Biomedical subjects

W Becker

Publications and source records attributed to W Becker.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed2003

Dietary intake of acrylamide in Sweden.

High levels of acrylamide have been found in foods heated at high temperatures, especially in carbohydrate rich foods. Several kinds of foods (industrially produced) representing different food/product groups available on the Swedish market have been analysed for acrylamide. A considerable variation in levels of acrylamide between single foodstuffs (different brands) within food categories were found, which also applies for levels in different food categories. Using recent Swedish food consumption data the dietary intake of acrylamide for the Swedish adult population was assessed based on foodstuffs with low to high levels of acrylamide (<30-2300 microg/kg), such as processed potato products, bread, breakfast cereals, biscuits, cookies, snacks and coffee. The estimated dietary intake of acrylamide per person (total population) given as the 5th, 50th and 95th percentile were 9.1, 27 and 62 microg/day respectively, from those food/product groups (mean 31 microg/day). No acrylamide was found in many other foodstuffs analysed and those were therefore not included in the dietary intake assessment of acrylamide. However, an additional minor contribution of a few microg/day of acrylamide from foods/products like poultry, meat, fish, cocoa powder and chocolates cannot be excluded. An average daily intake of 35 microg corresponds to 0.5 microg per kg body weight and day (body weight 70 kg). Risk assessments of acrylamide, made by US EPA and WHO, imply that this dietary intake of acrylamide could be associated with potential health risks.

Acrylamides↗

PubMed2003

Dynamic lymphoscintigraphy and image fusion of SPECT and pelvic CT-scans allow mapping of aberrant pelvic sentinel lymph nodes in malignant melanoma.

To date, there are no reliable criteria to identify those patients with melanoma-infiltrated sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) of the groin who might benefit from an extended lymphadenectomy, including the pelvic lymph nodes. We hypothesised that there are pelvic lymph nodes that receive lymph directly from the primary tumour, thus being at an increased risk for metastasis. In order to determine the frequency of radioactively labelled pelvic lymph nodes and the kinetics of their appearance, we introduce here a combination of dynamic lymphoscintigraphy, single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and image fusion of SPECT and pelvic Computed Tomography (CT)-scans. By dynamic lymphoscintigraphy and intraoperative gamma probe detection, superficially located inguinal SLNs (median 2 nodes) could be identified in all of the 51 patients included in this analysis. The histological search for micrometastases was positive in 16 patients (median Breslow thickness of the primary melanoma 2.5 mm). In 29 patients, SPECT and the image fusion technique were additionally performed. Radioactively labelled pelvic lymph nodes were detected in 20 individuals, 6 of them presenting aberrant pelvic SLNs that, on dynamic lymphoscintigraphy, had appeared simultaneously with the superficial SLN(s). Of the 6 patients in whom radioactive pelvic lymph nodes were excised together with the superficial SLN(s), only one had positive superficial SLNs. In this patient, the aberrant pelvic SLN proved to be tumour-positive. In 9 patients, there was no radiotracer uptake in the pelvic lymph nodes at all. Image fusion of SPECT and pelvic CT-scans is an excellent tool to localise exactly the pelvic tumour-draining nodes. The significance of radioactively labelled pelvic lymph nodes for the probability of pelvic metastases should be analysed further.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Comparison of nutrient intake data calculated on the basis of two different databases. Results and experiences from a Swedish-Finnish study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: In international surveys of food consumption and nutrient intake, it is essential that the dietary data are comparable when different databases and calculation programs are used. The aim of the present analysis was to examine the comparability of nutrient intake data calculated on the basis of the Swedish food composition database PC-kost and the Finnish food composition database Nutrica. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 20 male adults currently living in Sweden were selected from a group of Finnish twins of the Finnish Twin Cohort Study. Food consumption data were collected by means of diet history interviews. The estimated intakes of 30 nutrients calculated on the basis of PC-kost were compared to the corresponding estimates calculated on the basis of Nutrica. The calculation procedures were standardised. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences were observed in the mean intakes of energy, total fat, saturated fat, carbohydrates, dietary fibre, alcohol, cholesterol, vitamin A, retinol, beta-carotene, vitamin D, alpha-tocopherol, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B(12), vitamin C or phosphorus. PC-kost yielded a 20% higher intake (NS) for vitamin D and 23% higher intake (P<0.001) for thiamine than Nutrica, which is mainly attributed to the differences in the enrichment of foodstuffs between Sweden and Finland. Conversely, PC-kost yielded 53% lower values (P<0.001) for selenium than Nutrica, owing to the increased selenium content in many Finnish foodstuffs as a result of the addition of selenium to fertilisers. Statistically significant differences were found for protein, monounsaturated fatty acids, vitamin B(6), iron and sodium (5-9% higher values from PC-kost) and for polyunsaturated fatty acids, folate, zinc, calcium, magnesium and potassium (4-10% lower values from PC-kost). The variation in the intake of these nutrients between the two methods may be explained by the differences in foodstuff-specific nutrient values (eg product formulations), or differences in the sources of data, recipes or calculation procedures. The correlation coefficient was > or =0.81 for most nutrients. At least 85% of the subjects in each PC-kost quintile were classified into the same or adjacent Nutrica quintile for all nutrients. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that, for a dominant part of the examined nutrients, the estimated intakes calculated by means of standardised procedures using the PC-kost and Nutrica databases are comparable between Sweden and Finland. Differences observed for some nutrients reflect either actual differences in foods between the two countries or methodological differences in the assessment of nutrient intakes.

