无创双水平气道正压通气治疗糖尿病合并慢性心力衰竭急性加重的有效性

目的 研究无创双水平气道正压(BiPAP)在糖尿病合并慢性心力衰竭急性加重辅助治疗中的有效性及安全性.方法 对比15例2型糖尿病合并慢性心力衰竭急性加重的老年患者使用无创BiPAP治疗前后临床参数(呼吸频率、指脉氧饱和度、血压、心率、血气分析、脑钠肽、心功能NYHA分级等)的变化,统计气管插管率、呼吸机相关并发症发生率.结果 与治疗前比较,无创BiPAP治疗后指脉氧饱和度、动脉血氧分压、动脉血氧饱和度升高[0.9793±0.0219比0.9187±0.0594、(112.48±24.20) mm Hg(1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa)比(84.90±32.49) mmHg、0.9828±0.0106比0.9359±0.0544],收缩压、舒张压、心率、呼吸频率、心功能NYHA分级、脑钠肽、空腹血糖下降[(121.33±15.29) mm Hg比(144.00±29.28)mm Hg、(70.20±8.32) mm Hg比(78.33±16.35) mm Hg、(75.00±14.74)次/min比(100.00±29.41)次/min、(18.40±3.40)次/min比(23.33±6.31)次/min、(2.13±0.64)级比(3.87±0.52)级、(1981.00±2083.68) ng/L比(3897.77±2531.68) ng/L、(6.65±1.23) mmol/L比(8.87±3.44) mmol/L],差异有统计学意义(P＜ 0.01或＜0.05);动脉血二氧化碳分压、pH值、碳酸氢根比较差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).无气管插管、死亡病例;无呼吸机相关并发症发生.结论 无创BiPAP在糖尿病合并慢性心力衰竭急性加重的辅助治疗中能够显著改善患者心力衰竭的症状和多项临床参数,降低气管插管率及病死率.     

舒芬太尼和芬太尼对气管插管患者血流动力学的影响

目的 观察舒芬太尼、芬太尼对手术患者气管插管时血流动力学的影响.方法 选择100例择期全身麻醉手术患者,按随机数字表法分为舒芬太尼组和芬太尼组,每组50例.分别记录两组麻醉诱导前(T0)、诱导后(T1)及气管插管即刻(T2)、3 min(T3)、5 min(T4)、7 min(T5)的收缩压、舒张压、心率.结果 舒芬太尼组和芬太尼组T1时收缩压、舒张压、心率明显低于T0时[舒芬太尼组:(103±10) mm Hg(1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa)比(123±18) mm Hg、(56±10) mm Hg比(75±18)mm Hg、(65±5)次/min比(80±11)次/min,芬太尼组:(105±8)mmHg比(130±15)mmHg、(52±8) mm Hg比(73±16) mm Hg、(73±9)次/min比(84±7)次/min,P＜0.01];T2～T5时舒芬太尼组收缩压、舒张压、心率明显少于芬太尼组[T2:(106±8)mm Hg比(158±14) mm Hg、(58±10) mm Hg比(98±13) mm Hg、(72±5)次/min比(95±13)次/min,T3:(108±15) mm Hg比(150±8)mm Hg、(54±6) mm Hg比(90±10) mm Hg、(73±5)次/min比(94±12)次/min,T4:(104±11) mm Hg比(128±15) mm Hg、(56±4) mm Hg比(85±12) mm Hg、(73±5)次/min 比(70±11)次/min,T5:(100±11) mm Hg比(120±13) mm Hg、(57±11) mm Hg比(76±13) mm Hg、(65±8)次/min比(84±13)次/min,P＜0.01].结论 舒芬太尼和芬太尼对手术患者气管插管时引起的血流动力学波动均有抑制作用,但舒芬太尼能更好地维持循环系统稳定,显示更强的优势,用于手术患者是安全可靠的.     

