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Selected Abstracts

Device to promote pelvic floor muscle training for stress incontinence

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF UROLOGY, Issue 8 2003
KIMIO SUGAYA
Abstract Aim:, Many patients with stress urinary incontinence do not have enough motivation to continue pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) by themselves. Therefore, a device was created to support PFMT, and its effect was examined. Methods:, Forty-six women with stress urinary incontinence were assigned to a control group or a device group in order of presentation. A pamphlet on PFMT was given to control patients, while the same pamphlet plus the device and instructions on its use were given to patients in the device group. The device had a chime that was set to sound three times a day when exercise sessions were scheduled. PFMT consisted of fast and slow pelvic floor muscle contraction exercises that were performed for 2 min and followed a rhythm set by the device. Results:, After 8 weeks, 20 patients from the control group and 21 patients from the device group could be evaluated. In the control group, only the quality of life (QOL) index improved significantly. In the device group, however, the daily number of incontinence episodes, the number of pads used daily, the QOL index, and the pad weight in the pad test improved significantly. Patients in the device group said that they felt obligated to perform PFMT when the chime sounded. Forty-eight percent of patients from the device group were satisfied with the outcome of PFMT, while only 15% were satisfied in the control group. Conclusion:, This device may be useful to support the management of stress urinary incontinence. [source]

Assessment of the Joint Food Science Curriculum of Washington State University and the University of Idaho by Graduates and Their Employers

JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE EDUCATION, Issue 1 2006
Stephanie Clark
ABSTRACT: Thirty-two recent graduates from the joint food science program of Washington State Univ. (WSU) and The Univ. of Idaho (UI) and 12 of their employers participated in a survey study to assess food science program outcomes. The objective of this study was to assess the joint curriculum in its ability to prepare undergraduate students for critical thinking, problem solving, and technical competence in the food industry. Two survey tools, 1 for graduates and 1 for their employers, were designed to assess job preparedness and the skill set attained by food science program graduates. Graduates of the joint food science program generally indicated satisfaction with their food science education and suggested that they were adequately prepared for their jobs. Both students and employers indicated that most of the identified Success Skills are used daily on the job, and that graduates were well prepared with Success Skills. Graduates and employers reported adequate preparation in Food Processing and Engineering competence. Some significant differences (P < 0.05) were found in perceived and assessed competence. Specifically, while student indicated that they were well prepared with Food Chemistry and Analysis, Food Safety and Microbiology, and Applied Food Science competence, employers indicated only adequate preparation in Food Chemistry and Analysis, and Applied Food Science competence, but poor preparation in Food Safety and Microbiology competence. The findings suggest that students should be given opportunities for self-evaluation in undergraduate courses. Because the survey models are based on Institute of Food Technologists requirements, it is expected that the surveys can be readily adopted by other institutions to assess student learning and program effectiveness. [source]

Thin semitransparent gels containing phenylboronic acid: porosity, optical response and permeability for sugars

JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR RECOGNITION, Issue 2 2008
Alexander E. Ivanov
Abstract Radical copolymerization of acrylamide (Am) (90,mol%) with N -acryloyl- m -aminophenylboronic acid (NAAPBA) (10,mol%) carried out on the surface of glass slides in aqueous solution and in the absence of chemical cross-linkers, resulted in the formation of thin semitransparent gels. The phenylboronic acid (PBA) ligand density was ca. 160,µmol/ml gel. The gels exhibited a macroporous structure and displayed optical response to sucrose, lactose, glucose and fructose in 50,mM sodium phosphate buffer, in the pH range from 6.5 to 7.5. The response was fairly reversible and linearly depended on glucose concentration in the wide concentration range from 1 to 60,mM at pH 7.3. The character of response was explained by the balance of two competing equilibrium processes: binding of glucose to phenylboronate anions and binary hydrophobic interactions of neutral PBA groups. The apparent diffusion coefficient of glucose in the gels was ca. 2.5,×,10,7,cm2/s. A freshly prepared gel can be used daily for at least 1 month without changes in sensitivity. Autoclaving (121°C, 1.2 bar, 10,min) allows for the gels sterilization, which is important for their use as glucose sensors in fermentation processes. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Do we need a new gastro-oesophageal reflux disease questionnaire?

ALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 5 2004
V. Stanghellini
Summary Background :,Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is highly prevalent in Western countries. Because the majority of patients do not present with endoscopic abnormalities, the assessment of the symptom severity and quality of life, and their response to treatment, has become increasingly important. Self-assessed symptom questionnaires are now key instruments in clinicaltrials. Aim :,To evaluate the validity of available GERD measurement tools. Methods :,An ideal GERD symptom assessment instrument, suitable as a primary end-point for clinical trials, should possess the following characteristics: (i) be sensitive in patients with GERD; (ii) cover the frequency and intensity of typical and atypical GERD symptoms; (iii) be multidimensional (cover all symptom dimensions); (iv) have proven psychometric properties (validity, reliability and responsiveness); (v) be practical and economical; (vi) be self-assessed; (vii) use ,word pictures' which are easy to understand for patients; (viii) respond rapidly to changes (responsiveness over short time intervals); (ix) be used daily to assess changes during and after therapy; and (x) be valid in different languages for international use. Results :,A literature review revealed five scales that met some of the above characteristics, but did not fulfil all criteria. Conclusion :,There is a need for a new evaluative tool for the assessment of GERD symptoms and their response to therapy. [source]