Fragrance contact allergens in 5588 cosmetic products identified through a novel smartphone application.

BACKGROUND: More than 25% of the adult European population suffers from contact allergy, with fragrance substances recognized as one of the main causes. Since 2005, 26 fragrance contact allergens have been mandatory to label in cosmetic products within the EU if present at 10 ppm or above in leave-on and 100 ppm or above in wash-off cosmetics. OBJECTIVE: To examine exposure, based on ingredient labelling, to the 26 fragrances in a sample of 5588 fragranced cosmetic products. METHODS: The investigated products were identified through a novel, non-profit smartphone application (app), designed to provide information to consumers about chemical substances in cosmetic products. Products registered through the app between December 2015 and October 2016 were label checked according to International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients (INCI) for the presence of the 26 fragrance substances or the wording 'fragrance/parfum/aroma'. RESULTS: The largest product categories investigated were 'cream, lotion and oil' (n = 1192), 'shampoo and conditioner' (n = 968) and 'deodorants' (n = 632). Among cosmetic products labelled to contain at least one of the 26 fragrances, 85.5% and 73.9% contained at least two and at least three of the 26 fragrances, respectively. Linalool (49.5%) and limonene (48.5%) were labelled most often among all investigated products. Hydroxyisohexyl 3-cyclohexene carboxaldehyde (HICC/Lyral® ) was found in 13.5% of deodorants. Six of the 26 fragrance substances were labelled on less than one per cent of all products, including the natural extracts Evernia furfuracea (tree moss) and Evernia prunastri (oak moss). A total of 329 (5.9%) products had one or more of the 26 fragrance substances labelled but did not have 'parfum/fragrance/aroma' listed on the label. CONCLUSIONS: Consumers are widely exposed to, often multiple, well-established fragrance contact allergens through various cosmetic products intended for daily use. Several fragrance substances that are common causes of contact allergy were rarely labelled in this large sample of cosmetic products.

The police, social services, and psychiatry (PSP) cooperation as a platform for dealing with concerns of radicalization.

The police, social services, and psychiatry (PSP) is a structured cooperation between the police, social services, and the psychiatric system in Denmark. The aim of PSP is to ensure that relevant information is shared and supportive measures enhanced concerning citizens at risk, and it involves PSP representatives from each sector meeting frequently. PSP is implemented nationwide by law. In recent years, dealing with radicalization and the threat of terrorism have become key issues in society. The PSP cooperation already facilitates the identification of citizens at many kinds of risk (e.g. suicide, substance abuse, social decline, mental illness), and coordinates relevant intervention and treatment. The existing PSP cooperation is, therefore, an obvious forum for identifying and handling concerns of radicalization and extremism. The new working model includes an upgrade of all local PSP groups and an implementation of a nationwide evaluation of the initiative. This is a presentation of the working model and the experiences in practice.

Acute and long-term nephrotoxicity of cis-platinum in man.

To detect whether the nephrotoxicity of cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (DDP) is acute and can be demonstrated at an early stage in man, a method for estimating the function of the kidneys during intensive hydration was devised. The method includes a calculation of the clearance of 125I-orthoiodohippurate and an estimation of the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) from fast changes of the extracellular volume (ECV) and the mean transit time of 99mTc-DTPA in this volume. We examined nine patients with testicular cancer on 2 consecutive days for acute nephrotoxicity while they were undergoing treatment with cis-platinum. Placebo was given on day 1, cis-platinum on day 2. On both days the patients were hydrated with 4 l saline, glucose, and mannitol (0.51) over a period of 4 h, which resulted in an increase of 125I-orthoiodohippurate clearance on both days (P less than 0.01). The increase was, however, lower on the day of treatment with cis-platinum than on the day with placebo (P less than 0.05). There were no acute changes in the GFR. This indicates that treatment with DDP inhibits the active transport of 125I-orthoiodohippurate in the tubules; that is to say there is an acute effect on the kidney function. There were no acute changes in the GFR, but in the long-term followup study we found that the GFR had decreased significantly (P less than 0.05) after 2 months of treatment. During the first year after the initiation of treatment the GFR changes were found to progress. A significant increase in se-creatinine was not observed until 6 months after the initiation of treatment (P less than 0.05). The degree of chronic nephrotoxicity did not correlate in individual patients with the acute changes in kidney function.

