2型糖尿病大血管病变与视黄醇结合蛋白4及高敏C反应蛋白关系的研究

目的 探讨2型糖尿病(T2DM)大血管病变患者血清视黄醇结合蛋白4(RBP4)及高敏C反应蛋白(hs-CRP)水平的变化.方法 入选研究对象115例,其中单纯T2DM组40例,T2DM大血管病变(病变T2DM)组40例,对照组35例.检测其空腹血清RBP4、hs-CRP,同时测空腹血糖(FBG)、身高、体重、空腹胰岛素(FINS)、糖化血红蛋白(HbA1c)、三酰甘油(TG)、总胆固醇(TC)、高密度脂蛋白胆同醇(HDL-C)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C),计算体重指数(BMI)和稳态模型评估法胰岛素抵抗指数(HOMA-IR).分析三组RBP4水平的变化,及其与上述其他指标的相关性.结果 hs-CRP、RBP4在病变T2DM组和单纯T2DM组显著高于对照组[hs-CRP分别为(9.12±4.21)、(2.01±1.96)、(0.98±0.36)mg/L,RBP4分别为(30.10±5.45)、(20.02±5.32)、(12.02±3.45)mg/L](P<0.01),病变T2DM组显著高于单纯T2DM组(P<0.01).单因素相关分析显示RBP4与LDL-C、BMI、FBG、hs-CBP、FINS、HOMA-IR呈正相关(相关系数分别为0.325、0.597、0.323、0.571、0.275、0.463,P<0.05或<0.01).结论 血清RBP4、hs-CRP在糖尿病患者中显著升高,其水平变化与糖尿病大血管并发症的发生、发展密切相关.     

2型糖尿病患者血清视黄醇结合蛋白4水平及相关影响因素的研究

目的 探讨2型糖尿病(T2DM)患者血清视黄醇结合蛋白4(RBP4)的变化及其相关影响因素.方法 根据体重指数(BMI)将80例T2DM患者分为肥胖T2DM组(BMI≥25 k/m~2)、非肥胖T2DM组(BMI<25 kg/m~2),将30例正常体重非糖尿病者设为对照组.检测其空腹血清脂联素(APN)、RBP4、胰岛素(FINS)水平,同时测定空腹血糖(FBG)、身高、体重、腰围、臀围、糖化血红蛋白(HbA_1c)、三酰甘油(TG)、总胆固醇(TC)、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(HDL-C)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C),计算BMI、腰臀比(WHR)和稳态模式评估法胰岛素抵抗指数(HOMA-IR).分析各组问RBP4水平的变化,并与上述其他指标进行相关分析.结果 RBP4在肥胖T2DM组和非肥胖T2DM组中显著高于对照组[分别为(30.02±5.32)、(20.10±5.45)、(12.02±3.45)mg/L](P<0.01),在肥胖T2DM组显著高于非肥胖T2DM组(P<0.01).单因素相关分析显示RBP4与TG、BMI、FBG、WHR、FINS、HOMA-IR呈正相关,与APN呈负相关(相关系数分别为0.225、0.697、0.323、0.557、0.272、0.461、-0.398).结论 血清RBP4在T2DM患者中显著升高,RBP4可能在胰岛素抵抗及T2DM的发生、发展过程中起了重要的作用.     

慢性丙型肝炎患者血清视黄醇结合蛋白4水平及相关影响因素的研究

目的 探讨慢性丙型肝炎患者血清视黄醇结合蛋白4(RBP4)的水平及相关影响因素.方法 选择56例慢性丙型肝炎患者(观察组)及35例健康体检者(对照组),采用ELISA法测定空腹血清RBP4水平,并测定空腹血糖(FBG)、三酰甘油(TG)、总胆固醇(TC)、丙氨酸氨基转移酶(ALT)、γ谷氨酰转移酶(γ-GT),PCR法测定丙型肝炎病毒(HCV)-RNA水平.结果 两组FBG、TC、TG、γ-GT水平比较差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05),观察组血清RBP4水平为(33.38±6.43)mg/L,明显高于对照组的(26.11±3.35)mg/L(P＜0.01).ALT正常的观察组26例患者血清RBP4水平为(38.96±4.09)mg/L,明显高于ALT异常的观察组30例患者的(28.53±3.43)mg/L(P＜0.01).观察组患者的ALT水平与RBP4水平呈负相关(r=-0.6368,P＜0.05).结论 血清RBP4水平与慢性丙型肝炎有显著相关性,且与ALT呈负相关,与FBG、TC、TG、γ-GT及HCV-RNA无关.     

