山东省男男性行为人群HIV暴露前后预防用药情况及相关因素分析

目的 了解山东省MSM的HIV暴露前后预防（PrEP/PEP）用药情况并分析相关因素，为PrEP/PEP工作的推广提供参考依据。方法 2022年4-7月在山东省7个城市监测哨点招募MSM进行问卷调查，每个城市样本量为400人。收集MSM社会人口学、性行为、PrEP/PEP用药等信息，并采集血标本做HIV和梅毒抗体检测。结果 研究对象MSM共2 815人，以≤30岁（55.7%，1 569/2 815）、未婚（68.6%，1 931/2 815）、大专及以上文化程度（56.5%，1 590/2 815）为主。PrEP用药者占9.2%（258/2 815）；PEP用药者占10.8%（305/2 815）。多因素logistic回归分析结果显示，MSM中PrEP用药的可能性较高的相关因素包括年龄≤30岁（aOR=4.04，95%CI：1.25~13.01）、自我认知HIV感染风险较低（aOR=1.76，95%CI：1.16~2.68）、最近6个月发生群交行为（aOR=1.51，95%CI：1.10~2.09）、最近6个月发生同性商业性行为（aOR=1.69，95%CI：1.16~2.47）、使用新型毒品（aOR=1.53，95%CI：1.11~2.11）、接受同伴教育（aOR=1.56，95%CI：1.03~2.37）、知晓别人PrEP用药（aOR=3.29，95%CI：2.48~4.36）、HIV抗体阴性（aOR=8.40，95%CI：1.12~63.12）；MSM中PrEP用药的可能性较低的相关因素为主要性伴为临时性伴（aOR=0.67，95%CI：0.49~0.90）。MSM中PEP用药的可能性较高的相关因素包括年龄<50岁（≤30岁：aOR=2.41，95%CI：1.02~5.69；31~49岁：aOR=3.33，95%CI：1.42~7.85）、自我认知无HIV感染风险（aOR=1.87，95%CI：1.12~3.11）、最近6个月发生群交行为（aOR=1.68，95%CI：1.23~2.29）、使用新型毒品（aOR=3.86，95%CI：2.94~5.07）以及未接受同伴教育（aOR=1.54，95%CI：1.12~2.12）。结论 山东省MSM的PrEP/PEP用药比例较高。应加强同伴教育和自我认知HIV风险教育，提高MSM中PrEP/PEP用药的使用率。     

成都市男男性行为人群3种类型HIV暴露前预防用药使用意愿及影响因素分析

目的 调查成都市MSM对3种类型HIV暴露前预防用药（PrEP）的使用意愿及影响因素。方法 2021年11月至2022年1月,依靠成都同乐健康咨询服务中心招募793名研究对象。收集社会人口学特征、最近6个月性行为发生情况、PrEP污名、HIV预期污名、MSM内化污名和3种类型PrEP的使用意愿。采用单因素和多因素logistic回归模型分析3种类型PrEP使用意愿的影响因素。结果 在793名研究对象中,按需口服药物的使用意愿较高（68.3%）。较高文化程度和多性伴均会促进口服类PrEP的使用意愿,较高文化程度[与初中及以下相比,高中/中专（aOR=2.43,95%CI：1.13~5.21）、大专（aOR=2.67,95%CI：1.27~5.61）、大学本科（aOR=3.21,95%CI：1.52~6.74）、硕士研究生及以上（aOR=3.77,95%CI：1.54~9.26）]、多性伴（aOR=1.54,95%CI：1.12~2.11）均与每天口服1粒药物呈正相关。较高的HIV预期污名对3种类型PrEP使用意愿均呈正相关：每天口服1粒药物（aOR=1.07,95%CI：1.02~1.12）、按需口服药物（aOR=1.09,95%CI：1.03~1.15）、每隔8周注射1次药物（aOR=1.06,95%CI：1.01~1.11）。结论 成都市MSM的PrEP整体使用意愿较高,推广PrEP有较高的可行性。未来应加强对该人群HIV和PrEP相关知识的宣传教育,提高认知水平,引导MSM树立正确的PrEP使用动机。     

