The impact of food regulation on the food supply chain

Food regulation in the main is aimed at protecting the consumer's health, increasing economic viability, harmonizing well-being and engendering fair trade on foods within and between nations. Consumers nowadays are faced with food or food ingredients that may derive from distant countries or continents, and with a less transparent food supply. Safety concerns must cover the range of different food chains relevant to a certain food product or product group, including all relevant producers, manufacturing sites and food service establishments within a country as well as those importing into the country. Hazard analysis at critical control points (HACCP), good manufacturing practice (GMP) and good hygiene practice (GHP) are major components of the safety management systems in the food supply chain. Principally, "a hazard" is a biological, chemical or physical agent in, or condition of, food that has the potential to cause an adverse health effect. The likelihood of occurrence and severity of the same is important for the assessment of the risk presented by the hazard to the food supply chain. The Government's regulatory mechanisms in accordance with the WTO agreements (HACCPs, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, etc.) oversee the analyses of public health problems and their association to the food supply. Under the WTO SPS Agreements and the codes of practices issued by the Codex Alimentarius Commission, there now exists a benchmark for international harmonization that guarantee the trade of safe food. Inevitably, food safety is still mainly the responsibility of the consumer.     

The prevalence of Giardia and Cryptosporidium in Taiwan water supplies.

Giardia and Cryptosporidium have emerged as waterborne pathogens of concern. Thirty-one water samples were collected from nine potable water treatment plants in Taiwan and investigated for the presence of Giardia cysts and Cryptosporidium oocysts. The immunofluorescence assay was used for the simultaneous detection of cysts and oocysts. The frequency of occurrence of cysts was 77.8% for Giardia and 72.2% for Cryptosporidium in 18 raw water samples. Ten out of 13 samples collected from treated water samples showed the presence of cysts, while in 5 out of 13 treated water samples oocysts were detected. The risk assessment for adverse human effects arising from the presence of cysts and oocysts indicates the possibility of waterborne transmission of Giardia and Cryptosporidium infection in Taiwan if water is not adequately treated.     

精神卫生知识宣教对精神疾病患病率的影响

目的 调查秦皇岛市大众群体精神卫生知识普及程度及其对精神疾病患病率的影响,以便有针对性地开展精神卫生宣教,降低精神疾病患病率.方法 全市各区、县同期调查,发放问卷2 800份,收回有效问卷2 657份.结果 精神卫生的基本知识的正确率为52.09％;特殊阶段常见精神疾病知识的正确率为64.35％.知晓程度与文化程度有关.结论 秦皇岛市大众群体对普通精神卫生知识知晓情况并不乐观,对精神疾病及其危害性认识不足,精神卫生工作的宣传和教育亟待加强.     

The impact of a reduction in drug supply on demand for and compliance with treatment for drug dependence

BACKGROUND: In early 2001, Australia experienced a sudden, dramatic and sustained decrease in heroin availability that was accompanied by sharp increases in price and decreases in street level purity--the so-called "heroin shortage". These unprecedented changes occurred in a context of widespread treatment availability, which made it possible for the first time to examine the impact of a sharp reduction in heroin supply in New South Wales (NSW) on entry to and adherence with treatment for heroin dependence. Given the evidence of drug substitution by some users, the current paper also examines the effects of the shortage on entry to treatment for other forms of drug dependence. METHODS: Interrupted time-series analysis of the number of persons entering opioid pharmacotherapy and other treatment modalities in NSW for heroin dependence and for the treatment for other types of drug dependence. FINDINGS: The heroin shortage was associated with a reduction in the number of younger persons entering opioid pharmacotherapy. There was a dramatic decrease in the number of persons entering heroin withdrawal or "assessment only" treatment episodes. There appear to have been small improvements in adherence to and retention in heroin treatment after the reduction in heroin supply. Relatively small increases were observed in numbers being treated for cocaine dependence. CONCLUSIONS: In the context of good treatment provision, a reduction in heroin supply appeared to produce modest improvements in intermediate outcomes. Supply and demand reduction measures, when both are implemented successfully, may be complementary.     

Drug use among alcoholism detoxification patients: prevalence and impact on alcoholism treatment

We collected urine specimens for toxicology from 266 patients consecutively admitted for alcoholism detoxification. We compared these results to patient's self reports of drug use and attempted to determine whether drug use adversely impacted the course of alcoholism treatment.     

Prostatitis: prevalence, health impact and quality improvement strategies

Since its identification as a discrete entity, prostatitis has been a crippling and dreadful disease for the males and from then till date it is well recognized that it has continuously eluded the urologists and the practitioners and the patients were generally avoided. But the newer advent in research has changed the concept of the medical management of prostatitis that had been in stagnation for the past many years. The traditional myths related to the disease were continued to be unlighted with improved understanding of the distribution, cause and measures for the management of this disease. From herbal treatment used by the ethnic communities historically to today's modern treatment modules of antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory agents, though not very successful, but has embarked a light of hope in both practitioners and patients for the effective management of this condition, which has negatively affected the normal as well as intimate life of the sufferers. With newer and more widely accepted classification of the disease the practitioners and patients diagnosed with prostatitis now can hope for a better improvement and management of the disease. The present study tries to encompass the important and useful work reported by several workers and progress in the effective management of this awful condition.     

