STUDY DESIGN: A pilot study of 15 spinal cord injured patients. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether alteration of fluid intake and use of cranberry juice altered the bacterial biofilm load in the bladder. SETTING: London, Ontario, Canada. METHODS: Urine samples were collected on day 0 (start of study), on day 7 following each patient taking one glass of water three times daily in addition to normal diet, and on day 15 following each patient taking one glass of cranberry juice thrice daily. One urine sample was sent for culture and a second processed to harvest, examine by light microscopy and Gram stain non-squamous uroepithelial cells to generate bacterial adhesion per 50 cells data. RESULTS: The results showed that cranberry juice intake significantly reduced the biofilm load compared to baseline (P=0.013). This was due to a reduction in adhesion of Gram negative (P=0.054) and Gram positive (P=0.022) bacteria to cells. Water intake did not significantly reduce the bacterial adhesion or biofilm presence. CONCLUSION: The findings provide evidence in support of further, larger clinical trials into the use of functional foods, particularly cranberry juice, to reduce the risk of UTI in a patient population highly susceptible to morbidity and mortality associated with drug resistant uropathogens. SPONSORSHIP: This study was funded by Ocean Spray Cranberries, Lakeville, MA, USA.

Acids↗

PubMed2001

Cardiac markers and point-of-care testing: a perfect fit.

Biochemical markers are of increasing importance in diagnostic strategies for ruling in and ruling out acute myocardial infarction (AMI), particularly when electrocardiographic (ECG) findings do not allow a diagnosis. Point-of-care testing (POCT) or "near-patient" testing allows for diagnostic assays to be performed at the site of patient care delivery. The biochemical markers that are commonly used by physicians to aid in the diagnosis of AMI are myoglobin, CK-MB, troponin I, and troponin T. Currently available POCT assays possess comparable diagnostic performance to laboratory-based cardiac marker assays. This provides an opportunity for POCT to evolve into the standard of care for evaluating the greater than 6 million American patients presenting with chest discomfort. Full acceptance of this relatively new technology will not be realized until users reach a comfort level where utilization of these devices is foolproof and they have faith in the results.

Biomarkers↗

PubMed2001

Privatization of local health department services: effects on the practice of health education.

Local health departments (LHDs) are changing service delivery mechanisms to accommodate changes in health care financing and decreased public support for governmental services. This study examined the extent to which North Carolina LHDs privatized and contracted out services and the effects on the time spent on core functions of public health and activities of health educators. Questionnaires were mailed to the senior health educators in all LHDs. Sixty-nine responded, and 68% of LHDs had not privatized any services other than laboratory and home health. Clinical services were more commonly privatized than nonclinical services. Respondents perceived that privatization produces more time for LHDs to address the core public health functions and for health educators to engage in appropriate professional activities. Health educators in LHDs that had not privatized were more likely to be concerned about potential negative effects. This study suggests that privatization has generally had a positive effect on the roles of health educators in North Carolina LHDs.

Contract Services↗

PubMed2000