Methods for detecting acylated homoserine lactones produced by Gram-negative bacteria and their application in studies of AHL-production kinetics.

In the process of evaluating the role of acylated homoserine lactones (AHLs) in food-spoiling Gram-negative bacteria, we have combined a range of bacterial AHL monitor systems to determine the AHL-profile and the kinetics of AHL-production. AHL production from 148 strains of Enterobacteriaceae isolated from foods was tested using Escherichia coli pSB403 (LuxR), Agrobacterium tumefaciens A136 (TraR) and both induction and inhibition of Chromobacterium violaceum CV026 (CviR). All strains except one was found to produce AHL(s). In no case could a single monitor system identify more than 64% of the Enterobacteriaceae as AHL-producers, showing that the simultaneous use of monitor strains is required in the process of screening bacterial populations for AHL-production. AHLs from 20 selected strains were profiled by thin layer chromatography. Most strains produced more than one AHL with 3-N-oxo-hexanoyl homoserine lactone being the most prominent. It was found that the simultaneous use of monitor strains in the top-layer was necessary for the detection of (presumably) all the AHLs. An agar well-diffusion assay based on A. tumefaciens pDZLR4 was used for quantifying AHLs from bacterial supernatants and enabled an assessment of the kinetics of AHL-production of 3 strains (Serratia proteamaculans strain B5a, Erwinia carotovora ATCC 39048 and V. fischeri strain MJ-1). As expected, the production of AHL (OHHL) and luminescence in Vibrio fischeri strain MJ-1 increased faster than growth indicating up-regulation of the AHL regulated phenotype and auto-induction of AHL production. In contrast, production kinetics of AHL (OHHL) in the two Enterobacteriaceae indicated lack of auto-induction.

Experimental nonsuture colonic anastomoses.

A comparative study of sutured colonic anastomoses and anastomoses made by isobutylcyanoacrylate was performed in 60 rats. No difference in the strength of the anastomoses, as expressed by the bursting pressure, was found, and there was no difference in the frequency of adhesions or stenoses, provided the cyanoacrylate was meticulously covered by omentum. Histologic evidence of delayed healing was observed in the cyanoacrylate group; however, this did not seem to reduce the strength of the anastomosis. Provided it is covered with an omental tag, isobutylcyanoacrylate may prove to be a valuable adjunct to conventional suture techniques under special circumstances.

Assessment of tibial stiffness by vibration testing in situ--III. Sensitivity of different modes and interpretation of vibration measurements.

Post mortem vibration measurements on one human tibia during gradual transection reveal the vibration modes and frequencies of a tibia during a simulated healing. The modes are identified in a tibia in an above knee amputation specimen with the leg in two positions: hanging down with the knee flexed (90 degrees) and supported in a special designed bone clamping splint (knee flexed 45 degrees). The vibration measurements are analysed using Modal Analysis and are translated to mechanical stiffness by mathematical modelling. The single bending 'free-free' mode turned out to be more sensitive to weakening of one cross-section than the 'rigid body' and single bending 'hinged-spring' modes. The error on the assessed value of the stiffness is a multiple of the error on the measured frequencies. This multiplication factor decreases for more sensitive modes. In this experiment, the results are accurate enough to reflect the asymmetric weakening imposed upon the tibia. Attempts are made towards automatization of the measurement and analysis in order to get a system for clinical use. The actual system is still too cumbersome and time consuming for standard clinical use.

Assessment of tibial stiffness by vibration testing in situ--I. Identification of mode shapes in different supporting conditions.

