Unmet psychosocial needs in haematological cancer: A systematic review

The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00520-014-2123-5A systematic review of key online databases and psycho-oncology journals was conducted to identify papers that formally assessed unmet psychosocial needs in adults with a diagnosis of haematological cancer

Antibiotic resistance determinants in the interplay between food and gut microbiota

A complex and heterogeneous microflora performs sugar and lactic acid fermentations in food products. Depending on the fermentable food matrix (dairy, meat, vegetable etc.) as well as on the species composition of the microbiota, specific combinations of molecules are produced that confer unique flavor, texture, and taste to each product. Bacterial populations within such “fermented food microbiota” are often of environmental origin, they persist alive in foods ready for consumption, eventually reaching the gastro-intestinal tract where they can interact with the resident gut microbiota of the host. Although this interaction is mostly of transient nature, it can greatly contribute to human health, as several species within the food microbiota also display probiotic properties. Such an interplay between food and gut microbiota underlines the importance of the microbiological quality of fermented foods, as the crowded environment of the gut is also an ideal site for genetic exchanges among bacteria. Selection and spreading of antibiotic resistance genes in foodborne bacteria has gained increasing interest in the past decade, especially in light of the potential transferability of antibiotic resistance determinants to opportunistic pathogens, natural inhabitants of the human gut but capable of acquiring virulence in immunocompromised individuals. This review aims at describing major findings and future prospects in the field, especially after the use of antibiotics as growth promoters was totally banned in Europe, with special emphasis on the application of genomic technologies to improve quality and safety of fermented foods

A realist analysis of hospital patient safety in Wales:Applied learning for alternative contexts from a multisite case study

Background: Hospital patient safety is a major social problem. In the UK, policy responses focus on the introduction of improvement programmes that seek to implement evidence-based clinical practices using the Model for Improvement, Plan-Do-Study-Act cycle. Empirical evidence that the outcomes of such programmes vary across hospitals demonstrates that the context of their implementation matters. However, the relationships between features of context and the implementation of safety programmes are both undertheorised and poorly understood in empirical terms. Objectives: This study is designed to address gaps in conceptual, methodological and empirical knowledge about the influence of context on the local implementation of patient safety programmes. Design: We used concepts from critical realism and institutional analysis to conduct a qualitative comparative-intensive case study involving 21 hospitals across all seven Welsh health boards. We focused on the local implementation of three focal interventions from the 1000 Lives+ patient safety programme: Improving Leadership for Quality Improvement, Reducing Surgical Complications and Reducing Health-care Associated Infection. Our main sources of data were 160 semistructured interviews, observation and 1700 health policy and organisational documents. These data were analysed using the realist approaches of abstraction, abduction and retroduction. Setting: Welsh Government and NHS Wales. Participants: Interviews were conducted with 160 participants including government policy leads, health managers and professionals, partner agencies with strategic oversight of patient safety, advocacy groups and academics with expertise in patient safety. Main outcome measures: Identification of the contextual factors pertinent to the local implementation of the 1000 Lives+ patient safety programme in Welsh NHS hospitals. Results: An innovative conceptual framework harnessing realist social theory and institutional theory was produced to address challenges identified within previous applications of realist inquiry in patient safety research. This involved the development and use of an explanatory intervention–context–mechanism–agency–outcome (I-CMAO) configuration to illustrate the processes behind implementation of a change programme. Our findings, illustrated by multiple nested I-CMAO configurations, show how local implementation of patient safety interventions are impacted and modified by particular aspects of context: specifically, isomorphism, by which an intervention becomes adapted to the environment in which it is implemented; institutional logics, the beliefs and values underpinning the intervention and its source, and their perceived legitimacy among different groups of health-care professionals; and the relational structure and power dynamics of the functional group, that is, those tasked with implementing the initiative. This dynamic interplay shapes and guides actions leading to the normalisation or the rejection of the patient safety programme. Conclusions: Heightened awareness of the influence of context on the local implementation of patient safety programmes is required to inform the design of such interventions and to ensure their effective implementation and operationalisation in the day-to-day practice of health-care teams. Future work is required to elaborate our conceptual model and findings in similar settings where different interventions are introduced, and in different settings where similar innovations are implemented. Funding: The National Institute for Health Research Health Services and Delivery Research programme

The assessment of environmental awareness and comparison of pro-environmental attitudes among the organic and conventional farmers in Grajewo's county

Celem pracy była ocena oraz porównanie świadomości ekologicznej rolników gospodarujących metodami ekologicznymi i konwencjonalnymi na terenie powiatu grajewskiego, jak również ocena postaw prośrodowiskowych reprezentowanych przez rolników obu badanych grup. Z przeprowadzonych badań wynika, że wyższy poziom świadomości ekologicznej reprezentują rolnicy gospodarujący metodami ekologicznymi. Badania dowodzą również, że deklarowane przez rolników postawy wobec środowiska nie zawsze przekładają się na rzeczywiste zachowania, zaś rolnicy decydujący się na ekologiczny sposób gospodarowania często mają na uwadze względy ekonomiczne, nie zaś dobro środowiska. Wyniki badań skłaniają do wniosku, iż należy podejmować działania zmierzające do podniesienia poziomu świadomości ekologicznej producentów rolnych, celem ograniczenia stosowania negatywnych praktyk w rolnictwie. Rzetelna edukacja ekologiczna rolników, połączona z propagowaniem wiedzy na temat ekologicznych metod produkcji rolnej pozwoliłyby skutecznie ograniczyć ujemny wpływ działalności rolniczej na środowisko.The aim ofthe thesis is to assess and compare the environmental awareness offarmers who run their farms with organie methods with conventional way in Grajewo 's county. Additional area examined in the thesis concerns the assessment of pro-environmental attitudes which are represented by both groups offarmers. Research results show thatfarmers who lead their farms with organie methods represent higher level of environmentał awareness. The research proves also that attitudes declared by thefarmers do not always translate into real actions. Farmers decide to act organically because ofeco-nomic considerations, not because ofthe environment protection. It is necessary to take actions that would increase level of erwironmental awareness offarmers in order to limit negative practices in agriculture. Both solid ecological education connected with knowledge dissemination of ecological produetion methods would limit negative influence of agriculture ac-tivities on environment

Microfluidics Based System for Amperometric Determination of CRP

AbstractIn this paper, microfluidic based system for amperometric detection of CRP is described. The amperometric sensors were designed to operate in a microfluidic system for immunoenzymatic test (ELISA). The developed microfluidic system with integrated Pt amperometric sensors is suitable for determination of CRP in the lowest concentration range valuable for clinical diagnosis - 0.1mg/L to 1mg/L

Ecological mite control agents, particularly against Varroa destructor

Varroa destructor is an external parasitic mite that attacks honey bees Apis cerana and Apis mellifera. Varroa mites can be controlled through commercially available miticides, as well as non-chemical means. Our research work has been conducted on plants extracts reducing the mite population. We have obtained promising results for extracts of yew and walnut