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PubMed1967

Effect of reduced barometric pressure on water availability related to microbial growth.

Data obtained from Mariner IV indicate that the barometric pressure on Mars is considerably lower than previously estimated. Current estimates from Mariner IV indicate a range from 4 to 7 mb and by near infrared spectroscopy 33-56 mb. Inasmuch as the pressure has a marked influence on availability of water, this should affect the existence of Martian life. At the maximum temperatures recorded on Mars, namely 25 degrees C, a barometric pressure of 30 mb is required for the retention of free water. The lower pressure, 4 mb, would suggest that the moisture is present as a vapor above the freezing point and consequently it is not available for utilizing by living cells. The lower estimates of barometric pressure also inversely affect the carbon dioxide concentration in the Martian atmosphere. Our previous studies have demonstrated that spores of Bacillus cereus survive, germinate and grow in a simulated Martian environment (2.4% CO2, 98 mb) supplemented with moisture. The studies described in this paper were designed to determine the effect of low barometric pressures (10 to 98 mb Hg) and high concentrations of carbon dioxide (37 to 100%) in the simulated Martian environment on survival and growth of B cereus. The organism was inoculated into a felsite-limonite soil at 8% moisture level. The temperature cycles used were 8 hr at -65 degrees C and 16 hr at 25 degrees C, or 20 hr at -65 degrees C and 4 hr at 25 degrees C. The data suggest that the organism after achieving maximum growth in the simulated Martian environment (2.4% CO2, 98 mb) immediately enters into the growth phase upon reinoculation into fresh soil. These data reflect upon the possibility of contamination through air movements. Based upon currently available Martian environmental data, the probability of contamination of Mars by terrestrial micro-organisms will be discussed.

Atmosphere↗

PubMed2001

[Effect of thermal treatment on the available lysine content of mora crab (Homalaspis plana) meat].

The effect of different high temperatures treatments on the available lysine content of mora crab meat, was studied. Fresh pincer meat from mora crab (from the V region) was extracted and kept in ice until the thermal process of the canned product. A 3(2) statistical design was applied, considering the following variables temperature (80 degrees C, 100 degrees C and 121 degrees C) and time (15, 30 and 45 minutes). Nine conditions temperature-time were obtained. Nutritional properties from available lysine were studied. A decrease from 8.33 (in raw meat) to 6.01 g/g protein in the most drastic thermal conditions, was observed. It ca be concluded that the content of available lysine in mora crab meat is more affected by time than by the temperature of the thermal treatments. Therefore the nutritive quality can be maintained applying high temperature and short time treatments.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Availability of irrigation water for domestic use in Pakistan: its impact on prevalence of diarrhoea and nutritional status of children.

This study assessed whether availability of water for domestic use had any impact on nutritional status of children in an area where people depend on irrigation water for all their domestic water needs. During May 1998-April 1999, data on the occurrence of diarrhoea among 167 children aged less than five years were collected from 10 villages in the command area of the Hakra 6R canal in southern Punjab, Pakistan. Anthropometric measurements were taken at the end of the study period. Additional surveys were conducted to collect information on the availability of water, sanitary facilities, hygiene, and socioeconomic status. Height-for-age and longitudinal prevalence of diarrhoea were used as outcome measures. Quantity of water available in households was a strong predictor of height-for-age and prevalence of diarrhoea. Children from households with a large storage capacity for water in the house had a much lower prevalence of diarrhoea and stunting than children from families without this facility. Having a toilet was protective for diarrhoea and stunting. Increased quantity of water for domestic use and provision of toilet facilities were the most important interventions to reduce burden of diarrhoea and malnutrition in this area. An integrated approach to water management is needed in irrigation schemes, so that supply of domestic water is given priority when allocating water in time and space within the systems.

Body Height↗

PubMed2002

What can be deduced about the structure of Shaker from available data?

