Consumer interest in environmental impact, safety, health and animal welfare aspects of modern pig production: Results of a cross-national choice experiment.

Are consumers interested in aspects of pig production and do they take these into account in their buying decisions when such information is available? Samples of consumers in Germany and Poland selected the two - for them - most important out of a list of ten production characteristics, relating to animal welfare, health and safety, and environmental issues. In a subsequent choice experiment, the relative weight these characteristics had in consumers' choices was estimated. Relative importance of production characteristics varied between consumer segments, with the production interested segment being bigger in Germany than in Poland. With the exception of one animal welfare related criterion in Germany, those production characteristics that consumers perceive as most important relate to health and safety aspects rather than to animal welfare and environmental impact.

Perceived Resources as a Predictor of Satisfaction with Food-Related Life among Chilean Elderly: An Approach with Generalized Linear Models.

OBJECTIVE: The main objective of this study is to show why perceived resources are a strong predictor of satisfaction with food-related life in Chilean older adults. Design, sampling and participants: A survey was conducted in rural and urban areas in 30 communes of the Maule Region with 785 participants over 60 years of age who live in their own homes. The Satisfaction with Food-related Life (SWFL) scale was used. Generalized linear models (GLM) were used for the regression analysis. RESULTS: The results led to different considerations: First, older adults' perceived levels of resources are a good reflection of their actual levels of resources. Second, the individuals rated the sum of the perceived resources as 'highly important' to explain older adults' satisfaction with food-related life. Third, SWFL was predicted by satisfaction with economic situation, family importance, quantity of domestic household goods and a relative health indicator. Fourth, older adults who believe they have more resources compared to others are more satisfied with their food-related life. Finally, Poisson and binomial logistic models showed that the sum of perceived resources significantly increased the prediction of SWFL. CONCLUSION: The main conclusion is that perceived personal resources are a strong predictor of SWFL in Chilean older adults.

The role of health-related claims and health-related symbols in consumer behaviour: Design and conceptual framework of the CLYMBOL project and initial results.

Health claims and symbols are potential aids to help consumers identify foods that are healthier options. However, little is known as to how health claims and symbols are used by consumers in real-world shopping situations, thus making the science-based formulation of new labelling policies and the evaluation of existing ones difficult. The objective of the European Union-funded project Role of health-related CLaims and sYMBOLs in consumer behaviour (CLYMBOL) is to determine how health-related information provided through claims and symbols, in their context, can affect consumer understanding, purchase and consumption. To do this, a wide range of qualitative and quantitative consumer research methods are being used, including product sampling, sorting studies (i.e. how consumers categorise claims and symbols according to concepts such as familiarity and relevance), cross-country surveys, eye-tracking (i.e. what consumers look at and for how long), laboratory and in-store experiments, structured interviews, as well as analysis of population panel data. EU Member States differ with regard to their history of use and regulation of health claims and symbols prior to the harmonisation of 2006. Findings to date indicate the need for more structured and harmonised research on the effects of health claims and symbols on consumer behaviour, particularly taking into account country-wide differences and individual characteristics such as motivation and ability to process health-related information. Based on the studies within CLYMBOL, implications and recommendations for stakeholders such as policymakers will be provided.

Alveolar and intraparenchymal proteasome in sarcoidosis.

BACKGROUND: In sarcoidosis, an antigen specific immune response is a putative mechanism, resulting in granulomatous inflammation. Since the proteasome is involved in antigen presentation, alterations in the alveolar and parenchymal proteasomal system may be a feature of sarcoidosis. OBJECTIVES: To explore the role of proteasomes and immunoproteasomes in sarcoidosis. METHODS: Total proteasome concentration and activity was assessed in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) supernatant obtained from sarcoidosis patients (n = 67) and healthy controls (n = 18) using ELISA and cleavage of specific fluorogenic substrates (±epoxomicin), respectively. Immunohistochemistry of lung tissue sections and immunocytochemistry of BAL macrophages for immunoproteasome was performed in sarcoidosis patients and controls. RESULTS: Proteasome was present in BAL supernatants of all sarcoidosis patients. In sarcoidosis, abundant immunoproteasome staining was seen in pneumocytes type II and granulomas. Total proteasome concentration was greater in active sarcoidosis, stages II (101 ng/ml ± 79; p = 0.009) and III (119 ng/ml ± 66; p = 0.012), than in inactive sarcoidosis or in healthy controls (35 ng/ml ± 34). In the absence of epoxomicin, all fluorogenic substrates were hydrolyzed by BAL supernatant of sarcoidosis patients and controls. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with active sarcoidosis but not healthy controls demonstrate immunoproteasome in the lung tissue and in granulomas. Thus, the putative immune response in sarcoidosis may be mediated or sustained by the proteasomal system.

Consumer satisfaction with dry-cured ham in five European countries.

