Über eine elektive Färbungsmethode des braunen und des melanotischen Pigmentes

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Do Public Smoking Bans have an Impact on Active Smoking? Evidence from the UK

The literature on the effects of public smoking bans on smoking behaviour presents conflicting results and there is limited evidence on their impact on active smoking. This paper evaluates the impact of smoking bans on active smoking using data from the British Household Panel Survey and exploiting the policy experiment provided by the differential timing of the introduction of the bans in Scotland and England. We assess the short‐term impact of the smoking bans by employing a series of flexible difference‐in‐differences fixed effects panel data models. We find that the introduction of the public smoking bans in England and Scotland had limited short‐run effects on both smoking prevalence and the total level of smoking. Although we identify significant differences in trends in smoking consumption across the survey period by population sub‐groups, we find insufficient evidence to conclude that these were affected by the introduction of the smoking bans. These results challenge those found in the public health literature but are in line with the most recent strand of economic literature indicating that there is no firm evidence on the effects of smoking bans on smoking. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Substances of abuse consumption among patients seeking medical help for uro-andrological purposes:a sociobehavioral survey in the real-life scenario

Substances of abuse(SoA),as well as smoking and alcohol consumption,are well known for their impact on male fertility status,erectile function,and ejaculation.W...     

Efficacy of a spatial repellent for control of Aedes-borne virus transmission: A cluster-randomized trial in Iquitos,Peru

Over half the world’s population is at risk for viruses transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, such as dengue and Zika. The primary vector, Aedes aegypti, thrives in urban environments. Despite decades of effort, cases and geographic range of Aedes-borne viruses (ABVs) continue to expand. Rigorously proven vector control interventions that measure protective efficacy against ABV diseases are limited to Wolbachia in a single trial in Indonesia and do not include any chemical intervention. Spatial repellents, a new option for efficient deployment, are designed to decrease human exposure to ABVs by releasing active ingredients into the air that disrupt mosquito–human contact. A parallel, cluster-randomized controlled trial was conducted in Iquitos, Peru, to quantify the impact of a transfluthrin-based spatial repellent on human ABV infection. From 2,907 households across 26 clusters (13 per arm), 1,578 participants were assessed for seroconversion (primary endpoint) by survival analysis. Incidence of acute disease was calculated among 16,683 participants (secondary endpoint). Adult mosquito collections were conducted to compare Ae. aegypti abundance, blood-fed rate, and parity status through mixed-effect difference-in-difference analyses. The spatial repellent significantly reduced ABV infection by 34.1% (one-sided 95% CI lower limit, 6.9%; one-sided P value = 0.0236, z = 1.98). Aedes aegypti abundance and blood-fed rates were significantly reduced by 28.6 (95% CI 24.1%, ∞); z = −9.11) and 12.4% (95% CI 4.2%, ∞); z = −2.43), respectively. Our trial provides conclusive statistical evidence from an appropriately powered, preplanned cluster-randomized controlled clinical trial of the impact of a chemical intervention, in this case a spatial repellent, to reduce the risk of ABV transmission compared to a placebo.

Aedes-borne viral diseases (ABVDs) [e.g., dengue (DENV), chikungunya, Zika (ZIKV), and yellow fever] are devastating, expanding global public health threats that disproportionally affect low- and middle-income countries. DENV, one of the most rapidly increasing vector-borne infectious diseases, results in ∼400 million infections each year (1, 2), with 4 billion people at risk for infection annually (3). Currently, the primary means for ABVD prevention is controlling the primary mosquito vector, Aedes aegypti. Existing vector control interventions, however, have failed to prevent ABV transmission and epidemics (4–6).There is an urgent need to develop evidence-based guidance for the use of new and existing ABV vector control tools. The evidence base for vector control against ABVs is weak, despite considerable government investments in World Health Organization (WHO)-recommended control of larval habitats (larviciding, container removal) and ultra-low-volume insecticide spraying (4, 5, 7–9). These strategies continue to be implemented despite the lack of rigorously generated data from controlled clinical trials demonstrating they reduce ABV infection or disease (6). The only ABV intervention with a proven epidemiological impact in a cluster-randomized control trial (cRCT) assessed community mobilization to reduce mosquito larval habitats (10). A recent test-negative trial with Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes reported a significant reduction of DENV illness in Indonesia (11).Spatial repellents (SRs) are devices that contain volatile active ingredients that disperse in air. The active ingredients can repel mosquitoes from entering a treated space, inhibit attraction to human host cues, or disrupt mosquito biting and blood-feeding behavior and, thus, interfere with mosquito–human contact (12–14). Any of these outcomes reduce the probability of pathogen transmission. Pyrethroid-based SRs have shown efficacy in reducing malaria infections in China (15) and Indonesia (16). There have, however, been no clinical trials evaluating the protective efficacy (PE) of SRs against ABV infection or disease.To generate evidence for public health consideration, we conducted a double-blinded, parallel cRCT to demonstrate and quantify the PE of a transfluthrin-based SR to reduce ABV infection incidence over 2 y in a human cohort in Iquitos, Peru.     

A mixture of pesticides at environmental concentrations induces oxidative stress and cholinergic effects in the neotropical fish Rhamdia quelen

The insecticides imidacloprid (IMI), a neonicotinoid, and propoxur (PRO), an N-methylcarbamate compound, are pesticides widely used throughout the world. Although they are not used together to combat pests, both are often found in freshwater near agricultural areas. Thereby, the goal of this study was to evaluate the additive effects of IMI and PRO mixtures at environmental concentrations in relation to isolated compounds on Rhamdia quelen, a neotropical fish. The fish was exposed to IMI (0.11 µg/L), PRO (0.039 µg/L), or Mix (0.11 µg/L IMI plus 0.039 µg/L PRO) during 96 h. Glutathione S-transferase (GST), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activities were determined. To verify oxidative damage thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), protein carbonyl (PC), reactive oxygen species contents (ROS), antioxidant capacity against peroxides (ACAP) were determined in gills, liver, brain and muscle. The results shows that a mixture of these pesticides at environmental concentrations inhibited acetylcholinesterase activity in the brain and induced oxidative damage in all analyzed tissues. These results reinforce the hypothesis that mixture of contaminants present in environment could induce additive or synergistic effects on fish species.

     

Current perspectives in therapeutic myocardial angiogenesis

The complex mechanisms mediating the development of new blood vessels are now beginning to be unraveled. In conjunction with major biotechnology advances, this has facilitated the initiation of translational research related to a novel treatment strategy for patients with myocardial or leg ischemia due to obstructive arterial disease--therapeutic angiogenesis. At present, at least 17 clinical trials of myocardial angiogenesis have been presented involving over 900 patients. Uncertainty exists as to the optimal delivery route and angiogenic agent, and this uncertainty is reflected in the diverse methodology of the trials published thus far. The majority of patients received an angiogenic protein via the intracoronary route. Other delivery techniques--such as direct intramyocardial injection via transepicardial or transendocardial routes--and other angiogenic agents, including master genes, have also been studied. Most recently, interest has grown in the potential angiogenesis effects of cell therapy--such as autologous bone marrow cells or cultured stem cells--and there are now several groups initiating Phase I/II trials in this area. This review summarizes the current evidence pertaining to the safety, feasibility, and efficacy of various angiogenic techniques aimed at enhancing myocardial blood flow and alleviating angina.