石家庄市男男性行为人群对同伴推动HIV检测策略的接受意愿分析

目的 了解石家庄市MSM对同伴推动HIV检测策略的接受意愿及其相关因素。方法 2018年8-9月通过石家庄市MSM社会组织协助,分享线上问卷二维码,采用方便抽样方式招募544名MSM作为调查对象,登录“金数据企业版”（https：//im.jinshuju.com/users/sign_in）进行线上匿名调查。调查内容包括社会人口学、行为学、HIV检测相关态度、同伴推动HIV检测策略的接受意愿等信息。采用χ²检验分析社会人口学特征,采用logistic回归模型分析MSM同伴推动HIV检测策略的接受意愿的相关因素。采用SAS 9.4软件进行统计学分析。结果 521名调查对象中,建议同伴接受HIV检测的意愿占59.50%（310/521）,接受同伴建议HIV检测的意愿占90.02%（469/521）。多因素logistic回归模型分析结果显示,HIV检测频次分别为每年1次（aOR=2.72,95%CI：1.42~5.20）、每半年1次（aOR=5.72,95%CI：2.97~11.02）与每个季度≥1次（aOR=8.76,95%CI：4.56~16.83）、发生性行为前询问对方HIV感染状态（aOR=1.94,95%CI：1.15~3.28）和STD史（aOR=1.83,95%CI：1.06~3.14）是建议同伴接受HIV检测的意愿的正相关因素;与同伴讨论HIV检测相关问题（aOR=4.43,95%CI：1.87~10.54）、认为向同伴提出HIV检测建议会影响双方感情（aOR=0.35,95%CI：0.15~0.82）分别是接受同伴建议HIV检测意愿的正相关、负相关因素。结论 提高MSM主动建议同伴接受HIV检测的意愿,增强自我保护意识和双方平等交流及沟通的技巧,是MSM同伴推动HIV检测策略成功的关键。     

成都市男男性行为人群对重复HIV检测阴性的反应与危险性行为的关联研究

目的 研究成都市MSM对重复HIV检测阴性的反应及与危险性行为的关联。方法 2022年3-5月与成都同乐健康咨询服务中心合作,采用方便抽样方法招募研究对象610名MSM。收集研究对象社会人口学特征、对HIV检测阴性的反应和性行为情况。采用单因素及多因素logistic回归模型分析HIV检测阴性反应与性行为的关联。结果 参加问卷调查579名（94.9%）,纳入研究对象354名（61.1%）,HIV检测阴性反应得分分别为强化安全（17.03±2.20）分、运气（7.50±1.87）分和低风险感知（8.87±3.62）分。多因素logistic回归模型结果显示,强化安全与发生群交呈负相关（aOR=0.80,95%CI：0.67~0.95）;运气与临时性行为（aOR=1.20,95%CI：1.06~1.35）、不坚持使用安全套（aOR=1.21,95%CI：1.06~1.37）、发生群交（aOR=1.26,95%CI：1.00~1.60）和多性伴（aOR=1.24,95%CI：1.09~1.42）与危险性行为呈正相关。低风险感知仅与多性伴（aOR=1.08,95%CI：1.01~1.15）呈正相关。结论 成都市MSM对重复HIV检测阴性反应的强化安全和运气维度认可程度较高,自身风险感知良好。在提供HIV检测和咨询服务期间,干预策略和风险咨询应重视向对运气认可较高的个体倾斜,帮助其树立安全性行为意识,减少侥幸心理带来的负面影响。     

