Salmonellas in pigs and animal feeding stuffs in England and Wales and in Denmark

A comparison has been made between the incidence of salmonellas in pigs and feeding stuffs in England and Wales and in Denmark. In Denmark there is veterinary legislation requiring the sterilization of imported and home produced feed ingredients of animal origin. There is no such legislation in England and Wales. In Denmark 0·3% of resterilized imported meat and bone meal was contaminated with salmonellas. This compared with 23% of meat and bone meal in England and Wales and 20-27% of other ingredients of animal origin. In England and Wales salmonellas were isolated from 7% of caecal samples and 6% of lymph node samples, while in Denmark they were isolated from 3% of caecal samples and 4% of lymph node samples. In England and Wales 25 serotypes were found in both pigs and feeds and these included nearly all the most prevalent human pathogens. In Denmark four of the six serotypes in pigs had been found in resterilized feed. One notable difference between the two studies was the very wide range of serotypes found in pigs in England and Wales and the narrow range in Denmark. A second was that Salmonella typhimurium formed 15% of all Salmonella strains isolated from pigs in England and Wales, and 60% of those in Denmark.     

Lunasin is prevalent in barley and is bioavailable and bioactive in in vivo and in vitro studies

Lunasin, a unique 43-amino acid peptide found in a number of seeds, has been shown to be chemopreventive in mammalian cells and in a skin cancer mouse model. To elucidate the role of cereals in cancer prevention, we report here the prevalence, bioavailability, and bioactivity of lunasin from barley. Lunasin is present in all cultivars of barley analyzed. The liver and kidney of rats fed with lunasin-enriched barley (LEB) show the presence of lunasin in Western blot. Lunasin extracted from the kidney and liver inhibits the activities of HATs (histone acetyl transferases), yGCN5 by 20% and 18% at 100 nM, and PCAF activity by 25% and 24% at 100 nM, confirming that the peptide is intact and bioactive. Purified barley lunasin localizes in the nuclei of NIH 3T3 cells. Barley lunasin added to NIH 3T3 cells in the presence of the chemical carcinogen MCA activates the expression of tumor suppressors p21 and p15 by 45% and 47%, decreases cyclin D1 by 98%, and inhibits Rb hyperphosphorylation by 45% compared with the MCA treatment alone. We conclude that lunasin is prevalent in barley, bioavailable, and bioactive and that consumption of barley could play an important role of cancer prevention in barley-consuming populations.     

Lead and cadmium in soil and Isopoda woodlice in Croatia

The aim of the study was to determine lead and cadmium concentrations in Isopoda woodlice and soil and to estimate their relation in the environment and the possibility of the use of isopods as biological indicators of pollution. Samples of isopods and soil were collected at two locations in Northern Croatia and analyzed for lead and cadmium. One location was in the forest, and another in the meadow near the road. Isopods were dry- ashed and soil was extracted with nitric acid. Elements were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometry. Results revealed that the two locations were significantly different in lead and cadmium in extracted soil and isopods. Lead concentration in extracted soil was 34.6 mg/kg dry weight in the forest and 43.3 mg/kg dry weight in the meadow near the road. Respective cadmium values were 0.147 and 0.180 mg/kg. Lead concentrations in isopods were 2.40 and 4.22 mg/kg dry weights, and cadmium 0.757 and 0.411 mg/kg dry weight, respectively. Correlation of lead or cadmium between isopods and soil irrespective of location gave significant and linear relations for both elements.     

Prevalence and Trends in Overweight in Mexican-American Adults and Children

Overweight and obesity have been increasing in many countries. Our objective is to describe the trends in overweight and obesity occurring in the Mexican-American population in the United States. Data on measured height and weight for Mexican Americans come from the following surveys: the Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (HHANES, 1982–84), the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III, 1988–94), and NHANES 1999–2002. In 1999–2002, 73% of Mexican-American adults were overweight and 33% were obese. Obesity increased between NHANES III and NHANES 1999–2002, from 24% to 27% for men and from 35% to 38% for women. Increases were also seen for children and adolescents. The Mexican-American population in the United States, both children and adults, is showing trends in overweight and obesity over time that are similar to those seen in other segments of the U.S. population and indeed in many countries     

环孢素A及其在产科和生殖领域应用的研究

环孢素A(Cyclosporin A,CsA)是一种大环内酯类免疫抑制剂,广泛应用于器官移植后排斥反应和自身免疫性疾病的防治.近年对CsA在产科和生殖领域的应用展开了一系列研究,CsA不仅能从多方面诱导母胎免疫耐受,还能促进滋养细胞增殖、抑制凋亡,增强其运动、迁移和侵袭能力,从而对妊娠起到双重调节作用,有望成为原因不明...     