Vibrational methods to monitor fracture healing, the BRA and the IFR, are compared under different supporting conditions, excitation technique and signal processing. Mode shapes are identified by modal analysis. A wet excised human tibia and an amputation specimen are investigated. Excitation technique and signal processing caused only minor differences in the resonance frequencies. The supporting conditions had an important influence on the single bending modes changing both mode-shapes and frequencies. Thus the BRA-splint imposed a node at the malleolus. Modal analysis revealed the following modes in the two supporting conditions: BRA-splint: A 'rigid body' mode of 165 Hz in the sagittal plane. A single bending mode of 315 Hz close to the sagittal plane. IFR-hanging leg: A 'rigid-body' mode of 167 Hz close to the sagittal plane. Two single bending modes ('free-free'), a mode of 303 Hz close to the frontal plane and a mode of 470 Hz in the sagittal plane.

Assessment of tibial stiffness by vibration testing in situ--II. Influence of soft tissues, joints and fibula.

The influence of soft tissues and joints on the vibration of the human tibia was examined by modal analysis on amputated lower limbs, where the soft tissues and the fibula were dissected gradually. Measurements were made in two different set ups, IFR and BRA, which were both designed to monitor fracture healing. In IFR, vibrations are generated by hammer impact on a relaxed hanging lower leg, with the knee flexed. Resonant frequencies are determined by a computer Fourier transform procedure. In BRA, a steady state vibration is induced in a lower leg, supported near the ankle and the tibial tuberosity, using an electromagnetic shaker. Resonant frequencies are determined from the maxima in vibration amplitudes. In both set ups the soft tissues have a similar influence on the vibration of the tibia: the skin hardly influences the determined modal parameter. The mass of the muscles influences both the resonant frequency and the damping. The fibula has a stiffening effect on the tibia. The influence of the joints is small in the IFR-set up: the tibia vibrates in conditions close to those for the free-free vibration. In the BRA-set up, the supports determine the boundary conditions.

[Community psychiatric treatment and needs of admission of psychiatric patients. A controlled study 5 years after introduction of a community psychiatric center]. / Distriktspsykiatrisk behandling og psykiatriske patienters behov for genindlaeggelse. Et kontrolleret studie fem år after optagelse i distriktspsykiatrisk center.

The utilization of the psychiatric in-patient services was evaluated in the intervention district and compared with a selected control district. The number of admissions and in-patient days were similar before admission to the community psychiatric service. As a result of the intervention the number of admissions to hospital and the length of in-patient hospital stay decreased significantly, resulting in a reduction of total number of in-patient days by 47%. The findings of other recent studies follow the same pattern. The reduction in in-patient days was significant in the group of schizophrenic patients.

[Therapeutic need of acute psychiatric patients and offered care during a 10-year period]. / Akutte psykiatriske patienters behandlingsbehov og behovsopfyldelse over en tiårsperiode.

With reference to the great changes made in recent years within the Danish psychiatric services, we compared the demand for care of acute psychiatric patients with the care offered. Over a period of three months in 1991 we prospectively registered all 243 acute psychiatric referrals to Svendborg Hospital, with regard to age, sex, way and source of referral, diagnosis, need for care and care offered. The result was compared with similar surveys in 1980 and 1985. We found that optimal treatment was not available to approximately 20% of the acute psychiatric referrals, the care we most often were unable to offer was acute admission to the psychiatric ward of Svendborg Hospital. We also found that from 1980 to 1991 there were no changes in the number of daily referrals, in the sex ratio or the age distribution of the patients. Our ability to meet the specific needs for care changes quantitatively throughout the period. The survey concludes that we are still unable to meet the specific needs for treatment of acute psychiatric referrals. Various suggestions are made as to how to improve the services offered to acute psychiatric patients.

[Psychiatric diseases among the homeless in Funen County]. / Psykiatriske lidelser blandt hjemløse i Fyns Amt.

The purpose of the study was to investigate whether deinstitutionalization of psychiatric patients had produced a clientele of homeless mentally ill people which is not treated. During week 47, 1990, 94 of the 129 residents 73%) in the institutions for homeless people in the County of Funen (population 459,000) were examined for mental illness by a psychiatrist. Diagnoses were made using the ICD-8 classification. Social data were recorded. Eighty-nine per cent were men, 59% were aged 30-49 years, 93% were single, and source of incomes for 80% were public assistance or disability pensions. More than half had been sentenced for crime at least once. The majority suffered from severe psychosocial strain. In 91% a psychiatric diagnosis was established, the most frequent being alcoholism (73%) and personality or character disorder (70%). Psychoses were found in 10 cases or 11%. About 29% required psychiatric treatment. The conclusion was that deinstitutionalization in the County of Funen had not resulted in influx of psychotic persons to institutions for the homeless people.