山东省男男性行为人群新型毒品滥用和HIV新发感染的相关因素分析

目的 分析MSM新型毒品滥用和HIV新发感染的相关因素,为制定艾滋病防控措施提供参考依据。方法 2021年4-7月在山东省9个城市监测哨点招募MSM,每个城市招募样本量为400人。开展面对面问卷调查,收集MSM社会人口学特征、行为学和接受HIV干预服务等信息,采集血样进行HIV和梅毒抗体检测。采用限制性抗原亲和力酶联免疫法进行HIV新发感染检测,并计算HIV新发感染率指标。结果 共调查MSM 3 624人,年龄（32.70±9.33）岁,以≥30岁（59.52%,2 157/3 624）、高中及以下文化程度（55.99%,2 029/3 624）、未婚/离异/丧偶（57.70%,2 091/3 624）和性取向为同性恋者为主（86.26%,3 126/3 624）。最近6个月发生无保护肛交占32.95%（1 194/3 624）;曾使用新型毒品占27.48%（993/3 613）;HIV抗体阳性率为3.12%（113/3 624）,HIV新发感染率为2.61%（95%CI：1.73%~3.49%）。多因素logistic回归分析结果显示,MSM新型毒品滥用的相关因素包括未婚/离异/丧偶（相比于已婚/同居,aOR=1.43,95%CI：1.22~1.69）、大专及以上文化程度（相比于高中及以下文化程度,aOR=1.47,95%CI：1.25~1.72）、主要寻找男性性伴场所为互联网/交友软件（相比于酒吧/浴池/公园等,aOR=1.76,95%CI：1.41~2.19）、最近6个月发生无保护肛交（相比于未发生无保护肛交,aOR=1.33,95%CI：1.13~1.57）、最近1年患过性病（相比于未患性病,aOR=2.77,95%CI：2.04~3.76）。MSM HIV新发感染的相关因素包括最近6个月发生无保护肛交（相比于未发生无保护肛交,aOR=2.51,95%CI：1.25~5.01）、最近1年未接受HIV干预服务（相比于接受HIV干预服务,aOR=3.89,95%CI：1.30~11.60）、梅毒阳性（相比于梅毒阴性,aOR=8.18,95%CI：2.98~22.48）、曾使用新型毒品（相比于未使用新型毒品,aOR=4.75,95%CI：2.32~9.70）。结论 山东省MSM新型毒品滥用现象较为普遍,新型毒品滥用会增加HIV新发感染风险。     

北京市男男性行为者HIV新发感染率与高危行为及接受暴露前后预防用药服务情况调查

目的 了解北京市MSM的HIV新发感染率与高危行为及接受暴露前后预防（PrEP/PEP）用药服务情况。方法 采用Epi Info7.0软件计算参加横断面调查和队列调查样本量分别为1 227人和207人年。采用方便抽样法通过手机微信公众号招募MSM参加自填式网络问卷调查，收集其社会人口学、高危行为及接受PrEP/PEP用药服务利用情况，MSM自行采集干血斑样本邮寄到指定实验室进行HIV核酸检测。建立HIV核酸阴性受检者开放式队列，随访观察至研究终点。采用非条件logistic回归分析MSM最近1个月无保护肛交行为、最近1个月同性多性伴的影响因素。结果 共招募MSM 1 147人，其中HIV核酸阴性者956人观察236人年。HIV新发感染率为1.3/100人年（3/236）。最近1个月肛交和口交每次都使用安全套者分别占50.7%（238/469）和4.9%（23/469）。最近1个月与HIV感染者发生性行为的比例为5.9%（43/723）。分别有9.8%（103/1 049）和8.7%（91/1 049）的研究对象曾接受PrEP/PEP用药服务。PrEP/PEP用药期间发生性行为每次使用安全套的比例分别为34.3%（24/70）和72.2%（39/54）。多因素logistic回归分析结果显示，接受PrEP/PEP用药服务者的最近1个月发生无保护肛交行为和有同性多性伴的可能性均较高（aOR=3.16，95%CI：1.45~7.18；aOR=2.64，95%CI：1.19~6.30）；最近1个月使用毒品或Rush Popper者的最近1个月发生无保护肛交行为和有同性多性伴的可能性均较高（aOR=2.34，95%CI：1.67~3.30；aOR=2.42，95%CI：1.76~3.33）。结论 应在MSM中倡导坚持使用安全套及开展常见滥用药物危害的健康教育。在PrEP/PEP用药服务咨询中，需提示MSM坚持使用安全套的重要性。     

