Characterization of MOSFET dosimeters for low-dose measurements in maxillofacial anthropomorphic phantoms

Peer reviewe

International Society of Sports Nutrition Position Stand: Probiotics.

Position statement: The International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN) provides an objective and critical review of the mechanisms and use of probiotic supplementation to optimize the health, performance, and recovery of athletes. Based on the current available literature, the conclusions of the ISSN are as follows: 1)Probiotics are live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host (FAO/WHO).2)Probiotic administration has been linked to a multitude of health benefits, with gut and immune health being the most researched applications.3)Despite the existence of shared, core mechanisms for probiotic function, health benefits of probiotics are strain- and dose-dependent.4)Athletes have varying gut microbiota compositions that appear to reflect the activity level of the host in comparison to sedentary people, with the differences linked primarily to the volume of exercise and amount of protein consumption. Whether differences in gut microbiota composition affect probiotic efficacy is unknown.5)The main function of the gut is to digest food and absorb nutrients. In athletic populations, certain probiotics strains can increase absorption of key nutrients such as amino acids from protein, and affect the pharmacology and physiological properties of multiple food components.6)Immune depression in athletes worsens with excessive training load, psychological stress, disturbed sleep, and environmental extremes, all of which can contribute to an increased risk of respiratory tract infections. In certain situations, including exposure to crowds, foreign travel and poor hygiene at home, and training or competition venues, athletes' exposure to pathogens may be elevated leading to increased rates of infections. Approximately 70% of the immune system is located in the gut and probiotic supplementation has been shown to promote a healthy immune response. In an athletic population, specific probiotic strains can reduce the number of episodes, severity and duration of upper respiratory tract infections.7)Intense, prolonged exercise, especially in the heat, has been shown to increase gut permeability which potentially can result in systemic toxemia. Specific probiotic strains can improve the integrity of the gut-barrier function in athletes.8)Administration of selected anti-inflammatory probiotic strains have been linked to improved recovery from muscle-damaging exercise.9)The minimal effective dose and method of administration (potency per serving, single vs. split dose, delivery form) of a specific probiotic strain depends on validation studies for this particular strain. Products that contain probiotics must include the genus, species, and strain of each live microorganism on its label as well as the total estimated quantity of each probiotic strain at the end of the product's shelf life, as measured by colony forming units (CFU) or live cells.10)Preclinical and early human research has shown potential probiotic benefits relevant to an athletic population that include improved body composition and lean body mass, normalizing age-related declines in testosterone levels, reductions in cortisol levels indicating improved responses to a physical or mental stressor, reduction of exercise-induced lactate, and increased neurotransmitter synthesis, cognition and mood. However, these potential benefits require validation in more rigorous human studies and in an athletic population

No Aujeszky's disease or PRRS in Finland

Although no outbreaks or typical, clinical signs indicating Aujeszky's disease (AD) or Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) have ever been reported in Finland, annual screenings for AD antibodies were started in 1993. It was estimated that increasing import of live animals and frozen meat is a threat to pig population. By constant evaluation of different swine herds it might be possible to detect and eradicate outbreaks before they become an epidemic and thus maintain the present, excellent disease status. Each year, blood samples have been randomly collected from 7% of breeding sows, from all slaughtered boars and 3 000 fattening pigs in every Finnish pig slaughtering abattoir. In addition, AD and PRRS antibody testing has been included in the Health Scheme of boar stations and elite breeding herds. The primary test methods were virus neutralisation for AD antibodies and enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA, IDEXX, France) for PRRS antibodies. Toxic and suspect samples have been retested with a serological AD ELISA (SVANOVA, Sweden) or with a PRRS immunoperoxidase monolayer assay (IPMA). Individuals from all pig categories, elite breeding sows and boars, breeding sows, fattening pigs, and even housed wild boars, tested for AD antibodies were seronegative. Similarly, no antibodies to PRRS virus were detected in random samples collected from slaughterhouses or elite breeding herds. The number of sera tested for AD varied from 12 000 to 15 000 per year and for PRRS from 2 000 to 3 000. Due to random sampling, 50% of Finnish pig herds have been annually included in the survey. Approximately 1% of samples were toxic for cultured cells in virus neutralisation test and have been assayed with ELISA with negative results. Some false positive PRRS antibody reactions (0.2%) have been obtained with the PRRS ELISA. In those cases the herd has been examined for clinical signs and new samples have been collected. The second testing has categorised the reactions as false positives. The majority of field cases with respiratory signs or abortions has been subjected to isolation tests for the AD or PRRS viruses. The isolation attempts in PK-15, Marc cell line or in primary macrophages have been negative. According to the results of annual surveys, Finland has been declared free of Aujeszky's disease. The disease free status has been confirmed by the EU Commission decision 94/961/EC. The results also strongly indicate that Finland is free of PRRS infection. The good disease situation is the result of several factors, which decrease the risk of infection. The pig husbandry in Finland is in the hands of small family farms rearing a medium of 50 breeding sows or rearing on fattening farms 200 pigs at a time. Infection risks increase in industrial pig production housing a large number of animals. Piggeries are located separately, the distance between facilities being more than 1 km. There are no pig dense areas, where herds more likely get infected. The top of the breeding pyramid, elite breeding herds and two boar stations, has a health scheme which includes measures for several infectious diseases. The epidemics can be stopped at an early stage. The annual serological survey has the same effect. The import of breeding animals is controlled by the Farmers Union. The use of testing and quarantine efficiently prevents the transmission of infections from abroad. Furthermore, Finland is separated from the neighbours by the Baltic Sea which is a natural barrier against the invasion of diseases