Voltage-gated K+ channels are transmembrane proteins that control and regulate the flow of K+ ions across cell membranes in response to changes in membrane potential and are essential for the propagation of action potentials in the nervous system. One of the most studied voltage-gated channels is Shaker. Available experimental results clearly provide specific constraints on the structure of the channel, even though the direct translation of the available information into 3D structures is not trivial. The goal of this work is to develop a computational approach to construct and refine 3D models of Shaker by incorporating and integrating available experimental data. Our approach is based on comparative modelization and global conformational optimization using energy restraints extracted from experimental data.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2002

[Antidote availability in Norway].

BACKGROUND: Antidotes are therapeutic substances that are used primarily to counteract the toxic action of poisonous agents and thus have an important role in the treatment of poisoning. Antidote availability is crucial for the poisoned patient; it is important that hospitals keep antidotes in stock to treat these patients. Most antidotes are expensive, infrequently used, and have short shelf-lives. This makes hospital stocking economically difficult. In Norway, there is no national antidote programme. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The National Poisons Information Centre recently made an inquiry about antidote stocking in Norwegian hospitals. RESULTS AND INTERPRETATION: This survey showed that the antidote availability is not satisfactory. The availability of antidotes in Norwegian hospitals is discussed and recommendations are given.

Antidotes↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Assessment of educational services available to blind and low vision school children in Lagos, Nigeria.

A descriptive study to assess the educational services available to children attending the Pacelli School for the Blind in Lagos, Nigeria. A standardised methodology was used with structured and semi-structured questionnaires. Observations were also made in some areas. Of the 26 children aged 10-15 years who were identified as having low vision, 15 (57.7%) of them had significant improvement in distance and near vision after refraction while one third (31%) had improvement in their reading with low power magnifying lenses. All except 4 (25%) teachers were well educated but none seemed to have appreciable knowledge about the teaching of low vision children as all these children were taught Braille like their blind peers. While educational facilities available were reasonably adequate for blind children, no visual aids were available for low vision children. It is recommended that appropriate educational facilities, optical and non-optical devices should also be provided particularly for low vision children to enable them achieve their optimal potential in life.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

Relationship between availability of NMDA receptor subunits and their expression at the synapse.

The effect of increasing the expression of NMDA subunits in cerebellar granule cells (CGCs) by transfection was studied to determine how the availability of various NMDA subunits controls both the total pool of functional receptors and the synaptic pool. Overexpression of either NR2A or NR2B, but not splice variants of NR1, by transfection caused a significant increase in the total number of functional NMDA receptors and in surface NR1 subunit cluster density in CGCs in primary culture. These data solidify the central role of NR2 subunit availability in determining the number of cell surface receptors. Overexpression of either NR2A or NR2B significantly altered the deactivation kinetics of NMDA-mediated miniature EPSCs (NMDA-mEPSCs). However, there was no significant effect of NR2 subunit overexpression on the mEPSC amplitude or single-channel conductance. NR2 subunit overexpression did not change the rate of block by MK-801 of NMDA-mediated currents in excised patches from CGCs, indicating that subunit composition does not regulate peak open probability of the channel in CGCs. With the overexpression of a mutant of NR2B lacking the PDZ binding domain, there was an increase in the total number of NMDA receptors without a change in mEPSC kinetics. Therefore, the entry of NMDA receptors into the synapse requires a PDZ binding domain and is limited by means other than receptor subunit availability.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

[No reduced number of abortions despite easily available emergency contraceptive pills. Studies of women's knowledge, attitudes and experience of the method].

Despite the fact that emergency contraceptive pills (ECP) have become easily available across the country during recent years, abortion numbers continue to rise in Sweden, especially in the young age groups (< 25). In a series of studies, we have investigated knowledge, attitudes and experience of ECP among young women. Our results show that, whereas most women are aware of the method, many lack knowledge about the mechanism of action and time frames for best use, which could explain why ECPs are not used by more than a fraction of women who might have had benefit from their use. Since half of the women requesting a termination of pregnancy stated that they would have used ECP if they had had them available at home at the time of the unprotected intercourse which led to an unintended pregnancy, it seems reasonable to encourage women to keep ECPs at home, in case the need should arise. It is important that ECPs are available without prescription, but beyond that, much more information about ECP is necessary in order for the method to be widely accepted and used as a back-up after failure with other contraceptives.