男男性行为人群主要性伴类型特征及其未检测HIV相关因素分析

目的 比较主要性伴类型不同的MSM特征,分析MSM最近6个月未检测HIV的相关因素。方法 2021年4-7月在山东省9个城市招募MSM,开展面对面问卷调查,收集其社会人口学特征、高危行为和HIV检测等信息,采集血样用于HIV抗体和梅毒抗体检测。结果 最近6个月发生同性肛交性行为的MSM共3 008人,将MSM根据最近6个月主要性伴类型分为固定性伴组(36.83%,1 108/3 008)、商业性伴组(3.06%,92/3 008)和临时性伴组(60.11%,1 808/3 008)。不同组别MSM的年龄、本地居住时间、文化程度、寻找男性性伴的主要场所、最近6个月新型毒品使用、肛交每次坚持使用安全套、发生群交行为、未检测HIV和最近1年患过性病、接受同伴教育、梅毒检测频率的分布差异有统计学意义(均P<0.05)。多因素logistic回归分析结果显示,MSM最近6个月未检测HIV的相关因素包括年龄<30岁(aOR=1.39,95%CI:1.06~1.83)、已婚/同居(aOR=1.74,95%CI:1.39~2.16)、高中及以下文化程度(aOR=1.39,95%CI:1.15~1.67)、最近6个月未使用新型毒品(aOR=2.27,95%CI:1.89~2.71)、最近1年未接受同伴教育(aOR=1.59,95%CI:1.28~1.98)、从未做过梅毒检测(aOR=11.30,95%CI:8.15~15.66)、最近1年未做但以前做过梅毒检测(aOR=5.65,95%CI:4.19~7.62)、最近6个月主要性伴类型是商业性伴(aOR=1.80,95%CI:1.01~3.20)和最近6个月主要性伴类型是临时性伴(aOR=1.50,95%CI:1.26~1.80)。结论 主要性伴类型不同的MSM特征有所差异,HIV检测比例仍有待提高。今后应针对主要性伴类型不同的MSM特征,充分利用网络和同伴教育等方法扩大MSM HIV检测覆盖率。     

应用交友软件调查大学生男男性行为者HIV检测现状及相关因素

目的 了解活跃于移动互联网的大学生MSM最近1年HIV检测现状及相关因素。方法 按照横断面调查设计,基于中国同性恋流行使用的一款同性恋社交软件Blued,按18~25岁大学生MSM的HIV检测率50%推算样本量为500人。于2016年9月开始手机端电子问卷调查,主要收集人口学特征、HIV检测行为、性行为等信息。采用 χ²检验和非条件logistic回归分析大学生MSM最近1年HIV检测的相关因素。结果 共调查1 384名大学生MSM,平均年龄（20.99±0.04）岁,最近1年HIV检测比例为47.1%（652/1 384）。多因素分析结果显示：听说过HIV检测（OR=6.37,95%CI：3.592~11.300）,愿意定期接受HIV检测（OR=2.64,95%CI：1.191~2.631）,部分了解（OR=3.58,95%CI：2.138~5.996）和完全不了解（OR=2.25,95%CI：1.479~3.422）固定性伴HIV感染状况皆使大学生MSM的HIV检测可能性增加;信任固定性伴无感染HIV风险（OR=0.65,95%CI：0.445~0.938）,最近1年固定性伴仅为1人（OR=0.37,95%CI：0.232~0.589）使大学生MSM的HIV检测可能性降低。结论 活跃于移动互联网的大学生MSM人群最近1年HIV检测比例较低,该群体性行为活跃,固定性伴间相互信任,或仅为1人的原因,反而使HIV检测比例更低,应予以重视。     

