Tumor markers as a diagnostic key for hilar Cholangiocarcinoma

OBJECTIVE: Hilar cholangiocarcinoma is the fourth most common gastrointestinal malignancy. CA19-9 and CEA are helpful devices in the management of gastrointestinal malignancies and belong to clinical routine in surgical oncology. But the validity of these parameters in terms of tumor extension and prognosis of bile duct malignancies still remains unclear. METHODS: From 1998 to 2008, we obtained preoperative CA19-9 and CEA serum levels in 136 patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma. We correlated tumor stage, resectability rate and survival with preoperative CA 19-9 and CEA serum levels. RESULTS: CA19-9 (UICC I: 253 ± 561 U/ml; UICC II: 742 ± 1572 U/ml; UICC III: 906 ± 1708 U/ml; UICC IV: 1707 ± 3053 U/ml) and CEA levels (UICC I: 2.9 ± 3.8 U/ml; UICC II: 4.6 ± 6.5 U/ml; UICC III: 18.1 ± 29.6 U/ml; UICC IV: 22.7 ± 53.9 U/ml) increase significantly with rising tumor stage. Patients with pre operative serum levels of CA19-9 (> 1000 U/ml) and CEA (> 14.4 ng/ml) showed a significant poorer resectability rate and survival than patients with lower CA19-9 and CEA serum levels respectively. CONCLUSION: CA19-9 and CEA serum levels are associated with the tumor stage. If preoperatively obtained CA19-9 and CEA serum levels are highly elevated patients have an even worse survival and the frequency of irresectability is significantly higher

Shaping our future: animal health in a global trading environment

Ireland is currently experiencing both the positive and negative effects of global trade in agricultural products. With increasing global competition, there is little doubt that Irish agricultural product must increasingly compete on the basis of quality, rather than price

A case for increased private sector involvement in Ireland's national animal health services

Non-regulatory animal health issues, such as Johne's disease, infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) and mastitis will become increasing important, with ongoing globalisation of markets in animals and animal products. In response, Ireland may need to broaden the scope of its national animal health services. However, there have been concerns about the respective roles and responsibilities (both financial and otherwise) of government and industry in any such moves. This paper argues the case for increased private sector involvement in Ireland's national animal health services, based both on theoretical considerations and country case studies (the Netherlands and Australia). The Dutch and Australian case studies present examples of successful partnerships between government and industry, including systems and processes to address non-regulatory animal health issues. In each case, the roles and responsibilities of government are clear, as are the principles underpinning government involvement. Furthermore, the roles and responsibilities (financial and otherwise) of the Dutch and Australian industry are determined through enabling legislation, providing both legitimacy and accountability. There are constraints on the use of EU and national government funds to support non-regulatory animal health services in EU member states (such as Ireland and the Netherlands)

Atividade repelente e inseticida do óleo essencial de carqueja doce sobre o caruncho do feijão

Com este trabalho se avaliaram o índice de preferência e o efeito inseticida do óleo de carqueja doce (Baccharis Articulata) sobre o caruncho do feijão (Acanthoscelides obtectus). Para a realização do experimento foram utilizados insetos não sexados, com idade entre 20 e 50 dias. O óleo essencial foi extraido da parte aérea da planta pelo método de hidrodestilação. O experimento foi conduzido conforme o delineamneto inteiramente casualizado, com 6 repetições, em esquema fatorial 6 x 3 e 6 x 7 (dose x tempo), respetivamente, para repelência e para atividade inseticida. Os testes de repelência e da atividade inseticida foram realizados com as doses de 0, 10, 20, 30, 50 e 100 µL de óleo essencial em 20 g de grãos de feijão sendo a avaliação realizada depois de transcorridas 24, 48 e 72 h para a repelência e após 1, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72 e 96 h para a atividade inseticida. Os resultados demonstram que a dosagem, o tempo de exposição e a interação tiveram efeito significativo na mortalidade dos insetos. Em relação à dosagem, seu aumento proporcionou incremento logaritmico na taxa de mortalidade sendo verificada, na dose aproximada de 52 µL, a morte de 90% dos insetos. O tempo de exposição de 35 h provocou a morte de 90% dos insetos. Também, foi observado efeito repelente do óleo essencial nas dosagens e tempos de exposição estudados

Knowledge and attitude of ICU nurses, students and patients towards the Austrian organ donation law

BACKGROUND: A survey on the knowledge and attitudes towards the Austrian organ donation legislation (an opt-out solution) of selected groups of the Austrian population taking into account factors such as age, gender, level of education, affiliation to healthcare professions and health related studies was conducted. METHODS: An online survey among 3 target groups (ICU nurses, health science students and non health science students) was performed and results were compared to the answers from transplantation patients to a paper questionnaire. A total of 8415 persons were asked to participate in the survey and 2025 (24%) persons correctly completed the questionnaire. 1945 online responses (ICU nurses n = 185; students of health sciences n = 1277; students of non-health science related courses n = 483) were analysed and data were compared to 80 manually filled-in responses from patients from a previous study. RESULTS: 84% of participants state that they know the Austrian organ donation legislation; this percentage varies significantly (p < 0.05) within the target groups and is influenced by demographic variables of the participants. 74% think that the law is good and 79% do not favour a change. Opinions and attitudes towards the legal situation are positively influenced by the affiliation to healthcare professions and health-related fields of study. Interviewed persons who were aware of the legislation before the survey had a more positive attitude towards the existing legislation (77% versus 74%, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The information level on Austrian organ donation legislation is high. ICU nurses and those who did not know the law before were most critical towards the existing legislation. Therefore education to increase knowledge in the general population and goal-oriented efforts to increase awareness in the target groups should be emphasized

by Brian Radunz.

Made available by the Northern Territory Library via the Publications (Legal Deposit) Act 2004 (NT).Date:1983-09Includes references