Management of pregnancy and childbirth in England and Wales and in France

This paper reviews national data on obstetric and neonatal practices in England and Wales, and in France between 1970 and 1980. The data have been derived from national statistics and surveys on national samples of births in 1970, 1975 and 1980 in England and Wales, and 1972, 1976 and 1981 in France. The analysis shows that there was no major difference in pregnancy outcome, but wide variations in medical practices, and their trend over time. The main differences were: in England and Wales a higher number of antenatal visits, a higher percentage of inpatient admissions during pregnancy, a higher rate of induction, more episiotomies, a higher rate of resuscitation at birth, and admission to neonatal special care units; in France, a higher rate of caesarean sections before and during labour, some evidence of a more active management of labour, and a longer hospital post-natal stay. These differences in practice reflect differences in objectives and assessment of the effectiveness of care between the two countries: they point out the need for better monitoring and evaluation of obstetric and neonatal practices.     

Research and teaching in social and preventive medicine and in public health

Summary Both public health and social and preventive medicine are characterised by the common goal of promoting, maintaining and improving health and preventing disease, and both are concerned with a population-related, preventive and environmental perspective. But whereas public health is interdisciplinary and goes far beyond the medical focus, social and preventive medicine is medically based and forms a bridge between public health and medical practice. Research in a department of social and preventive medicine serves to support preventive and medico-social activities in medical practice as well as in public health. This is illustrated by results from research conducted at the author's department during the last twenty years. Examples are research in support of smoking cessation activities, and research used for the planning of care for the elderly. Both the research and the teaching activities of the department take into account the population focus of public health as well as the focus on individual medicine in clinical practice.

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Forschung und Lehre in Sozial-und Präventivmedizin und öffentlicher Gesundheit

Zusammenfassung Sowohl das Gebiet der öffentlichen Gesundheit als auch dasjenige der Sozial-und Präventivmedizin sind durch das Ziel der Förderung, Erhaltung und Verbesserung der Gesundheit sowie der Krankheitsvorbeugung gekennzeichnet, und beide beschäftigen sich mit einer bevölkerungsbezogenen, präventiven und umweltbezogenen Perspektive. Aber während die öffentliche Gesundheit stark interdisziplinär ist und weit über den medizinischen Fokus hinausreicht, ist die Sozial-und Präventivmedizin ein medizinisches Fach und stellt eine Brücke zwischen der öffentlichen Gesundheit und der ärztlichen Praxis dar. Die Forschung in einem Institut für Sozial-und Präventivmedizin dient der Förderung präventiver und sozialmedizinischer Tätigkeiten in der ärztlichen Praxis wie auch in der öffentlichen Gesundheit. Dies wird durch die Forschungstätigkeit des Instituts des Autors aus den letzten 20 Jahren illustriert, wobei Beispiele aus den Gebieten der Förderung der Raucherentwöhnung und der Betreuung behinderter Betagter dargestellt werden. Sowohl in den Forschungs-als auch in den Lehrtätigkeiten des Instituts finden der Bevölkerungsbezug der öffentlichen Gesundheit wie auch der individualmedizinische Ansatz der ärztlichen Praxis ihren Ausdruck.

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La recherche et l'ensignement en médecine sociale et préventive et en santé publique

Résumé La santé publique aussi bien que la médecine sociale et préventive sont caractérisées par le but commun de promouvoir, maintenir et améliorer l'état de santé et de prévenir les maladies, et elles s'orientent vers une perspective de population, de prévention et environnementale. Mais la santé publique est interdisciplinaire et va loin au-delà de la médecine, tandis que la médecine sociale et préventive est basée sur la médecine et représente le lien entre la santé publique et la pratique médicale. La recherche d'un institut de médecine sociale et préventive sert à appuyer les activités préventives et médico-sociales au cabinet médical aussi bien qu'en santé publique. Cela est illustré par des résultats de recherches conduites dans les vingt années passées à l'institut de l'auteur, et les exemples sont tirés de la recherche en appui de la promotion de la cessation de fumée et de la planification de la prise en charge des personnes âgées et handicapées. Les activités de recherche et de l'enseignement de l'institut tiennent compte de la perspective de population cacactéristique de la santé publique, aussi bien que de la dimension de médecine individuelle caractéristique de la pratique clinique.

