Melatonin induces changes to serum cytokines in mice infected with the Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis virus

We determined the influence of melatonin (MLT) on the induction of interleukin (IL)-2, IL-1 beta, IL-4, tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) on mice infected with the Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis (VEE) virus. Levels of IFN-gamma in the MLT-treated group were significantly increased (P < 0.001) when compared with the control non-infected group from day 1 to 6 post-infection (p.i.), while in infected mice treated with 500 micrograms MLT/kg of bodyweight enhanced levels of IFN-gamma were evident from 4 to 6 days p.i. No differences were detected in the levels of IL-2 between the controls, the infected mice treated with MLT and the infected untreated group, from day 2 p.i. No changes in serum levels of IL-4 were detected. In infected mice treated with MLT, blood levels of IL-1 beta were elevated almost 10-fold from day 1 to day 6 p.i. when compared to the control, the infected and the non-infected MLT-treated mice (P < 0.001). A highly significant rise (P < 0.001) of TNF-alpha was found in infected mice treated with MLT, from day 1 to 6 p.i. when compared to the other groups. A significant rise (P < 0.001) was also evident in the infected non-MLT-treated group and a less pronounced rise in the non-infected mice treated with MLT when compared to controls. The blockade of IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha did not inhibit the protective effect of MLT but when IL-1 beta was neutralized, 100% of the infected mice died suggesting that IL-1 beta induced by MLT treatment is a target cytokine to generate an immune response against the viral infection.     

International expert workshop on the analysis of the economic and public health impacts of air pollution: workshop summary

Forty-nine experts from 18 industrial and developing countries met on 6 September 2001 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, to discuss the economic and public health impacts of air pollution, particularly with respect to assessing the public health benefits from technologies and policies that reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Such measures would provide immediate public health benefits, such as reduced premature mortality and chronic morbidity, through improved local air quality. These mitigation strategies also allow long-term goals--for example, reducing the buildup of GHG emissions--to be achieved alongside short-term aims, such as immediate improvements in air quality, and therefore benefits to public health. The workshop aimed to foster research partnerships by improving collaboration and communication among various agencies and researchers; providing a forum for presentations by sponsoring agencies and researchers regarding research efforts and agency activities; identifying key issues, knowledge gaps, methodological shortcomings, and research needs; and recommending activities and initiatives for research, collaboration, and communication. This workshop summary briefly describes presentations made by workshop participants and the conclusions of three separate working groups: economics, benefits transfer, and policy; indoor air quality issues and susceptible populations; and development and transfer of dose-response relationships and exposure models in developing countries. Several common themes emerged from the working group sessions and subsequent discussion. Key recommendations include the need for improved communication and extended collaboration, guidance and support for researchers, advances in methods, and resource support for data collection, assessment, and research.     

The usefulness of elemental iron for cereal flour fortification: a SUSTAIN Task Force report. Sharing United States Technology to Aid in the Improvement of Nutrition

Fortification of cereal flours may be a useful public health strategy to combat iron deficiency. Cereal flours that are used shortly after production (e.g., baking flour) can be fortified with soluble iron compounds, such as ferrous sulfate, whereas the majority of flours stored for longer periods is usually fortified with elemental iron powders to avoid unacceptable sensory changes. Elemental iron powders are less well absorbed than soluble iron compounds and they vary widely in their absorption depending on manufacturing method and physicochemical characteristics. Costs vary with powder type, but elemental iron powders are generally less expensive than ferrous sulfate. This review evaluates the usefulness of the different elemental iron powders based on results from in vitro studies, rat assays, human bioavailability studies, and efficacy studies monitoring iron status in human subjects. It concludes that, at the present time, only electrolytic iron powder can be recommended as an iron fortificant. Because it is only approximately half as well absorbed as ferrous sulfate, it should be added to provide double the amount of iron.     

Profile of undergraduate nursing students' attitudes towards mental disease,before the influence of specific academic education

Students starting the Nursing Course bring with them stereotypes and prejudice in relation to mentally-ill people, thus showing lack of knowledge as to their possibilities of recovery and social living. This study aimed at elaborating a profile of the attitudes presented by these students in relation to such people and at showing aspects that can negatively influence their future professional conduct. To that end, the opinion scale for mental disease was used. The students presented a negative attitude profile, which made it possible to conclude that academic education from courses in this area must be planned so as to favor the change of the attitude profile presented.     

Drug and alcohol-related emergency department visits: results of a pilot survey in two hospitals in Israel

There is no system for reporting drug and alcohol-related emergency department (ED) visits in Israel. This pilot survey was aimed at examining the feasibility of establishing an ED surveillance system in a general hospital and a psychiatric hospital. We describe the design and preliminary results of a pilot-survey conducted in the emergency departments of two hospitals in Northern Israel. Active and passive case identification was conducted in Rambam Hospital and Tirat Carmel Psychiatric Hospital, from August, 1999-January, 2000. A total of 160 ED patients were identified, 64% as drug-related, with heroin being the most common drug. The majority of cases were identified through self-reports. Overdose and IVDU complications accounted for 20% of drug cases identified at Rambam Hospital, and injury and motor vehicle accidents accounted for 12% of all visits at this hospital. We did not attempt to estimate the proportion of all ED visits that are associated with drugs and/or alcohol. Under-ascertainment of cases and incomplete data recording remain major concerns for a survey of this nature. Results of this pilot survey indicate that with proper training of ED nurses a national ED surveillance system can be successfully and efficiently established in general hospitals and psychiatric hospitals in Israel.     

Late lower extremity fractures in patients with paraplegia

We report the result of the treatment of 26 lower limb fractures in patients with established paraplegia. We treated one fracture of the femoral neck, one intertrochanteric, two subtrochanteric, two of the femoral shaft, seven of the supracondylar region, six of the proximal tibia, one of the tibial shaft, and six pilon fractures. Nine fractures were treated non-operatively, and the remaining fractures were treated operatively. Union was achieved in all the patients, but we think that open reduction and internal fixation may improve the level of independence and mobility of these patients during fracture healing.     

Orthomolecular oncology: a mechanistic view of intravenous ascorbate's chemotherapeutic activity

The effect of vitamin C in cancer has been a subject of great controversy; mainly because of the inconsistent results obtained by oral intakes of ascorbate when used as an anticancer agent. We believe the intravenous application of ascorbate will provide more consistent results in cancer patients since Vitamin C blood levels attained are substantially higher in a range proven cytotoxic to malignant cells. In this article we will present and discuss our proposed mechanism on the chemotherapeutic activity exhibited by ascorbate.