江苏省男男性行为人群HIV新发感染及影响因素分析

目的 分析江苏省MSM的HIV新发感染及影响因素。方法 根据2019年全国艾滋病哨点监测方案,2019年4-7月在江苏省13个城市招募MSM,进行问卷调查及实验室检测,应用限制性抗原亲和力酶联免疫法（LAg-Avidity EIA）检测HIV新发感染者,根据中国CDC推荐的基于亲和力方法的计算公式及参数计算新发感染率;采用多因素logistic回归模型分析HIV新发感染的影响因素。结果 研究对象MSM 4 469人,HIV新发感染率为4.5%（95%CI：3.4%~5.5%）。多因素logistic分析结果显示,相比于≥ 40岁年龄组、招募途径来自MSM活动场所、艾滋病知识知晓、最近6个月未发生无保护肛交、无梅毒现症感染,18~24岁年龄组（aOR=2.083,95%CI：1.087~3.990）、招募途径来自VCT门诊（aOR=2.125,95%CI：1.175~3.843）、艾滋病知识不知晓（aOR=2.456,95%CI：1.109~5.437）、最近6个月发生无保护性肛交（aOR=3.553,95%CI：2.143~5.889）、梅毒现症感染（aOR=2.414,95%CI：1.033~5.462）的HIV新发感染风险较高。结论 江苏省MSM人群HIV新发感染率较高。MSM的艾滋病预防控制,需加强健康教育、推广使用安全套和促进HIV/梅毒筛查工作。     

抗病毒治疗HIV感染者神经认知损伤与认知表现特征研究

目的 联合应用两种神经认知评价量表,探讨接受抗病毒治疗（ART）的HIV感染者神经认知损伤患病率、影响因素及其神经认知表现特征。方法 纳入浙江省台州市开展的HIV与衰老相关疾病前瞻性队列研究中2 250例接受ART的HIV感染者。使用中国版简易智能精神状态检查量表（MMSE）和国际HIV相关性痴呆量表（IHDS）评价其神经认知损伤情况,并对2个量表中的7个神经认知域进行聚类分析。结果 在接受ART的HIV感染者2 250例中,年龄集中在45~89岁（48.0%,1 080/2 250）,男性占79.2%（1 782/2 250）,小学及以下文化程度者占37.8%（852/2 250）。MMSE和IHDS判断的神经认知损伤的患病率分别为14.3%（321/2 250）和31.8%（716/2 250）。多因素logistic回归分析结果显示,HIV感染者MMSE判断的神经认知损伤危险因素包括60~89岁（aOR=2.63,95%CI：1.52~4.56）、抑郁症状（aOR=5.58,95%CI：4.20~7.40）和使用依非韦伦（EFV）治疗（aOR=2.86,95%CI：1.89~4.34）;男性（aOR=0.71,95%CI：0.51~1.00）、偏胖（aOR=0.63,95%CI：0.44~0.89）和文化程度较高（aOR=0.11,95%CI：0.05~0.25）为保护因素。IHDS判断的神经认知损伤危险因素包括60~89岁（aOR=3.10,95%CI：2.09~4.59）、抑郁症状（aOR=1.78,95%CI：1.44~2.20）和使用EFV治疗（aOR=1.79,95%CI：1.41~2.29）;男性（aOR=0.75,95%CI：0.58~0.97）、偏瘦（aOR=0.67,95%CI：0.47~0.96）、基线CD4⁺T淋巴细胞（CD4）计数≥350个/μl（aOR=0.69,95%CI：0.53~0.91）和文化程度较高（aOR=0.23,95%CI：0.14~0.39）是保护因素。HIV感染者的神经认知表现分为4种主要类型,在年龄、性别、文化程度、饮酒、抑郁症状、腰臀比、高血压病史、糖尿病病史、基线CD4计数和使用EFV治疗的差异有统计学意义（均P < 0.05）。结论 接受ART的HIV感染者神经认知表现分为4种类型,神经认知损伤患病率较高,需对不同类型者采取针对性的监测、预防与控制措施。     

