Transfer of Copper,Lead and Zinc in Soil–Grass Ecosystem in Aspect of Soils Properties,in Poland

The total metal concentrations in soil samples from polluted area (roadside soils) ranged from 13.87 to 195.76 mg/kg for Cu; 13.56–310.17 mg/kg for Pb and 18.43–894.11 mg/kg for Zn and they were, respectively about 5, 2 and 13 times above the corresponding values in soil samples from country area. The mean values of EDTA-extractable concentrations in soil samples at unpolluted sites were: 2.47 mg/kg for Cu, 6.33 mg/kg for Pb and 4.94 mg/kg for Zn. The highest concentrations of Cu, Pb and Zn in grass were measured in soils from polluted area. Higher values of proportions of EDTA-extractable metals (24% for Cu, 40% for Pb and 38% for Zn) indicate that anthropogenic metals were more mobile and bioavailable than the same metals in soils from unpolluted area (20, 16 and 20% for Cu, Pb and Zn, respectively). The availability of Cu, Pb and Zn are affected by soil properties such as pH, organic matter content and cation exchange capacity. Correlation between the EDTA-extractable forms concentrations of metals and the total concentration in the various soils was observed. The coefficients of determination (R²) varied between 0.809 for Cu; 0,709 for Pb and 0.930 for Zn in polluted soils and they are higher than corresponding values in unpolluted soils.     

Occurrence of Panstrongylus lutzi, in peridomiciliary areas, State of Ceará, Brazil

From January 2001 to October 2002 captures were made in domicile and peridomiciliary areas of 13 cities of region of Cariri, south of the State of Ceará. As results, the occurrence of P. lutzi in this area was noticed, for the first time, in three cities: the presence of one adult in chicken house in Altaneira, one adult flying, in Salitre and 18 nymphs in Varzea Alegre(13 in bricks pile and five in roofing tile pile). In Varzea Alegre city it was observed the colonization in the peridomicile.     

OSHA in healthcare--out of sight, out of mind?

Millions of employees across thousands of sites. The highest illness and injury rates in the nation. Millions of nosocomial infections and fatalities each year. Few OSHA inspections. Healthcare might feel exempt, but, according to the author, "it looks like we finally got their attention".     

Comparison of in vivo and in vitro tests of resistance in patients treated with chloroquine in Yaoundé, Cameroon

The usefulness of an isotopic in vitro assay in the field was evaluated by comparing its results with the therapeutic response determined by the simplified WHO in vivo test in symptomatic Cameroonian patients treated with chloroquine. Of the 117 enrolled patients, 102 (87%) completed the 14-day follow-up, and 95 isolates obtained from these patients (46 children, 49 adults) yielded an interpretable in vitro test. A total of 57 of 95 patients (60%; 28 children and 29 adults) had an adequate clinical response with negative smears (n = 46) or with an asymptomatic parasitaemia (n = 11) on day 7 and/or day 14. The geometric mean 50% inhibitory concentration of the isolates obtained from these patients was 63.3 nmol/l. Late and early treatment failure was observed in 29 (30.5%) and 9 (9.5%) patients, respectively. The geometric mean 50% inhibitory concentrations of the corresponding isolates were 173 nmol/l and 302 nmol/l. Among the patients responding with late and early treatment failure, five isolates and one isolate, respectively, yielded a discordant result (in vivo resistance and in vitro sensitivity). The sensitivity, specificity, and predictive value of the in vitro test to detect chloroquine-sensitive cases was 67%, 84% and 86%, respectively. There was moderate concordance between the in vitro and in vivo tests (kappa value = 0.48). The in vitro assay agrees relatively well with the therapeutic response and excludes several host factors that influence the results of the in vivo test. However, in view of some discordant results, the in vitro test cannot substitute for in vivo data on therapeutic efficacy. The only reliable definition of "resistance" in malaria parasites is based on clinical and parasitological response in symptomatic patients, and the in vivo test provides the standard method to determine drug sensitivity or resistance as well as to guide national drug policies.     

Present status of bancroftian filariasis in Maceió, State of Alagoas, Brazil

Epidemiological and entomological surveys were carried out in the human and mosquito populations in Maceió, Alagoas, in order to assess the present status of bancroftian lymphatic filariasis. Examination of thick blood smears of 10,450 students from different areas of the city revealed 0.66% Wuchereria bancrofti microfilaria carriers. The distribution of filariasis is focal in the city, 80% of the individuals with patent infection living in two neighboring areas with 1.24% and 5.25% prevalence. Parallel studies performed with samples of all age groups in the human population showed similar microfilaria prevalence rates observed previously in the student survey. However, thick blood smears taken from members of families with at least one subject with patent infection gave a prevalence six times greater suggesting, increased transmission in households. The percentage of carriers was higher in the youngest age group (< 20 years). Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitos caught at the locations where the autochthonous cases were found presented natural infection rates ranging from 0.28% to 4.62%. The combination of all these findings indicates occurrence of active transmission of W. bancrofti in the urban area of Maceió, Alagoas State. Based on these data, measures for the potential control of filariasis were planned.     