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Paper presented at a symposium on The Public Health Perspective of Social and Preventive Medicine, in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Berne, 25 June 1992 in Berne.     

Metabolic interaction between n-hexane and toluene in vivo and in vitro

Summary Metabolic interference between n-hexane and toluene was studied both in vivo and in vitro. In in vivo experiments the urinary excretion of n-hexane and toluene metabolites was tested in rats treated with the two solvents separately or in combination. The same experimental program was repeated in rats pretreated with phenobarbital (PB). The urinary excretion of n-hexane metabolites in rats treated with the two solvents showed a significantly decreased excretion of all n-hexane metabolites in comparison with those treated with n-hexane alone. In rats pretreated with PB the excretion of n-hexane metabolites was significantly higher compared with that of unpretreated rats; the combined administration of the two solvents showed in this case, too, that n-hexane metabolite excretion was less than that found in rats treated with n-hexane alone. The biotransformation of toluene to o-cresol and hippuric acid studied in the urine of rats treated with or without n-hexane and pretreated or not with PB did not show any difference. The in vitro metabolic interference was studied by measuring the disappearance of solvents from rat's incubated liver microsomes. The maximum velocity (Vmax) of n-hexane was 2.8 nmol/g/min when incubated alone, 1.9 and 0.9 nmol/g/min when incubated with 5 and 20 M of toluene respectively. The Vmax of toluene was 14.9 nmol/g/min when incubated alone and 13.1 and 10.5 nmol/g/min when incubated with 10.4 and 20.9 M of n-hexane respectively. The inhibition constant (Ki) of toluene on n-hexane biotransformation was 7.5 M and that of n-hexane on toluene was 30 M. The data show that a mutual non-competitive interference exists in vitro betweeen n-hexane and toluene. The interference of toluene on n-hexane biotransformation was detectable also in vivo experiments, while n-hexane did not modify the biotransformation of toluene.     

Household income and health status in children and adolescents in Britain

BACKGROUND: Mortality, health, and well-being across the lifespan are associated with socioeconomic position (typically operationalised as occupational status). There is some evidence that adolescence represents a period of 'relative equalisation' of health inequalities. Our aim was to examine the association between inequalities in household income and health in childhood and adolescence. METHODS: Cross-sectional survey using multistage stratified random sample of households in Britain. Information was collected on 10438 children aged 5-15 years. RESULTS: Low levels of equivalised household income was associated with poorer health for 13 out of the 22 indicators examined (odds ratio P < 0.05 for > or =1 income quintile). Multivariate analyses controlling for child characteristics, parental socioeconomic status and household composition indicated that low levels of equivalised household income increased the odds of poor health for 9 out of the 22 indicators examined. There was little evidence of any systematic differences in the extent of health inequalities across age groups (5-10 and 11-15 years). CONCLUSION: Household income is related to a range of health outcomes for children and adolescents, even when other indicators of socioeconomic status are taken into account. We found little evidence that adolescence represents a period of relative equalisation of health inequalities.     

Sanitation and hygiene in urban and rural households in East Africa

Latrine possession, disposal of children's faeces and waste-water in 1015 households in 33 sites in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda were studied in 1997. Assistants conducted interviews and observed the state and use of latrines, disposal of children's faeces, wastewater, and household socio-demographic characteristics. Latrine possession was 92.4% in Uganda, 95% in Kenya and 99.5% in Tanzania. In unpiped sites, 73.5% of Ugandan, 90.5% of Tanzanian and 95% of Kenyan households had latrines. Over 30% of latrines in rural Uganda were contaminated with faeces, compared with 10% in Tanzania. More latrines in urban Kenya and Uganda had contaminated surroundings than in the rural areas. The mean number of people using a toilet in the urban areas (10) was significantly higher than in rural areas (7), (F = 45.5; P < 0.001). Toilets in Kenya and Uganda were more likely to be fouled than in Tanzania. Households where the head was an educated professional or business person, or the toilet had a door, lid or concrete wall or floor or waste water was disposed of in the latrine, were less likely to have fouled toilets. Most households disposed of the faeces safely with a few placing them in the garden or elsewhere. The study emphasises the need to promote appropriate sanitation and hygiene.     

