Government management of two media-facilitated crises involving dioxin contamination of food     

Jacob CJ  Lok C  Morley K  Powell DA 《Public understanding of science (Bristol, England)》2011,20(2):261-269

Incidents become crises through a constant and intense public scrutiny facilitated by the media. Two incidents involving dioxin contamination of food led to crises in Belgium and the Republic of Ireland in 1999 and 2008, respectively. Thought to cause cancer in humans, dioxins reached the food supply in both incidents through the contamination of fat used for animal feed. The food and agricultural industries connected to each incident relied on crisis management activities of federal governments to limit adverse public reaction. Analysis of the management of the two crises by their respective federal governments, and a subsequent review of crisis management literature, led to the development of an effective crisis management model. Such a model, appropriately employed, may insulate industries associated with a crisis against damaged reputations and financial loss.  相似文献   

Are we using Thyroid Function Tests Appropriately?     

Gupta S  Verma M  Gupta AK  Kaur A  Kaur V  Singh K 《Indian journal of clinical biochemistry : IJCB》2011,26(2):178-181

Thyroid function tests are very important for the diagnosis and monitoring of patients with thyroid dysfunction. The guidelines recommend serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) as the single most reliable test to diagnose all common forms of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. The aim of this study was to analyze the ordering pattern for thyroid function tests by physicians and the analysis of results based on the clinical history. The mean age of the patients was 32.5 ± 6.5 years. Majority of samples (87.7% of total) were received from the departments of Medicine and Gynae. Thyroid profiles (47.5%) were ordered more frequently as compared to TSH only (46%). There was no significant difference in the percentage of normal reports for both types of tests. 77.8% of TFT and 76.6% of TSH samples had results within the reference range. The percentage of abnormal results was 13.7% in the patients who were screened for thyroid disorders. There is a need to redefine the case definition for thyroid dysfunction and order the appropriate test in a rational and cost effective manner.  相似文献   

Searching for randomised controlled trials and clinical controlled trials in Thai online bibliographical biomedical databases   总被引：1，自引：1，他引：0  

Atsawawaranunt K  Adams CE  Roberts S 《Health information and libraries journal》2011,28(1):68-76

Background: Thailand is a poor but highly literate country in South‐East Asia with over 60 million people. A lot of biomedical research is undertaken but dissemination is limited. Objectives: To identify relevant Thai bibliographic databases and investigate accessibility, functionality and content, particularly in relation to randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and clinical controlled trials (CCTs). Methods: A systematic search for institutions productive of research and the databases in their libraries. Search each accessible database in both Thai and English, recording the functionality and content. Assess accessibility of the retrieved RCTs or CCTs by comparing to Pub Med holdings. Results: We found 32 different databases (29 accessible in UK) of various sizes, coverage and functionality but many with unique records of RCTs and CCTs (total, n = 781). Two hundred and nine of 781 trials were accessible on Pub Med (27%). However, 641 of the 781 trial records contain text in both English and Thai (82%) and 112 records were solely English (14%). Conclusions: Those undertaking comprehensive searches for RCTs/CCTs should, in addition to a Pub Med , search the Thai Medical Index and Thai Index Medicus databases, and the Khon Kaen University Library Catalogue.  相似文献   

The paraoxonase 1, 2 and 3 in humans     

Rajkovic MG  Rumora L  Barisic K 《Biochemia medica : ?asopis Hrvatskoga dru?tva medicinskih biokemi?ara / HDMB》2011,21(2):122-130

The paraoxonase gene family in humans includes three members: PON1, PON2 and PON3. The products of those three genes are the following enzymes: paraoxonase 1 (PON1), paraoxonase 2 (PON2) and paraoxonase 3 (PON3). PON1 is mainly associated with a high density lipoprotein (HDL). A small amount of this enzyme is also bound to very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) and postprandial chylomicrons. PON1 possess organophosphatase, arylesterase and lactonase activity and it hydrolyzes many different substrates. It is also known that PON1 may have antiatherogenic function. Compared to the PON1, PON2 and PON3 are much less studied and described. PON2 is ubiquitously expressed intracellular protein, while PON3 is bound to HDL, like PON1. The both enzymes possess antioxidant properties.  相似文献   

Superior oxygen and glucose supply in perfusion cell cultures compared to static cell cultures demonstrated by simulations using the finite element method     

Sugiura S  Sakai Y  Nakazawa K  Kanamori T 《Biomicrofluidics》2011,5(2):22202

Oxygen and glucose supply is one of the important factors for the growth and viability of the cells in cultivation of tissues, e.g., spheroid, multilayered cells, and three-dimensional tissue construct. In this study, we used finite element methods to simulate the flow profile as well as oxygen and glucose supply to the multilayered cells in a microwell array chip for static and perfusion cultures. The simulation results indicated that oxygen supply is more crucial than glucose supply in both static and perfusion cultures, and that the oxygen supply through the wall of the perfusion culture chip is important in perfusion cultures. Glucose concentrations decline with time in static cultures, whereas they can be maintained at a constant level over time in perfusion cultures. The simulation of perfusion cultures indicated that the important parameters for glucose supply are the flow rate of the perfusion medium and the length of the cell culture chamber. In a perfusion culture chip made of oxygen-permeable materials, e.g., polydimethylsiloxane, oxygen is hardly supplied via the perfusion medium, but mainly supplied through the walls of the perfusion culture chip. The simulation of perfusion cultures indicated that the important parameters for oxygen supply are the thickness of the flow channel and the oxygen permeability of the walls of the channel, i.e., the type of material and the thickness of the wall.  相似文献   

