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PubMed2001

Policy implications of the inadequate support systems for orphans in western Kenya.

This paper describes the support systems available for orphans in a rural Luo community in Nyang'oma sub-location in Bondo District of Western Kenya. Qualitative data were collected through in-depth interviews with orphaned children and their caretakers as well as key informants, and through focus group discussions with orphaned children, widows and community elders. Quantitative data were obtained by questionnaires administered to 100 caretakers of orphaned children. The most serious problem was inability of the orphan households to afford school fees, although lack of food, medicare and clothing were also prominent. The traditional, kinship-based support systems made a major contribution to catering for the orphans though the resources were far from enough. Various community-based groups in the area did not contribute significantly. The problem is getting desperate due to a combination of an exponentially increasing prevalence of orphans, poor socio-economic conditions and decline of the traditional support systems. For health planners and policy makers there are two major concerns. In the short term, a big and rapidly growing group of children are without adequate access to health services, while in the long term, the negative consequences for (in particular the girl) orphans' schooling pose a serious threat to the health of their future children. Based on the study findings, two recommendations are made: that the responsible parties address the issue of education for orphans rapidly and sufficiently and with due consideration of their food security and medicare; and that potential community resources such as kinship networks and community groups are mobilised in order to assist in achieving the goal.

Child↗

PubMed2006

Organ-targeted mutagenicity of nitrofurantoin in Big Blue transgenic mice.

Nitrofurans are widely used in human medicine, as nitrofurantoin and nifuroxazide, still prescribed for long-term antimicrobial prophylaxis of urinary tract and gastrointestinal infection in humans respectively. Recent experiments in mammals, as well as reports mentioning toxic effects in humans associated with a long-term use, specially in the case of nitrofurantoin, raised the need for reevaluating their genotoxicity. The objective of this study was to determine whether these two compounds induce a mutagenic effect in the Big Blue transgenic mouse mutation assay. Mice were orally treated either with nitrofurantoin or nifuroxazide for five consecutive days and sacrificed 3 weeks later. In order to optimize the genotoxic response, the doses used for each compound were 25-fold higher as the posology in humans. They corresponded to 50% of the highest doses tolerated by mice. The mutant frequency was determined from kidney, lung, bladder, caecum, colon, small intestine, spleen and stomach. A weak mutagenic response of nitrofurantoin-treated mice specifically in the kidney was observed. As in the case of other nitrofuran compounds, the mutation spectra determined from treated samples exhibited slightly more GC-->TA transversions as compared with untreated conditions. These data are relevant to the targeted action of nitrofurantoin as a urinary antimicrobial agent. No significant increase of mutants was detected in the case of nifuroxazide-treated mice whatever the organs analysed.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The mtDNA genealogy of closely related Drosophila silvestris.

Genetic, morphological, and behavioral analyses have been used to examine the evolutionary dynamics and phylogeny of the rare Hawaiian Drosophila species, D. silvestris. Critical to understanding the evolution of this species is the examination of the distribution of populations of D. silvestris on the Big Island of Hawaii. Behavioral analysis using mating asymmetries and the Kaneshiro hypothesis as an indicator of ancestral behavioral state has suggested that flies from the northern part of the island are ancestral to those on the southern part of the island. Consequently, a sequential pattern of colonization going from north to south is predicted for these flies on the east side of the Island of Hawaii. We have examined this prediction using mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) restriction site analysis with four-base cutters and DNA sequencing. The resulting mtDNA phylogeny based on 23 phylogenetically informative restriction sites and two phylogenetically informative DNA sequence characters agrees in part with the phylogeny predicted from the behavioral data.

Animals↗

PubMed1973

Computer and information networks.