The objective is to investigate consumer satisfaction with dry-cured ham in five European countries. A logistic regression model has been fitted using data collected through a cross-sectional web-based survey carried out in Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Poland and Greece during January 2008 (n=2437 of which 2156 were dry-cured ham consumers). Satisfaction was evaluated as overall satisfaction, as well as specific satisfaction with healthfulness, price, convenience and taste. The findings show that the main determinant of overall satisfaction is taste satisfaction, hence, producers are recommended to focus on matching sensory acceptability of dry-cured ham. No significant between-country differences were found, reflecting the wide availability of this product in all countries. Consumer characteristics influenced their level of satisfaction. Men, older (age > 52 years) and frequent consumers of dry-cured ham consumption were more likely to be satisfied with dry-cured ham. Consumers trust the butcher's advice and they preferred purchasing dry-cured ham at a butcher shop rather than in a supermarket.

Food labelling to advance better education for life.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Nutrition labels are potentially a major instrument for enabling consumers to make healthier food choices, but current insights into how nutrition labels are used by consumers in real-world shopping situations are limited, making the science-based formulation of new labelling policies and the evaluation of existing ones difficult. The objective of the European Union-funded project Food Labelling to Advance Better Education for Life (FLABEL) is to determine how nutrition labelling can affect dietary choices, consumer habits and food-related health issues. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A wide range of qualitative and quantitative consumer research methods is being used, including physical auditing, label sorting tasks, eye tracking and electrodermal response, structured interviews and analysis of retail scanner data. RESULTS: First results from the project show that, on the basis of consumer responses, nutrition labels available in Europe can be categorised as non-directive, semidirective or directive. Penetration of nutrition labelling on food and drink packages in five product categories seems widespread, with the nutrition table on the back of packs being the most prominent format (found on 84% of over 37,000 products audited in 28 countries). The higher penetration observed in Northern Europe is paralleled by more public health campaigns in this region alerting consumers to nutrition labelling systems and elements covered therein (for example, calories, salt and fat). CONCLUSIONS: The findings to date indicate that nutrition labelling is widespread in Europe but formats and level of detail may differ between countries and products. Upcoming studies within FLABEL will decipher whether and how the various elements of nutrition labels affect attention, liking, understanding, use and dietary choices, and what the implications are for stakeholders such as policy makers.

Fluid mechanics of the stagnation point flow chamber and its platelet deposition.

The interaction of flow and thrombus generation often is a crucial question for the engineer working in the field of artificial organs. However, this interaction is only incompletely known, and quantitative data under well-defined experimental conditions are especially rare. These can be attained with the stagnation point flow chamber. This flow model applies platelet-rich plasma (PRP) as fluid. Its flow conditions are assessed with the help of computational fluid mechanics. In addition, the concept of the boundary layer is introduced, which permits assessment of the platelet flow along the wall. The results of the experiment indicate that platelets are deposited at a defined shear rate.

[Bilateral ureteral rupture in a child after blunt trauma]. / Beidseitiger Harnleiterabriss beim Kind nach stumpfem Trauma.

We report a case of bilateral subpelvic ureteral disruption in a child following blunt trauma sustained during a road traffic accident. This case illustrates the importance of coordinated interdisciplinary management in the primary diagnosis of patients with blunt abdominal trauma. The pathomechanism of traumatic ureteral avulsion is also discussed.

Role of human chorionic gonadotropin in patients with pure seminoma.

Human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) are widely established specific and sensitive tumor markers for nonseminomatous testicular cancer. In 106 patients with pure seminoma, a highly sensitive method detected beta-hCG both before and repeatedly during therapy. The low detection limit of the test (0.3 IU/l) coincided with the 95 percentile of a group of 60 healthy blood donors. Its 100 percentile of < 1.0 IU/l was applied as the upper limit of the normal range. In 30.2% of our patients with pure seminoma, elevated beta-hCG levels were noted prior to orchiectomy. The levels returned to normal in 76% of these patients thereafter, and in 34% after additional irradiation or chemotherapy. During an observation period of 2-84 months, all beta-hCG-positive patients were in complete remission. Prior to semicastration, 1 patient showed extremely high beta-hCG levels, while in another patient, beta-hCG and AFP were elevated simultaneously. In both cases, tumor marker levels did not seem to agree with the histology of 'pure seminoma' and rather suggested the presence of nonseminomatous tumor cells. Increased AFP levels contradict the presence of a pure seminoma and indicate a nonseminomatous testicular tumor. The same holds true for strongly elevated beta-hCG levels, whereas levels of up to 200 IU/l correlate with the diagnosis of pure seminoma.

Influence of luteinizing hormone and prostaglandin F2 alpha on progesterone secretion in superfused bovine luteal tissue slices.

