History of safe use as applied to the safety assessment of novel foods and foods derived from genetically modified organisms

Very few traditional foods that are consumed have been subjected to systematic toxicological and nutritional assessment, yet because of their long history and customary preparation and use and absence of evidence of harm, they are generally regarded as safe to eat. This ‘history of safe use’ of traditional foods forms the benchmark for the comparative safety assessment of novel foods, and of foods derived from genetically modified organisms. However, the concept is hard to define, since it relates to an existing body of information which describes the safety profile of a food, rather than a precise checklist of criteria. The term should be regarded as a working concept used to assist the safety assessment of a food product. Important factors in establishing a history of safe use include: the period over which the traditional food has been consumed; the way in which it has been prepared and used and at what intake levels; its composition and the results of animal studies and observations from human exposure. This paper is aimed to assist food safety professionals in the safety evaluation and regulation of novel foods and foods derived from genetically modified organisms, by describing the practical application and use of the concept of ‘history of safe use’.     

The demography of maternal mortality--seven Swedish parishes in the 19th century

Complications of childbirth is a leading death cause for women of reproductive ages in the developing countries today. The unique Swedish population statistics from the 19th century permit comparable historical studies. In seven Swedish parishes 170 maternal deaths were observed - 595 per 100,000 live births. Eclampsia, obstructed labor and hemorrhage were responsible for 92 deaths, and puerperal sepsis for only 15 deaths. Indirect obstetrical deaths, like pneumonia, tuberculosis, dysentery and heart diseases, accounted for 30.8% (41/133) of the specified death causes. With a time limit of 1 year instead of 42 days following delivery, maternal mortality was increased by 17%. Out of 14 married women 1 died from childbirth. Maternal deaths accounted for 40-50% of all deaths in the central ages of reproduction, leaving the motherless children with a highly increased death risk. Of the live born, 3% survived 5 years after the mothers' death. Of children aged 1-5 only 13% survived 5 years after the mothers death.     

中国近代出版的西医护理书籍

1905年博医会编《护病要术》为中国近代早期出版的护理书籍。20世纪20年代中期开始,有专科护理书籍刊行。中华护士会成立后,制定了护士课程,统一考试、注册,同时通过与广协书局协作,为护理专业书籍出版,推动护理教育起到甚为重要的作用。到1949年有明确记载的护理书籍有近百种。这些书籍中较有影响的,大部分是译著或以国外原著为蓝本的编译之著。     

牙齿充填材料的改进

龋病会造成牙体硬组织的实质性缺损，对缺损的充填是修复牙齿完整形态、恢复其咀嚼功能和美观的有效方法。充填材料是用于填补牙齿缺损的人工修复材料。追述牙齿充填材料的发展历程，可以看到人类口腔医学的进步。从中草药填塞牙洞到银膏补牙，从建立银汞合金充填材料成分与比例的标准化到新型高分子复合树脂的应用，牙齿充填材料发生了革命性变化，使得牙齿充填治疗的理念与技术也在不断改进与更新，进一步完善了牙齿充填方法，使保留更多健康牙体组织成为可能，同时也推动了美学牙科、粘接材料和技术的发展。随着人们对健康标准和审美要求的不断提高，以及环保意识的增强，复合树脂修复材料在临床上已成为医生和病人首选的牙齿充填材料。     

堇菜属几种药用植物的本草考证

经考证堇菜属Viola植物药用首载于《五十二病方》。我国古代用本属作药用的主要有紫花地丁、长萼堇菜、七星莲、堇菜、深圆齿堇菜、穆坪堇菜、白花地丁等7种。     

Using Adapted Short MASTs for Assessing Parental Alcoholism: Reliability and Validity

In previous research adapted versions of the Short Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (SMAST) have been employed to assess an individual's father's (F-SMAST) and mother's alcohol abuse (M-SMAST). However, to date psychometric information on these forms has been limited. In order to more broadly assess the psychometric properties of these forms, several critical issues in five related studies were addressed. The samples for the five studies were drawn from a college population at a large midwestern university. Overall, the reliability and validity of the adapted SMASTs appears to be quite good. The F-SMAST demonstrated high reliability (from the standpoint of internal consistency, temporal stability, and reliability across siblings) as well as validity (both in respect to convergence with an interview measure and with father's own report on a parallel instrument). Furthermore, shortening both of these instruments to nine-item versions appears to improve their reliability and validity. For researchers and clinicians interested in assessing parental history of alcoholism, the F-SMAST and M-SMAST would appear to be a reliable and valid paper-and-pencil measure.     

One hundred years of the Golgi apparatus: history of a disputed cell organelle

In April 1898 at the Medico-Surgical Society of Pavia, Camillo Golgi communicated his finding of a novel intracellular structure, which he had detected in nerve cells by means of a variant of the “black reaction” he had developed earlier for the staining of the nervous tissue. On the basis of the “netlike” appearance and intracellular location of this structure, Golgi defined it as “internal reticular apparatus”. The reality of the organelle was debated for fifty years, since some investigators believed that the structure, which was soon designated as Golgi apparatus, represented an artifact of metallic impregnation. The controversy was finally solved in the mid-1950s by studies based on electron microscopy. Linked to the cell organelle he had discovered, Golgi’s contributions to cytology had a great impact on biomedical sciences of the twentieth century.

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Sommario Nell’aprile 1898 Camillo Golgi comunicò alla Società Medico-Chirurgica di Pavia i suoi dati relativi a una nuova struttura intracellulare, the aveva osservato nelle cellule nervose impregnate con una variante della “reazione nera”, da lui stesso messa a punto anni prima per lo studio del tessuto nervoso. Golgi definì tale struttura come “apparato reticolare interno” sulla base del suo aspetto di filamenti intrecciati e della sua localizzazione intracellulare. La reale esistenza di questo organello, the venne poi designato come apparato di Golgi, è stata oggetto di vivaci dibattiti per cinquant’anni, poiché alcuni ricercatori ritenevano the esso potesse rappresentare un artefatto di colorazione dei metodi di impregnazione metallica. La controversia venne definitivamente risolta verso la metà degli anni cinquanta da studi basati sulla microscopia elettronica. l contribute di Golgi, il cui nome è rimasto indissolubilmente legato all’organello cellulare da lui scoperto, hanno esercitato un profondo impatto sulle scienze biomediche del ventesimo secolo.

     

The birth and growth of neuroradiology in the USA

Summary Neuroradiology in the USA was started by the neurosurgeons Harvey Cushing, who personally made the first X-rays used to treat a patient with a neurological disability, and Walter Dandy, who first performed air ventriculography, ventriculoscopy, air encephalography and air myelography. The father of neuroradiology in the USA was Merrill Sosman, Cushing's associate. Modern neuroradiology was introduced into the USA from Europe by Mannie Schechter who was one of the original team of three Chief Editors of Neuroradiology.To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Harvey Cushing Society (now called the American Association of Neurological Surgeons), and the completion of 10 years of publication of Neuroradiology     

Dr. George Hayward (1791–1863): a forgotten pioneer of reconstructive pelvic surgery

American surgeon George Hayward (1798–1863) has become lost to the historical memory of practicing urologists and urogynecologists, yet he deserves to be remembered for his important contributions to the advancement of pelvic surgery. In addition to being an observant commentator on the surgical practice of his day, he performed the first major operation carried out under ether anesthesia and he was the originator of the flap-splitting operation for the repair of vesico-vaginal fistula commonly, but erroneously, attributed to Lawson Tait. This article reviews George Haywards career and professional accomplishments with the hope of restoring his well-deserved prominence as a pioneer of reconstructive pelvic surgery.