喉罩通气全身麻醉在高血压患者手术中的效果研究

目的 探讨喉罩通气全身麻醉在高血压患者手术中对血流动力学及通气情况的影响效果.方法 实施手术的189例高血压患者采用随机数字表法分为喉罩组(92例)和导管组(97例),喉罩组患者的全身麻醉采用快速诱导+喉罩通气;导管组患者的全身麻醉采用快速诱导+气管导管插管.观察记录两组患者插管或置喉罩前(T1)、插管或置喉罩后(T2)、拔管或拔喉罩前(T3)及拔管或拔喉罩后(T4)心率、收缩压、舒张压、脉搏血氧饱和度及呼气末二氧化碳分压变化.结果 导管组T2～T3时心率、收缩压、舒张压均高于同期喉罩组[心率:(80.02±5.98)次/min比(70.23±5.12)次/min、(83.64±6.27)次/min比(75.68±5.49)次/min、(84.33±6.10)次/min比(76.27 ±5.76)次/min,收缩压:(139.43±12.01) mm Hg(1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa)比(129.16±9.56)mm Hg、(142.36±11.96) mm Hg比(124.62±10.38)mmHg、(138.79±12.08) mm Hg比(123.99±10.73) mmHg,舒张压:(82.93±6.09) mm Hg比(76.42±5.71 )mm Hg、(83.75±5.66) mm Hg比(76.98±5.12) mm Hg、(81.10±5.22) mm Hg比(73.31±4.84) mm Hg,P＜ 0.01];两组患者各时间点脉搏血氧饱和度和呼气末二氧化碳分压组内和组间比较差异均无统计学意义(P＞0.05).结论 喉罩通气全身麻醉应用于高血压患者的手术中,患者在置喉罩及拔喉罩前后的血流动力学更加稳定,且通气效果与气管插管通气相似.     

右美托咪定对冠心病患者气管插管心血管反应的影响

目的 观察右美托咪定对冠心病患者气管插管心血管反应的影响.方法 将50例择期在气管插管全身麻醉下行腹腔镜胆囊切除术的冠心病患者按随机数字表法分为右美托咪定组和对照组,每组25例,右美托咪定组于诱导前15min匀速泵入右美托咪定0.5 μg/kg,泵注时间10 min,对照组相同速度泵人相同容量0.9％氯化钠.记录麻醉前、插管前和插管后1、3、5、10 min时平均动脉压(MAP)、心率和心率收缩压乘积(HPP),记录麻醉前和插管后1、5、10 min时心电图ST段阳性变化情况.结果 右美托咪定组插管前心率、HPP较麻醉前降低[(68.4±8.2)次/min比(76.5±9.0)次/min、(8065±2148)次·mm Hg/min比(9337±1732)次·mm Hg/min,1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa],差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05);对照组插管前MAP较麻醉前降低[(76.2±8.5) mm Hg比(85.6±11.3)mm Hg],插管后1、3、5 min时心率、HPP较麻醉前升高[(108.3±13.8)、(105.2±10.4)、(89.6±11.5)次/min比(78.1±8.4)次/min,(14 835±3826)、(14 072士3259)、(12 506±2475)次·mm Hg/min比(9270±1862)次·mm Hg/min],插管后1、3 min时MAP[(102.5±13.4)、(97.1±10.8) mmHg]较麻醉前升高,差异均有统计学意义(P＜0.05).右美托咪定组插管后1、3、5min时心率、HPP [(75.2±10.6)、(73.8±9.4)、(78.7±8.0)次/min,(8925±2073)、(9248±1904)、(9481±2014)次·mm Hg/min]低于对照组,插管后1、3 min时MAP[(89.5±10.2)、(86.0±8.9) mm Hg]低于对照组,差异均有统计学意义(P＜0.05).对照组插管后1 min心电图ST段阳性变化发生率[32％(8/25)]高于右美托咪定组[4％(1/25)],差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).结论 右美托咪定0.5μg/kg可有效抑制冠心病患者气管插管的心血管反应.     

