Public knowledge about sweeteners and taste-enhancers

Sötningsmedel och smakförstärkare har visat sig att vara kopplade till olika hälsorisker. Syftet med projektet var att undersöka om allmänheten var medvetna om riskerna hos sötningsmedel och smakförstärkare. Detta gjordes genom att skicka ut en enkät där allmänheten fick svara på ett antal frågor på internet. För att få djupare förståelse inom ämnet, undersöktes följande frågor: 1) Vilka livsmedel med sötningsmedel och smakförstärkare var vanligast att konsumera? 2) Vilka sötningsmedel och smakförstärkare var allmänheten medvetna om? 3) Ignorerar allmänheten riskerna. Enkätten skickades ut till 300 personer varav 39 personer svarade (13 %). Resultaten visade att de vanligaste konsumerade livsmedlen med innehållande sötningsmedel eller smakförstärkare var Extra- tuggummi (79 % av respondenterna) och China mat(82 %). Utöver dessa livsmedel var användningen inte alls lika hög. Allmänheten var medveten om flertalet tillsatser, men endast en som majoriteten visste om, sötningsmedlet aspartame (65 % av respondenterna). Med avseende på hälsan var allmänheten medveten om liksom där flertalet risker varav en som majoriteten av respondenterna kände till, cancer (59 %). Även fast allmänhetens medvetenhet, konsumerade dem sötningsmedel och smakförstärkare. Detta berodde på att de ignorerade de ansedda riskerna hos tillsatserna (90 %). Ignoreringen kan ha att göra med åldersfördelningen av respondenterna, personer under 25 år tenderar att ignorera risker i större omfattning än äldre vuxna.Sweeteners and taste-enhancers have been correlated with a series of health risks. The purpose of this project was to examine if the public was aware of the risks associated with sweeteners and taste enhancers. This was done by conducting an internet survey of the general public. For a deeper understanding several questions were investigated: 1) Which foods with sweeteners and taste-enhancers were most commonly consumed? 2) Which sweeteners and taste-enhancers is the public aware of? 3) Does the public ignore the risks? The survey was sent to 300 people, and 30 of these responded (13%). The result of this study showed the most ordinary foods containing flavor enhancers that were consumed were Extra-gum (79% of respondents) and Chinese food (82%).The consumption of other foods with flavor enhancers was not as common. The public was aware of several supplements; however there was only one supplement that the majority knew about, the sweetener aspartame (65% of respondents). With regards to health, the public was also aware of several risks, however it was only cancer that the majority knew of (59%). Even though the public was aware of risks, the respondents ignored the risks and consumed sweeteners and taste-enhancers (90%). A reason for this can be age; people under 25 years of age tend to take greater risks than adults

Vision och Verklighet : I globala organisationer med fokus på operativa enheter

The purpose of this study is to contribute to a better understanding of how visions could be applied in subsidiaries and similar sub organisations of global enterprises. With increasing globalisation it becomes more difficult to work in accordance to same standards and towards a common and unifying interest. The study has a qualitative and deductive approach and is based on interviews with three global subsidiaries with some hundred people employed each. Conclusions are that the subsidiaries visions have to be based on a guiding philosophy issued by their mother entities and it is the responsibility of the sub organisation to develop a tangible image with a local vision, mission and strategy with targets requiring feedback. Sustainable strategies cannot be issued without a vision describing where the organisation want be in the future. Otherwise they will not come very far until they have to make a restart with a new strategy and they will never be a market leader

Contamination of polyethylene cups with polymethyl methacrylate particles: an experimental study

The articulating surfaces of 6 ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene cups were exposed to curing polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) bone-cement and examined with scanning electron microscopy and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICPMS). Three of the cups were exposed to blood and bone-cement, and the rest were exposed to bone-cement only. After removal of the bone-cement bulk, PMMA particles were found and identified in all 6 cups. The particles were verified by identifying zirconium with energy-dispersive x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy in 5 cups and with LA-ICPMS in 1 cup. The degree of surface contamination was estimated with LA-ICPMS. The number of zirconium-containing particles detected was on average 10 to 20/mm2. PMMA bone-cement left in polyethylene cups during polymerization can contaminate the articulating surface with adherent PMMA particles

