Paralytic poliomyelitis in Italy (1981–85)

Fifteen cases of presumptive poliomyelitis occurring in Italy between 1981–85 were studied in order to differentiate between paralysis caused by poliovirus and that of different etiology. Out of seven confirmed cases three were temporally associated with vaccination .Three aspects are discussed: i) the need for a careful differential diagnosis of paralytic cases; ii) the overconcern about the problem of vaccine-associated cases: iii) the risk connected with re-importation of wild poliovirus strains.     

Sediment Quality Evolution (2001–2011) in the Ebro River Basin (Spain)

Spatio-temporal variations in sediment quality (20 sample sites) of the Ebro River basin between 2001 and 2011 have been assessed. The self-organizing map classified the sediment samples according to similarities in their chemical compositions. Its powerful visualization tools helped establish the main pollution contribution on each sample. Most of the samples showed low values of the mean-probable effect concentration quotient through time. However, six samples presented several quality issues related to some trace elements or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Finally, geoaccumulation index values calculated using estimates of background trace element concentrations suggested anthropogenic influences in more than half of the samples.     

Seroepidemiology of measles in Catalonia (Spain) 1985–1986

A seroepidemiological study of measles immunological status was carried out among four different populations: schoolchildren of 6–7 years, 10–11 years and 13–14 years, and pregnant women of 18–45 years, in Catalonia, Spain; 1,213 children and 239 pregnant women were surveyed. The measurement of measles antibodies was made by indirect immunofluorescence, with antibody titres 1:8 considered as positive.The prevalence of measles antibodies was 82.9% in the 6–7 year old group, 87.2%, in the 10–11 year old group and 94.4% in the age group 13–14 years. Among pregnant women, the prevalence of antibodies was 96.2%.Two of the variables studied were associated with the prevalence of measles antibodies in schoolchildren: the disease antecedents and measles vaccination. In pregnant women aged 18–45 no variable had any stastically significant association with the prevalence of measles antibodies.     

Appending Epidemiological Studies to Conventional Case–Control Studies (Hybride Case–Control Studies)

This paper summarizes several studies that can be appended to conventional case-control studies especially in the context of case-control studies that focus on etiologic questions. Appending studies to case-control studies may further add to the understanding of the epidemiology of diseases under investigation. We explain their uses, implications and limitations. One can append the following studies to a case-control study: (1) case-only study, (2) case crossover study, (3) case cross-sectional study, (4) control cross-sectional study, (5) case follow-up study, and (6) control follow-up study. The choice of the additional studies that are appended to the conventional case-control study has implications for the set of data and biological material that has to be collected, the ethical review board and the informed consent. Due to several limitations, the attachment of additional studies to a case-control study should be carefully considered and limited to only few additional studies in order to avoid overburden of the study participants and study personnel.     

Trends in hospital admission rates for anorexia nervosa in Oxford (1968–2011) and England (1990–2011): database studies

Objectives

To report on long-term trends in hospital admission rates for anorexia nervosa using two English datasets.

Design

We used data on hospital day-case and inpatient care across five decades in the Oxford Record Linkage Study (ORLS), and similar data for all England from 1990. We analysed rates of admission for anorexia nervosa in people aged 10–44 years, using hospital episodes (counting every admission) and first-recorded admissions (counting only the first record for each person).

Setting

Former Oxford NHS Region; and England.

Participants

None; anonymous statistical records were used.

Results

In the longstanding ORLS, the age-standardised first-recorded admission rate for women was 2.7 (95% confidence interval 1.6–3.8) per 100,000 female population aged 10–44 years in 1968–1971; 2.7 (2.1–3.3) in 1992–1996; and 6.3 (5.5–7.2) in 2007–2011. Male rates were zero in the 1960s; 0.07 (0.0–0.1) per 100,000 men in 1992–1996; and 0.4 (0.2–0.6) in 2007–2011. In England, female rates increased from 4.2 (4.0–4.4) in 1998–2001 to 6.9 (6.7–7.1) in 2007–2011; and the corresponding male rates were 0.2 (0.1–0.3) and 0.5 (0.4–0.6). Episode-based admission rates rose more than person-based rates. The highest rates by far were in girls and women aged 15–19 years.

Conclusions

In recent years, anorexia nervosa has become a greater burden on secondary care: not only have admission rates increased but so too have multiple admissions per person with anorexia nervosa. The increase in admission rates might reflect an increase in prevalence rates of anorexia nervosa in the general population, but other explanations, including lower clinical thresholds for admission, are possible and are discussed.     