Abortion, Legal↗

PubMed2003

Determination of the efficiency of commercially available dose calibrators for beta-emitters.

OBJECTIVES: The goals of this investigation are to determine whether commercially available dose calibrators can be used to measure the activity of beta-emitting radionuclides used in pain palliation and to establish whether manufacturer-supplied calibration factors are appropriate for this purpose. METHODS: Six types of commercially available dose calibrators were studied. Dose calibrator response was controlled for 5 gamma-emitters used for calibration or typically encountered in routine use. For the 4 most commonly used beta-emitters ((32)P, (90)Sr, (90)Y, and (169)Er) dose calibrator efficiency was determined in the syringe geometry used for clinical applications. Efficiency of the calibrators was also measured for (153)Sm and (186)Re, 2 beta-emitters with significant gamma-contributions. Source activities were traceable to national standards. RESULTS: All calibrators measured gamma-emitters with a precision of +/-10%, in compliance with Swiss regulatory requirements. For beta-emitters, dose calibrator intrinsic efficiency depends strongly on the maximal energy of the beta-spectrum and is notably low for (169)Er. Manufacturer-supplied calibration factors give accurate results for beta-emitters with maximal beta-energy in the middle-energy range (1 MeV) but are not appropriate for use with low-energy ((169)Er) or high-energy ((90)Y) beta-emitters. beta-emitters with significant gamma-contributions behave like gamma-emitters. CONCLUSION: Commercially available dose calibrators have an intrinsic efficiency that is sufficient for the measurement of beta-emitters, including beta-emitters with a low maximum beta-energy. Manufacturer-supplied calibration factors are reliable for gamma-emitters and beta-emitters in the middle-energy range. For low- and high-energy beta-emitters, the use of manufacturer-supplied calibration factors introduces significant measurement inaccuracy.

Beta Particles↗

PubMed2002

Maternal mortality in Pakistan--compilation of available data.

OBJECTIVE: To compile available information - both hospital and community based--on the maternal mortality ratios (MMRs) and the causes of maternal deaths in Pakistan METHODS: Data was collected from articles published in Medical Journals, in Proceedings of Conferences and of Workshops as well as from Newsletters of the National Committee for Maternal Health (NCMH). The data was then tabulated in order of the year of publication. RESULTS: The MMRs reported from hospitals vary between 17 in a private tertiary hospital to 2,736 in a government tertiary hospital. In the community the range is from 160 in Sindh to 673 in Khuzdar. Data for different periods of time from three tertiary public hospitals, two in the south and one in the north of Pakistan, show no decrease in MMRs. The trend remains the same. In the hospitals over 80% of the deaths are due to direct causes. The most common cause of death is hemorrhage, followed by eclampsia and sepsis. The causes of death in the community are also the same though the proportions vary. Direct causes account for 78.1% of deaths, hemorrhage being the most common followed by sepsis, eclampsia, rupture of the uterus, and abortions. CONCLUSIONS: Available data shows that the Maternal Mortality Ratios in Pakistan continue to remain high despite attention paid to maternal health. To address the unacceptable state of maternal health, a policy change with a more comprehensive and integrated approach to maternal health services is needed. Strategies need to be developed which are short term, medium term and long term. This includes competency based training, deployment and supervision of a cadre of skilled attendants for delivery at the community level. In addition upgrading of health care systems especially availability of emergency obstetric care is urgently required.

Eclampsia↗

PubMed1976

Estimation of tumor growth fraction in murine tumors by the primer-available DNA-dependent DNA polymerase assay.