1998和2003年上海市夏季人群死亡分析

目的 探索上海夏季全人群死亡的影响因素.方法 收集上海1998、2003年6月15日-9月15日逐日全人群死亡资料及同期气象资料、逐日污染物浓度资料、社会统计资料进行分析.结果 除2003年8月的平均最高气温低于1998年同期外,2003年其他月平均最高气温、热日天数、最长热日持续时间和极端最高温度均高于1998年,但2003年夏季日平均死亡数和热日及非热日平均死亡数均低于1998年.经多元逐步回归分析,1998、2003年夏季高温日死亡与气象关系的回归方程的R2分别为0.769 6和0.560 3,均有统计学意义(P＜0.001).1998年夏季死亡数与热日连续天数、热浪出现的时间有关(均P＜0.001);2003年夏季死亡数与热日连续天数、热浪出现时间、日最高气温有关(均P＜0.05).上海人口老龄化趋势在继续,65岁以上的老龄人口比例从1998年的12.32%增加到2003年的14.79%,造成易感人群增加;而医疗条件、收入水平和居民生活条件等均有不同程度的提高.结论 高温是夏季死亡增加的主要影响因素,生活条件的改善,如空调的使用、居住条件的改善,可能有助于降低人群易感程度,减少死亡.     

Dietary cadmium intake in polluted and non-polluted areas in Japan in the past and in the present

Objective The purpose of this data compilation is to overview past and current dietary exposure (primarily via rice) of general populations to cadmium (Cd) in environmentally polluted and non-polluted areas in Japan, and to compare the levels with counterpart levels in other areas in Asia.Methods A literature survey was conducted for publications on this subject, in either Japanese or international languages, since the early 1970s. Most of the studies identified employed the food-duplicate method in combination with atomic absorption spectrometry for Cd determination, although a few studies utilized other methods, such as the market basket method and dithizon-colorimetry.Results The highest estimate of dietary Cd intake (Cd-D), 600 g Cd/day, was reported in the late 1960s for the local population in the Jinzu river basin, where Itai-itai disease had been endemic, and the Cd-D levels were 300 g/day or higher in other polluted areas. Cd-D dropped to well below 100 g/day when the polluted soil was replaced in the late 1970s and thereafter. In non-polluted areas, the Cd-D was reported to be approximately 100 g/day in 1969, followed by a gradual decrease to approximately 40 g/day in the late 1970s, to reach the current level of less than 30 g/day. There is a trend of gradual reduction at the rate of 0.3 to 0.6 g/day per year. Cd from rice accounted for 30 to 40% of the Cd-D in non-polluted areas, but a higher contribution was observed in some polluted areas. Nevertheless, the current Cd-D is still higher than the levels in other rice-dependent populations in east and south-east Asia.Conclusion The Cd-D levels reported for polluted areas were in excess of 300 g Cd/day. Substantial reduction in Cd-D to the level below 100 g/day was observed after remediation, such as replacement of polluted paddy soil. In non-polluted areas, there has been a gradual decrease in Cd-D in the past 25 years. Nevertheless, the levels in the current intake of the general population in Japan (25 to 30 g/day, or <1/10 of the levels in polluted areas in the past) is still higher than the levels in other rice-dependent areas in Asia.     

Eggs enriched in omega-3 fatty acids and alterations in lipid concentrations in plasma and lipoproteins and in blood pressure

Effects of dietary eggs enriched with omega-3 fatty acids on lipid concentrations in plasma and lipoproteins and blood pressure were determined in 11 men and women in two groups. Group 1 consumed four omega-3 eggs per day during the first 4-wk period and four control eggs for the second 4-wk period. Group 2 ate the same number of eggs in the reverse order. Mean plasma cholesterol concentration was significantly increased by control eggs (P less than 0.01) but unchanged by omega-3 eggs. Mean plasma triglyceride concentration was decreased by omega-3 eggs but increased by control eggs. Both systolic and diastolic blood pressures were significantly lowered by omega-3 eggs in group 1 whereas only systolic pressure was significantly decreased on omega-3 eggs in group 2. The control eggs did not change blood pressure. In conclusion, the omega-3 eggs may be more healthful than the control eggs.     

安阳市学校和托幼机构传染病防制现状

了解安阳市学校和托幼机构传染病防制管理现状,发现薄弱环节,提出进一步加强和改进传染病防制策略的依据.方法 采用多级分层抽样方法抽取安阳市4个区和2个县的112所机构,对被调查单位进行问卷调查.结果 传染病报告制度建立率为82.14%,晨检制度长期执行率为46.63%,因病缺勤登记制度长期执行率为50.00%,学生定期体检制度建立率为79.46%.接种证查验执行率为82.14%,按规定卫生室设置率为36.17%.结论 当前学校和托幼机构传染病防制多环节存在不足.有关部门应高度重视,进一步健全传染病预案体系建设,强化传染病执法力度,加强建立传染病联防联控机制.