Pharmacogenetic study of the impact of ABCB1 single-nucleotide polymorphisms on lenalidomide treatment outcomes in patients with multiple myeloma: results from a phase IV observational study and subsequent phase II clinical trial

Purpose Despite therapeutic advances, patients with multiple myeloma (MM) continue to experience disease relapse and treatment resistance. The gene ABCB1 encodes the drug transporter P-glycoprotein, which confers resistance through drug extrusion across the cell membrane. Lenalidomide (Len) is excreted mainly via the kidneys, and, given the expression of P-gp in the renal tubuli, single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the ABCB1 gene may influence Len plasma concentrations and, subsequently, the outcome of treatment. We, therefore, investigated the influence of ABCB1 genetic variants on Len treatment outcomes and adverse events (AEs). Methods Ninety patients with relapsed or refractory MM, who received the second-line Len plus dexamethasone in the Rev II trial, were genotyped for the ABCB1 SNPs 1199G amp;gt; A (Ser400Asn, rs2229109), 1236C amp;gt; T (silent, rs1128503), 2677G amp;gt; T/A (Ala893Ser, rs2032582), and 3435C amp;gt; T (silent, rs1045642) using pyrosequencing, and correlations to response parameters, outcomes, and AEs were investigated. Results No significant associations were found between genotype and either best response rates or hematological AEs, and 1236C amp;gt; T, 2677G amp;gt; T or 3435C amp;gt; T genotypes had no impact on survival. There was a trend towards increased time to progression (TTP) in patients carrying the 1199A variant, and a significant difference in TTP between genotypes in patients with standard-risk cytogenetics. Conclusions Our findings show a limited influence of ABCB1 genotype on lenalidomide treatment efficacy and safety. The results suggest that 1199G amp;gt; A may be a marker of TTP following Len treatment in standard-risk patients; however, larger studies are needed to validate and clarify the relationship.Funding Agencies|Swedish Cancer Society; Swedish Research Council; AFA Insurance; Linkoping University; ALF Grants, Region Ostergotland; Celgene Corporation</p

Lenalidomide versus lenalidomide plus dexamethasone prolonged treatment after second-line lenalidomide plus dexamethasone induction in multiple myeloma

Lenalidomide (Len) plus dexamethasone (Dex) is approved for the treatment of relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM). It is possible that single-agent Len may be effective as prolonged treatment regimen in RRMM once patients demonstrate an initial response to Len+Dex induction. Patients with RRMM who responded to first-line Len+Dex in an observational study (NCT01430546) received up to 24 cycles of either Len (25mg/day) or Len+Dex (25mg/day and 40mg/week) as prolonged treatment in a subsequent phase 2 clinical trial (NCT01450215). In the observational study (N = 133), median time to response was 1.7 (range 0.6-9.6) months. A complete response to all treatments received in both studies was observed in 11% of patients; very good partial response and partial response rates were 31% and 38%, respectively. Corresponding response rates in the subgroup of patients who did not enter the phase 2 trial (n = 71) were 3%, 18%, and 39%, respectively. Rates of disease progression at 2years in the phase 2 trial were 47% versus 31% for Len versus Len+Dex (P = 0.14). After 36months median follow-up in surviving patients, median time to progression was not reached with Len+Dex and was 24.9months (95% confidence interval 12.5-not calculable, P amp;lt; 0.001) with Len. Three-year OS among the total observational study population was 61% (95% CI, 52-69%). The corresponding rate among patients who entered the phase 2 clinical trial was 73% (95% CI, 60-83%) and was significantly lower among those patients who achieved PR but did not proceed into the phase 2 trial (55%; P = 0.01). In the phase 2 trial, OS was 73% in both treatment arms (P = 0.70). Neutropenia and thrombocytopenia were more common with prolonged (phase 2 trial) versus short-term (observational study) Len administration but remained manageable. Prolonged treatment with Len with or without Dex provides sustained, clinically relevant responses and demonstrates an acceptable safety profile.Funding Agencies|Celgene Corporation; Swedish Cancer Society</p

