefficients of health insurance which vary with age. Our results suggest that younger households are more sensitive to the risk reductions, and that they demonstrate a greater response in the reduction of their precautionary saving. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Genotyping of thermotolerant Campylobacter from poultry slaughterhouse by amplified fragment length polymorphismJOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 2 2007G. Johnsen Abstract Aim:, To examine the occurrence, diversity and transmission of Campylobacter in a poultry slaughterhouse. Methods and Results:, During a 4-week period, a slaughterhouse was sampled alternately during slaughtering and the following mornings post-disinfection. Samples were taken from poultry at six stages in the slaughter process and from 25 environmental sites. For positive broiler flocks slaughtered on one occasion, 92% and 48% of the environmental sites were positive during slaughter and post-disinfection, respectively. For positive laying hen flocks slaughtered on three occasions, 8,56% and 12,20% of the environmental sites were positive during slaughter and post-disinfection, respectively. Genetic fingerprinting by amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) of the 109 isolates obtained resulted in 28 different AFLP clones. Five AFLP clones were present for more than 1 week. Conclusions:, Slaughtering of Campylobacter -positive broilers resulted in extensive contamination of the slaughterhouse, including the air. A high proportion of the laying hen flocks were Campylobacter positive, but these caused less environmental contamination than the broilers. This, together with the freezing of all layer carcasses, results in a lower public health risk from laying hens, when compared with broilers. Significance and Impact of the Study:, When slaughtering Campylobacter -positive broilers, the implementation of preventive measures is important to reduce contamination of negative carcasses and to protect the workers against infection. [source] Fate of inoculated Escherichia coli in hayJOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 6 2007Z.G. Weinberg Abstract Aims:, To monitor the fate of inoculated Escherichia coli in dry and moist hay of various types, under laboratory conditions. Methods and Results:, Wheat, vetch and clover hay were used as received or wetted to 250,300 g kg,1 moisture. The hay was inoculated at about 106 CFU g,1 with a kanamycin-resistant E. coli strain that expresses the green fluorescence protein, and was stored in small open glass jars that were covered with aluminium foil. Three jars per treatment were sampled on days 1 and 3, or 4 and 7, or 8, 20 and 50, respectively, after the initiation of the experiments, and the numbers of E. coli in the hay were determined. The results indicated that E. coli disappeared from both dry and moist hay by 7,8 days after inoculation. However, in a few cases colonies that were presumed to be E. coli developed after incubation in Luria broth medium. Conclusions:, The tagged E. coli strain usually disappeared rapidly from both the dry and the moist hay, in spite of the high level of inocula used. However, in some cases a few, possibly injured E. coli might have persisted, and could be detected after incubation in a rich growth medium. Significance and Impact of the Study:, This study is part of a risk assessment associated with sewage irrigation of forage crops in Israel. The results indicate that E. coli added to the hay is not likely to pose a health risk to cattle or to humans. Nevertheless, more research with natural strains of E. coli and other enteric pathogens that might be more adapted to forage conditions is warranted in order to ensure the safety of sewage-irrigated crops. [source] Internalization of bioluminescent Escherichia coli and Salmonella Montevideo in growing bean sproutsJOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 4 2003K. Warriner Abstract Aims: Investigate the interaction of bioluminescent Escherichia coli and Salmonella Montevideo with germinating mung bean sprouts. Methods and Results:E. coli or Salm. Montevideo introduced on mung beans became established both internally and externally on sprouts after the initial 24 h germinating period. In both cases the inoculated bacterium formed the predominant microflora on the sprouted beans throughout. From the bioluminescent profile of inoculated sprouting beans, bacterial growth was found to be in close proximity to the roots but not on the hypocotyls. Clumps (biofilms) of cells with low viability were observed within the grooves between epidermal cells on hypocotyls. Treatment with 20 000 ppm sodium hypochlorite removed the majority of bacteria from the surface of hypocotyls although nonviable single cells were occasionally observed. However, viable bacteria were recovered from the apoplastic fluid, and extracts of surface-sterilized sprouts indicating that the internal bacterial populations had been protected. This was confirmed using in situ , -glucuronidase staining of surface-sterilized sprouts where cleaved enzyme substrate (by the action of internalized E. coli) was visualized within the plant vascular system. Conclusions:E. coli or Salmonella present on seeds become internalized within the subsequent sprouts and cannot be removed by postharvest biocidal washing. Significance and Impact of the Study: Mung bean production should be carefully controlled to prevent contamination occurring in order to minimize the health risk associated with raw bean sprouts. [source] Occurrence of Staphylococcus and enteropathogens in soft cheese commercialized in the city of Rio de Janeiro, BrazilJOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 6 2002V.S. Araújo Aims: To investigate the presence of Staphylococcus aureus, enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC), Aeromonas spp. and Yersinia spp. in soft cheese commercialized in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Methods and Results: A total of 45 samples of cheese from three different brands marketed in Rio de Janeiro city were analysed for faecal coliform levels using the Most Probable Number (MPN) technique. The samples were also analysed using conventional methodology for the investigation of food-borne pathogens. High levels of faecal contamination were detected in 95·5% of cheese samples. Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from 20% of samples, of which 17·7% were above the limits allowed by Brazilian legislation. Aeromonas hydrophila and Aer. caviae were detected in 17·7% of the samples. Yersinia spp. were not found in this study. EPEC was isolated from 21·1% of the samples and the most frequently found serogroups were O127, followed by O55 and O26. Conclusions: Our results showed that 95·5% of cheese samples had high levels of faecal coliforms. The isolation of Staph. aureus, serogroups of EPEC and Aeromonas spp. suggested that the soft cheese commercialized in the city of Rio de Janeiro may represent a health risk for the consumers. Significance and Impact of the Study: These results suggest that soft cheese may act as an important vehicle of transmission for well-established pathogens. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||