The most basic conclusion coming out of the EDUCOM seminars is that computer networking must be acknowledged as an important new mode for obtaining information and computation (15). It is a real alternative that needs to be given serious attention in current planning and decision-making. Yet the fact is that many institutions are not taking account of networks when they confer on whether or how to replace their main computer. Articulation of the possibilities of computer networks goes back to the early 1960's and before, and working networks have been in evidence for several years now, both commercially and in universities. What is new, however, is the unmistakable recognition-bordering on a sense of the inevitable-that networks are finally practical and here to stay. The visionary and promotional phases of computer networks are over. It is time for hard-nosed comparative analysis (16). Another conclusion of the seminars has to do with the factors that hinder the fuller development of networking. The major problems to be overcome in applying networks to research and education are political, organizational, and economic in nature rather than technological. This is not to say that the hardware and software problems of linking computers and information systems are completely solved, but they are not the big bottlenecks at present. Research and educational institutions must find ways to organize themselves as well as their computers to work together for greater resource sharing. The coming of age of networks takes on special significance as a result of widespread dissatisfactions expressed with the present computing situation. There is a feeling that the current mode of autonomous, self-sufficient operation in the provision of computing and information services is frequently wasteful, deficient, and unresponsive to users' needs because of duplication of effort from one installation to another, incompatibilities, and inadequate documentation, program support, and user assistance. Complaints about the relative lack of uniform standards and the paucity of information on what programs and data are available and how to get and use them are commonplace. The human tendency, when beset by problems such as these, is to seek a savior in the next new technology-networks in this case. But networking does not in and of itself offer a solution to current deficiencies. What it does offer is a promising vehicle with which to bring about important changes in user practices, institutional procedures, and government policy that can lead to effective solutions. Thus more critical than whether networking is developed and applied is how it is developed and applied. For example, networking emphasizes the need for standards and good documentation. Unless effective mechanisms are developed and strong measures taken in networking to ensure that suitable standards and documentation are developed, present inadequacies could get worse, not better.

Computers↗

PubMed2002

[Cloning and sequence analysis of a new, full-length cDNA fragment of drug resistance-related gene in human lung adenocarcinoma].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Multi-drug resistance(MDR) is an important cause of chemotherapeutic failure in lung cancer cells. Further studies on drug resistance-related genes in lung cancer by molecular biology techniques will provide keys to inverse MDR of lung cancer. In the present, suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) is one of the major techniques to clone 494 bp differentially expressed genes. We had found a new drug resistance-related gene fragment, which has 99% homology with the 1316 bp gene sequence BC006151. The BC006151 gene was published in April of 2001 in Genbank, but its function has not been determined yet. This study was designed to clone the full-length cDNA of BC006151 gene and tested the mRNA expression of this gene in several lung cancer cell lines so that to clarify its function and modulation. METHOD: Primers were designed according to the sequence of BC006151 gene. Using a lung adenocarcinoma MDR cell line SPC-A-1/CDDP, the full-length cDNA of this gene was amplified by RT-PCR and sequence, and the amino acid sequence of protein coded by it was postulated. The mRNA levels of this gene were determined in SCLC cell line SH77, big cell lung cancer cell line H460, lung adenocarcinoma cell line SPC-A-1 and SPC-A-1/CDDP using semi-quantitative RT-PCR assay. RESULT: The 1298 bp full-length cDNA fragment of BC006151 gene was successfully cloned which has complete reading frame and coding region. The cDNA had very high homology with the 494 bp fragment obtained by SSH. The expression of this gene in MDR cell line SPC-A-1/CDDP was significantly higher than that in its parental cell line SPC-A-1 and it was higher in SPC-A-1 than that in H460, whereas in SH77 this gene was undetectable. CONCLUSION: The present data suggest that BC006151 gene is a new drug resistance-related gene closely related to MDR of lung adenocarcinoma induced by CDDP. Cloning the full-length cDNA of this gene will be helpful to clarify its role during the occurrence of MDR in lung cancer.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Biomechanical overload of the arm: experience with risk prevention in the Fabrian metal-mechanical industry].

