Increased tumor cell multiplication after radiofrequency lesions in median hypothalamus in the mouse and rat

A significant increase of cell multiplication in inoculated ascitic and solid tumors was demonstrated in both DBA/2 and C57BL/6 mice as well as in Wistar rats after radiofrequency lesions in the median hypothalamus (ventromedial and dorsomedial nuclei; part of arcuate nucleus). The following tests were performed: Mitotic and metaphasic index, doubling time of tumor, incorporation of tritiated thymidine into DNA, cell cycle parameters and growth fraction. The increased rate of cell proliferation measured was predominantly due to the higher speed of DNA biosynthesis with a minor contribution by an increase of the growth fraction. In the animals with hypothalamic lesions we demonstrated a slight decrease in the secretory activity of the adenohypophysis. Because it is generally stated that failure of hypophysis function hinders cell multiplication in normal and neoplastic tissues, we think that heightened cell proliferation after hypothalamic lesions is due to suppression of an inhibitory mechanism located in the hypothalamus and which is independent of the hypophysis

The EKZ/AMC childhood cancer survivor cohort: methodology, clinical characteristics, and data availability

Childhood cancer survivors are at high risk of late adverse effects of cancer treatment, but there are still many gaps in evidence about these late effects. We described the methodology, clinical characteristics, data availability, and outcomes of our cohort study of childhood cancer survivors. The Emma Children's Hospital/Academic Medical Center (EKZ/AMC) childhood cancer survivor cohort is an ongoing single-center cohort study of ≥5-year childhood cancer survivors, which started in 1996 simultaneously with regular structured medical outcome assessments at our outpatient clinic. From 1966 to 2003, 3,183 eligible children received primary cancer treatment in the EKZ/AMC, of which 1,822 (57.2 %) survived ≥5 years since diagnosis. Follow-up time ranged from 5.0 to 42.5 years (median, 17.7). Baseline primary cancer treatment characteristics were complete for 1,781 (97.7 %) survivors, and 1,452 (79.7 %) survivors visited our outpatient clinic. Baseline characteristics of survivors who visited the clinic did not differ from those without follow-up. Within our cohort, 54 studies have been conducted studying a wide range of late treatment-related effects. The EKZ/AMC childhood cancer survivor cohort provides a strong structure for ongoing research on the late effects of childhood cancer treatment and will continuously contribute in reducing evidence gaps concerning risks and risk groups within this vulnerable population. Our large cohort study of childhood cancer survivors with complete baseline characteristics and unique, long-term medical follow-up decreases gaps in evidence about specific risks of late effects and high-risk groups, with the ultimate goal of improving the quality of care for childhood cancer survivor

Kwantificering van arbeidsveiligheidsrisicos. De ontwikkeling van een risicomodel en software

Dit rapport is in het Nederlands verschenen met rapportnummer 620801002Op verzoek van het ministerie van Sociale Zaken en Werkgelegenheid (SZW) is een model ontwikkeld om arbeidsrisicos in Nederland te berekenen. Werknemers kunnen tijdens hun werk gewond raken of overlijden als gevolg van ongevallen. Met het model kunnen werkgevers combinaties van maatregelen kiezen die het risico reduceren. Ook kunnen de kosten van deze maatregelen en de behaalde risicoreductie worden berekend. Hiermee is een optimale afweging mogelijk van de kosten en de baten van risicoreducerende maatregelen. Voor het onderzoek is een groot aantal arbeidsongevallen geanalyseerd, op basis van de ongevalrapporten van de Arbeidsinspectie. Deze gegevens zijn in een database gezet, waarbij de arbeidsongevallen werden verdeeld naar 36 typen ongevalscenarios, zoals 'vallen van hoogte'. De ongevalscenarios werden gebruikt om zogenoemde vlinderdasmodellen te construeren. Hierin staan de oorzaken van een ongeval vermeld (welke gebeurtenissen leiden tot het optreden van het ongeval?) en de gevolgen ervan (gewond raken of dodelijk letsel?). In een vlinderdasmodel worden tevens de maatregelen genoemd die een ongeval helpen voorkomen, dan wel helpen om de gevolgen te beperken. De vlinderdasmodellen geven eveneens getalsmatig aan hoe vaak dergelijke maatregelen kunnen falen. Vervolgens is een analyse gemaakt van de activiteiten en werkplaatsomstandigheden van de gemiddelde werknemer. Daarmee is bepaald in welke mate werknemers aan risicovolle activiteiten blootstaan en van welke kwaliteit de risicobeperkende maatregelen op de werkplaats zijn. Met deze gegevens kan per activiteit, baan, bedrijf of industrietak het risico op ongevallen worden berekend.The Dutch Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment commissioned the RIVM to develop a model for calculating occupational risk in the Netherlands. This model is to provide employers with a choice of measures or combination of measures aimed at reducing the risk of employees suffering injury or death as a consequence of job-related incidents. The model can also be used to calculate the cost of these measures and the extent to which the risk has been reduced. As such, the model can be used to work out an optimal balance between the cost and the benefits of implementing risk-reducing measures. The model is based on extensive research that involved the analysis of a large number of job-related incidents documented in incident reports of the Labour Inspectorate. The results of the analysis were stored in a database, and the job-related incidents were subsequently classified into 36 different incident scenarios, such as falling from heights. The incident scenarios were used to construct so-called bow ties, which describe the causes of an incident (which event led to its occurrence?) and its consequences (injury or fatality?). Possible measures that may help prevent an incident or mitigate its consequences are also mentioned in the bow ties. The bow ties also set a value that indicates the failure rate of these measures. Job-related activities and workplace conditions of the average Dutch employee were then analysed in terms of the extent to which employees are exposed to potentially risky situations/activities. The quality of the risk-reducing measures implemented at the workplace was also assessed. Given the large amount of data used to develop the model, it can be applied to calculate the risk of incidents on an activity, job, company or whole industry basis.VW