Aged↗

PubMed2003

LeukoScan for imaging infection in different clinical settings: a retrospective evaluation and extended review of the literature.

PURPOSE: The aim of the current study was to determine the overall diagnostic accuracy of Tc-99m-labeled antigranulocyte monoclonal antibody Fab' fragments (LeukoScan) for the routine detection of bone and soft tissue infections in a retrospective evaluation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 138 patients (63 men, 75 women; mean age, 58.29 +/- 25.38 years) with fever of unknown origin and possible endocarditis (n = 59), infection of arthroplastic joints (n = 20), arthritis (n = 16), peripheral (n = 15) and central bone infections (n = 14), soft tissue infection (n = 6), appendicitis (n = 4), pericarditis (n = 2), or vascular graft infection (n = 2) underwent imaging after injection of 555 to 925 MBq (15 to 25 mCi) Tc-99m-labeled antigranulocyte monoclonal antibody Fab' fragments (LeukoScan). RESULTS: True-positive results were found in 63 of 81 lesions. The overall sensitivity and specificity were 76% and 84%, respectively. In arthritis, seven of seven foci could be detected, whereas false-negative results were found in infections of the femoral bone in three of nine lesions and in periprosthetic infections of long bones in three of eight lesions. Good results were found in five of six soft-tissue infections, in four of six patients with endocarditis, in three of four atypical cases of appendicitis, in two of two infected vascular grafts, and in one of one patient with pericarditis. Subacute and chronic infections of the spine always showed photopenic areas in eight of eight patients. If photopenic lesions were included as diagnostic criteria, the sensitivity and specificity were 88% and 67%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Tc-99m-labeled antigranulocyte monoclonal antibody Fab' fragments can be used for imaging acute infections of peripheral bones and soft tissues. False-negative results are likely in patients with chronic infections. Sensitivity can be increased while decreasing specificity by including photopenic lesions in the spine as diagnostic criteria for localizing disease.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

A modeling approach to the human spatial orientation system.

The human spatial orientation system is highly complex and nonlinear. It is difficult, therefore, to arrive at an unequivocal model of the underlying processing by merely combining the known elementary mechanisms ("bottom-up" approach); additional "top-down" concepts are required to narrow the choice between several formally equivalent solutions. We here suggest a concept in which sensorimotor control is based on a meta-level that provides an internal representation of the physical stimuli acting upon a subject (e.g., tilt of the support surface), whereas the classic reflex concept essentially proceeds from a direct coupling between physiological stimuli, sensors and actuators. At the hypothesized meta-level, the axial body segments are represented as a stack of superimposed platforms with the lowermost platform (generally the feet) riding on a support surface that acts as the buttress for the subject's active movements. From the sensory point of view, this stack constitutes a system of nested references. This concept explains data from various experiments dealing with self- and object motion perception and body stabilization in a more exhaustive way than does the classic concept. In our view, it provides a robust, flexible, and modular framework for perception and action in space.

Humans↗

PubMed2003

Methyl mercury and inorganic mercury in Swedish pregnant women and in cord blood: influence of fish consumption.

