Socio-economic and hygiene features of street food vending in Gauteng

Objectives. The objectives of the study were firstly to determine the health risks associated with street food vending, secondly to determine the opinions of street food customers on street food vendors, and thirdly to determine how street food vending contributes to the livelihood of street food vendors. Design. Primary research was done among 200 street food vendors and 800 of their customers in South Africa, and 200 samples were taken of the food itself. Socio-economic profiles of the street food vendors were compiled and the hygiene practices followed by them in preparing and serving the food were investigated. Customers were interviewed and their reasons for buying street foods as well as their experiences in consuming street foods were noted. Street food samples were tested to assess the microbiological safety of these foods. Setting. The study was conducted in the metropolitan areas of Gauteng in South Africa. Results. The survey showed a high hygiene standard maintained by most vendors during preparation and serving of the foods, while the microbiological tests showed relatively low microbiological counts. The study indicated that the health risks of consuming street foods are minimal, that street food vendors depend on vending for their livelihood and that their customers appreciate their trade. Conclusion. It is essential that poor people in a developing country such as South Africa be allowed to earn their livelihood by means of an ‘easy-to-enter' business such as street food vending when hygiene standards are acceptable. South African Journal of Clinical Nutrition Vol. 19(1) 2006: 18-2

Allergic conjunctivitis and conjunctival provocation tests in atopic dogs.

INTRODUCTION: Canine atopic dermatitis (cAD) is a very common disease, but little is known about eye involvement. The conjunctival provocation test (CPT) is used in human to study the ocular response to allergenic stimuli and to evaluate anti-allergic therapy. To our knowledge it has not been used in dogs. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the prevalence of ocular signs in a population of atopic dogs and relate these with clinical cAD scores; and the usefulness of CPT for dust mites in atopic dogs with itchy eyes. PROCEDURES: Sixty cAD patients were evaluated for (i) ocular signs of allergic conjunctivitis including conjunctival hyperemia, chemosis, epiphora, ocular discharge, pruritus and corneal involvement, graded 0 to 3 according to severity, and (2) cAD Extent and Severity Index (CADESI-03). Additionally, CPTs for Dermatophagoides farinae (n = 12) and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (n = 12) were performed in sensitized atopic dogs and 24 control dogs. RESULTS: Periocular and ocular signs of allergy were present in 60% (36/60) of cases. Conjunctival hyperemia (90%) was the most common sign. Severity of ocular signs was significantly correlated with eye pruritus (r(s)  = 0.690, P = <0.001) and skin lesions score for head region (r(s) = 0.261, P = 0.04). A highly significant difference (P < 0.001, Fisher test) was found in CPTs between the test and the control groups. CONCLUSION:  Allergic conjunctivitis signs associated with cAD seem under valuated so these patients would benefit from an ophthalmologic evaluation. Furthermore, we found CPT to be a reliable, easy to perform and safe test for the etiologic diagnosis of allergic conjunctivitis in the dog

"Detachment of the carinal hook following endobronchial intubation with a double lumen tube"

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Carinal hooks increases difficulty at endotracheal intubation. Amputation of the carinal hook during passage and malpositioning of the tube to the hook are some of the potential problems related with left-sided Carlens double lumen tube (DLT). This article reports an amputation of the hook during a difficult selective intubation and aimed at calling the attention to complications associated with DLTs and the importance of fiberoptic bronchoscopy.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>A 68 year-old woman was scheduled for right-sided thoracotomy in whom blind DLT insertion was performed. Narrowed trachea causes difficulty in rotating the DLT 90° counter-clockwise. After carinal hook was noticed upon visual inspection of the DLT, fiberoptic bronchoscopy was used to remove the missing part (with the use of forceps) from the right mainstem bronchus.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Insertion of DLTs with carinal hook is associated with technical problems and potentially life-threatening hazards have discouraged their use. Fiberoptic evaluation and repositioning solves most of the problems. Although amputation of the carinal hook has not been previously reported, clinicians should be alert. This case report emphasizes the utility of the fiberoptic bronchoscopy in the operating theatre for placement, positioning and inspection of the carinal hook DLT.</p

Supernovae from rotating stars

The present paper discusses the main physical effects produced by stellar rotation on presupernovae, as well as observations which confirm these effects and their consequences for presupernova models. Rotation critically influences the mass of the exploding cores, the mass and chemical composition of the envelopes and the types of supernovae, as well as the properties of the remnants and the chemical yields. In the formation of gamma-ray bursts, rotation and the properties of rotating stars appear as the key factor. In binaries, the interaction between axial rotation and tidal effects often leads to interesting and unexpected results. Rotation plays a key role in shaping the evolution and nucleosynthesis in massive stars with very low metallicities (metallicity below about the Small Magellanic Cloud metallicity down to Population III stars). At solar and higher metallicities, the effects of rotation compete with those of stellar winds. In close binaries, the synchronisation process can lock the star at a high rotation rate despite strong mass loss and thus both effects, rotation and stellar winds, have a strong impact. In conclusion, rotation is a key physical ingredient of the stellar models and of presupernova stages, and the evolution both of single stars and close binaries. Moreover, important effects are expected along the whole cosmic history.Comment: 36 pages, 15 figures, published in Handbook of Supernovae, A.W. Alsabti and P. Murdin (eds), Springe

Longitudinal evaluation, acceptability and long-term retention of knowledge on a horizontally integrated organic and functional systems course