Scaffold fabrication in a perfusion culture microchamber array chip by O(2) plasma bonding of poly(dimethylsiloxane) protected by a physical mask     

Hattori K  Sugiura S  Kanamori T 《Biomicrofluidics》2011,5(2):22204

Extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins are required for cell culture. In this paper, we report the use of O(2) plasma bonding to fabricate a perfusion culture microchamber array chip with identical-size ECM spots in the isolated microchambers. The chip was fabricated by assembly of two poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) layers, a microfluidic network layer, and an ECM array layer, which were aligned and then bonded by O(2) plasma oxidation with protection of the ECM microarray with a physical mask made from PDMS. We successfully cultivated Chinese hamster ovary K1 cells in the microchambers with fibronectin. In the fibronectin microchambers, the cells adhered and extended after 12 h of static culture and then grew over the course of 1 d of perfusion culture.  相似文献   

On-demand electrostatic droplet charging and sorting     

Ahn B  Lee K  Panchapakesan R  Oh KW 《Biomicrofluidics》2011,5(2):24113

This study reports a droplet-based microfluidic device for on-demand electrostatic droplet charging and sorting. This device combines two independent modules: one is a hydrodynamic flow focusing structure to generate water-in-oil droplets, and the other is the two paired-electrodes for charging and sorting of the droplets. Depending on the polarity on charging electrodes, water-in-oil droplets can be electrostatically charged positively or negatively, followed by automatic real-time electric sorting. This approach will be useful when preformed droplets, with a positive, a negative, or with no charge, need to be manipulated for further on-chip droplet manipulation.  相似文献   

Intravascular haemolysis during prolonged running on asphalt and natural grass in long and middle distance runners     

Janakiraman K  Shenoy S  Sandhu JS 《Journal of sports sciences》2011,29(12):1287-1292

Surface features such as uneven playing surfaces, low impact absorption capacity and inappropriate friction/traction characteristics are connected with injury prevalence whereas force impact during foot strike has been suggested to be an important mechanism of intravascular haemolysis during running. We aimed to evaluate intravascular haemolysis during running and compare the effect of running on two different types of surfaces on haemolysis. We selected two surfaces (asphalt and grass) on which these athletes usually run. Participants were randomly assigned to group A (asphalt) or group B (grass) with 10 athletes in each group. Each athlete completed one hour of running at the calculated target heart rate (60-70%). Venous blood samples were collected before and immediately after running. We measured unconjugated bilirubin (UBR) (mg · dl(-1)), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (μ · ml(-1)), haemoglobin (g · l(-1)) and serum ferritin (ng · ml(-1)) as indicators of haemolysis. Athletes who ran on grass demonstrated an increase in the haematological parameters (UBR: P < 0.01, LDH: P < 0.05) when compared to athletes who ran on asphalt (UBR: P < 0.05, LDH: P = 0.241). Our findings indicate that intravascular haemolysis occurs significantly after prolonged running. Furthermore, we conclude that uneven grass surface results in greater haemolysis compared to asphalt road.  相似文献   

The effect of a supported exercise programme in patients with newly diagnosed Type 2 diabetes: a pilot study     

Backx K  McCann A  Wasley D  Dunseath G  Luzio S  Owens D 《Journal of sports sciences》2011,29(6):579-586

The aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of either a standard care programme (n = 9) or a 12-week supported exercise programme (n = 10) on glycaemic control, β-cell responsiveness, insulin resistance, and lipid profiles in newly diagnosed Type 2 diabetes patients. The standard care programme consisted of advice to exercise at moderate to high intensity for 30 min five times a week; the supported exercise programme consisted of three 60-min supported plus two unsupported exercise sessions per week. Between-group analyses demonstrated a difference for changes in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol only (standard care programme 0.01 mmol · L(-1), supported exercise programme -0.6 mmol · L(-1); P = 0.04). Following the standard care programme, within-group analyses demonstrated a significant reduction in waist circumference, whereas following the supported exercise programme there were reductions in glycosylated haemoglobin (6.4 vs. 6.0%; P = 0.007), waist circumference (101.4 vs. 97.2 cm; P = 0.021), body mass (91.7 vs. 87.9 kg; P = 0.007), body mass index (30.0 vs. 28.7 kg · m(-2); P = 0.006), total cholesterol (5.3 vs. 4.6 mmol · L(-1); P = 0.046), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (3.2 vs. 2.6 mmol · L(-1); P = 0.028), fasting β-cell responsiveness (11.5 × 10(-9) vs. 7.0 × 10(-9) pmol · kg(-1) · min(-1); P = 0.009), and insulin resistance (3.0 vs. 2.1; P = 0.049). The supported exercise programme improved glycaemic control through enhanced β-cell function associated with decreased insulin resistance and improved lipid profile. This research highlights the need for research into unsupported and supported exercise programmes to establish more comprehensive lifestyle advice for Type 2 diabetes patients.  相似文献   

Effect of exercise training on hippocampal volume in humans: a pilot study     

Parker BA  Thompson PD  Jordan KC  Grimaldi AS  Assaf M  Jagannathan K  Pearlson GD 《Research quarterly for exercise and sport》2011,82(3):585-591

  相似文献