We studied exposure to methyl mercury (MeHg) in Swedish pregnant women (total mercury [T-Hg] in hair) and their fetuses (MeHg in cord blood) in relation to fish intake. The women were recruited at antenatal care clinics in late pregnancy to participate in an exposure study of environmental pollutants. Fish consumption was evaluated using food frequency questionnaires including detailed questions on fish consumption. In addition, we determined inorganic mercury (I-Hg) and selenium (Se) in cord blood. On average, the women consumed fish (all types) 6.7 times/month (range 0-25 times/month) during the year they became pregnant. They reported less consumption of freshwater fish--species that might contain high concentrations of MeHg--during than before pregnancy. T-Hg in maternal hair (median 0.35 mg/kg; range 0.07-1.5 mg/kg) was significantly associated (R2 = 0.53; p < 0.001) with MeHg in cord blood (median 1.3 microg/L; range 0.10-5.7 microg/L). Both hair T-Hg and cord blood MeHg increased with increasing consumption of seafood (r = 0.41; p < 0.001 and r = 0.46; p < 0.001, respectively). Segmental hair analysis revealed that T-Hg closer to the scalp was lower and more closely correlated with MeHg in cord blood than T-Hg levels in segments corresponding to earlier in pregnancy. We found a weak association between Se (median 86 microg/L; range 43-233 microg/L) and MeHg in cord blood (r = 0.26; p = 0.003), but no association with fish consumption. I-Hg in cord blood (median 0.15 microg/L; range 0.03-0.53 microg/L) increased significantly with increasing number of maternal dental amalgam fillings.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Carbonate addition--an effective remedy against poor activated sludge settling properties and alkalinity conditions in small wastewater treatment plants.

The impact of marble powder on the performance of small seasonal treatment plants dealing with high ammonia concentrated wastewater has been investigated. The carbonate has been added to one of two parallel lab-scale SBR-systems as an alkalinity depot and a bio-carrier. The focus of the monitoring program was put on the measurement of carbon fractions in the liquid and the solid phase and on the alkalinity conditions. Monitoring results show a significant correlation between carbonate dosage (and corresponding inorganic carbon concentration and pH-value) and sludge volume index and nitrification rate.

Ammonia↗

PubMed2002

Phase-dependent effects of a few-cycle laser pulse.

The Keldysh theory of above-threshold ionization (ATI) is applied to few-cycle laser pulses in order to explore the potential of a recently published new method to measure "carrier-envelope phase difference" phenomena. In this experiment, the carrier-envelope phase difference dependent left-right asymmetry of few-cycle ATI was measured and investigated with a correlation technique. Here, we explore spectral features of the asymmetry, present a theoretical analysis of the experiment, and establish a method to determine the duration of few-cycle pulses whose carrier-envelope phase differences are not controlled.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2002

Value of F-18 FDG hybrid camera PET and MRI in early takayasu aortitis.

Takayasu aortitis (TA) is a chronic inflammatory and fibrotic vasculitis of large- and medium-sized arteries. Early stages of the disease show a panarteritis and inflammatory wall thickening of the aorta and its branches, whereas advanced (fibrotic) stages comprise stenosis, aneurismatic transformation and occlusion. Magnetic resonance imaging visualises early-stage disease with high accuracy and is considered to be the method of choice in the diagnosis of TA. The aim of this article is the detailed comparison of FDG-PET performed with a hybrid camera and MR imaging in five patients with early TA. Five patients (median age 60 years) were enrolled during an ongoing prospective study on [18F]2'-deoxy-2-fluoro-D-glucose (FDG) hybrid camera PET in patients with fever of unknown origin (FUO). These patients underwent MR imaging after establishing the diagnosis of TA. Abnormal FDG uptake in the wall of the aorta was noted in all patients. The bracheocephalic artery and the common carotid arteries were visualized in 3 cases. Increased uptake of the subclavian artery was found in 3 patients and in 4 patients pathological uptake was noted in the ilio-femoral vessels. Of 34 vascular regions studied, 26 (76%) showed elevated FDG uptake. On transversal MR images vessel wall thickening and contrast enhancement of the thoracic aorta was found in 4 patients (ascending aorta/aortic arch: n=2; descending aorta: n=3; abdominal aorta: n=1). Additionally, vessel wall pathologies of the subclavian and the common carotid arteries could be shown in 1 patient and in another patient in the ilio-femoral arteries. No abnormalities were found using contrast-enhanced MR angiography. Of 28 vascular regions studied, 9 (32%) showed vasculitis on MRI. The FDG-PET is a suitable whole-body screening method in the primary diagnosis of early TA, especially in those cases with early disease that present with uncharacteristic symptoms such as FUO. Both MRI and MRA remain indispensable in the exact determination of the pathomorphological changes and in the documentation of complications such as stenosis, aneurismatic transformation and occlusion.