舒芬太尼与芬太尼用于小儿心脏手术麻醉效果比较

目的比较舒芬太尼和芬太尼在先天性心脏病手术中的血流动力学及应激激素变化。方法 64例择期体外循环下行房室缺修补术患儿随机均分为舒芬太尼组(S组)和芬太尼组(F组),每组32例。分别记录入室时(T1)、麻醉诱导后(T2)、气管插管后2 mins(T3)、劈胸骨后1 mins(T4)、主动脉阻断开放后(T5)的平均动脉压(MAP)、心率(HR)的变化,并测定各时点血浆肾上腺素(E)和去甲肾上腺素(NE)。结果 T3、T4时HR S组(119.6±7.2)次/min、(114.7±8.5)次/min,F组(129.4±8.6)次/min、(124.0±7.5)次/min;T3、T4时MAP S组(89.7±8.2)mm Hg、(91.1±5.7)mm Hg,T3、T4时MAP F组(96.2±6.2)mm Hg、(97.4±6.5)mm Hg;T1、T4、T5NE浓度S组(0.442±0.123)、(0.438±0.123)、(0.578±0.324)ng/dl,T1、T4、T5NE浓度F组(0.449±0.135)、(0.497±0.184)、(0.625±0.311)ng/dl。结论舒芬太尼对小儿先天性心脏病手术的心血管系统有更好地稳定作用,手术刺激引起的激素变化更小。     

雷米芬太尼诱导行全身麻醉剖宫产术不同麻醉操作方法的对比研究

目的 通过观察降低全身麻醉诱导时雷米芬太尼的剂量,待新生儿断脐后加深麻醉再行气管插管的操作方法对产妇、新生儿及麻醉医生的影响,探讨此方法用于全身麻醉剖宫产时的可行性及效果.方法 将30例ASA分级Ⅰ～Ⅱ级足月择期行全身麻醉剖宫产术产妇按随机数字表法分为Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ组,雷米芬太尼诱导剂量分别为1.0、1.5、1.0μg/kg,Ⅰ、Ⅱ组产妇麻醉诱导后气管插管与手术切皮同时开始,新生儿断脐后加深麻醉;Ⅲ组产妇待新生儿断脐后加深麻醉再行气管插管.观察三组产妇诱导前、切皮时、插管后即刻的收缩压、舒张压、心率,记录胎儿娩出时间、插管完成时间及新生儿Apgar评分.结果 所有麻醉方案均能满足全身麻醉剖宫产术的要求.Ⅰ组和Ⅲ组切皮时收缩压、舒张压、心率较诱导前明显升高[Ⅰ组：（136.5±9.7） mm Hg（1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa）比（113.5 ±7.8） mm Hg、（96.5±9.1） mmHg比（74.2±6.0） mm Hg、（98.5±8.7）次/min比（81.2±8.4）次/min;Ⅲ组：（138.1±11.4） mm Hg比（118.7±9.9） mm Hg、（90.1±9.9） mm Hg比（77.3±7.9）mmHg、（100.3±9.0）次/min比（81.7±9.2）次/min],差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）;插管后即刻Ⅲ组收缩压、舒张压、心率均明显低于Ⅰ组和Ⅱ组[（97.6±10.1）mm Hg比（138.9±11.2）、（130.1±4.5）mm Hg,（80.1±5.5） mm Hg比（97.7±8.9）、（82.0±8.6） mm Hg,（80.4±7.8）次/min比（99.3±12.2）、（95.9±9.6）次/min],差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）.三组胎儿娩出时间比较差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）.Ⅱ组新生儿1 min Apgar评分显著低于Ⅰ组及Ⅲ组[（7.4±0.9）分比（8.8±0.6）、（8.9±0.6）分],差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）.Ⅲ组插管完成时间长于Ⅰ组和Ⅱ组[（8.5±1.8） min比（3.0±0.5）、（2.8±0.6） min],差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）,但均可在10 min内完成.结论 采用雷米芬太尼1.0 μ g/kg行全身麻醉诱导,待新生儿断脐后,给予咪达唑仑2 mg、芬太尼0.2 mg加深麻醉再行气管插管的方法,可有效避免雷米芬太尼对新生儿1 min Apgar评分的影响以及气管插管操作对产妇的强刺激反应,同时也不会过多影响麻醉医生.该方法简便、有效,可推荐作为择期全身麻醉剖宫产的常用方法     