胰岛素抵抗与急性脑梗死神经功能缺损严重程度的相关性研究

目的 探讨胰岛素抵抗(Insulin Resistance,IR)与急性脑梗死患者神经功能缺损的严重程度是否相关.方法 选取急性脑梗死患者75例,按神经功能缺损评分标准将其分为神经功能缺损轻型组和中重型组,其中轻型组37例,中重型组38例.两组分别检测空腹血糖(FPG)、空腹血清胰岛素(FINS)、纤维蛋白原(FIB)、总胆固醇(TC)、甘油三酯(TG)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL)、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(HDL)、载脂蛋白A蛋白(ApoA)、载脂蛋白B蛋白(ApoB)、尿酸(UA),计算体重指数(BMI)、胰岛素敏感指数(ISI)、胰岛素抵抗指数(HOMA-IR).结果 急性脑梗死神经功能缺损中重型组中FPG、FINS、HOMA-IR为(5.41±0.46) mmol/l、(13.30±1.61) μ/IU/L、0.50±0.26高于轻型组(5.07±0.57) mmol/l、(9.38±2.79) μ/IU/L、0.28±0.11,比较差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).ISI中重型组(-1.85±0.26)低于轻型组(-1.63±0.10),比较差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).急性脑梗死患者神经功能缺损程度与ISI呈显著负相关(r=-0.651,P＜0.05).结论 急性脑梗死神经功能缺损中重型组较轻型组存在更严重的IR,并且IR程度与神经功能缺损的严重程度呈正相关.FINS、ISI、FPG是急性脑梗死神经功能缺损中重型发生的危险因素.     

2型糖尿病患者血清谷氨酰转移酶与代谢指标的相关性研究

目的 探讨新诊断的2型糖尿病患者血清谷氨酰转移酶(GGT)水平与代谢指标的相关性.方法 收集246例新诊断的2型糖尿病患者资料,并将其分为MS组、非MS(NMS)组,测量身高、体重、腰围、血压,并计算体重指数(BMI)、空腹采血检测血糖(FBG)、GGT、甘油三酯(TG)、胆固醇(TC)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)和胰岛素(FINS),计算胰岛素抵抗指数(HOMA-IR),并对各个指标进行比较分析.结果 MS组腰围、BMI、收缩压(SBP)、舒张压(DBP)、GGT、TG、TC、LDL-C、HOMA-IR、FINS均显著高于NMS组(P＜0.05).Pearson相关分析显示,GGT与BMI、SBP、FINS、TG、HOMA-IR呈正相关(P＜0.05),其中GGT与BMI和HOMA-IR关系最密切(r分别为0.214、0.305).结论 2型糖尿病合并MS患者血清GGT水平明显增高,且与肥胖、胰岛素抵抗、血压、血脂密切相关.     

血清视黄醇结合蛋白4在胆固醇结石病中的表达

目的 探讨血清视黄醇结合蛋白4(RBP4)在胆固醇结石病中是否发生异常表达.方法 采用酶联免疫吸附法分别对100例胆固醇结石病患者(胆固醇结石病组)和147例健康人(健康对照组)的血清RBP4水平以及与之相关的临床生化指标进行检测,包括胰岛素水平和肾功能.胆石的化学构成分析由术后病理检查确定.结果 胆固醇结石病组血清RBP4水平显著低于健康对照组[(30.57±13.64) mg/L比(41.52±20.25) mg/L](P＜ 0.01).胆固醇结石病发生与血清RBP4水平有关(优势比为0.93,95％可信区间0.88 ～ 0.96,P=0.004).相关性分析显示血清RBP4水平与总胆固醇(TC)、三酰甘油(TG)、肌酐(Cr)、胰岛素抵抗指数及白蛋白(ALB)水平呈正相关(P＜0.05或＜0.01),而与天冬氨酸氨基转移酶(AST)水平呈负相关(P＜0.01).多变量分析发现低RBP4水平与胆固醇结石病显著相关(优势比为2.97;95％可信区间1.15～ 7.68,P=0.025).将胆固醇结石病组和健康对照组按照血清Cr水平分为≥88.40μmol/L组和＜88.40μmol/L组,两组中胆固醇结石病组血清RBP4水平均显著低于健康对照组(P值分别为0.012和0.045).再将胆固醇结石病组和健康对照组按照肾小球滤过率(GFR)的测定值分为≥90 ml/(min· 1.73 m2)组、60～ 89ml/(min·1.73m2)组和＜60 ml/(min· 1.73 m2)组,发现在健康对照组中,低GFR与血清高RBP4水平有关,而在胆固醇结石病组则未能观察到这种趋势.结论 胆固醇结石病患者血清RBP4水平下降且不依赖肾功能.患者的肝功能和血清RBP4水平之间的关系值得进一步研究.     