In the year 2000, the S.P.S.A.L. of Fabriano territorial zone, after a high number of reported cases of CTS in the Orthopedic Unit of the local hospital, started an informative and preventive study program on the risk of biomechanical overloading of the upper extremities. The study was divided in four main steps: 1. Epidemiological study I. A questionnaire assessing professional and pathological anamnesis, musculoskeletal disorders of the upper extremities as well as the professional and non professional risk factors was administered to 448 assembly line workers in seven metal mechanic factories (2000-2001). 2. Lecture for the proposed institution to communicate the results of study I (2001). 3. Evaluation of the trend on professional diseases reported by medical doctors and verified by INAL during the years 1999-2005. 4. Epidemiological study II. The same questionnaire from the first study has been administered to 448 assembly line workers in the same industries selected for the previous investigation (2005). The first study results, presented in the December 2001 lecture from the supervising institution, indicated the departments at risk and showed the necessity of collaboration between specific departments and specialized medical doctors to achieve a rapid diagnosis of work-related diseases. Following our data, the companies have adopted preventative measures, scientific methods of specific risk evaluation as well specific protocols of health survey. Both the reported and the verified diseases showed an increment starting from 2002. The comparison between the two studies demonstrated that the second group had a reduction in the CTS prevalence and in the other work-related upper extremities disorders; a reduction in the repetitive movements, in the use of vibrating instruments and work force; an increment in the number of working pauses and rotation exercises; an increment in the position switch following the appearance of the disorders. However, the results obtained show a fundamental discrepancy: a better trend has been observed in the big companies, but it is still not sufficient in the smaller companies.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Finishing big by starting small. Continuous improvement is the key to enhancing community health.

Although healthcare organizations increasingly seek involvement in community health improvement, they are often unprepared to do so because of their inexperience in disease and injury prevention. In recent years, however, continuous improvement (Cl) methodology has produced insights that are useful in such projects. An organization considering a community health improvement project should, from the start, test it through "Plan, Do, Study, Act" (PDSA) cycles. The project's leaders should begin by selecting an issue to work on. They must accurately define the community and involve its members in the project, because health improvement work is most effective when the people who care most strongly about a problem help solve it. Leaders should clearly define the project's aim, perhaps through analyzing hospital records and other databases. In forming a collaborative group to work on the project, leaders should begin with a "core team," perhaps adding other members later. This team should track data using three kinds of measurement--global, intermediate, and process--building data evaluation into its daily practices. The team would do well to get the guidance of someone familiar with Cl methodology. It should also use a process involving regular meetings, time lines, a means of communicating with experts outside the area, and a format that enables it to document progress and capture lessons learned.

Community Health Planning↗

PubMedDate not supplied

A generalized model for settling velocity of aerobic granular sludge.

Aerobic granulation is a novel biotechnology recently receiving intensive research attention. Aerobic granules developed in SBR can be as big as several millimeters, thus the traditional models describing the settling velocity of activated sludge are no long valid in aerobic granules culture. In this study, a new type of model was developed for the settling velocity of aerobic granules. This model shows that the settling velocity of aerobic granules is the function of SVI, mean size of granules and biomass concentration of granules. When the size of bioparticle is small enough, the proposed model reduces to the well-known Vesilind equation. Results indicated that the proposed model could satisfactorily fit experimental results obtained in the course of aerobic granulation under different conditions, while the Vesilind equation failed to or very poorly fit the experimental data. In addition, the proposed model can also be extended to anaerobic granules. The settling velocity is one of the most important parameters in both aerobic and anaerobic granulation, and successful biogranulation is highly related to the manipulation of settling velocity. It was demonstrated that the proposed model can sever as a useful tool for design and operation engineers to properly select the settling velocity for enhanced aerobic and anaerobic granulation.

Aerobiosis↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Unbundling the corporation.