Evaluation of noise pollution in the Botanical Garden in Curitiba,Paraná, Brazil

This study focuses on noise pollution in the Botanical Garden in Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil. Equivalent noise levels (Leq) were measured at 21 points throughout the park, and interviews were conducted with park visitors. Some 47.6% of the measurement sites presented Leq levels over 65dB(A), considered by preventive medicine as the maximum tolerable exposure level without risk of health impairment, and 90.5% of the sites failed to comply with Municipal Ordinance 8,583, setting 55dB(A) as the maximum noise emission level for green areas. The results of interviews with visitors showed that 78% visit the park at least twice a week and that 96% come for physical activity. During their activities in the Botanical Garden, 24% of interviewees identified noise pollution as a source of annoyance, as compared to 22% who complained of insufficient park security.     

Development of children enrolled in preschools in Cuiabá, Mato Grosso State, Brazil

The aim of this study was to assess the neuropsychomotor development of children enrolled in daycare centers and preschools. This cross-sectional study used 38 items from the Denver II test to assess four and five-year-olds enrolled in the municipal school system in Cuiabá, Mato Grosso State, Brazil, from August 2002 to November 2003. There were 960 children enrolled in 27 daycare centers and two public preschools. Statistical analysis used the C2 test with a 95% confidence interval and +/- = 5%. Logistic regression was used to calculate the percentages with which the preschoolers passed the test at each respective age. Of the 960 preschoolers tested, 67% showed normal performance, 30.2% borderline, and 2.8% abnormal. In 27 of the 38 items, the proportion of correct answers was greater than 90%. Altered performance was more common in five-year-old boys. Performance in this sample was quite similar to that of preschoolers in Denver, Colorado, USA. The best results by gender were for girls, and by age in four-year-olds.     

Prevalence of dental caries in schoolchildren in the rural area of Itapetininga, São Paulo State, Brazil

The present study is an attempt to characterize dental needs of the rural population in Itapetininga, S?o Paulo State, Brazil. One single dentist examined 291 children ages 5 and 12 years in rural schools, adopting WHO criteria for oral health surveys. Parents reported their children's socioeconomic characteristics and habits. Non-primary data gathered by the Brazilian health authority supplied information regarding the schoolchildren in the urban area of the town. Caries indices ranked as follows: dmft = 2.63 (5-year-old children) and DMFT = 2.45 (12-year-old children). The decayed component comprised 85.6% of the dmft and 34.2% of the DMFT, indicating limited utilization of dental treatment by children with decayed deciduous teeth. Caries prevalence was higher in rural schoolchildren than in their urban counterparts. Analysis of the results aims to improve planning of dental care.     

Followup Study of Mercury Pollution in Indigenous Tribe Reservations in the Province of Ontario, Canada, 1975–2002

No abstract available.     

Cross sectional survey of perpetrators,victims, and witnesses of violence in Bogotá, Colombia

OBJECTIVES: To establish the prevalence and distribution of witnesses, victims, and perpetrators of different types of violence in the general population and the proportion of victims consulting health services or reporting the incident to authorities. METHODS: Cross sectional survey of a random sample of 3007 inhabitants between the ages of 15 and 60 in the city of Bogotá, Colombia, in 1997, based on a face to face interview. RESULTS: Age adjusted past year prevalence of witnesses, victims, and perpetrators of physical aggression was 61%, 27%, and 27%, respectively, while lifetime prevalence of witnesses, victims, and perpetrators of assault with a weapon in this population reached 70%, 55%, and 5.8%. Between 11% and 67% of the victims consulted a health service and less than 32% reported the incident to an authority. Those involved in most types of physical violence tended to be young, male, from lower middle social classes, with some degree of secondary education, and single or divorced. CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of witnesses and victims of violence in this sample appears to be high, while perpetrators constitute a small proportion. Violence is not equally distributed throughout the population suggesting the possibility of identifying a population at higher risk for the development of intervention programmes.     

Education in health for prevention of uterine cervical cancer in women in Santo Ângelo, state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

In Brazil, cervical uterine cancer is a major public health problem as it has high mortality rate indices among women of different ages. A cytopathological examination is recommended for preventing this type of cancer from the early stages of a woman's reproductive life. The scope of this study was both to give talks on sexual health education and establish the sexual health profile of women from St. Angelo/RS. The lectures included measures for prevention as well as identification of possible symptoms of the disease. The research into the sexual health profile of the participants was conducted by a structured questionnaire applied to 140 women aged between 15 and 60. It was found that even experiencing difficulties and apprehension, the majority of the women performed the preventive examination. The motivation for taking the exam is the appearance of symptoms and the habit of caring for their health. The participants mentioned the importance of health professionals and educators working together. The study sought to promote health and cancer prevention, seeking to avoid the disease and ensure better living conditions for women.     