[In-hospital day for patients connected with the District Psychiatric Center in Svendborg. A controlled study]. / Sengedagsforbruget for patienter tilknyttet Distriktspsykiatrisk Center i Svendborg. En kontrolleret undersøgelse.

As of 31.12.1990, the employment of bed-days and admissions was calculated for patients who had been connected with a district psychiatric centre for more than three years. A before-and-after comparison revealed a percentage reduction in the employment of bed-days as compared with a control group. This corresponds to the findings in other investigations. In the before-and-after analysis, various reductions are described according to the diagnostic groups. The reduction in bed-day employment consisted mainly of fewer readmissions and reduction in the group of long-term hospitalisations. A reduction also occurred in the group of patients who could characterized as least ill. In this group, a marked percentage reduction in bed-days was observed as compared with the control group and this was probably due to the good and continuous treatment after discharge offered by the district psychiatric centre. This investigation revealed that the employment of bed-days for a patient population receiving district psychiatric treatment after discharge can be reduced. Nevertheless, the most severely ill patients will still require periodic admission to hospital. The value of treatment after discharge of the "Svendborg Model" type does not provide scientifically valid arguments that hospital admission can be avoided where the most severely ill patients are concerned.

Treatment of hydrocele testis by injection of tetracycline.

In a prospective study 27 hydroceles were treated with single aspiration and injection of 500 mg tetracycline. The median observation period was 6 months (range 3-15 months). One month after therapy 9 recurrences were observed; but 5 disappeared spontaneously during the next 2 months, giving an overall success rate of 85% (95% confidence limits 66-96%). No serious complications occurred. Dilution of tetracycline in lidocaine prevented acute scrotal pain. Sclerotherapy with tetracycline is efficient, easy and inexpensive and, therefore, economical and beneficial for the patient.

Determination of 99mTc-DTPA clearance by a single plasma sample method.

To derive a formula for determination of 99mTc-DTPA clearance (Cl) from the radioactivity in a single plasma sample, the relation Cl = ECV/t was used, where ECV is the extracellular volume and t is the mean transit time of the tracer in the organism. By studying 99mTc-DTPA time activity curves of 45 consecutive patients we found that ECV could be estimated from the body surface area, and that t could be calculated from the radioactivity in a single plasma sample. Cl calculated by the single sample method was almost identical to Cl calculated by a standard multiple sample method (r = 0.987). It is concluded that the single sample method is accurate and that it may prove useful as a routine method provided that the method is not used in patients with 99mTc-DTPA clearance less than 30 ml min-1, since this investigation includes only patients with Cl greater than 30 ml min-1; the method is not used for children, since the test material did not contain any children; the method is only used for plasma samples drawn at 180 less than or equal to t less than or equal to 300 min.

Respiration in the burrowing brittlestar, Hemipholis elongata say (Echinodermata, Ophiuroidea): a study of the effects of environmental variables on oxygen uptake.

The burrowing brittlestar Hemipholis elongata (Say) maintains a constant M(O2)of 3.79+/-1.47 micromol O(2) g(-1) h(-1) (for 0.2-0.3 g animals, mean+/-S.D., n=7), measured in the burrow, over a broad range of PO(2). Below the critical PO(2) of 37 mm Hg, M(O(2)) becomes dependent on the oxygen tension. M(O2) is a function of the size of H. elongata; the scaling exponent is 0. 83 and is similar to those reported for other echinoderms. The M(O2) of H. elongata is unaffected by removal from the burrow, by hypercapnia, by exposure to hydrogen sulfide, or by temperature change in the range from 20 to 32 degrees C. The relative insensitivity of H. elongata to these factors may be an adaptation to life in the highly variable estuarine and tidal creek environments where the animals are frequently found.