Calcium intake in the elderly: validation of a dietary questionnaire

Epidemiological studies of calcium and osteoporosis have been hampered by the lack of a suitable tool for assessing calcium intake. This report describes a new frequency and amount questionnaire for measuring present and past calcium intake in the elderly. The validity of the questionnaire was tested against two commonly used standards of dietary assessment, five-day duplicate diets and seven-day weighed dietary inventories. The resulting correlation coefficients were, respectively, r = 0.76 and r = 0.69, while that for repeatability was r = 0.84. Furthermore, the questionnaire categorized subjects into thirds of the distribution of intake with almost no gross misclassification. It is suggested that the present findings may be extended to the majority of normal, healthy elderly subjects, implying wide application for the questionnaire in the assessment of calcium intake in the elderly.     

The occurrence of antimicrobial substances in toilet,sink and shower drainpipes of clinical units: A neglected source of antibiotic residues

Antibiotics represent one of the most important drug groups used in the management of bacterial infections in humans and animals. Due to the increasing problem of antibiotic resistance, assurance of the antibacterial effectiveness of these substances has moved into the focus of public health. The reduction in antibiotic residues in wastewater and the environment may play a decisive role in the development of increasing rates of antibiotic resistance. The present study examines the wastewater of 31 patient rooms of various German clinics for possible residues of antibiotics, as well as the wastewater of five private households as a reference.To the best of our knowledge, this study shows for the first time that in hospitals with high antibiotic consumption rates, residues of these drugs can be regularly detected in toilets, sink siphons and shower drains at concentrations ranging from 0.02?μg·L^?1 to a maximum of 79?mg·L^?1. After complete flushing of the wastewater siphons, antibiotics are no longer detectable, but after temporal stagnation, the concentration of the active substances in the water phases of respective siphons increases again, suggesting that antibiotics persist through the washing process in biofilms. This study demonstrates that clinical wastewater systems offer further possibilities for the optimization of antibiotic resistance surveillance.     

Self-reported health problems among Swedish miners one year after unemployment

Unemployment is considered to be a public health concern sincedeterioration in the health of the unemployed is often anticipated.However, for some groups, such as miners, unemployment mightimprove health due to a cessation of potentially harmful occupationalexposures. This study evaluates the health of 79 miners in oneSwedish iron-ore mine, and 226 age-matched controls from thegeneral population, during one year after the closure of themine. The participants received a questionnaire regarding medicalhistory and subjective symptoms at the beginning of the studyperiod, and after one year. Statistically significant negativeeffects on self-reported health attributable to unemploymentwere not found, although neuropsychiatric symptoms were morecommon among the unemployed miners. The miners reported a statisticallysignificant improvement in grip force (p=0.031). They had asignificantly higher prevalence of symptoms associated withmining related exposures when compared with the population controls;pain in the upper extremities [relative risk (RR)=2.27, 95%confidence interval (Cl)=1.44–3.59), back pain (RR=1.84;Cl=1.237–2.75), vasospastic disease of the fingers (RR=2.05;Cl=1.18–3.57) and obstructive respiratory symptoms (attacksof dyspnea and wheezing: RR=3.67; Cl=1.167–11.6).     

Excès de cas humains et animaux de tularémie en France au cours de l’hiver 2007–2008 : émergence ou phénomène isolé ?

Context

Tularemia is a zoonosis affecting humans and hares in France. We describe the results of surveillance in both species, in 2007 and 2008.

Methods

Human tularemia cases are mandatorily notifiable in France since 2003. In hares, surveillance relies on volunteer hunter associations in all districts of the country. Data from mandatory reports and volunteer surveillance in 2007/2008 were analyzed and compared with previous results.

Results

In 2007/2008, 144 cases were reported in humans and 117 cases in hares. This was a 100% increase compared to previous years. Human cases differed from those of previous years only by the frequency of contact with breeding animals. Human cases without any documented risk exposure were also more frequent.

Conclusion

An increase of tularemia cases occurred in 2007/2008 in both species. Complementary studies are needed to identify the species reservoir in France to understand the causes of this peak of cases.     