The tumor growth fraction measured by the percentage labeled mitoses method has been determined in transplantable solid and ascites murine tumors, the latter being measured at different times after transplantation. These values were compared to an in vitro, autoradiographic assay that determines the fraction of cells in a given population (primer-available DNA-dependent DNA polymerase index) that have both nuclear DNA-dependent DNA polymerase and DNA capable of acting as primer-template. It appears that almost all cells with a short G1 phase duration (less than 19 hr) that are within the proliferative cycle are primer-available DNA-dependent DNA polymerase positive. The results of the comparison indicate that the primer-available DNA-dependent DNA polymerase index estimation of growth fraction is very nearly identical to the growth fraction measured by the percentage labeled mitoses method.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Comparative 3-week clinical tooth-shade evaluation of a novel liquid whitening gel containing 18% carbamide peroxide and a commercially available whitening dentifrice.

A randomized, controlled, examiner-blind, parallel-group clinical trial was performed to compare the tooth-whitening benefits of a novel, nontray, "paint-on" liquid gel containing 18% carbamide peroxide (Colgate Simply White Clear Whitening Gel) to those of a commercially available whitening dentifrice. Efficacy was measured by using Vita shade scores obtained at baseline and after 2 and 3 weeks of product use. Eighty subjects were first balanced according to gender, age, and shade scores into two groups. Half were then randomly assigned to either alpha 3-week routine of tooth-brushing (using a nonwhitening dentifrice) and twice-daily 18% carbamide peroxide gel application or a 3-week routine of twice-daily brushing with the commercially available whitening dentifrice. At the completion of the study, the results showed that subjects' teeth in the liquid whitening gel-treated group exhibited a statistically significant (P < .05) 4.12 mean tooth-shade improvement compared to baseline and exhibited a mean score that was 3.7 units higher than the corresponding mean score of the group assigned to use the whitening dentifrice (statistically significant, P < .05). It can therefore be concluded that the combined use of Colgate Simply White Clear Whitening Gel immediately after brushing with a regular toothpaste is clinically superior at whitening teeth than solely using a clinically proven, commercially available whitening dentifrice.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

Clinical comparison of the stain-removal efficacy of a novel liquid whitening gel containing 18% carbamide peroxide and a commercially available whitening dentifrice.

The objective of this examiner-blind clinical study was to compare the extrinsic tooth-stain removal efficacy of a novel, nontray, "paint-on" liquid whitening gel containing 18% carbamide peroxide (Colgate Simply White Clear Whitening Gel) with a commercially available whitening dentifrice. After a baseline examination for extrinsic tooth stain, qualifying adult men and women from Canada were randomized into two treatment groups balanced for age, gender, and level of extrinsic tooth stain. Subjects were instructed to brush their teeth twice daily (morning and evening) for 1 minute with their assigned dentifrice (Group 1: nonwhitening dentifrice; Group 2: whitening dentifrice). The subjects in Group 1 also were instructed to use the paint-on whitening gel for 30 minutes twice daily. Examinations for extrinsic tooth stain were repeated after 2 and 3 weeks. Ninety-seven subjects complied with the protocol and completed the entire study. At both the 2- and 3-week examinations, subjects assigned to the liquid whitening gel-treatment group exhibited statistically significant reductions in extrinsic tooth stain (P < .05) with respect to stain area (22.7% reduction at 3 weeks), stain intensity (26.3% reduction at 3 weeks), and overall stain removal (32% reduction at 3 weeks) compared with the commercially available whitening dentifrice group. Thus, the results of the examiner-blind clinical study support the conclusion that Colgate Simply White Clear Whitening Gel provides a significantly greater level of extrinsic tooth-stain removal efficacy than a commercially available whitening dentifrice.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1992

Availability of the B beta(15-21) epitope on cross-linked human fibrin and its plasmic degradation products.

