Inconsistencies in Guidelines for Visual Health Surveillance of VDT Workers

Objectives: In Europe, 25% of workers use video display terminals (VDTs). Occupational health surveillance has been considered a key element in the protection of these workers. Nevertheless, it is unclear if guidelines available for this purpose, based on EU standards and available evidence, meet currently accepted quality criteria. The aim of this study was to appraise three sets of European VDT guidelines (UK, France, Spain) in which regulatory and evidence-based approaches for visual health have been formulated and recommendations for practice made. Methods: Three independent appraisers used an adapted AGREE instrument with seven domains to appraise the guidelines. A modified nominal group technique approach was used in two consecutive phases: first, individual evaluation of the three guidelines simultaneously, and second, a face-to-face meeting of appraisers to discuss scoring. Analysis of ratings obtained in each domain and variability among appraisers was undertaken (correlation and kappa coefficients). Results: All guidelines had low domain scores. The domain evaluated most highly was Scope and purpose, while Applicability was scored minimally. The UK guidelines had the highest overall score, and the Spanish ones had the lowest. The analysis of reliability and differences between scores in each domain showed a high level of agreement. Conclusions: These results suggest current guidelines used in these countries need an update. The formulation of evidence-base European guidelines on VDT could help to reduce the significant variation of national guidelines, which may have an impact on practical application.This study was supported by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health at Work of the Spanish Work and Immigration Ministry (INSHT). Project reference: 606/UAL/PVDVIS

Baseline characteristics of patients in the reduction of events with darbepoetin alfa in heart failure trial (RED-HF)

<p>Aims: This report describes the baseline characteristics of patients in the Reduction of Events with Darbepoetin alfa in Heart Failure trial (RED-HF) which is testing the hypothesis that anaemia correction with darbepoetin alfa will reduce the composite endpoint of death from any cause or hospital admission for worsening heart failure, and improve other outcomes.</p> <p>Methods and results: Key demographic, clinical, and laboratory findings, along with baseline treatment, are reported and compared with those of patients in other recent clinical trials in heart failure. Compared with other recent trials, RED-HF enrolled more elderly [mean age 70 (SD 11.4) years], female (41%), and black (9%) patients. RED-HF patients more often had diabetes (46%) and renal impairment (72% had an estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min/1.73 m2). Patients in RED-HF had heart failure of longer duration [5.3 (5.4) years], worse NYHA class (35% II, 63% III, and 2% IV), and more signs of congestion. Mean EF was 30% (6.8%). RED-HF patients were well treated at randomization, and pharmacological therapy at baseline was broadly similar to that of other recent trials, taking account of study-specific inclusion/exclusion criteria. Median (interquartile range) haemoglobin at baseline was 112 (106–117) g/L.</p> <p>Conclusion: The anaemic patients enrolled in RED-HF were older, moderately to markedly symptomatic, and had extensive co-morbidity.</p&gt

Outcomes from elective colorectal cancer surgery during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic

This study aimed to describe the change in surgical practice and the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on mortality after surgical resection of colorectal cancer during the initial phases of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic

Effect of two organic amendments on norflurazon retention and release by soils of different characteristics

The influence of two organic amendments on norflurazon sorption-desorption processes in four soils with very different physicochemical characteristics was studied in laboratory experiments to evaluate the potential leaching of this pesticide through organic fertilized soils. Sorption-desorption experiments were performed on original soils and on a mixture of these soils with urban waste compost (SUW) and a commercial amendment from olive-mill wastes (OW), at a rate of 6.25% (w/w). These mixtures were used immediately after preparation and after aging for 2 months. Norflurazon was analyzed by using a HPLC method. Norflurazon retention in original soils was related not only to the organic matter (OM) content but also to mineral surfaces present in soils. Norflurazon sorption increases largely after amendment in soils with low OM content, but the addition of exogenous OM to soils with medium OM content and/or other available adsorptive surfaces did not significantly affect norflurazon sorption. Even in some cases pesticide sorption decreases, due to the blocking of the mineral and organic soil surfaces with the amendment added. Transformation of exogenous OM during incubation depends both on the amendment added and on the type of soil and can affect sorption-desorption behavior of the soils surfaces in different manner, due to the modification of their hydrophobic-hydrophilic characteristics. Norflurazon desorption from original soils showed hysteresis in all cases, but it was not affected or even decreased in amended soils. It was a nonexpected behavior, especially in sandy soil, since it is generally assumed that a higher sorption always implies a lower mobility in soils. Norflurazon sorption must be taking place on very low affinity sites on exogenous OM through weak bindings, from which the pesticide can be easily desorbed. The application to soils of the organic amendments used in the present study could not be accepted to reduce norflurazon losses due to leaching processes.The financial support of the Spanish Comisión Interministerial de Ciencia y Tecnología (CICYT), under projects AMB97-0692 and AMB98-0888, and Junta de Andalucía (PAI RNM166) is acknowledged herewith.Peer Reviewe

Effect of three organic wastes on the adsorption behaviour of norflurazon in soils

Norfl urazon is a selective herbicide effective against many annual broad-leaved weeds. Its retention in soils is related to the organic matter, being subject to considerable leaching in sandy soils with low organic matter content.Peer reviewe

Interacción del paguicida norflurazona con minerales de la arcilla y otros componentes coloidales del suelo. Influencia en su fotodegradación.

