Chromium, nickel, copper, zinc, arsenic, selenium, cadmium, mercury and lead in Dutch fishery products 1977-1984

Within the framework of a monitoring programme, carried out by order of the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, fishery products from Dutch coastal waters, estuaries and inland waters were investigated for the presence of trace elements. In this report the results for the period 1977-1984 are presented. The investigated fishery products included sole, cod, plaice, herring, eel, pike-perch, shrimp and mussel, in which the elements chromium, nickel, copper, zinc, arsenic, selenium, cadmium, mercury and lead were determined. The results are compared with data from the literature and with the trace element levels usually found in other animal products. The daily intake of trace elements in The Netherlands through the consumption of Dutch fishery products is calculated.     

Post-traumatic apallic syndrome following head injury. Part 2: Treatment

There is no doubt that vegetative patients need the appropriate medical and nursing procedures as well as family involvement, education and counselling. Additional structured stimulation programmes are used for the treatment of coma and vegetative state. The theoretical foundation is derived from animal studies. The relevance of the results for the rehabilitation of head-injured human patients remains questionable, because all animal studies involve the use of cerebral lesions different from those found in human head-injured patients. The studies of human sensory stimulation give more an orientation than a definitive statement. Very recently, hypotheses concerning sensory regulation have begun to be evaluated. Further investigations are required to provide a more definite conclusion.     

Conservative therapy of angina pectoris using nifedipine (Adalat)

35 patients with angina pectoris or previous myocardial infarction were treated for the period of 6 weeks with a new calcium-antagonist (4-2'-Nitrophenyl-2,6-Dimethyl 1,4-dihydro-pyridin-3,5-dicarbon acid dimethylester) Adalat. The attacks of angina pectoris decreased by 75 percent, the need for nitroglycerin decreased by 84 percent. Examination at rest and under exercise before and during the treatment with Adalat showed when registered by electrocardiogram and by the mean pulmonary-capillary pressure a better tolerance under exercise during treatment as well as a decrease of the PCPm in rest and under exercise after 6 week-therapy with Adalat. No improvement during the period of treatment was seen in 2 patients, who suffered from a severe diffuse type of coronary artery disease.     

Trends in head injuries associated with mandatory bicycle helmet legislation targeting children and adolescents

Background

Bicycling related head injuries (HIs) can be severe. Helmet use reduces head injury risk; however, there are few controlled studies of the effect of helmet legislation. We conducted this study to investigate changes in HIs after bicycle helmet legislation targeting those <18 in Alberta, Canada in 2002.

Methods

Bicyclist and pedestrian (control) HI rates and HIs as a proportion of all injuries were compared for the three years (1999–2001) before and four years (2003–2006) after bicycle helmet legislation in three age groups (children: <13, adolescents: 13–17, and adults: 18+).

Results

There were 41,270 ED visits and 2782 hospitalizations for bicyclists and 9836 ED visits and 2029 hospitalizations for pedestrians (excluding the legislation year 2002). The rate of ED HIs declined for child bicyclists and child pedestrians, while the rate of non-HIs declined in adult bicyclists and child pedestrians. The rate of hospitalized HIs declined in child bicyclists and all ages of pedestrians while non-HI rates declined for child and adult pedestrians. Non-HI rates for adolescent and adult bicyclists increased. After adjusting for sex and location, the proportion of ED bicycle HIs declined by 9% (APR = 0.91; 95% CI: 0.86, 0.95) in children, was unchanged among adolescents and increased in adults (APR = 1.08; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.15). The proportion of bicycle HI related hospitalizations decreased by 30% (APR = 0.70; 95% CI: 0.55, 0.90) in children, 36% (APR = 0.64; 95% CI: 0.49, 0.84) in adolescents and 24% (APR = 0.76; 95% CI: 0.63, 0.91) in adults. There were no observed changes in the proportion of pedestrian HIs resulting in ED visits or hospitalizations.

Interpretation

Our data indicate significant declines in the proportion of child bicyclist ED HIs and child, adolescent and adult bicyclist HI hospitalizations. This is in contrast to no significant trends in the proportion of ED or hospitalized HIs among pedestrians and the unexpected increases in the proportion of ED HIs for adult bicyclists. Comparing bicyclist and pedestrian trends in the proportion of child and adolescent HIs suggests a bicycle helmet legislation effect.     

Epidemiology of bicycle injuries in 13 health divisions, Islamic Republic of Iran 2003

Bicyclists are vulnerable road users for severe injury all over the world. The nature and extent of such injuries are less well known in Iran. Using data from a comprehensive survey conducted by the Ministry of Health and Medical Education in 13 health divisions of Iran, in 2003, we examined circumstances around bicyclist injury and death. Trained health workers completed the survey instruments by interviewing patients who stayed more than 24h in hospitals and/or relatives, hospital personnel and by reviewing patient charts. Data were cross-matched with medico-legal documents to prevent missing deaths. The information that was collected from 64 cities/towns' emergency departments (EDs), over the study period, showed that 440 injured cyclists were hospitalized and/or died due to traffic collisions. Most injuries occurred in males (94.8%) and in the young (median age: 14 years with 75% 相似文献