Aged↗

PubMed2002

Laser-induced recollision phenomena: interference resonances at channel closings.

An analytical theory of the resonancelike phenomena in high-order above-threshold ionization is presented that explains details of the experimental spectra and theoretical simulations. It traces the observed features to the constructive interference of "quantum orbits" with long travel times at laser intensities where the N-photon ionization channels close. Characteristic differences show up between even and odd N. The effects are generic to all laser-induced recollision phenomena. For nonsequential double ionization, their signature in the momentum distribution of the final electrons is identified.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2002

The continuing importance of thyroid scintigraphy in the era of high-resolution ultrasound.

At the molecular level, the uptake of radioiodine and pertechnetate is proportional to the expression of the thyroidal sodium/iodine symporter (NIS). Qualitative and quantitative scintigraphic evaluation of the thyroid is performed with a gamma camera fitted with an on-line computer system and enables determination of the iodine uptake or the technetium uptake (TCTU) as an iodine clearance equivalent. Despite new molecular genetic insights into congenital hypothyroidism, the iodine-123 or pertechnetate scan remains the most accurate test for the detection of ectopic thyroid tissue. Following the identification of specific mutations of the genes coding for the NIS, thyroid peroxidase and pendrin, the discharge test has lost its role in establishing the diagnosis of inherited dyshormonogenesis, but it is still of value in the assessment of defect severity. In PDS mutations the test can be used to establish the diagnosis of syndromic disease. Quantitative pertechnetate scintigraphy is the most sensitive and specific technique for the diagnosis and quantification of thyroid autonomy. The method has proved to be valuable in risk stratification of spontaneous or iodine-induced hyperthyroidism, in the estimation of the target volume prior to radioiodine therapy and in the evaluation of therapeutic success after definitive treatment. In iodine deficiency areas the thyroid scan remains indispensable for the functional characterisation of a thyroid nodule and is still a first-line diagnostic procedure in cases of suspected thyroid malignancy. This is especially of importance in patients with Graves' disease, among whom a relatively high prevalence of cancer has been found in cold thyroid nodules. While determination of the TCTU is without any value in the differentiation between autoimmune thyroiditis and Graves' disease in most cases, it is of substantial importance in the differentiation between hyperthyroid autoimmune thyroiditis and Graves' disease.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Delay-dependent amplification of a probe pulse via stimulated Rayleigh scattering.

Stimulated Rayleigh scattering of pump and probe light pulses of close carrier frequencies is considered. A nonzero time delay between the two pulses is shown to give rise to amplification of the delayed (probe) pulse accompanied by attenuation of the pump, both on resonance and off resonance. In either case, phase-matching effects are shown to provide a sufficiently large gain, which can exceed significantly direct one-photon absorption losses.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2002

Characterisation of the mouse diabetes susceptibilty locus Nidd/SJL: islet cell destruction, interaction with the obesity QTL Nob1, and effect of dietary fat.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: The diabetes susceptibility locus Nidd/SJL was identified in an outcross of New Zealand obese (NZO) and lean Swiss/Jackson Laboratory mouse strain (SJL) mice. Here we characterise its effects in a NZO x F1(SJLxNZO) backcross population raised on high-fat or standard diet, and describe its interaction with the obesity quantitative trait locus (QTL) Nob1. METHODS: NZO x F1(SJLxNZO) backcross mice were raised on a normal or high fat diet and were monitored (body weight, blood glucose, serum insulin) for 22 weeks. Genotypes of polymorphic markers were determined by PCR, and linkage analysis was done. Pancreas morphology was assessed by conventional staining and immunohistochemistry of insulin. RESULTS: In backcross mice raised on a high-fat diet, Nidd/SJL produced hyperglycaemia (maximum likelihood of the odds (LOD) score 9.9), hypoinsulinaemia, reduction of islet-cell volume, and loss of beta cells. No effect was observed on body weight and serum insulin concentrations before the onset of hyperglycaemia. The development of diabetes in carriers of Nidd/SJL was markedly accelerated and aggravated by the obesity/hyperinsulinaemia QTL Nob1; together, these loci were responsible for approximately 90% of the diabetes observed in the backcross population. When raised on a standard diet, Nidd/SJL carriers exhibited a fivefold higher prevalence of diabetes, but Nob1 failed to enhance the effect of Nidd/SJL. CONCLUSION/INTERPRETATION: Diabetes in this obese mouse model is the result of an interaction of genes responsible for obesity/insulin resistance (e.g. Nob1) and islet cell failure ( Nidd/SJL). The combined diabetogenic effects of Nidd/SJL and Nob1 were markedly enhanced by a high-fat diet, whereas that of Nidd/SJL alone was independent of the dietary fat content.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

