Lee Salk Distinguished Service Award Address: Prevention/Promotion in America: Still Spitting on the Sidewalk

Using a metaphor from disease prevention and health promotionefforts from the early 1900s, prevention and promotion effortsof the late 1900s are examined. Primary analyses are made onsocietal failures to grapple effectively with the major healthproblems associated with smoking, motor vehicles, and guns.Critical examples are described where American society and decision-makerslack commitment to prevention and promotion ideals and, in theseand other situations, have actively encouraged the growth ofhealth problems. The conclusion is drawn that the American societyhas acquiesced to let the major killers and disablers of childrenand adults to continue unabated. A stronger commitment to promotionand prevention is encouraged.     

Analyzing preschoolers' overgeneralizations of object labeling in the process of mother-tongue acquisition in Turkey

Language, as is known, is acquired under certain conditions: rapid and sequential brain maturation and cognitive development, the need to exchange information and to control others' actions, and an exposure to appropriate speech input. This research aims at analyzing preschoolers' overgeneralizations of the object labeling process in different categories in terms of age and gender. In this research, preschoolers' responses in overgeneralizations of the object labeling process of 'clothes', 'sports' and 'ground vehicles' was found non-significant in respect of their gender, while preschoolers' responses in overgeneralizations of the object labeling process of 'clothes', 'sports' and 'ground vehicles' was found significant in respect of their age.     

Polymer effects on ocular bioavailability. II. The influence of benzalkonium chloride on the mydriatic response of tropicamide in different polymeric vehicles

The effect of 0.01% benzalkonium chloride (BZ) on the mydriatic response of tropicamide in different vehicles was tested on rabbits and on humans. The vehicles were an isotonic buffered solution (AS) and four iso-viscous polymeric solutions: low molecular weight hydroxypropylcellulose (HPCL), medium molecular weight hydroxypropylcellulose (HPCM), poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP).In rabbits, the BZ-containing vehicles did not show any statistically significant activity difference respect to identical, BZ-free preparations. In humans, BZ did not produce any significant bioavailability increase in AS, even at the 0.05% concentration, while it appeared to depress the bioavailability enhancement produced by the polymeric solutions. This effect was statistically significant (P < 0.05) for PVA and PVP.On the basis of some physicochemical evidence, the hypothesis is advanced that the reduced efficacy in humans of the polymeric vehicles in the presence of BZ may be due to a reduced adhesion tension (A_T) of the solutions to the corneal surface. This would interfere with the blinking-assisted spreading process of the vehicles over the precorneal area. The present experiments confirmed the poor performance of rabbits as models for investigations on polymeric ophthalmic vehicles, that may modulate the drug availability not by viscous effects alone, but also by dynamic surface spreading phenomena.     

Effect of vehicles and elicitation concentration in contact dermatitis testing II. Statistical analysis of data

Data obtained in tests of several potential allergens with different vehicles and at different concentrations have been analyzed statistically.     

基于Windows平台动态汽车衡系统的设计与实现

针对动态称重系统，介绍一种基于Windows平台的单轴固定式动态汽车衡系统的工作原理、系统组成和设计方案，并重点介绍了以Windows平台为核心的软件功能及其实现。     

北京市交通实行单双号出行对救护车车速的影响

目的 了解在其他因素不变的情况下,采用单双号限行措施减少道路行驶机动车辆后救护车行驶车速的变化.方法 对在单双号限行措施下和非限行措施下救护车行驶速度数据进行对比分析.结果 单双号限行措施组和非限行措施组救护车的行驶速度间差别有统计学意义(P<0.05);单双号限行措施下高峰时段救护车车速和非限行措施下高峰时段救护车车速之间的差异有统计学意义(P<0.05).结论 在其他因素不变的情况下,采取单双号限行措施可以提高救护车行驶速度.工作日的上、下班高峰时段道路行驶机动车辆较其他时间段增加,拥堵概率加大,救护车路途耽搁时间延长,是奥运会期间需要重点注意和改善的时段.     

Residential Traffic Density and Cancer Incidence in Amsterdam, 1989–1997

OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between cancer incidence in 1989-1997 in Amsterdam and residential traffic intensity. METHODS: We linked data on the daily traffic intensity for individual addresses along the main roads with the population-based regional cancer registry. Information on smoking habits was derived from a smoking survey. RESULTS: During 1989-1997, 27,157 cancer cases were diagnosed in Amsterdam residents. Using the age group- and sex-specific cancer incidence in the population not residing along the main roads as a reference, the standardized incidence ratio (SIR) of the population residing along the main roads was 1.03, (3384 cases), while the 95% confidence interval (CI) included unity (1.00-1.07). For most cancer sites the SIR was close to one, except for gastrointestinal cancer in males (SIR 1.16, CI: 1.04, 1.28), cancer of the respiratory tract in females (SIR 1.13, CI: 0.97, 1.31) and hematological malignancies in adult females (SIR 1.23, CI: 1.04, 1.44). Five cases of acute lymphocytic leukemia were diagnosed in children along the main roads (SIR 2.5, CI: 0.8, 5.9). Smoking habits did not differ between residents along the main roads and those living along other roads. CONCLUSIONS: We found no clear evidence for an association between residence along main roads and the incidence of cancer in adults, but we cannot exclude an association with hematological malignancies in females and children.     

Contact allergy to imidazole antimycotics

Between 1977 and 1986, 9 patients with contact allergy to the active ingredient of imidazole antimycotics were found at the Department of Dermatology, University of Heidelberg. The number of positive reactions decreased in the following order: miconazole (6), clotrimazole (3), econazole (3), isconazole (3), and oxiconazole (1). When 5 patients were tested with a series of imidazoles in different concentrations and vehicles (petrolatum, ethyl methyl ketone, ethanol), petrolatum turned out to be the least effective one. The active ingredient at 1% in ethanol seems to be the most suitable choice for routine patch testing. Bifonazole may be the therapeutic alternative for patients sensitive to miconazole or clotrimazole, since no cross reactivity was observed.     

Exosome Mediated Cancer Therapeutic Approach:Present Status and Future Prospectives

The unique extracellular vesicles (EVs) or exosomes formed by the sequential invagination of the plasma membrane are diverse and encompass important constituents with biological functions. Speculations on its cell independent biological functions are significant and pose them as vital biomarkers and as drug delivery vehicles especially in cancer. EVs possess theragnostic values and are known to elicit specific immune response. Exosomes can also serve as potential nanocarriers for delivering miRNA, siRNA, anti-cancer drugs and membrane-associated proteins. Exosomes play a crucial role in regulating tumour progression, metastasis, and angiogenesis. This review thus portrays the multiple facets of exosomes, in concert with the source for exosomes production and further on its regulation and intercellular communication. The review also explores the recent advances, present status and the future prospective in the application of exosomes in cancer therapeutics and cancer diagnostics.