No matter how monolithic they may seem, most companies are really engaged in three kinds of businesses. One business attracts customers. Another develops products. The third oversees operations. Although organizationally intertwined, these businesses have conflicting characteristics. It takes a big investment to find and develop a relationship with a customer, so profitability hinges on achieving economies of scope. But speed, not scope, drives the economics of product innovation. And the high fixed costs of capital-intensive infrastructure businesses require economies of scale. Scope, speed, and scale can't be optimized simultaneously, so trade-offs have to be made when the three businesses are bundled into one corporation. Historically, they have been bundled because the interaction costs--the friction--incurred by separating them were too high. But we are on the verge of a worldwide reduction in interaction costs, the authors contend, as electronic networks drive down the costs of communicating and of exchanging data. Activities that companies have always believed were central to their businesses will suddenly be offered by new, specialized competitors that won't have to make trade-offs. Ultimately, the authors predict, traditional businesses will unbundle and then rebundle into large infrastructure and customer-relationship businesses and small, nimble product innovation companies. And executives in many industries will be forced to ask the most basic question about their companies: What business are we really in? Their answer will determine their fate in an increasingly frictionless economy.

Commerce↗

PubMed2001

Cloning and characterization of a novel WD-40 repeat protein that dramatically accelerates osteoblastic differentiation.

The bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) play a pivotal role in endochondral bone formation. Using differential display polymerase chain reaction, we have identified a novel gene, named BIG-3 (BMP-2-induced gene 3 kb), that is induced as a murine prechondroblastic cell line, MLB13MYC clone 17, acquires osteoblastic features in response to BMP-2 treatment. The 3-kilobase mRNA encodes a 34-kDa protein containing seven WD-40 repeats. Northern and Western analyses demonstrated that BIG-3 mRNA and protein were induced after 24 h of BMP-2 treatment. BIG-3 mRNA was expressed in conditionally immortalized murine bone marrow stromal cells, osteoblasts, osteocytes, and growth plate chondrocytes, as well as in primary calvarial osteoblasts. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated that BIG-3 was expressed in the osteoblasts of calvariae isolated from mouse embryos. To identify a role for BIG-3 in osteoblast differentiation, MC3T3-E1 cells were stably transfected with the full-length coding region of BIG-3 (MC3T3E1-BIG-3) cloned downstream of a cytomegalovirus promoter in pcDNA3.1. Pooled MC3T3E1-BIG-3 clones expressed alkaline phosphatase activity earlier and achieved a peak level of activity 10-fold higher than cells transfected with the empty vector (MC3T3E1-EV) at 14 days. Cyclic AMP production in response to parathyroid hormone was increased 10- and 14-fold at 7 and 14 days, respectively, in MC3T3E1-BIG-3 clones, relative to MC3T3E1-EV clones. This increase in cAMP production was associated with an increase in PTH binding. Expression of BIG-3 increased mRNA levels encoding Cbfa1, type I collagen, and osteocalcin and accelerated formation of mineralized nodules. In conclusion, we have identified a novel WD-40 protein, induced by BMP-2 treatment, that dramatically accelerates the program of osteoblastic differentiation in stably transfected MC3T3E1 cells.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2004

The relationship between personality and discretionary helping behaviors.

The relationship between personality and helping behaviors in three different contexts was examined in a field study. In a sample of 178 employees from three professional organizations, measures of the Big Five Personality factors were found to be related to discretionary helping behaviors performed in the context of one's home, workplace and the larger society. Collectively, the five personality factors accounted for 7% of the variance in Household Activities and Chores, 26% of the variance in Organizational Citizenship Behaviors and 10% of the variance in Volunteerism. Implications of these relations are discussed.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

[Acute management of myocardial infarct patients in Austria (cross-sectional study of 8 intensive care units)].

