Worksite Wellness for UMaine Dining Employees: Healthful Eating for the Holidays

The objective of this study was to identify change in knowledge and intent to change behavior among University of Maine dining services employees (n=5 females) attending a three-session nutrition education program. The study was a one-group design with a pre- post- assessment. Participants were recruited through flyers distributed at their worksite. The intervention consisted of three one-hour nutrition education sessions implemented outside work hours one day per week over three weeks. Sessions were designed to address healthful holiday cooking and eating, with a focus on 100% whole grains. At pre-assessment, based on a five-point scale from 1= “not likely at all” to 5= “very likely,” the mean score for the 10-item questionnaire (possible range 10-50) was 31±5.2, indicating the participants were “neutral” on their knowledge and intent to change behavior regarding whole grains around the holidays. At post-assessment, the mean score was 43.2±2.2, indicating the participants were “somewhat likely” that their knowledge had changed and that they intended to change behavior. Frequencies and percents by response categories for knowledge of whole grains and intent to change behavior were computed at both pre- and post- assessment. At pre-assessment, distribution was spread among the response categories; however, at post-assessment, the distribution was at the higher end of the response category scale. Statistical tests were not reliable due to the small sample size; however, there were positive trends. The intervention could be an effective worksite wellness program for dining services employees to effect health-promoting behavior change during holiday cooking and eating

PCR and FISH Detection Extends the Range of Pfiesteria piscicida in Estuarine Waters

PCR and fluorescent in situ hybridization probes were used to assay for the presence of the dinoflagellate Pfiesteria piscicida in 170 estuarine water samples collected from New York to northern Florida. 20% of samples tested positive for the presence of P. piscicida, including sites where fish kills due to Pfiesteria have occurred and sites where there was no historical evidence of such events. The results extend the known range of P. piscicida northward to Long Island, New York. The results also suggest that P. piscicida is common, and normally benign, inhabitatant of estuarine waters of the eastern US

Merging storm water management with stream rehabilitation: Greensboro’s Lake Daniel pilot project

In spite of progress controlling discharges of industrial pollutants from discrete points, many urban drainage basins continue to suffer from heavy loads of sediment and pollutants in the form of storm water runoff from lawns, streets, driveways, parking lots, and other dispersed sources (Arnold et al., 1993; Riley, 1992; Ferguson 1991; Horak, 1988). Altered geomorphic and soil conditions, leaking or broken sewer lines, and structural responses to flooding also contribute to the degraded natural condition of many urban streams. City governments and local environmental groups are attempting to restore natural vitality to such streams and wetlands through cooperative, integrated efforts to reduce storm water borne pollution (DeWitt, 1994). Stream rehabilitation efforts can be merged with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). Under authority of the Water Quality Act of 1987 NPDES requires local governments to devise plans for -reducing sediment and pollutants carried by storm water runoff directly to streams or water treatment plants. State and local governments are also providing grants to fund community-based stream restoration projects that serve multiple goals, including storm water management (Riley, 1992). Greensboro, North Carolina, exemplifies the process of meeting the NPDES requirements to plan for storm water management with local public involvement. This article reviews the parallel histories of stream greenway rehabilitation and storm water management and describes the ongoing process of merging the two goals in a Southern Piedmont context

Characterization of Pfiesteria Ichthyocidal Activity

Letter to the Editor regarding article: Drgon, T., et al. 2005. Characterization of ichthyocidal activity of Pfiesteria piscicida: Dependence on the dinospore cell density. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 71:519–52

Net sediment production of methane, distribution of methanogens and methane-oxidizing bacteria, and utilization of methane-derived carbon in an arctic lake

Our study illustrates that methanogenesis and methane oxidation within the sediments of a small arctic lake are spatially variable, and using an integrated set of approaches, strongly suggests that fine-scale patterns of spatial variability in distribution of methane oxidizing bacteria (MOB) and methanogens are related to the nature of bioturbation and utilization of MOB by Chironomus larvae. Greater net sediment methane production occurred at a lake depth where concentrations of both methanogen and MOB DNA in the sediments were higher. The ratios of MOB/methanogen DNA on tubes and in the sediment supported the hypothesis of microbial gardening of MOB only at the lake depth where net methanogenesis was relatively high. Chironomus hindguts contained higher concentration of methanogen DNA and showed a trend toward higher concentration of MOB DNA compared to foreguts. The underlying mechanism for differential distribution of methanogen and MOB DNA across the gut needs further investigation, but the pattern suggests that the relationship between Chironomus larvae, methanogens, and MOB is more complex than simply feeding on and assimilation of MOB as may be implied by low δ13C of larvae. Vertical distribution into the sediment profile of methanogens and MOB DNA reflects the oxygen regime of the overlying water and was consistent with reports of Chironomus bioturbation activities on particle distribution within the sediment profile

