Effectiveness of offering healthy labelled meals in improving the nutritional quality of lunch meals eaten in a worksite canteen.

Healthier meal selections at restaurants and canteens are often limited and not actively promoted. In this Danish study the effectiveness of a healthy labelling certification program in improving dietary intake and influencing edible plate waste was evaluated in a quasi-experimental study design. Employees from an intervention worksite canteen and a matched control canteen were included in the study at baseline (February 2012), after completing the certification process (end-point) and six month from end-point (follow-up) (total n=270). In order to estimate nutrient composition of the consumed lunch meals and plate waste a validated digital photographic method was used combining estimation of food intake with food nutrient composition data. Food satisfaction was rated by participants using a questionnaire. Several significant positive nutritional effects were observed at the intervention canteen including a mean decrease in energy density in the consumed meals from 561kJ/100g at baseline to 368 and 407kJ/100g at end-point and follow-up, respectively (P<0.001). No significant changes were seen with regard to food satisfaction and plate waste. In the control canteen no positive nutritional effects were observed. The results of the study highlight the potential of using healthy labelling certification programs as a possible driver for increasing both the availability and awareness of healthy meal choices, thereby improving dietary intake when eating out.

Waiting times for diagnosis and treatment of head and neck cancer in Denmark in 2010 compared to 1992 and 2002.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Significant tumour progression was observed during waiting time for treatment of head and neck cancer. To reduce waiting times, a Danish national policy of fast track accelerated clinical pathways was introduced in 2007. This study describes changes in waiting time and the potential influence of fast track by comparing waiting times in 2010 to 2002 and 1992. METHODS: Charts of all new patients diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity, pharynx and larynx at the five Danish head and neck oncology centres from January to April 2010 (n=253) were reviewed and compared to similar data from 2002 (n=211) and 1992 (n=168). RESULTS: The median time to diagnosis was 13 days (2010) versus 17 days (2002; p<0.001) and 20 days (1992; p<0.001). Median days from diagnosis to treatment start were 25 (2010) versus 47 (2002; p<0.001) and 31 (1992; p<0.001). Total pre-treatment time was median 41 days in 2010 versus 69 days (2002) (p<0.001) and 50 days (1992; p<0.001). Significantly more diagnostic imaging was done in 2010 compared to 2002 and 1992. When compared to current fast track standards the adherence to diagnosis improved slightly from 47% (1992) to 51% (2002) and 64% (2010); waiting time for radiotherapy was within standards for 7%, 1% and 22% of cases, respectively; waiting time for surgery was within standards for 17%, 22% and 48%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The study showed a significant reduction in delay of diagnosis and treatment of head and neck cancer in 2010, but still less than half of all patients start treatment within the current standards.

Suture of achilles tendon rupture under local anesthesia.

We operated on a consecutive series of 30 closed Achilles tendon ruptures under local anesthesia and without the use of a tourniquet. We had no reruptures or major complications, and the results were comparable to other series of operatively treated achilles tendon ruptures.

Plica mediopatellaris--arthroscopic resection under local anesthesia.

A consecutive series of 28 patients (31 knees) with a symptomatic mediopatellar plica without concomitant lesions excised arthroscopically under local anaesthesia in the outpatient department is described. The results were classified as excellent or good in 26/31 cases after a median follow-up period of 15 months. It is concluded that excising a fibrosed mediopatellar plica large enough to cover the medial femoral condyle during flexion is followed by good results; local anaesthesia is sufficient and economical, and arthroscopic excision under local anaesthesia carries a low morbidity.

Subcellular localization of hypothalamic luteinizing hormone.

Ultracentrifugation and sucrose gradient separation techniques have been applied to study of the subcellular distribution of hypothalamic luteinizing hormone (LH). Subcellular particle-bound LH accounted for 42% of the total LH while cytoplasm contained 58% of the total immunoassayable LH in these extracts. 70% of particle-bound LH was present in the P2 fraction and most of the particle-associated LH was found in subfractions of P2 rich in synaptosomes but poor in myelin and mitochondria. While actual amounts of LH in the P3 and P4, the microsomal fractions, were relatively small, the concentration of LH, expressed as nanograms per milligram of protein was quite high. Both content and concentration of LH in the nuclear pellet, P1, were substantially lower. These findings provide further framework for speculation on the role of brain-based LH.

Restovar--new low-dose, combined, oral contraceptive. Effects on serum proteins, free testosterone and clinical efficacy.

PIP: A combined oral contraceptive (OC, Restovar, Organon) containing 0.0375 mg ethinyl estradiol and 0.75 mg lynestrenol was investigated. Various clinical and laboratory variables were studied in 164 women over 1376 treatment cycles. No pregnancies occurred. In common with other low-dose combined preparations, Restovar also caused some intermenstrual bleeding but acceptability was good in the majority of women. The frequency of general complaints was low. The estrogen-sensitive proteins, ceruloplasmin and transcortin, increased in proportion to the estrogen content of the preparation. The estrogen-androgen-sensitive proteins, sex hormone binding globulin, and thyroxin binding globulin, increased to a rather high level. Free testosterone decreased significantly. The elevation of sex hormone binding globulin level was accompanied by a decrease in free testosterone. The strong increases in sex hormone binding globulin and thyroxin binding globulin indicate that the preparation has a very low androgenic activity. The latter was confirmed in 2 women with initially low sex hormone binding globulin levels who showed a marked improvement in hirsutism and acne during treatment; this improvement was correlated with an increase in sex hormone binding globulin and decreased free testosterone levels.^ieng

Electrophysiological evidence of concurrent dorsal raphe input to caudate, septum, habenula, thalamus hippocampus, cerebellum and olfactory bulb.

Field potentials evoked by electrical stimulation of the dorsal raphe nucleus (DR) were recorded in eight forebrain structures in the rat. The areas were chosen chiefly for their anatomical connections to the DR and included the olfactory bulb (OB), caudate nucleus (CN), lateral septum (Spt), lateral habenula (Hb), parafascicularis (PF), ventral thalamus (VT), hippocampus-CA1 (Hipp), and cerebellum (CB). DR stimulation evoked an initial biphasic positive-negative wave form at similar latencies in each of the eight structures. A later positive-negative-positive wave was evoked in only six structures: CN, Spt, Hb, PF, VT, and Hipp. The amplitudes and latencies of the peaks of the later wave forms varied among structures. A depth profile recording procedure created by moving the DR stimulating electrode showed that the responses in the remote structures occurred only when the stimulating electrode was located in the DR. Bursting the DR at 20 Hz for 5-20 min caused a decrease in all components of the response. The evoked potential amplitude returned to baseline levels 5-30 min after cessation of stimulation. The results indicates that the dorsal raphe has a concurrent input to many areas of the brain receiving 5HT afferents and that DR stimulation can modulate the neuronal activity in these regions.