8 Austrian Intensive Care Units provided data from 6,317 cases (including 1,667 cases with acute myocardial infarction) admitted during 1990 and 1991 for a documentation system offered by the Austrian Heart Foundation. Significant differences were observed between the units concerning admission policies and the use of diagnostic methods. 71% of the AMI cases were first infarctions, 10% were Non-Q-infarcts. The median of the prehospital period varied between 2.5 and 6.5 hours. The evaluation of the admission mode showed that on average 42% of the AMI cases had contact to their G.P. before hospital admission, this figure varying, however, between 24 and 90% in different areas. It seems that this contact takes place to a much lower extent in big cities. On average G.P. contact before hospital admission in AMI resulted in doubling of the duration of the prehospital period. Thrombolytic treatment was applied in 24.7% of AMI cases with a variation between 13.9 and 48.4% in the different centers. It is suggested that regular use of this kind of quality control should offer means for optimizing the acute care of infarct patients on a regional and on a national level.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Transrectal ultrasonography by rotating feeler in the perianal fistulae/abscesses surgery. Anatomo-functional description].

INTRODUCTION: Anal fistula represents a big topically subject above all as regards the complex correlated surgical implications. The transectal ultrasonography (TUS) is the first help for a careful, cheep, poorly invasive diagnosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From September 2002 to December 2003 we submitted TUS 53 patient with clinical diagnosis of perianal fistula abscesses and 27 patients, already subordinates to surgical intervention for perianal fistulae/abscesses, which only presented perianal pain without clear signs of perianal pathology (48 males and 15 females). RESULTS: TUS diagnosis and surgical confirmation of abscess and/or anal fistulae in all the patients; in the 27 patients, in whom at clinician exam was not clear an abscess, it was diagnosed in 21 patients (6 positive-false). DISCUSSION: The obtained data show the validity of this methodical diagnostics and its importance for a correct surgical management. The 7.2% of discovered positive-false (surgical response: scary tissue), they are to charge to the objective technical dfficulty with discriminating scary outcomes; in confirmation of that the datum that in all these cases the patients had already been submitted to previous ano-rectal surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Surgery of the anal abscesses and fistulas, for effective being, must stay in balance between aggressiveness and safeguards surgery. Surgery, to be correct, cannot leave out of consideration TUS: a valid tool in the Pre-operatory diagnosis, but also in the Post-operatory phase to highlight possible recidivisms.

Abdominal Abscess↗

PubMed2003

Resistance patterns of Campylobacter spp. strains isolated from poultry carcasses in a big Swiss poultry slaughterhouse.

The aim of this study was to determine resistance patterns of strains of Campylobacter spp. isolated from poultry carcasses in one of the two big Swiss poultry slaughterhouses. A variety of antibiotics with clinical relevance in human and/or in veterinary medicine was tested. In addition, the results of the disc diffusion method, E-test and microdilution broth methods were compared. Of the 195 Campylobacter jejuni strains isolated from 195 poultry carcasses from 21 flocks, 134 strains were susceptible in vitro to all tested antibiotics. Sixty-one strains (31.3%, from eight flocks) showed resistance. Forty-one strains were resistant to a single antibiotic-34 to streptomycin, 6 to ampicillin and 1 to ciprofloxacin. Eighteen strains (from two flocks) showed combined resistance to erythromycin and streptomycin, two strains to ciprofloxacin and streptomycin. None of the isolates was resistant to tetracycline. The data of this first study in Switzerland show a favourable resistance situation for C. jejuni strains against erythromycin, tetracycline and ciprofloxacin. The disc diffusion method was found to be a reliable and easy tool for monitoring the prevalence of resistant C. jejuni strains. For surveillance of changes in the susceptibility concentration levels to antimicrobial agents, however, a MIC method should be used. Further investigations along the whole poultry production chain (farm, slaughterhouse and retail levels) are now necessary in order to confirm the resistance situation.

Abattoirs↗

PubMed2001

Crystal structure of human insulin-like growth factor-1: detergent binding inhibits binding protein interactions.