喉罩麻醉和气管插管麻醉在小儿麻醉中的应用效果

目的探讨喉罩麻醉与气管插管麻醉在小儿麻醉中的应用效果。方法选取2017年6月至2019年6月于医院行全身麻醉手术的患儿80例作为研究对象,按随机数字表法分为两组,各40例。对照组采用气管插管麻醉,试验组采用喉罩麻醉,比较两组不同时间点生命体征和苏醒质量。结果插入喉罩/插管(T1)时,试验组心率、收缩压、舒张压分别为(101.45±10.33)次/min、(90.85±7.31)mmHg、(57.83±6.31)mmHg,低于对照组的(111.42±11.83)次/min、(106.54±10.32)mm Hg、(70.95±7.52)mm Hg,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);拔管后1 min(T2)时,试验组心率、收缩压、舒张压分别为(107.82±12.41)次/min、(101.23±9.51)mm Hg、(65.23±8.32)mm Hg,低于对照组的(115.85±16.35)次/min、(115.84±10.92)mm Hg、(73.76±9.24)mm Hg,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);试验组拔管时间、自主呼吸时间及睁眼时间分别为(7.02±1.51)min、(5.17±1.36)min、(6.37±1.42)min,短于对照组的(8.97±2.22)min、(7.85±1.93)min、(8.76±1.61)min,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论喉罩麻醉应用于小儿麻醉中利于稳定患儿生命体征,提高苏醒质量。     

住院老年2型糖尿病并原发性青光眼患者临床资料分析

目的 探讨老年2型糖尿病患者发生原发性青光眼的危险因素.方法 将年龄≥60岁的住院患者122例,分为糖尿病并青光眼组48例,糖尿病无青光眼组44例,青光眼无糖尿病组30例.检测各组血压、体质指数、血糖、血脂、糖化血红蛋白、眼内压情况并进行比较.结果 糖尿病并青光眼组收缩压、舒张压和眼内压与糖尿病无青光眼组比较差异均有统计学意义[(144.7±17.1) mm Hg(1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa)比(134.7±17.3) mm Hg、(84.9 ±9.0) mm Hg比(79.1±8.8) mm Hg和(46.9±23.1) mm Hg比(14.2±2.7) mm Hg,P＜0.01].糖尿病并青光眼组与青光眼无糖尿病组高密度脂蛋白胆固醇、空腹血糖、糖化血红蛋白及收缩压比较差异均有统计学意义[(1.22±0.39) mmol/L比(1.56±0.51) mmol/L;(10.01±4.10) mmol/L比(5.14±0.58) mmol/L;(8.55±2.86)％比(5.61±0.37)％;(144.7±17.1) mm Hg比(132.1±15.0) mm Hg,P＜ 0.01].糖尿病并青光眼组与青光眼无糖尿病组盲的发生率比较差异有统计学意义[18.8％(9/48)比6.7％(2/30),P＜0.01].糖尿病并青光眼组女性和男性患者构成比和眼内压比较差异均有统计学意义[64.6％(31/48)比35.4％(17/48)和(50.9±24.9) mm Hg比(39.8±17.9) mm Hg,P＜0.05].糖尿病并青光眼组眼内压与收缩压呈正相关(r=0.22,P＜ 0.05).结论 住院老年2型糖尿病并原发性青光眼致盲率高;女性、高血压可能是老年2型糖尿病患者发生原发性青光眼的易患因素.     