4 páginas, 1 figura y 3 referencias. Comunicación presentada en la XVI Reunión Científica de la Sociedad Española de Arcillas SEA 2001 Baeza (Jaén), del 24 al 26 de Octubre de 2001.El fenómeno de la adsorción de plaguicidas por minerales de la arcilla es uno de los factores más importantes que afectan a su comportamiento en suelos, junto a la adsorción en la materia orgánica de los mismos. La norflurazona es un herbicida selectivo para el control de malas hierbas en cítricos, algodón y en frutales de hueso y pepita, y actúa inhibiendo la síntesis de carotenoides. Este herbicida es poco móvil en el suelo y se caracteriza por su larga persistencia. Existen algunos trabajos que estudian la adsorción de Norflurazona en suelos con distintas características, pero hay cierta controversia en el hecho de correlacionar dicha adsorción con el contenido en la fracción arcilla de los suelos estudiados. Así, por ejemplo, William et al. (1997) encontraron una buena correlación entre la adsorción de este herbicida y la materia orgánica de los suelos, pero no se correlacionaba con ningún otro parámetro de estos suelos. Sin embargo, Hubbs y Lavy (1990) relacionaron la menor movilidad de Norflurazona en ciertos suelos con el mayor contenido en arcilla de los mismos, y Schroeder y Banks (1986) observaron que este herbicida se adsorbía menos conforme más baja era la capacidad de cambio catiónico de los suelos. A pesar de estas deducciones, no existe ningún trabajo en el que se haya realizado un estudio de adsorción de Norflurazona en componentes de la fracción arcilla de los suelos para discernir cual o cuales de ellos, aparte de la materia orgánica, son activos en cuanto a la adsorción de Norflurazona. Por ello en este trabajo se estudia la adsorción de norflurazona en distintos minerales representativos de una diversidad de propiedades estructurales y superficiales de aquellos presentes en suelos, utilizando varias montmorilonitas: SWy-1 (Wyoming), SAz-1 (Arizona), STx-1 (Texas); caolinita (KGa-1, Georgia), ilita (Fithian, Illinois), vermiculita (Santa Olalla, Huelva), una goetita sintética, así como sustancias húmicas y fracciones arcilla extraídas de suelos.Peer reviewe

Electrical properties of bismuth ferrites: Bi2Fe4O9 and Bi25FeO39

Bi2Fe4O9 was prepared by solid-state reaction and the electrical properties measured by impedance spectro- scopy. After annealing in O2 at 900 °C, Bi2Fe4O9 is an electrically-homogeneous insulator. Its high frequency permittivity is constant (∼14.1) over the temperature range 300–400 °C and shows no evidence of incipient ferroelectricity at lower temperatures. On annealing in N2 at 900 °C, the pellets gradually decompose. Bi25FeO39 was prepared by both solid-state reaction and mechanosynthesis. It showed a modest amount of mixed conduction of both oxide ions and holes. Impedance analysis showed a complex response that best fitted an equivalent circuit consisting of a parallel combination of long-range conduction and short range dielectric relaxation elements. The electrical conductivity of both Bi2Fe4O9 and Bi25FeO39 is less than that of BiFeO3 prepared by solid-state reaction, which indicates that any leakage conductivity of BiFeO3 is not due to the possible presence of small amounts of these secondary phases.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad de España (MINECO) y Fondos FEDER de la Unión Europea-CTQ2014-52763-C2 y CTQ2017- 83602-C

Adsorption of diuron on mechanically and thermally treated montmorillonite and sepiolite

The effects on montmorillonite (Mt) and on sepiolite (Sep) of mechanical (60 and 180 s grinding time) and further thermal treatments (TT) at 500 °C during 24 h, for removing diuron from aqueous solutions were evaluated. The adsorbents and complexes formed were characterised. The specific surface area (SSA), SEM, XRD and zeta potential of the clay mineral samples were determined. The SSA values showed an increase of 50% for ground Mt and a slight decrease for ground Sep. TT reduced SSA by 50% for the Sep samples, but similar values remained for the Mt samples. Both minerals showed a decrease in crystallinity with increasing grinding time and TT. The zeta potential showed an increased of the negative surface charge for the Mt ground samples, but no changes were noticed for the Sep ground samples. The Mt-TT samples showed a slight decrease whilst the Sep samples showed an increase of the negative surface charge in comparison to those without thermal treatment. The adsorption of diuron on Mt was lower than on Sep, and it decreased slightly after 60 and/or 180 s of grinding, despite the larger SSA values. This differences on the adsorption extent were probably due to the increased micropore surface. In contrast, thermal activation caused significantly increased adsorption, especially for the 180-s ground sample that was inversely correlated with the micropore surface, indicating that diuron was not adsorbed in micropores. Diuron adsorption on Sep was higher than on Mt due to its higher SSA. The adsorption capacity of Sep samples was increased by mechanical treatments (ground and sonicated). Moreover, thermal activation led to additional increases in adsorption probably due to changes in the Sep structure by the loss of OH structural groups leading to a more hydrophobic surface. Diuron adsorption on Mt-TT samples produced an increase in the negative surface charge compared to the original sample, whereas a decrease in the negative surface charge was observed for Sep.Peer Reviewe