The binding of radiolabeled monoclonal antifibrin antibody 59D8 (specific for fibrin but not fibrinogen) to a series of degraded fibrin clots showed that the availability of the B beta(15-21) epitope (against which 59D8 had been raised) was inversely proportional to the extent of clot lysis. Examination of digest supernatants revealed that the B beta(15-21) epitope was released from clots as a high molecular weight degradation product in the presence of calcium ions but that the generation of low molecular weight peptides occurred in the absence of calcium ions. To address the question of epitope accessibility, we compared levels of fibrin clot binding among four radioactively labeled antibodies: antifibrin monoclonal antibody 59D8, two antifibrinogen monoclonal antibodies that cross-reacted with fibrin, and an affinity-purified polyclonal antifibrinogen antibody. We expected that the antifibrinogen antibodies would show enhanced binding to clots in comparison with the antifibrin antibody. However, the epitope accessibility experiments showed that all four antibody preparations bound fibrin clots at comparable levels. Taken together, these studies demonstrated that one fibrin-specific epitope, B beta(15-21), remains available on clots as they undergo degradation by plasmin and, importantly, that the epitope is not solubilized at a rate faster than the rate at which the clot is itself solubilized. The availability of the B beta(15-21) epitope during the course of plasminolysis assures the potential utility of antifibrin antibodies such as 59D8 for detecting thrombi and targeting plasminogen activators.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Demand and availability of Intensive Care beds. A study based on the data collected at the SUEM 118 Central of Padua from October 1996 to December 2001.

AIM: This study aims to evaluate the management of intensive care beds according to the demands received by the SUEM 118 of Padua. It has been carried out by examining the reports drawn up by SUEM physicians from October 1996 to December 2001. The study rated the number of patients for whom an admission to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) was required, according to the specific clinical situation at the moment of the request. A secondary objective was to evaluate if the critically ill patients had been admitted and treated in the most appropriate medical facility. METHODS: The research is based on 7 087 reports concerning a population of adult and pediatric patients for whom an ICU bed was required in the period previously mentioned. For each report, it analyses the following data (keeping them anonymous): date of demand, main pathology and severity of clinical condition, sex and age, provenence and destination. RESULTS: Even though the number of annual demands for an ICU bed made to SUEM Central 118 has remained unchanged (approximately 1 350 per year), the number of beds made available in the operating rooms of the Hospital of Padua markedly increased. What has been experienced so far, and the data collected in this study has revealed, was that the requests for an intensive treatment for the overall population (hospitalized and non hospitalized) increased disproportionally in relation to the availability of ICU beds. In fact, the total number of hospitalizations in the different ICUs rose steadily year by year (from 3 495 in 1996 to 4 640 in 2001). CONCLUSION: The Hospital of Padua is a landmark center for patients who need specialized treatment. It is therefore important to increase the assistance and safety standards of its ICUs. In recent years there has been a great need for specialized ICUs either for more aggressive procedures (neurosurgical, cardiosurgical, respiratory, cardiologic, etc.) or for the increased use of adequate and invasive treatment for advanced diseases. The available resources of ICU beds should be more rationally distributed between the peripheral and the Regional Hospitals, since the activation of an ICU bed in the operating theatre is a valid, transient option.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

The availability of body composition reference data for the elderly.

A significant public health issue is the nutritional, functional and health status of the elderly, many of whom live to very old ages, and three-quarters are living in developing countries. The assessment of health and nutritional status for the elderly needs improving in order to reduce health care costs. Health, function, disease and disability are associated with amounts of bone, fat and muscle in the body s composition. The ability to screen elderly persons for osteoporosis, obesity or sarcopenia requires normal distributions of measures of stature, weight and body composition in old age. Distribution statistics and selected percentiles for stature and weight are available from national health surveys in numerous countries. There are also numerous sets of body composition data collected from elderly persons around the world. These data sets provide important and valid descriptive information as a supplement to national reference data sets. The largest available data set for the elderly is the NHANES III, but in terms of numbers, the NHANES III sample of elderly is limited to availability of the 25th and 75th percentiles levels for stature, weight and BMI from 60 to 90 years of age for non-Hispanic Whites, and from 60 to 79 years of age for non-Hispanic Blacks and Mexican Americans.