18F-FDG hybrid PET in patients with suspected spondylitis.

This study investigated the value of fluorine-18 2'-deoxy-2-fluoro- D-glucose (FDG) imaging with a double-headed gamma camera operated in coincidence (hybrid PET) detection mode in patients with suspected spondylitis. Comparison was made with conventional nuclear medicine imaging modalities and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Sixteen patients with suspected spondylitis (nine male, seven female, mean age 59 years) prospectively underwent FDG hybrid PET (296 MBq) and MRI. For intra-individual comparison, the patients were also imaged with technetium-99m methylene diphosphonate (MDP) (555 MBq) ( n=13) and/or gallium-67 citrate (185 MBq) ( n=11). For FDG hybrid PET, two or three transverse scans were performed. Ratios of infected (target) to non-infected (background) (T/B) vertebral bodies were calculated. MR images were obtained of the region of interest. Patients found positive for spondylitis with MRI and/or FDG hybrid PET underwent surgical intervention and histological grading of the individual infected foci. Twelve out of 16 patients were found to be positive for spondylitis. Independent of the grade of infection and the location in the spine, all known infected vertebrae ( n=23, 9 thoracic, 12 lumbar, 2 sacral) were detected by FDG hybrid PET. T/B ratios higher than 1.45+/-0.05 (at 1 h p.i.) were indicative of infectious disease, whereas ratios below this value were found in cases of degenerative change. FDG hybrid PET was superior to MRI in patients who had a history of surgery and suffered from a high-grade infection in combination with paravertebral abscess formation ( n=2; further computed tomography was needed) and in those with low-grade spondylitis ( n=2, no oedema) or discitis ( n=2, mild oedema). False-positive 67Ga citrate images ( n=5: 2 spondylodiscitis, 1 aortitis, 1 pleuritis, 1 pulmonary tuberculosis) and 99mTc-MDP SPET ( n=4: 1 osteoporosis, 2 spondylodiscitis, 1 fracture) were equally well detected by FDG hybrid PET and MRI. No diagnostic problems were seen in the other patients ( n=5). In this study, FDG hybrid PET was superior to MRI, 67Ga citrate and (99m)Tc-MDP, especially in patients with low-grade spondylitis (as compared with MRI), adjacent soft tissue infections (as compared with 67Ga citrate) and advanced bone degeneration (as compared with 99mTc-MDP).

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Bone remodelling along a titanium hip arthroplasty stem after resection of a chondrosarcoma.

Long-term anchorage of cementless total hip arthroplasty relies on a direct bone to implant bonding. Several factors including material properties and surface treatment determine the interfacial response of the host bone to a foreign material. In the case presented, a chondrosarcoma of the proximal femur required an extended extraperiosteal resection. Reconstruction was possible with a titanium-alloy revision stem. A bony remodelling of the proximal femur was observed along the surface of the stem.

Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip↗

PubMed2002

Estimating the distribution of usual dietary intake by short-term measurements.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the habitual dietary intake distribution in a population on the basis of repeated short-term measurements, especially of multiple 24 h diet recalls. METHODS: Six different statistical methods were evaluated and compared. The comparison referred to theoretical assumptions, admitted data transformations, statistical foundations, available software packages, and applications to real data of dietary intake. RESULTS: The Nusser method and a simplified version of it proposed in the paper have proved to be universally applicable methods for estimating the usual intake distribution for food groups and nutrients. Also, the Buck method seemed to be a robust estimation procedure suitable for the description of food consumption data, whereas the other considered methods were only applicable for log-normally distributed intake data or required a comprehensive data simulation. Characteristics of the estimated usual intake distribution were a decreased standard deviation, increased lower percentiles, and decreased upper percentiles compared to the observed sample distribution of individual means. Empirical results concerning total fat and vegetable intake in three different European consumption surveys showed that the estimated percentiles of the usual intake distribution did not depend markedly on the number of sampling days. CONCLUSIONS: Repeated short-term measurements like 24 h diet recalls can be used to describe the habitual dietary intake distribution in food consumption surveys. Recommended is a sampling design of two non-consecutive sampling days. The sampling days of all participants should be selected in such a way that they cover all seasons and days of the week.