Tissue slices from bovine corpus luteum from Days 12 or 13 of the oestrous cycle were superfused for 8 h, and the progesterone secretion under the influence of prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) and/or LH was measured. PGF2 alpha at concentrations of 0.28 to 2800 nmol/l medium did not affect the basal progesterone secretion, whereas higher doses (7000 to 28,000 nmol/l) induced a slight increase in hormone secretion. LH, 3.4 nmol/l, caused an increase in the progesterone concentration in superfusates which exceeded the control levels (P less than 0.01). This luteotropic effect of LH was not influenced by simultaneous addition of 28 to 2800 nmol/l PGF2 alpha. PGF2 alpha, 2800 nmol/l, did not inhibit progesterone secretion, when administered together with 0.034 to 34 nmol LH/l. Pre-superfusion with 2800 nmol/l PGF2 alpha had no effect on the LH-stimulated increase in progesterone secretion. It is concluded that in cattle, a direct cellular effect of PGF2 alpha, antagonizing the luteotropic function of LH, may be of less importance than other possible direct and indirect PGF2 alpha actions.

[Pharmacologic studies or aminoglycoside antibiotics (amikacin, gentamicin, sisomicin, tobramycin)]. / Pharmakokinetische Untersuchungen von Aminoglykosid-Antibiotika (Amikacin, Gentamicin, Sisomicin, Tobramycin).

In a randomized study of 12 healthy subjects, the pharmacokinetics of gentamicin, sisomicin and tobramycin were determined after a one-hour infusion of each drug (1.0 mg/kg body-weight). There were no pharmacokinetic differences of therapeutic significance between the three drugs. The mean serum concentrations at the end of infusion were 3.85 microgram/ml for gentamicin and 4.66 microgram/ml for sisomicin, falling to 0.12 and 0.26 microgram/ml, respectively, after eight hours. The biological half-life varied between 96 and 122 min and the apparent volumes of distribution corresponded closely to the size of the extracellular space.--The pharmacokinetic data of amikacin were determined after a one-hour constant infusion, the mean amikacin serum concentration was 37.5 microgram/ml and, 8 hours later, decreased to an average of 1.3 microgram/ml. The biological half-life amounted to a mean of 114.2 +/- 16.7 min, and the apparent volume of distribution could be calculated with 18.1 +/- 1.81/100 kg body weight.

Pharmacokinetic and clinical studies with amikacin, a new aminoglycoside antibiotic.

Pharmacokinetic parameters of amikacin were determined in 12 healthy volunteers after a 1-hr continuous intravenous infusion of 7.5 mg of the drug/kg. The serum concentration rose rapidly to a peak of 37.5 +/- 4.9 mug/ml at the termination of the infusion and declined to 1.3 +/- 0.5 mug/ml 8 hr later. The mean half-life was 114 +/- 16.7 min, and the apparent volume of distribution was 18.1% +/- 1.8% of body weight. During a 4-hr constant intravenous infusion in three subjects, amikacin was cleared from the kidney at a mean rate of 84.3 ml/min per 1.73 m2, and from the serum at a mean rate of 129.7 ml/min per 1.73 m2. Of the administered dose, 93.5% was recovered from the urine in 24 hr (81.7% during the first 6 hr). After single intramuscular injections of 5 mg/kg in 30 patients, serum levels peaked at 1 hr (21.4 +/- 5.4 mug/ml) and declined to 2.4 +/- 0.9 mug/ml by 8 hr. Of 33 patients with serious urinary or bronchopulmonary infections (usually superimposed on chronic organic pathology) treated with amikacin (10 or 15 mg/kg per day for eight to 17 days), 27 had a clinical remission, and in 15 of these patients the pathogen was eradicated.

[Pharmacokinetics and clinical experience with amikacin. A new aminoglycoside antibiotic]. / Pharmakokinetik und klinische Erfahrungen mit Amikacin. Ein neues Aminoglykosid-Antibiotikum

The pharmacokinetic data of amikacin were determined after a 1 hr constant infusion with a dosage of 7.5 mg/kg body weight in 12 healthy test subjects. Microbiological bioassay was performed by the agar diffusion test. After the infusion, the mean amikacin serum concentration was 37.5 mug/ml and, 8 hours later, decreased to an average of 1.3 mug/ml. The biological half-life amounted to a mean of 114.2 min, the area below the concentration-time-curve was calculated to an average of 140.4 hr - mug/ml. The renal clearance of amikacin was determined during a 4 hr constant infusion in 3 test individuals; the average clearance was 84.3 ml/min - 1.73 m2. 38 patients with severe bronchopulmonary, urinary and peritoneal infections were treated with an average daily dose of 10-15 mg of amikacin per kg body weight during a mean period of 10 days. 32 patients showed clinical improvement, 17 of them with complete elimination of the pathogenic bacteria.