妊娠期糖尿病患者血清RBP4和SF的表达及与胰岛素抵抗的关系研究

目的探究妊娠期糖尿病(GDM)患者血清视黄醇结合蛋白4(RBP4)和铁蛋白(SF)的表达及与胰岛素抵抗(IR)的关系。方法选择2014年12月-2016年3月入医院进行葡萄糖筛查的70例孕产妇纳入本研究,其中37例妊娠糖尿病患者为A组,33例妊娠正常糖耐量者为B组,同时选择30例正常健康非妊娠妇女为C组,对比各组年龄、孕前体质量指数(BMI)、孕期BMI、孕周、空腹血糖(FPG)、总胆固醇(TC)、甘油三酯(TG)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(HDL-C)、糖化血红蛋白(Hb A1c)、血清RBP4、空腹胰岛素(FINS)、血清SF、IR指数(HOMA-IR)。结果 3组孕前BMI差异有统计学意义(P0.05);A组孕期BMI、孕期体质量增加均明显大于B组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。3组FBS、FINS、HOMA-IR、Hb A1c、TG、RBP4、SF、HDL-C比较差异有统计学意义(P0.05),且A组的FBS、FINS、HOMAIR、Hb A1c、TG、RBP4、SF明显高于B组和C组,而HDL-C明显低于B组和C组,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。GDM患者血清RBP4的水平与孕期BMI、孕期体质量增加、FBS、FINS、HOMA-IR、TG、Hb A1c呈正相关(P0.05),GDM组血清SF与孕期体质量增加、FBS、FINS、HOMA-IR、TG、Hb A1c呈现正相关(P0.05)。结论 GDM患者血清RBP4和SF明显高于正常糖耐量孕妇及非妊娠健康妇女且均与IR相关,血清RBP4和SF可能通过调节IR而参与GDM的发生和发展。     

肥胖儿童非酒精性脂肪性肝病血清瘦素水平分析

目的:检测肥胖儿童和正常对照儿童血清瘦素水平,探讨瘦素与非酒精性脂肪性肝病的相关性.方法:对100例肥胖儿童及100例正常对照儿童测量身高、体重,计算体重指数(BMI);检测空腹血糖(FPG)、胰岛素(FINS)、谷丙氨酸氨基转移酶(ALT)总胆固醇(Tc)、甘油三酯(TG)、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(HDL-C)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)、载脂蛋白A(ApoA)、载脂蛋白B(ApoB);胰岛素抵抗采用稳态模式评估法的胰岛素抵抗指数(HOMA-IR)指标;血清瘦素采用酶联免疫吸附试验检测.对肥胖儿童进行肝脏B超检查,并对非酒精性脂肪性肝病病变程度分为轻、中、重度,分别积分1、2、3分.结果:肥胖组瘦素、BMI、ALT、TG、LDL-C、TC、APB、FINS、HOMA-IR较对照组高(P＜0.05),而HDL-C较对照组低P＜0.05.100例肥胖儿童组中根据B超发现非酒精脂肪性肝病(NAFLD) 55例,与其余45例单纯肥胖儿童结果比较显示:NAFLD组瘦素、BMI、TG、ALT、FINS、HOMA-IR水平较高P＜0.05,而HDL-C水平较低P＜0.05;多元Logistic回归分析显示BMI、瘦素和TG水平是脂肪肝形成的主要危险因素;多元线性回归分析显示瘦素和BMI与NAFLD评分独立相关(P值＜0.05).结论:高瘦素水平是肥胖儿童非酒精性脂肪性肝病的危险因素之一,监测血清瘦素水平有助于判断非酒精性脂肪性肝病的病变程度.     

