Modelling Future Coronary Heart Disease Mortality to 2030 in the British Isles.

OBJECTIVE: Despite rapid declines over the last two decades, coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality rates in the British Isles are still amongst the highest in Europe. This study uses a modelling approach to compare the potential impact of future risk factor scenarios relating to smoking and physical activity levels, dietary salt and saturated fat intakes on future CHD mortality in three countries: Northern Ireland (NI), Republic of Ireland (RoI) and Scotland. METHODS: CHD mortality models previously developed and validated in each country were extended to predict potential reductions in CHD mortality from 2010 (baseline year) to 2030. Risk factor trends data from recent surveys at baseline were used to model alternative future risk factor scenarios: Absolute decreases in (i) smoking prevalence and (ii) physical inactivity rates of up to 15% by 2030; relative decreases in (iii) dietary salt intake of up to 30% by 2030 and (iv) dietary saturated fat of up to 6% by 2030. Probabilistic sensitivity analyses were then conducted. RESULTS: Projected populations in 2030 were 1.3, 3.4 and 3.9 million in NI, RoI and Scotland respectively (adults aged 25-84). In 2030: assuming recent declining mortality trends continue: 15% absolute reductions in smoking could decrease CHD deaths by 5.8-7.2%. 15% absolute reductions in physical inactivity levels could decrease CHD deaths by 3.1-3.6%. Relative reductions in salt intake of 30% could decrease CHD deaths by 5.2-5.6% and a 6% reduction in saturated fat intake might decrease CHD deaths by some 7.8-9.0%. These projections remained stable under a wide range of sensitivity analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Feasible reductions in four cardiovascular risk factors (already achieved elsewhere) could substantially reduce future coronary deaths. More aggressive polices are therefore needed in the British Isles to control tobacco, promote healthy food and increase physical activity

Evaluation of dried fruit on the example of apple chips - characteristics of hygroscopic properties

Przeprowadzono porównawczą ocenę jakości suszy (chipsów) jabłkowych. Materiał badawczy stanowiły: I - produkt handlowy zakupiony w sieci handlowej - Crispy jabłkowe, polskiej firmy Paula oraz II - Susze jabłkowe wytworzone w warunkach laboratoryjnych za pomocą suszarki domowej. Izotermy sorpcji wyznaczono metodą statyczno-eksykatorową, w zakresie aktywności wody aw = 0,069÷0,932. Czas ustalenia równowagi układu wynosił 21 dni. Susze jabłkowe otrzymane w warunkach laboratoryjnych charakteryzowały się wyższą pojemnością warstwy monomolekularnej, jak również wyższą po wierzchnią właściwą sorpcji. Susze jabłkowe wytworzone w warunkach laboratoryjnych charakteryzowały się wyższą stabilnością przechowalniczą, a tym samym wyższą jakością, w porównaniu z ocenianym produktem handlowym.A comparative evaluation of dried apple quality was performed. Crispy apple by Polish company Paula, (I) - a commercial product purchased in the trade network, and apple chips (II) - produced in laboratory conditions using a home dryer were selected as tested material. The sorption isotherms were measured using the staticdesiccator method in a range of water activity equal to aw = 0.069÷0..932. The equilibration period was equal to 21 days. Drought apple obtained in laboratory conditions were characterized by higher monolayer capacity and higher specific surface adsorption. Apple chips produced in laboratory conditions were characterized by higher storage stability and therefore higher quality, compared with the assessed commercial product

Assessment of ghrelin and leptin receptor levels in postmenopausal women who received oral or transdermal menopausal hormonal therapy*

Objective: In postmenopausal women, an increased leptin concentration and reduced levels of ghrelin and adiponectin were observed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the concentrations of the active form of ghrelin, total ghrelin, leptin receptor, lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)), and plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1) in postmenopausal women who received oral or transdermal menopausal hormonal therapy (MHT). Methods: The study involved 76 healthy women: 46 women aged from 44 to 58 years who received oral (26) or transdermal (20) MHT; the control group consisted of 30 women aged from 44 to 54 years who did not receive MHT. The plasma concentrations of total ghrelin, the active form of ghrelin, Lp(a), and PAI-1:Ag were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The concentration of the leptin receptor was measured by enzyme immunometric assay (EIA). Results: We observed a significantly higher concentration of total ghrelin and the active form of ghrelin in women who received transdermal MHT in comparison with those who took oral MHT. We also found a significantly lower concentration of total ghrelin in women who received oral MHT compared with the control group. A higher concentration of PAI-1:Ag was found in the group of women who took transdermal MHT in comparison with those who took oral MHT and with the control group. The differences were statistically significant. Additionally, we found a significant negative correlation between the concentrations of total ghrelin and PAI-1:Ag and a positive correlation between the concentrations of total ghrelin and leptin receptor in women who received transdermal MHT. Conclusions: The study showed that women who used transdermal MHT had higher levels of total ghrelin than women who took oral MHT. This indicates a beneficial effect of the transdermal route of MHT. However, transdermal therapy was associated with adverse effects with regard to the observed higher levels of PAI-1:Ag, which in turn, can lead to a reduction in fibrinolytic activity

The Effectiveness of Catching Aphids (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Aphidinea) in Moericke and Light Traps

The studies were conducted in an urban greenery area of Poznań, Poland to compare the effectiveness of Moericke colour traps and light traps used to catch aphids. The combined methods yielded 61 aphid species from the area. The light trap caught 51 species, while 44 species were caught using the Moericke trap. Over 4,000 specimens were collected with each method separately