Data Interpretation, Statistical↗

PubMed2002

Operationalization of food consumption surveys in Europe: recommendations from the European Food Consumption Survey Methods (EFCOSUM) Project.

BACKGROUND: The EFCOSUM (European Food Consumption Survey Methods) Project aims at harmonizing food consumption surveys in European countries within the perspective of an overall Public Health Monitoring Programme. Harmonization implies the need for a common framework of procedures and tools, that are applicable and feasible in all potentially interested countries. A major element in such a framework is the protocol for the operationalization of a food consumption survey, referring to all practical, logistical and material conditions that need to be fulfilled in order to guarantee a successful implementation of such a survey. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this paper was to review a number of aspects of operationalization of food consumption surveys in detail. On the basis of the currently available knowledge and experience in Europe, consensus recommendations have been elaborated for an operationalization protocol that would be feasible for all European countries. METHODS: The EFCOSUM recommendations with respect to operationalization of food consumption surveys in Europe are mainly based on three sources of information, which have been discussed at several ad hoc expert meetings: experience from previous collaborative epidemiological studies, literature searches and results of two questionnaires, distributed among representatives from 23 European countries-all experts affiliated with experienced organizations in the fields of nutrition research and related fields. RESULTS: Consensus recommendations have been set up for the following topics: sampling, recruitment, fieldwork, biomarkers, interviewer qualifications and training and quality control. These recommendations have to be considered the best achievable common denominator within Europe at this time. In a number of cases, recommendations are presented in a hierarchical way, with a gradation from first choice options towards acceptable alternatives. CONCLUSIONS: It can be concluded that a high degree of standardization of fieldwork can be achieved within Europe. A number of specific problems and constraints will have to be solved in connection with the conduction of a real survey. These problems include, amongst others, country-specific decisions on, for example, target population, detailed sampling and recruiting procedures, interview setting and support. However, on the whole, these problems can be overcome and the main recommendations presented in this paper are considered feasible for every country in Europe. Application of the EFCOSUM operationalization protocol in European countries will contribute significantly to the quality and comparability of food consumption data across Europe. It is anticipated that the policy supporting and orienting potential of this type of databases-both at the national and at the EU supranational level-will be increased accordingly.

Data Collection↗

PubMed2002

A European food consumption survey method--conclusions and recommendations.

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the general outcome and conclusions of a European project (EFCOSUM); to develop a method for a European food consumption survey that delivers internationally comparable data on a set of policy relevant nutritional indicators. DESIGN AND METHODS: The EFCOSUM project was carried out within the framework of the European Health Monitoring Programme by 14 Member States as well as nine other European countries. Activities of the project included plenary sessions, desk research and working group activities, building on existing experience from such projects as DAFNE, EPIC, FLAIR Eurofoods-Enfant project, COST Action 99 and others. All participating states took part in one or more working group activities, which were discussed, adapted and finally approved in plenary sessions. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: For a limited number of countries available food consumption data can be made comparable at the food intake level, but not at the nutrient level. To achieve comparability at the food intake level, a considerable amount of work still has to be done. A minimum list of dietary indicators considered to be the most relevant to be collected for the Health information exchange and monitoring system was identified. As the most suitable method to get internationally comparable new data on population means and distributions of actual intake the 24 h recall was selected, to be conducted at least twice. This also allows for the estimation of usual intake by a modelling technique that separates intra- and inter-individual intake. For a number of micronutrients the use of biomarkers is recommended. Aspects of food classification and food composition were discussed thoroughly, as well as statistical and data collection aspects. For the implementation of a pan-European survey the establishment of a European co-ordinating centre is recommended. The standardization of field work work procedures and other aspects of operationalization have been discussed in detail. It is concluded that there is broad European consensus on the most suitable method for a pan-European dietary survey for the purposes of the EU Health Monitoring Programme. It is further concluded that such a pan-European survey is feasible, if the funds are made available.

Data Collection↗