Despite efforts spanning considerably more than a decade, a high-resolution view of the family of proteins known as insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) has remained elusive. IGF-1 consists of three helical segments which are connected by a 12-residue linker known as the C-region. NMR studies of members of this family reveal a dynamic structure with a topology resembling insulin but little structural definition in the C-region. We have crystallized IGF-1 in the presence of the detergent deoxy big CHAPS, and determined its structure at 1.8 A resolution by multiwavelength anomalous diffraction, exploiting the anomalous scattering of a single bromide ion and six of the seven sulfur atoms of IGF-1. The structure reveals a well-defined conformation for much of the C-region, which extends away from the core of IGF-1 and has residues known to be involved in receptor binding prominently displayed in a type II beta-turn. In the crystal, these residues form a dimer interface, but analytical ultracentrifugation experiments demonstrate that at physiological concentrations IGF-1 is monomeric. A single detergent molecule contacts residues known to be important for IGF-1 binding protein (IGFBP) interactions. Biophysical and biochemical data show that the detergent binds to IGF-1 specifically and blocks binding of IGFBP-1 and IGFBP-3.

Cholic Acids↗

PubMed1997

[The observation and assessment of air pollution in the region of the city of Silistra].

In the region of the town of Silistra there are no big industrial enterprises, sources of harmful emissions in the surroundings. After the starting in exploitation of the Metallurgical Works in Călăraşi [correction of Kalarash] in 1987 began the complaints of the population as result of episodic pollutions of the atmospheric air in the region. Productions of similar character emit in the atmosphere dust, sulfur dioxide, carbonic oxide, nitric oxides, hydrogen sulfide, fluorides, ammonia, pyridine, aromatic and polyaromatic carbohydrates, phenol and aerosols of heavy metals. For this purpose on the territory of the town of Silistra two stationary stations of HEI are functioning for systemic observation and evaluation of the atmospheric pollution for the indices: dust, sulfur dioxide, nitric dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, phenol and aerosols of heavy metals. All data are statistically processed by means of statistical programme packet "STATGRAPH".

Aerosols↗

PubMed1995

Vascular assessment in the neuropathic diabetic foot.

Diabetic foot infections, a common source of morbidity and mortality, often have been related to vasculopathy and neuropathy in its etiopathogenesis, especially in the elderly person with diabetes. However, blood flow in the neuropathic diabetic foot has not been evaluated extensively, and there is evidence of abnormal blood flow patterns in the neuropathic diabetic foot unrelated to ischemia. The authors studied young persons with diabetes, with varying degrees of neuropathy, to assess the extent of vasculopathy in their lower limbs. Twelve young persons with insulin-dependent (Type I) diabetes (mean age, 36.1 +/- 1.975 years) and peripheral neuropathy, all of whom had previous surgery for diabetic foot infections, were identified. Confirmatory evidence of neuropathy was made using electromyographic studies and clinical tests that showed severe peripheral neuropathy. The results of vascular assessment of both lower limbs did not reveal any change in the pulse wave velocities from the popliteal to the digital vessels of the big toe as compared with correspondingly matched controls. There also was no significant stenosis in any of the vessels studied as far as the level of the dorsalis pedis and posterior tibial vessels. The normal triphasic pattern of arterial blood flow was lost. A monophasic pattern was present in all patients with prolonged diastolic flow at the level of the dorsalis pedis and posterior tibial arteries and distally. The pulsatility index was 3.14 +/- 0.81 as compared with 9.85 +/- 4.2. Mean toe pressures in the patient with diabetes was 64.17 +/- 20.87 mm Hg as compared with 98.23 +/- 10.12 mm Hg in controls. A linear correlation of decreasing toe pressures with increasing severity of neuropathy was seen (R = 0.7). The data suggest that changes exist in the blood flow patterns in young patients with diabetes and neuropathy, even in the absence of lower limb ischemia.

Adult↗

PubMed1990

1991 forecast: the year of restructuring.

How is the foodservice industry faring under the clouds of three big uncertainties--oil prices, recession and war? All things considered, its doing quite well. This annual status report of commercial and institutional business shows fast food, catering, nursing homes and employee feeding with growth percentages on the good, left side of the decimal point. Our forecast includes business trends to watch, food trends to guide menu planning and pricing, and interior- and kitchen-design trends that can be a blueprint for a successful new year.

Commerce↗