ICD-11 for quality and safety: overview of the who quality and safety topic advisory group

This paper outlines the approach that the WHO's Family of International Classifications (WHO-FIC) network is undertaking to create ICD-11. We also outline the more focused work of the Quality and Safety Topic Advisory Group, whose activities include the following: (i) cataloguing existing ICD-9 and ICD-10 quality and safety indicators; (ii) reviewing ICD morbidity coding rules for main condition, diagnosis timing, numbers of diagnosis fields and diagnosis clustering; (iii) substantial restructuring of the health-care related injury concepts coded in the ICD-10 chapters 19/20, (iv) mapping of ICD-11 quality and safety concepts to the information model of the WHO's International Classification for Patient Safety and the AHRQ Common Formats; (v) the review of vertical chapter content in all chapters of the ICD-11 beta version and (vi) downstream field testing of ICD-11 prior to its official 2015 release. The transition from ICD-10 to ICD-11 promises to produce an enhanced classification that will have better potential to capture important concepts relevant to measuring health system safety and quality—an important use case for the classificatio

Changes in hemostasis parameters in nonfatal methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia complicated by endocarditis or thromboembolic events : a prospective gender-age adjusted cohort study

The aim of this study was to examine the changes in hemostasis parameters in endocarditis and thromboembolic events in nonfatal methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (MS-SAB) - a topic not evaluated previously. In total, 155 patients were recruited and were categorized according to the presence of endocarditis or thromboembolic events with gender-age adjusted controls. Patients who deceased within 90 days or patients not chosen as controls were excluded. SAB management was supervised by an infectious disease specialist. Patients with endocarditis (N = 21), compared to controls (N = 21), presented lower antithrombin III at day 4 (p <0.05), elevated antithrombin III at day 90 (p <0.01), prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time at days 4 and 10 (p <0.05), and enhanced thrombin-antithrombin complex at day 4 (p <0.01). Thromboembolic events (N = 8), compared to controls (N = 34), significantly increased thrombin-antithrombin complex at day 4 (p <0.05). In receiver operating characteristic analysis, the changes in these hemostasis parameters at day 4 predicted endocarditis and thromboembolic events (p <0.05). No differences in hemoglobin, thrombocyte, prothrombin fragment, thrombin time, factor VIII, D-dimer or fibrinogen levels were observed between cases and controls. The results suggest that nonfatal MS-SAB patients present marginal hemostasis parameter changes that, however, may have predictability for endocarditis or thromboembolic events. Larger studies are needed to further assess the connection of hemostasis to complications in SAB.Peer reviewe

How Microbial Community Composition Regulates Coral Disease Development

Modeling reveals how rapid overgrowth by pathogenic microbes in the mucus layer surrounding corals, which often occurs under temporary stressful conditions, can persist long after environmental conditions return to normal

Bismarck or Beveridge: a beauty contest between dinosaurs

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Health systems delivery systems can be divided into two broad categories: National Health Services (NHS) on the one hand and Social Security (based) Health care systems (SSH) on the other hand. Existing literature is inconclusive about which system performs best. In this paper we would like to improve the evidence-base for discussion about pros and cons of NHS-systems versus SSH-system for health outcomes, expenditure and population satisfaction.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In this study we used time series data for 17 European countries, that were characterized as either NHS or SSH country. We used the following performance indicators: For health outcome: overall mortality rate, infant mortality rate and life expectancy at birth. For health care costs: health care expenditure per capita in pppUS$ and health expenditure as percentage of GDP. Time series dated from 1970 until 2003 or 2004, depending on availability. Sources were OECD health data base 2006 and WHO health for all database 2006. For satisfaction we used the Eurobarometer studies from 1996, 1998 and 1999.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>SSH systems perform slightly better on overall mortality rates and life expectancy (after 1980). For infant mortality the rates converged between the two types of systems and since 1980 no differences ceased to exist.</p> <p>SSH systems are more expensive and NHS systems have a better cost containment. Inhabitants of countries with SSH-systems are on average substantially more satisfied than those in NHS countries.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We concluded that the question 'which type of system performs best' can be answered empirically as far as health outcomes, health care expenditures and patient satisfaction are concerned. Whether this selection of indicators covers all or even most relevant aspects of health system comparison remains to be seen. Perhaps further and more conclusive research into health system related differences in, for instance, equity should be completed before the leading question of this paper can be answered. We do think, however, that this study can form a base for a policy debate on the pros and cons of the existing health care systems in Europe.</p