Nathaniel (Neil) McConaghy, M.D., D.Sc. (1927–2005)

In Memoriam

Nathaniel (Neil) McConaghy, M.D., D.Sc. (1927–2005)     

Assessment of EDTA in Chromium (III–VI) Toxicity on Marine Intertidal Crab (Petrolisthes laevigatus)

Chromium poses a potential threat to coastal ecosystems. We used standard toxicity bioassays (semi-static, chronic) to evaluate EDTA as a chelating agent for reducing trivalent and hexavalent chromium toxicity on Petrolisthes laevigatus. Crab survival decreased linearly with increased chromium concentrations and dropped significantly beginning at 40 mg/L Cr (VI) and 80 mg/L Cr (III). No significant differences were observed with Cr (III) + EDTA as compared with untreated controls. Cr (VI) toxicity was greater than that of Cr (III), with low individual survival rates. The protective effect of EDTA in the medium increased crab survival by 41%-48%.     

Determinanten des Teilnahmeverhaltens bei Kindervorsorgeuntersuchungen (U1–U8)

Background

It is known that participation in preventive measures for children (known as U-preventive examinations) decreases with age. Although this problem has been identified and discussed before, no increase in participation rates has been achieved. A reason for this deficit may be that factors influencing participation have still not been exactly or coherently identified. The aim of this study was to assess participation rates in U-preventive examinations and the factors for incomplete participation.

Methods

At school entry examination, we checked the so-called prevention booklets of 1,972 preschool children. Besides age and gender of the children, participation rates in examinations U1–U9 were routinely obtained. Additionally, a complementary questionnaire was given to the parents. Information from this questionnaire about the parents’ smoking behaviour, immigration background, family structure, modes of education, living conditions, quality of life, educational background, and work circumstances was selected for analysis. By combining the routine data with these complementary data, an anonymous sample for computer-based analysis was created.

Results

In total, 15.6% of children did not participate in all of the examinations, with U8 being missed most frequently (8.5%). No significant influences on missed participation were observed with regard to the age or gender of the preschool children. Behavioural factors such as smoking by adults were strongly associated with incomplete preventive examinations (52% higher risk for moderate smokers and 157% higher risk for heavy smokers). A non-German nationality (3.7-fold risk increase), non-German mother tongue of the child (6.7-fold risk increase), non-German birth country of the parents (1.4-fold risk increase if one parent was born in Germany and 5.2-fold risk increase if neither parent was born in Germany), a small living space per person (2.9-fold risk increase), and poor or medium satisfaction with parental profession and work (1.2-fold and 2.6-fold increase in risk) and with financial circumstances (1.1-fold and 1.6-fold risk increase) significantly increased the risk of the child’s missing one or more preventive examinations. In the final multivariate regression model, these factors had lower effects, but we observed significant risks for incomplete preventive examinations if the child’s mother tongue was not German (3.4-fold risk increase) and if the family had a small living space per person (1.4-fold risk increase).

Conclusion

Generally there is high participation in paediatric preventive examinations. However, special attention should be paid to children with an immigration background and to those with parents of low socioeconomic status. Measures focussing on these target populations may help increase participation rates.     

邻苯二甲酸二(2–乙基己)酯中毒机制研究进展

  目的  建立稳定性同位素内标-自动固相萃取-气质联用测定水中16种邻苯二甲酸酯类（PAEs）的方法,并应用于水质分析。  方法  2016年1 — 2月采集福建省福州某医院血液透析科、闽江、居民家中和某大型超市水样各1 L,气相色谱-质谱联用（GC-MS）分析,内标法定量。测定透析水,江水、管网末梢水、地下水等实际水样,并以实际水样为本底,进行低、中、高3种浓度水平的加标实验（n = 6）,计算回收率与相对标准偏差（RSD）。  结果  4类水体均含有邻苯二甲酸二异丁酯（DIBP）、邻苯二甲酸二丁酯（DBP）、邻苯二甲酸二（2–乙基）己酯（DEHP）等PAEs,浓度0.041～0.843 μg/L,方法检出限（MDL）为0.005～0.017 μg/L,方法定量限（LOQ） 0.015～0.051 μg/L,回收率为74.0 % ～118 %,RSD为 1.1 % ～20 %。  结论  该方法克服了手动固相萃取缺点,水样处理效率高,准确,可靠,适用于水中PAEs的检测。