The quantification of occupational risk. The development of a risk assessment model and software

Nederlandse vertaling van 620801001Er is een model ontwikkeld om arbeidsrisico's tijdens het werk in Nederland te berekenen. Per activiteit, baan, bedrijf of industrietak kan het risico op ongevallen of overlijden worden berekend. Werkgevers kunnen vervolgens maatregelen kiezen die het risico hierop beperken. Ook kunnen de kosten van deze maatregelen en de behaalde risicobeperking met het model worden berekend. Hiermee is een optimale afweging mogelijk van de kosten en de baten van maatregelen die risico's verminderen. Het model is ontwikkeld in opdracht van het ministerie van Sociale Zaken en Werkgelegenheid (SZW). Het RIVM gaf leiding aan het internationale onderzoeksconsortium. Voor het onderzoek is een groot aantal arbeidsongevallen geanalyseerd, op basis van de ongevalrapporten van de Arbeidsinspectie. Deze gegevens zijn in een database gezet, waarbij de arbeidsongevallen werden verdeeld naar 36 typen ongevalscenario's. De ongevalscenario's werden gebruikt om zogenoemde 'vlinderdasmodellen', bow ties, te construeren. Aan de ene kant van dit model staan de onderliggende oorzaken van een ongeval vermeld en aan de anders kant de gevolgen ervan (gewond raken of dodelijk letsel). In een bow tie worden de maatregelen genoemd die een ongeval helpen voorkomen, dan wel helpen om de gevolgen te beperken. De bow ties geven eveneens getalsmatig aan hoe vaak dergelijke maatregelen kunnen falen. Vervolgens is een analyse gemaakt van de activiteiten en arbeidsomstandigheden van de gemiddelde werknemer. Daarmee is bepaald in welke mate werkende personen aan risicovolle activiteiten blootstaan en hoe goed de risicobeperkende maatregelen op de werkplek zijn.The Dutch Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment (SZW) commissioned the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) to develop a model for calculating occupational risk in the Netherlands. This model is to provide employers with a choice of measures - or combination of measures - aimed at reducing the risk of employees suffering injury or death as a consequence of job-related incidents. The model can also be used to calculate the cost of these measures and the extent to which the risk has been reduced. As such, the model can be used to work out an optimal balance between the costs and the benefits of implementing risk-reducing measures. The model is based on extensive research that involved the analysis of a large number of job-related incidents documented in incident reports of the Labour Inspectorate. The results of the analysis were stored in a database, and the job-related incidents were subsequently classified into 36 different incident scenarios, such as Falling from heights. The incident scenarios were used to construct so-called bow ties, which describe the causes of an incident (which event led to its occurrence?) and its consequences (injury or fatality?). Possible measures that may help prevent an incident or mitigate its consequences are also mentioned in the bow ties. The bow ties also set a value that indicates the failure rate of these measures. Job-related activities and workplace conditions of the average Dutch employee were then analysed in terms of the extent to which employees are exposed to potentially risky situations or activities. The quality of the risk-reducing measures implemented at the workplace was also assessed. Given the large amount of data used to develop the model, it can be applied to calculate the risk of incidents on an activity, job, company or whole industry basis.VW

A methodology to estimate equity of canal water and groundwater use at different spatial and temporal scales: a geo-informatics approach

Indus basin irrigation system (IBIS) is one of the largest contiguous irrigation systems of the world. The surface canal water supplies are far less than the crop water demands which lead farmers to use groundwater to cope surface water scarcity. Although many studies in the IBIS are conducted to analyze the equitable distribution of canal water, there is hardly any study which comprehensively analyze the equitable use of canal water and groundwater at different spatial and temporal scales. One of the main reasons is lack of reliable information on the volume of groundwater abstraction. The objective of the current study is to develop an approach for estimating the equity of canal water and groundwater use at different spatial (canal command, distributaries, head, middle and tail end reaches) and temporal (daily, monthly and seasonal) scales of Hakra canal command area of IBIS. Results show that canal water and groundwater use to meet actual evapotranspiration is 34 and 42 %, respectively, which makes groundwater as an integral part of the large canal irrigation schemes of IBIS. The canal water and groundwater use varies significantly during the cropping colander. The maximum groundwater use is during May (51 mm) whereas the maximum canal water use is during August (24 mm). Farmers located at the head end reaches of Hakra canal use 42 % groundwater of total groundwater use whereas farmers located at the middle and tail end reaches use only 35 and 23 %, respectively. The canal water use at the head, middle and tail end reaches is 40, 34 and 26 %, respectively. These results show that the farmers located at the head of Hakra canal command area use more canal water and groundwater as compared to those located at the middle and tail end reaches. This methodology can provide guidelines to water managers in the region for equitable use of both canal water and groundwater