血清vaspin、visfatin水平与单纯性肥胖患者胰岛素抵抗的相关性分析

目的 探讨单纯性肥胖患者血清vaspin、visfatin水平变化与糖代谢的关系.方法 选取体检者132例,其中单纯性肥胖67例(单纯性肥胖组),体重正常65例(对照组),单纯性肥胖组根据肥胖持续时间分为三组:A组(23例)肥胖持续时间0.5～ 5.0年,B组(24例)肥胖持续时间5.1～ 10.0年,C组(20例)肥胖持续时间＞10.0年.测定各组血清vaspin、visfatin水平及糖代谢指标和脂代谢指标,并进行比较,分析vaspin、visfatin变化与糖代谢指标的相关性.结果 单纯性肥胖组血清vaspin、visfatin、三酰甘油(TG)、空腹胰岛素(FINS)、稳态模型评估法计算胰岛素抵抗指数(HOMA-IR)和体质指数(BMI)水平明显高于对照组[(17.34±4.28) μg/L比(4.12±1.13) μg/L、(57.43±26.75)μg/L比(24.28±10.67)μg/L、(1.14±0.42) mmol/L比(0.53±0.26) mmol/L、(10.14±3.41) mU/L比(5.54±1.96) mU/L、3.48±1.27比1.15±0.54、(28.53±3.12) kg/m2比(20.19±2.35)kg/m2],差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).两组空腹血糖(FBG)、糖化血红蛋白(HbA1c)比较差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).B、C组FINS和HOMA-IR明显高于A组,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05),A、B、C组血清vaspin、visfatin、FBG、TG、HbA1c、BMI水平比较差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05),单因素相关分析显示,血清vaspin与FINS、HOMA-IR、TG、BMI呈正相关(r值分别为0.362、0.351、0.305、0.453,P＜0.05),血清visfatin与FINS、HOMA-IR、TG、BMI呈正相关(r值分别为0.395、0.348、0.391、0.415,P＜0.05).血清vaspin、visfatin与FBG、HbA1c均无相关性.结论 vaspin、visfatin是参与单纯性肥胖患者糖代谢的重要脂肪因子,vaspin、visfatin与FINS、HOMA-IR、TG、BMI呈正相关,是胰岛素抵抗的重要原因,以vaspin、visfatin为靶点进行干预和治疗单纯性肥胖具有重要的意义.     

肥胖儿童血清ω-3多不饱和脂肪酸水平及其与胰岛素抵抗的相关性

目的探讨肥胖儿童血清ω-3多不饱和脂肪酸(ω-3PUFAs)水平与胰岛素抵抗(IR)的相关性。方法选取2017年10月—2020年10月医院收治的150例肥胖儿童为肥胖组,并选取同期150例体检健康儿童为对照组。比较两组一般资料,利用气相色谱法检测血清ω-3PUFAs水平,应用酶联免疫吸附法(ELISA)检测血清白细胞介素-6(IL-6)水平,利用放射免疫法测定空腹胰岛素(FINS)水平,以氧化酶法测定空腹血糖(FBG)水平,计算稳态模型胰岛素抵抗指数(HOMA-IR);Pearson法分析肥胖儿童血清ω-3PUFAs、IL-6水平与体质指数(BMI)、三酰甘油(TG)、总胆固醇(TC)、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(HDL-C)、FINS、FBG、HOMA-IR及血清ω-3PUFAs水平与IL-6相关性;logistic回归分析儿童发生肥胖的影响因素。结果肥胖组儿童BMI、TG、TC、IL-6、FINS、FBG、HOMA-IR水平明显高于对照组,血清ω-3PUFAs、HDL-C水平明显低于对照组,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。肥胖儿童血清ω-3PUFAs水平与BMI、TG、FINS、FBG、IL-6、HOMA-IR及血清IL-6水平与HDL-C均呈负相关(P<0.05);血清ω-3PUFAs水平与HDL-C及血清IL-6水平与BMI、TG、FINS、FBG、HOMA-IR均呈正相关(P<0.05);FINS、FBG、IL-6、HOMA-IR是影响儿童发生肥胖的危险因素(P<0.05),HDL-C、ω-3PUFAs是影响儿童发生肥胖的保护因素(P<0.05)。结论ω-3PUFAs在肥胖儿童血清中呈低水平,与IL-6、糖脂代谢紊乱及IR显著相关,检测血清ω-3PUFAs水平有助于反映IR。     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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.