The impact of an inadequate municipal water system on the residents of Chinhoyi town, Zimbabwe

OBJECTIVE: To assess the use and impact of the water reticulation system in Chinhoyi on its residents. DESIGN: Cross sectional and case series studies. SETTING: Chinhoyi town. SUBJECTS: 600 Chinhoyi residents. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Practices and perceptions of Chinhoyi residents on the water system, and distribution of water-related diseases per area of residence. RESULTS: Out of 600 respondents, 565 (99.3%) had access to piped water and 558 (98.0%) to flush toilets. Breakdowns of water supply and functioning of toilet facility were reported by 308 (77.0%) and 110 (28.0%) respondents in the previous six months, respectively. Main complaints of Chinhoyi residents were about low water quality (36.2%), inadequate sewage system (31.3%) and environmental pollution (26.5%). Cases of water-related diseases were not associated with natural water bodies. CONCLUSIONS: Chinhoyi residents have good access to the municipal water and an adequate sanitation system. However, low quality of the water, frequent system breakdowns and the degradation and loss of amenity of the environment impair their quality of life.     

The prevalence,patterns and impact of irritable bowel syndrome: an international survey of 40,000 subjects

AIM: To determine the prevalence, symptom pattern and impact of the irritable bowel syndrome, across eight European countries, using a standardized methodology. METHODS: A community survey of 41 984 individuals was performed using quota sampling and random digit telephone dialing to identify those with diagnosed irritable bowel syndrome or those meeting diagnostic criteria, followed by in-depth interviews. RESULTS: The overall prevalence was 11.5% (6.2-12%); 9.6% had current symptoms, 4.8% had been formally diagnosed and a further 2.9%, 4.2% and 6.5% met the Rome II, Rome I or Manning criteria, respectively. Bowel habit classification varied by criteria: 63% had an 'alternating' bowel habit by Rome II vs. 21% by self-report. On average, 69% reported symptoms lasting for 1 h, twice daily, for 7 days a month. Irritable bowel syndrome sufferers reported more peptic ulcer (13% vs. 6%), reflux (21% vs. 7%) and appendectomy (17% vs. 11%), but not hysterectomy, cholecystectomy or bladder procedures. Ninety per cent had consulted in primary care and 17% in hospital; 69% had used medication. Irritable bowel syndrome substantially interfered with lifestyle and caused absenteeism. CONCLUSIONS: Irritable bowel syndrome is common with major effects on lifestyle and health care. The majority of cases are undiagnosed and the prevalence varies strikingly between countries. Diagnostic criteria are associated with varying prevalences and bowel habit sub-types. This limits their utility in clinical practice and the transferability of research findings using them.     

水质对电解质钙、镁、磷检测结果的影响

目的 探讨两种不同电导率的水质对钙、镁、磷检测结果稳定性方面的影响.方法 选择电导率分别为〈1.0 μS/cm、1.0～2.0 μS/cm和〉3.0 μS/cm水机制备纯水.将入选的75名健康医护人员分成A、B、C 3组,每组随机分配25名.A组水质电导率为〈1.0 μS/cm,B组水质电导率为1.0～2.0 μS/cm,C组水质电导率为〉3.0 μS/cm.将A、B、C 3组人群连续3 d同时采集其血液标本进行钙、镁、磷项目的 检验.最后将3 d的结果进行统计分析.结果 A组在定标当天分别测定的钙、镁、磷结果与定标后第2天和第3天的检测结果间差异均无统计学意义（P 〉 0.05）,并且A组3 d结果均在参考范围内,B组在定标当天分别测定的钙、镁、磷结果与定标后第2天和第3天的结果与定标当天的结果间差异均无统计学意义（P 〉 0.05）,但第2、3天钙、镁、磷有结果超出参考范围上限,C组在定标当天分别测定的钙、镁、磷结果与定标后第2天和第3天的结果与定标当天的结果间差异有统计学意义（P 〈 0.05）,第2、3天钙、镁、磷有结果超出参考范围上限.结论 不同电导率的水质影响钙、镁、磷检测结果,电导率〈1.0 μS/cm的钙、镁、磷检测结果稳定性较电导率1.0～2.0 μS/cm的钙、镁、磷检测结果稳定性好,而电导率〉3.0 μS/cm的钙、镁、磷检测结果稳定性较差.     

The impact of stress on addiction

This article will review data obtained from both clinical and preclinical investigations demonstrating that exposure to stress has a significant impact on drug addiction. The preclinical literature suggests that stress increases reward associated with psychomotor stimulants, possibly through a process similar to sensitization. While it is not conclusive that a similar process occurs in humans, a growing clinical literature indicates that there is a link between substance abuse and stress. One explanation for the high concordance between stress-related disorders and drug addiction is the self-medication hypothesis, which suggests that a dually diagnosed person often uses the abused substance to cope with tension associated with life stressors or to relieve symptoms of anxiety and depression resulting from a traumatic event. However, another characteristic of self-administration is that drug delivery and its subsequent effects on the hypothalamo–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis are under the direct control of the individual. This controlled activation of the HPA axis may result in the production of an internal state of arousal or stimulation that is actually sought by the individual (i.e., the sensation-seeking hypothesis). During abstinence, exposure to stressors or drug-associated cues can stimulate the HPA axis to remind the individual about the effects of the abused substance, thus producing craving and promoting relapse. Continued investigations into how stress and the subsequent activation of the HPA axis impact addiction will result in the identification of more effective and efficient treatment for substance abuse in humans. Stress reduction, either alone or in combination with pharmacotherapies targeting the HPA axis may prove beneficial in reducing cravings and promoting abstinence in individuals seeking treatment for addiction.