Undergraduate medical education is moving from traditional disciplinary basic science courses into more integrated curricula. Integration models based on organ systems originated in the 1950s, but few longitudinal studies have evaluated their effectiveness. This article outlines the development and implementation of the Organic and Functional Systems (OFS) courses at the University of Minho in Portugal, using evidence collected over 10 years. It describes the organization of content, student academic performance and acceptability of the courses, the evaluation of preparedness for future courses and the retention of knowledge on basic sciences. Students consistently rated the OFS courses highly. Physician tutors in subsequent clinical attachments considered that students were appropriately prepared. Performance in the International Foundations of Medicine examination of a self-selected sample of students revealed similar performances in basic science items after the last OFS course and 4 years later, at the moment of graduation. In conclusion, the organizational and pedagogical approaches of the OFS courses achieve high acceptability by students and result in positive outcomes in terms of preparedness for subsequent training and long-term retention of basic science knowledge

Interrater agreement on classification of photoparoxysmal electroencephalographic response

Our goal was to assess the interrater agreement (IRA) of photoparoxysmal response (PPR) using the classification proposed by a task force of the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE), and a simplified classification system proposed by our group. In addition, we evaluated IRA of epileptiform discharges (EDs) and the diagnostic significance of the electroencephalographic (EEG) abnormalities. We used EEG recordings from the European Reference Network (EpiCARE) and Standardized Computer-based Organized Reporting of EEG (SCORE). Six raters independently scored EEG recordings from 30 patients. We calculated the agreement coefficient (AC) for each feature. IRA of PPR using the classification proposed by the ILAE task force was only fair (AC = 0.38). This improved to a moderate agreement by using the simplified classification (AC = 0.56; P = .004). IRA of EDs was almost perfect (AC = 0.98), and IRA of scoring the diagnostic significance was moderate (AC = 0.51). Our results suggest that the simplified classification of the PPR is suitable for implementation in clinical practice

Eta Carinae and the Luminous Blue Variables

We evaluate the place of Eta Carinae amongst the class of luminous blue variables (LBVs) and show that the LBV phenomenon is not restricted to extremely luminous objects like Eta Car, but extends luminosities as low as log(L/Lsun) = 5.4 - corresponding to initial masses ~25 Msun, and final masses as low as ~10-15 Msun. We present a census of S Doradus variability, and discuss basic LBV properties, their mass-loss behaviour, and whether at maximum light they form pseudo-photospheres. We argue that those objects that exhibit giant Eta Car-type eruptions are most likely related to the more common type of S Doradus variability. Alternative atmospheric models as well as sub-photospheric models for the instability are presented, but the true nature of the LBV phenomenon remains as yet elusive. We end with a discussion on the evolutionary status of LBVs - highlighting recent indications that some LBVs may be in a direct pre-supernova state, in contradiction to the standard paradigm for massive star evolution.Comment: 27 pages, 6 figures, Review Chapter in "Eta Carinae and the supernova imposters" (eds R. Humphreys and K. Davidson) new version submitted to Springe

Coadministration of ABCB1/P-glycoprotein inhibitor elacridar improves tissue distribution of ritonavir-boosted oral cabazitaxel in mice

Developing an oral formulation for the chemotherapeutic cabazitaxel might improve its patient-friendliness, costs, and potentially exposure profile. Cabazitaxel oral availability is restricted by CYP3A-mediated first-pass metabolism, but can be substantially boosted with the CYP3A inhibitor ritonavir. We here tested whether adding the ABCB1/P-glycoprotein inhibitor elacridar to ritonavir-boosted oral cabazitaxel could further improve its tissue exposure using wild-type, CYP3A4-humanized and Abcb1a/b-/- mice. The plasma AUC0-2h of cabazitaxel was increased 2.3- and 1.9-fold in the ritonavir- and ritonavir-plus-elacridar groups of wild-type, and 10.5- and 8.8-fold in CYP3A4-humanized mice. Elacridar coadministration did not influence cabazitaxel plasma exposure. The brain-to-plasma ratio of cabazitaxel was not increased in the ritonavir group, 7.3-fold in the elacridar group and 13.4-fold in the combined booster group in wild-type mice. This was 0.4-, 4.6- and 3.6-fold in CYP3A4-humanized mice, illustrating that Abcb1 limited cabazitaxel brain exposure also during ritonavir boosting. Ritonavir itself was also a potent substrate for the Abcb1 efflux transporter, limiting its oral availability (3.3-fold) and brain penetration (10.6-fold). Both processes were fully reversed by elacridar. The tissue disposition of ritonavir-boosted oral cabazitaxel could thus be markedly enhanced by elacridar coadministration without affecting the plasma exposure. This approach should be verified in selected patient populations

Genetic diversity of Brazilian isolates of feline immunodeficiency virus

We isolated Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) from three adult domestic cats, originating from two open shelters in Brazil. Viruses were isolated from PBMC following co-cultivation with the feline T-lymphoblastoid cell line MYA-1. All amplified env gene products were cloned directly into pGL8MYA. The nucleic acid sequences of seven clones were determined and then compared with those of previously described isolates. The sequences of all of the Brazilian virus clones were distinct and phylogenetic analysis revealed that all belong to subtype B. Three variants isolated from one cat and two variants were isolated from each of the two other cats, indicating that intrahost diversity has the potential to pose problems for the treatment and diagnosis of FIV infection