Lenalidomide versus lenalidomide + dexamethasone prolonged treatment after second-line lenalidomide + dexamethasone induction in multiple myeloma

Lenalidomide (Len) plus dexamethasone (Dex) is approved for the treatment of relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM). It is possible that single‐agent Len may be effective as prolonged treatment regimen in RRMM once patients demonstrate an initial response to Len+Dex induction. Patients with RRMM who responded to first‐line Len+Dex in an observational study (NCT01430546) received up to 24 cycles of either Len (25 mg/day) or Len+Dex (25 mg/day and 40 mg/week) as prolonged treatment in a subsequent phase 2 clinical trial (NCT01450215). In the observational study (N = 133), median time to response was 1.7 (range 0.6–9.6) months. A complete response to all treatments received in both studies was observed in 11% of patients; very good partial response and partial response rates were 31% and 38%, respectively. Corresponding response rates in the subgroup of patients who did not enter the phase 2 trial (n = 71) were 3%, 18%, and 39%, respectively. Rates of disease progression at 2 years in the phase 2 trial were 47% versus 31% for Len versus Len+Dex (P = 0.14). After 36 months median follow‐up in surviving patients, median time to progression was not reached with Len+Dex and was 24.9 months (95% confidence interval 12.5–not calculable, P < 0.001) with Len. Three‐year OS among the total observational study population was 61% (95% CI, 52–69%). The corresponding rate among patients who entered the phase 2 clinical trial was 73% (95% CI, 60–83%) and was significantly lower among those patients who achieved ≥PR but did not proceed into the phase 2 trial (55%; P = 0.01). In the phase 2 trial, OS was 73% in both treatment arms (P = 0.70). Neutropenia and thrombocytopenia were more common with prolonged (phase 2 trial) versus short‐term (observational study) Len administration but remained manageable. Prolonged treatment with Len with or without Dex provides sustained, clinically relevant responses and demonstrates an acceptable safety profile

Neuropharmacological and neurobiological relevance of in vivo 1H-MRS of GABA and glutamate for preclinical drug discovery in mental disorders

Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS)) is a translational modality with great appeal for neuroscience since the two major excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters, glutamate, and GABA, can be noninvasively quantified in vivo and have served to explore disease state and effects of drug treatment. Yet, if 1H-MRS shall serve for decision making in preclinical pharmaceutical drug discovery, it has to meet stringent requirements. In particular, 1H-MRS needs to reliably report neurobiologically relevant but rather small changes in neurometabolite levels upon pharmacological interventions and to faithfully appraise target engagement in the associated molecular pathways at pharmacologically relevant doses. Here, we thoroughly addressed these matters with a three-pronged approach. Firstly, we determined the sensitivity and reproducibility of 1H-MRS in rat at 9.4 Tesla for detecting changes in GABA and glutamate levels in the striatum and the prefrontal cortex, respectively. Secondly, we evaluated the neuropharmacological and neurobiological relevance of the MRS readouts by pharmacological interventions with five well-characterized drugs (vigabatrin, 3-mercaptopropionate, tiagabine, methionine sulfoximine, and riluzole), which target key nodes in GABAergic and glutamatergic neurotransmission. Finally, we corroborated the MRS findings with ex vivo biochemical analyses of drug exposure and neurometabolite concentrations. For all five interventions tested, 1H-MRS provided distinct drug dose-effect relationships in GABA and glutamate over preclinically relevant dose ranges and changes as low as 6% in glutamate and 12% in GABA were reliably detected from 16 mm3 volumes-of-interest. Taken together, these findings demonstrate the value and limitation of quantitative 1H-MRS of glutamate and GABA for preclinical pharmaceutical research in mental disorders