Aged↗

PubMed2002

[Availability of coronarography based on the examinations performed in the Haemodynamic Laboratory of the Medical University of Gdansk].

The coronary disease is nowadays one of the main causes of death in Poland. To fight epidemy of the coronary disease, not only the prevention and proper treatment are necessary, but the sufficient availability of the diagnostic methods, as well. The aim of our work was to evaluate the availability of coronarography among the patients from Northern Poland. We analysed the data of the patients who underwent the coronarography in years 1997-1998. During that time there were 3916 examined patients. In the analysis the sex, age and place of residence were taken into consideration. Women were 28.93% of all the diagnosed patients. The sex structure basically didn't differ according to the place of residence (city--women 28.7%, village--30.64%). The average age of the diagnosed patients was 58 years. There was a statistically significant difference between the average age of women and men (women 59 years, while men 57 years). The age distribution varied also in the statistically significant degree according to the place of living--the average age of village people was 56 years, little cities 58 years, big cities 59 years. The village people were only 10% of all diagnosed patients. In the analysis of the collected data significant differences in availability of coronarography were found-especially between rural and urban areas. Also the age and sex of the diagnosed patients varied significantly-most probably due to the distribution of the risk factors.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Impact of decentralization on health services in Uganda: a look at facility utilization, prescribing and availability of essential drugs.

INTRODUCTION: Uganda began implementation of a structural adjustment programme (SAP) in July 1994 in order to improve social services. The decentralization of health services administration to district level was intended to improve the quality of health services and pharmaceutical supplies in the hospitals, with resultant increase in the level of utilization of health facilities. OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the impact of the decentralization policy on health facility utilization; availability of essential drugs, and prescribing patterns for acute respiratory infections (ARI), diarrhoea, and malaria in two district hospitals in Uganda. DESIGN: Mixed method evaluation design, involving both quantitative and qualitative methods. Time series analyses of data from utilization, pharmacy stock, and prescription records before and after the policy change. Key informant interviews and focus group discussions to obtain information on perceptions and attitude of stakeholders on the process of the policy implementation. STUDY SETTING AND POPULATION: The study was conducted in two district hospitals in northern Uganda. A total of seven years of utilization and pharmacy stock data including 5040 patient records from the hospitals were analysed retrospectively. In-depth interviews were conducted among 11 politicians from each district; 100 open-ended questionnaires were administered to patients in each hospital; 86 health care workers were interviewed using semi-structured questionnaires; and focus group discussions were conducted with 23 health care providers. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Facility utilization was evaluated by average monthly attendance in the outpatient department and paediatric ward admissions. Availability was assessed as average number of drugs per month. Prescribing indicator outcomes included: for malaria, percent chloroquine tablets and percent chloroquine injection; for ARI, percent receiving antibiotics or injections; for diarrhoea, use of oral rehydration salts (ORS), antidiarrhoeal mixtures, and antibiotics. The average number of drugs prescribed assessed polypharmacy. RESULTS: There was a general increase in patient attendance in both hospitals, although the initial increase later declined in Apac. Drug availability was erratic and not always adequate. The situation was better in Lira where funding for drug procurement was more accessible. Prescribing patterns varied, with improvement in some indicators, while others showed no change or even worsened. CONCLUSIONS: The decentralization policy led to increased utilization of health facilities. The perception was that the policy was good because it "empowered the community in terms of creating a sense of responsibility in the stakeholders, and a sense of ownership that facilitated sustainability" of public institutions. In spite of the views expressed by the stakeholders, the policy failed to improve drug shortages, inefficient utilization of resources, and low morale among hospital staff. Staff should be re-trained and better remunerated in order to cope with the implementation of the policy. Local politicians should clearly understand their roles and responsibility under the new policy. Efficient utilization of funds at all levels of the district administrative structures should be ensured.

Delivery of Health Care↗