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Notes: Aim : To study 5-aminosalicylate nephrotoxicity in patients with inflammatory bowel disease in the UK.Methods : A detailed postal questionnaire was sent to all 1298 names in the British Society of Gastroenterology database and 290 consultant members of the Renal Association. The British Society of Gastroenterology reported new cases monthly, the Renal Association 6 monthly. Results were expressed as estimated glomerular filtration rate.Results : Retrospective study: cases – British Society of Gastroenterology:Renal Association 202:87, aged 15–76 years. Median peak (range) creatinine (British Society of Gastroenterology:Renal Association) – 300:301 (78–1200) μmol/L. Prospective study – 59 cases, median age 52 years (M:F ratio: 47:12). Median pre-treatment estimated glomerular filtration rate: 76.9 (123.9–39), at diagnosis 28.4 (80.5–3.6, creatinine range: 92–1361 μmol/L), recovery 46.8 [111.2–end stage renal failure] mL/min/1.73 m2. Recovery of renal function was significantly improved for patients treated for 〈12 months [n = 10, median recovery estimated glomerular filtration rate 70.5 (92–26.9) vs. 〉12 months 38.4 (111.2–end stage renal failure) mL/min/1.73 m2, P = 0.028].Conclusions : Regular monitoring of renal function may allow earlier detection of nephrotoxicity, particularly during the first year of therapy. Based on an inflammatory bowel disease prevalence in the United Kingdom of 412 × 105 with about 50% on treatment, we estimate that the incidence of clinical nephrotoxicity in patients taking 5-aminosalicylate therapy is approximately one in 4000 patients/year.

Notes: [Auszug] It is thought that the Cerberus Fossae fissures on Mars were the source of both lava and water floods two to ten million years ago. Evidence for the resulting lava plains has been identified in eastern Elysium, but seas and lakes from these fissures and previous water flooding events were ...

Notes: [Auszug] The majority of volcanic products on Mars are thought to be mafic and effusive. Explosive eruptions of basic to ultrabasic chemistry are expected to be common, but evidence for them is rare and mostly confined to very old surface features. Here we present new image and topographic data ...

Notes: [Auszug] It is well known that the diversity of life appears to fluctuate during the course of the Phanerozoic, the eon during which hard shells and skeletons left abundant fossils (0–542 million years ago). Here we show, using Sepkoski's compendium of the first and last stratigraphic ...

Notes: Purpose - For competitive intelligence (CI) to evolve into a successful business discipline in a company, a culture of competitiveness should prevail. The extent to which CI is practiced in South Africa and the CI culture that exists in South Africa have remained a mystery until the late 1990s. It is the aim of this paper to assess the development of the CI culture since the late 1990s in South Africa and to make recommendations to enhance this culture. Design/methodology/approach - For the empirical evidence, the results of two previous research projects were used. Questionnaires were used in these projects. The questions covered all areas of the intelligence cycle: planning and focus, collection, analysis, communication, process and structure, awareness and culture and attitudes towards CI. Data of the sample population to perform a sample selection was gathered from three sources, namely Reed Inc., the Kompass Southern African and the membership lists of the respective Export Councils. In both the projects, the respondents had to answer the questions on a five-point Likert scale, where 1 equals either never or disagree and 5 equals always or strongly agree. Findings - The results of observations and research projects show a sustained level of awareness of CI and a CI culture within South African companies since 1999. However, research into the CI practices of South African companies (both descriptive and empirical) and specifically into the CI practices of South African exporters has shown certain areas in which local companies lag behind other countries. In particular, in terms of the extent and depth of education, training and consulting services, South Africa is far behind most developed countries. With better training and education opportunities available, in particular in terms of strategic and competitive analysis and the management of CI, these weak areas of the discipline are sure to improve with time. Research limitations/implications - The research was built around the six key areas that, collectively, from the intelligence model as identified by Calof and Breakspear in 1999, i.e. planning and focus, collection, analysis, communication, process and structure, and organisational awareness and culture. Some of the key findings were that South African companies showed a general lack of appropriate processes and structures for CI; that there was little evidence that systems in companies assist the CI activities; that few companies could claim that CI was embedded in the whole company; little information sharing took place and people in the company in general did not know the focus of the intelligence activity. Originality/value - The paper provides recommendations on ways to enhance and foster a competitive or CI culture in South Africa. Various ways to enhance a competitive or CI culture in countries and companies are proposed including CI awareness and training sessions for industry, company managers recognising the value of CI as a tool to enhance competitiveness and appropriate CI related training programmes.

Notes: Based on the knowledge of the living conditions and habitat of social Aculeatae a series of recommendations have been formulated which can potentially greatly minimize the risk of field re-sting. After a systemic sting reaction, patients should be referred to an allergy specialist for evaluation of their allergy, and if necessary venom immunotherapy (VIT). An emergency medical kit should be supplied, its use clearly demonstrated and repeatably practised until perfected. This should be done under the supervision of a doctor or a trained nurse. Epinephrine by intramuscolar injection is regarded as the treatment of choice for acute anaphylaxis. H1-antihistamines alone or in combination with corticosteroids may be effective in mild to moderate reactions confined to the skin and may support the value of treatment with epinephrine in full-blown anaphylaxis. Up to 75% of the patients with a history of systemic anaphylactic sting reaction develop systemic symptoms once again when re-stung. Venom immunotherapy is a highly effective treatment for individuals with a history of systemic reaction and who have specific IgE to venom allergens. The efficacy of VIT in yellow jacket venom allergic patients has been demonstrated also by assessing health-related quality of life. If both skin tests and serum venom specific IgE turn negative, VIT may be stopped after 3 years. After VIT lasting 3–5 years, most patients with mild to moderate anaphylactic symptoms remain protected following discontinuation of VIT even with positive skin tests. Longer term or lifelong treatment should be considered in high-risk patients. Because of the small but relevant risk of re-sting reactions, in these patients, emergency kits, including epinephrine auto-injectors, should be discussed with every patient when stopping VIT.

Notes: All Enterococcus spp., isolated from environmental water samples (n= 81), emitted a high chemiluminescence signal in the presence of luminol (10−2 M). Kinetic studies of chemiluminescence show a close correlation between chemiluminescence and growth curves during the exponential phase, with a maximum chemiluminescence reached just before bacterial growth entered in the stationary phase. On the other hand, genera closely related to Enterococcus such as Streptococcus or Lactococcus produced a very weak chemiluminescent signal. Chemiluminescence of enterococci could therefore offer a rapid test, in aiding the identification of the genus Enterococcus and in the survey of the microbiological quality of water supplies.