Two patterns of social inequalities in mortality in Barcelona, Spain?

BACKGROUND: The aims of this study were to describe social inequalities in mortality amongst Basic Health Areas in Barcelona Spain and to analyze the patterns of social inequalities in health. METHODS: This is an ecological study of all deaths of residents in Barcelona in 1989-93. The unit of analysis was the Basic Health Area. Socio-economic and mortality indicators (overall mortality and the main causes of death) were studied. Relative risk estimates between socio-economic and mortality indicators were calculated through Poisson regression models. RESULTS: An unequal socioeconomical and mortality distribution was observed between areas. The following variables were found to be associated with lower socio-economic conditions: overall mortality (RR = 1,48, males), specific mortality: malignant neoplasm of trachea, bronchus and lung (RR = 1, 64, males), chronic liver disease and cirrhosis (RR = 2,33, males), AIDS (RR = 3,42, males and females), drug overdose (RR = 5,18, males and females), tuberculosis (RR = 6,3, males and females), pneumonia, bronchitis, emphysema and asthma (RR = 1,41, males), and external causes (RR = 2,29, males). The increase in risk with deteriorating socioeconomic situation was linear for cirrhosis and bronchitis, emphysema and asthma, and close to linearity for malignant neoplasm of trachea, bronchus and lung. For AIDS, drug overdose, and tuberculosis, the increase in risk was not linear, being much higher for those areas with higher levels of unemployment. CONCLUSIONS: All causes of death that have been found to be associated with social inequalities are related with life-styles (smoking, excessive alcohol consumption and parenteral drug use). There are two patterns of social inequalities in health: AIDS, drug overdose and tuberculosis stand out as pathologies associated to extreme unfavourable socioeconomic situation, for which it is likely that there are some conditions favouring health problems associated with margination.     

High Prevalence of AmpC β-Lactamases in Clinical Isolates of Escherichia coli in Ilam,Iran

Objectives

Widespread use of β-lactam antibiotics could cause resistance to this group of antibiotics in pathogenic bacteria through the production of the enzyme β-lactamases. The aim of this study is to determine the molecular detection of AmpC β-lactamases among clinical Escherichia coli isolated from Ilam hospitals in Ilam, Iran.

Methods

One hundred and twelve clinical isolates of E. coli were collected from hospitalized patients and were identified by biochemical tests. They were evaluated for extended spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) production, and the positive strains were subjected to AmpC enzymes; for detection of AmpC cluster genes, multiplex polymerase chain reaction was applied.

Results

The analysis showed 62.5% of isolates were ESBLs positive and that five strains revealed the AmpC cluster genes. This is the first report of FOXM cluster genes in E. coli in Iran.

Conclusion

Based on our results, the prevalence of AmpC β-lactamases is increasing in Iran, which caused failure in antibiotic therapy. So, the current study recommended the revision of antibiotic policy in Iranian hospitals.     

The distribution of anti-Salmonella antibodies in the sera of blood donors in Yaoundé, Cameroon

This cross-sectional study in late 1996 on a group of 230 consecutive blood donors in Yaoundé, Cameroon, found a baseline titre of 1:100 for antisalmonella O antibodies. The seroprevalence and baseline titre for antisalmonella H antibodies was much higher (1:400), suggesting that the H antibody is of limited diagnostic value in Cameroon.     

Evaluation of the Sources of Contamination in the Suburban Area of Koropi–Markopoulo, Athens, Greece

Heavy metal concentrations were monitored in agricultural soils and irrigation groundwaters of Koropi–Markopoulo area, a representative agricultural suburb in Athens, Greece, aiming at the identification of the sources of contaminants. Multivariate analyses of geochemical data demonstrated that agricultural practices and industrial activities considerably affected the quality of both environmental compartments. The levels of Ni, Cr, Co, Mn and Fe in agricultural soils were associated with geological parent materials whereas Pb, Zn and Cu mainly originated from anthropic activities. Referring to groundwaters, individual major anions and cations (K⁺, Na⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, NO₃ ^?, SO₄ ^2?, Cl^?) were influenced by various natural and anthropogenic factors whereas Ni, Cr, Cu and Zn were controlled by industrial and agronomic activities. The identification of the sources of contaminants in soil and groundwater environments is a valuable basis for encouraging mitigation strategies preventing further quality degradation.