深圳公立医院管理体制改革制度设计

深圳公立医院管理体制改革实行政事分开、管办分开,在理事会架构下按法定机构模式组建市医管中心,落实公立医院运营管理自主权.作者从当前公立医院管理体制的弊端入手,介绍了深圳市进行公立医院管理体制改革的基本思路及改革方案设计的主要举措,深入剖析了的改革方案的特点,并对改革效果进行了预测.     

Occupational health hazards in mining: an overview

This review article outlines the physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic and psychosocial occupational health hazards of mining and associated metallurgical processes. Mining remains an important industrial sector in many parts of the world and although substantial progress has been made in the control of occupational health hazards, there remains room for further risk reduction. This applies particularly to traumatic injury hazards, ergonomic hazards and noise. Vigilance is also required to ensure exposures to coal dust and crystalline silica remain effectively controlled.     

Effects of nitrogen dioxide on red blood cells of rats: Changes in components of red cell membranes during in vivo exposure to NO2

Red cell membranes, prepared from red blood cells of rats exposed to 4, 10, or 20 ppm nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) for 1 to 10 days, were examined for evidence of changes in membrane components. Appreciable changes were not found in contents of phospholipid and cholesterol during exposure to 10 ppm NO₂. By contrast, protein content altered with the time of exposure. Moreover, changes in protein composition were observed by employing sodium dodecyl sulfate — polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Twenty-four-hour exposure to NO₂ at the concentration above 10 ppm resulted in a marked increase in the percentage of lysophosphatidylethanolamine (LysoPE) to the total phospholipids. The prolonged exposure to 10 ppm NO₂ gave rise to a further increase in LysoPE, whereas the percentage of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) showed a gradual decrease. A 1-day exposure to 4.0 ppm NO₂ also caused an increase in sialic acid content and decreases in those of PE and hexose. In addition to contents of these components the percentage of LysoPE increased 5 days after exposure and the elevated values were maintained up to the end of exposure period. These results demonstrate that red blood cells in circulation exhibit different membrane properties in terms of lipid and carbohydrate composition during 10 days of exposure to 4.0 ppm NO₂.     

Manufacture and use of nanomaterials: current status in the UK and global trends

This paper provides an overview of the production and use of nanomaterials (NMs), particularly in the UK. Currently, relatively few companies in the UK are identifiable as NM manufacturers, the main emphasis being the bulk markets in metals and metal oxides, and some niche markets such as carbon nanotubes and quantum dots. NM manufacturing in the UK does not reflect the global emphasis on fullerenes, nanotubes and fibres. Some assumptions have been made about the types of NM that are likely to be imported into the UK, which currently include fullerenes, modified fullerenes and other carbon-based NMs including nanotubes. Many university departments, spin-offs and private companies have developed processes for the manufacture of NMs but may only be producing small quantities for research and development (R&D) purposes. However, some have the potential to scale up to produce large quantities. The nanotechnology industry in the UK has strong R&D backup from universities and related institutions. This review has covered R&D trends at such institutions, and appropriate information has been added to a searchable database. While several companies are including NMs in their products, only a few (e.g. manufacturers of paints, coatings, cosmetics, catalysts, polymer composites) are using nanoparticles (NPs) in any significant quantities. However, this situation is likely to change rapidly. There is a need to collect more information about exposure to NPs in both manufacturing and user scenarios. As the market grows, and as manufacturers switch from the micro- to the nanoscale, the potential for exposure will increase. More research is required to quantify any risks to workers and consumers.     

Investigating clusters in the workplace and beyond

Clusters of disease are common and occur in the workplace and in the general community. They often arouse considerable concern among the population. Investigations have sometimes lead to exciting new knowledge, but in general the investigation of clusters is difficult and often unrewarding, especially for community clusters. In the workplace, investigations are more likely to find associations and even new causes, but still many clusters remain enigmatic. Despite this, there are many reasons for investigating clusters, including allaying community concern and identifying uncontrolled exposures. A structure for investigating clusters in the workplace is suggested.