超声引导椎旁神经阻滞麻醉对经皮肾镜碎石取石术患者围手术期血流动力学及伤害应激反应影响

目的不同麻醉方式对手术会产生不同的影响。本研究探究超声引导椎旁神经阻滞麻醉(paravertebral block,PVB)对经皮肾镜碎石取石术(percutaneous nephrolithotomy,PNCL)患者围手术期血流动力学、伤害应激反应的影响。方法选取2018-02-01—2019-04-30信丰县人民医院确诊为肾或输尿管结石的74例需行PCNL的患者为研究对象,按照组间性别、年龄、体质量指数和结石类型具有可比性的原则选择观察组和对照组,观察组37例患者采用超声引导PVB,对照组37例患者采用腰硬联合麻醉(combined spinal-epidural anesthesia,CSEA)。记录两组患者麻醉前(T0)、麻醉后10min(T1)、建立碎石通道后(T2)、碎石开始后10min(T3)、手术结束(T4)时血流动力学指标、伤害应激反应指标,并进行比较。结果观察组心率从T0的(82.03±5.44)次/min,下降到T4的(72.03±6.09)次/min,对照组从T0的(82.06±5.64)次/min,下降到T4的(72.10±7.06)次/min,F=27.916,P0.001。观察组平均动脉压从T0的(91.23±6.54)mm Hg,下降到T4的(87.98±7.80)mm Hg,对照组从T0的(90.78±6.61)mm Hg,下降到T4的(85.12±6.81)mm Hg,F=11.546,P0.001。观察组血糖水平从T0的(5.64±0.43)mmol/L,上升到T4的(6.82±0.97)mmol/L,对照组从T0的(5.71±0.48)mmol/L,上升到T4的(8.67±0.82)mmol/L,F=12.380,P0.001。观察组去甲肾上腺素水平从T0的(194.69±43.98)ng/L,下降到T4的(140.03±42.51)ng/L,对照组从T0的(190.13±46.16)ng/L,上升到T4的(415.23±39.07)ng/L,F=561.060,P0.001。观察组肾上腺素水平从T0的(178.71±53.67)ng/L,下降到T4的(172.35±67.41)ng/L,对照组从T0的(177.93±52.84)ng/L,下降到T4的(209.31±69.75)ng/L,F=33.917,P0.001。观察组术后不良反应发生率为18.92%,低于对照组的54.05%,χ2=9.860,P=0.002。结论超声引导PVB可以调节PCNL患者围手术期血流动力学,相比于CSEA,超声引导PVB可以降低PCNL患者伤害应激反应。     

双管喉罩与食管气管联合导管在困难气道应用中的对比研究

目的 比较围手术期成年患者双管喉罩(PLMA)与食管气管联合导管(ETC)在困难气道应用中的临床效果.方法 选择困难气道的成年患者40例,ASA分级Ⅰ～Ⅱ级,按机械抽样法随机分为PLMA组和ETC组,每组各20例,常规麻醉诱导后,分别置人PLMA或ETC.分别观察记录插管次数、插管时间、手术时间,以及置入前(T_1)、置入即刻(T_2)、置入后1min(T_3)、置入后5 min(T_4)、置入后10min(T_5)、拔管即刻(T_6)的收缩压、舒张压、心率.同时记录患者的并发症和呼吸道损伤情况.结果 两组均首次置入即获得满意肺通气.T_2、T_3、T_6时收缩压、舒张压、心率,ETC组[T_2:(143.2±11.4)mm Hg(1mm Hg=0.133 kPa)、(86.9±10.7)mm Hg、(145.8±10.2)次/min,T_3:(140.0±11.3)mm Hg、(84.5±10.7)mm Hg、(142.5±11.5)次/min,T_6:(147.7±11.3)mm Hg、(87.2±9.7)mm Hg、(145.4±10.9)次/min]显著高于PLMA组[T2:(123.5±12.7)mm Hg、(72.6±11.4)mm Hg、(129.0±11.0)次/min,T3:(120.0±11.5)mm Hg、(69.7±10.5)mm Hg、(125.7±10.6)次/min,T6:(122.5±11.6)mm Hg、(71.4±9.4)mm Hg、(127.8±11.3)次/min]及T1[(122.7±12.1)mm Hg、(74.1±9.6)mm Hg、(121.0±11.8)次/min](P<0.05).两组并发症和呼吸道损伤情况比较,差异均无统计学意义(P＞0.05).结论 PLMA和ETC用于围手术期困难气道的成年患者均可获得满意的肺通气,是围手术期困难气道患者安全有效的呼吸道管理工具,但PLMA应激反应轻微,血流动力学更稳定.     

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.     

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.     

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.