This study is aimed to assess the extent of street food vendor information and education on food safety. Aim: To determine the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of street food vendors, within the City of Johannesburg, with regard to food hygiene and safety. Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study utilizing a quantitative research approach. Data was collected through face-to-face interviewing of street food vendors, with observations of general hygiene and cleanliness. Data was captured in Excel and imported into CDC Epi Info version 3.4.3 (2007) for analysis. Numerical data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and categorical data was analyzed using frequencies. Bivariate analysis was used to establish differences between regions with high and low proportions of street food vendors with regard to knowledge, practices and attitudes variables.

Although there are no authenticated records of human illness due to PSP in New Zealand, nationwide phytoplankton and shellfish toxicity monitoring programmes have revealed that the incidence of PSP contamination and the occurrence of the toxic Alexandrium species are more common than previously realised (Mackenzie et al., 2004). A full understanding of the mechanism of uptake, accumulation and toxin dynamics of bivalves feeding on toxic algae is fundamental for improving future regulations in the shellfish toxicity monitoring program across the country. This thesis examines the effects of toxic dinoflagellates and PSP toxins on the physiology and behaviour of bivalve molluscs. This focus arose because these aspects have not been widely studied before in New Zealand. The basic hypothesis tested was that bivalve molluscs differ in their ability to metabolise PSP toxins produced by Alexandrium tamarense and are able to transform toxins and may have special mechanisms to avoid toxin uptake. To test this hypothesis, different physiological/behavioural experiments and quantification of PSP toxins in bivalves tissues were carried out on mussels (Perna canaliculus), clams (Paphies donacina and Dosinia anus), scallops (Pecten novaezelandiae) and oysters (Ostrea chilensis) from the South Island of New Zealand. Measurements of clearance rate were used to test the sensitivity of the bivalves to PSP toxins. Other studies that involved intoxication and detoxification periods were carried out on three species of bivalves (P. canaliculus, P. donacina, P. novaezelandiae), using physiological responses (clearance and excretion rate) and analysis of PSP toxins in the tissues over these periods. Complementary experiments that investigated other responses in bivalves fed with the toxic cells were also carried out. These included byssus production, and the presence of toxic cells in the faeces of mussels, the siphon activity and burrowing depth in clams and the oxygen consumption in scallops. The most resistant species to PSP toxins were the mussel, Perna canaliculus and the clam, Dosinia anus. Both species fed actively on toxic dinoflagellates and accumulated toxins. The intoxication and detoxication rate of the mussel was faster than the other species of bivalve studied (P. donacina and P. novaezelandiae) which confirm mussels as a good sentinel species for early warning of toxic algal blooms. The clearance rate of the clam, Paphies donacina decreased when fed on Alexandrium species but the effect of the PSP toxins on this physiological response was not confirmed. Over the detoxification period of 8 days, this clam did not detoxify which suggests that its ability to retain high level of toxins for an extensive period may be critical for public health management. The scallop, Pecten novaezelandiae was clearly the most sensitive species to the PSP toxins and the clearance rate was significantly lower in the presence of the toxic dinoflagellate A. tamarense. Although the clearance rate was low, the scallops still fed on the toxic dinoflagellate and accumulated PSP toxins in the tissues. The scallops detoxified slowly which would affect the market for this bivalve in the presence of a toxic algal bloom. This bivalve would retain PSP toxins for longer period of time than other species such as mussels. The oyster, Ostrea chilensis, had erratic clearance rate and did not respond clearly to any of the variables tested over the time. Oysters accumulated more toxins than the sensitive species, but they had been exposed to two more days of feeding with A. tamarense; therefore this species may actually have a similar intoxication responses to P. novaezalandiae and P. donacina. The results from this thesis suggest further directions for the aquaculture sector and ongoing research in this field, which in future will lead to a better selection of suitable species for culture as well as species for monitoring of PSP toxins. In the future, research that integrates field and controlled laboratory studies will expand to other species of interest and a more complete record will in time be available in order to manage more efficiently the negative effects that harmful algal blooms may have in New Zealand.

Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless, tasteless gas that binds to hemoglobin with high affinity. This property underlies the use of low doses of CO to determine hemoglobin mass (MHb) in the fields of clinical and sports medicine. However, hemoglobin bound to CO is unable to transport oxygen and exposure to high CO concentrations is a significant environmental and occupational health concern. These contrasting aspects of CO—clinically useful in low doses but potentially lethal in higher doses—mandates a need for a quantitative understanding of the temporal profiles of the uptake and distribution of CO in the human body. In this dissertation I have (i) used a mathematical model to analyze CO-rebreathing techniques used to estimate total hemoglobin mass and proposed a CO-rebreathing procedure to estimate hemoglobin mass with low errors, (ii) enhanced and validated a multicompartment model to estimate O2, CO and CO2 tensions, bicarbonate levels, pH levels, blood carboxyhemoglobin (HbCO) levels, and carboxymyoglobin (MbCO) levels in all the vascular (arterial, mixed venous and vascular subcompartments of the tissues) and tissue (brain, heart and skeletal muscle) compartments of the model in normoxia, hypoxia, CO hypoxia, hyperoxia, isocapnic hyperoxia and hyperbaric oxygen, and (iii) used this developed mathematical model to propose a treatment to improve O2 delivery and CO removal by comparing O2 and CO levels during different treatment protocols administered for otherwise-healthy CO-poisoned subjects.

Includes bibliographies. / xiv, 233, [102] leaves : ill. ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / This thesis examines the relationship between environmental lead exposure and later emotional and behavioural problems experienced by 11-13 year old children enrolled in the Port Pirie Cohort Study (PPCS). The PPCS is the first study to monitor prospectively the association between lifetime blood lead exposure and children's behaviour. Prenatal and postnatal measures of lead exposure are collected from birth along with a large number of biomedical, socio-environmental and familial factors that might confound the relationship between lead exposure and children's behaviour. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Psychiatry, 1997

Dissertation (Ph.D.)--University of South Florida, 2007. / Title from PDF of title page. Document formatted into pages; contains 141 pages. Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Orientador: Mário Roberto Hatayde / Banca: Mirela Tinucci Costa / Banca: Maria Angélica Dias / Resumo: Sabe-se que a C. spectabilis é muito utilizada como adubação verde e para controle de nematóides, com isso espalha-se facilmente, misturando-se com o milho e outros cereais contaminando as rações. O objetivo do presente estudo foi o de avaliar os efeitos tóxicos da semente de Crotalaria spectabilis, quando trituradas e misturadas à ração de cães. Nesse experimento foram utilizados 12 cães, 6 machos e 6 fêmeas, com idades variadas, divididos em três grupos de 4 animais. Os tratamentos foram divididos por grupos, sendo que cada grupo recebeu respectivamente, 0,2, 0,4 e 0,6% de sementes de C. spectabilis, por 28 dias, que foram trituradas e adicionadas à ração. Semanalmente avaliou-se o perfil hematológico e bioquímico dos cães, além do exame físico realizado diariamente. Nos exames bioquímicos realizados, houve alteração significativa da enzima GGT. Os sinais clínicos observados foram, principalmente, alopecia periocular e alopecia difusa, além de hiperceratose nasal, espirros, tosse, vômitos esporádicos, constipação e fezes ressequidas. Para o exame histopatológico foi extraído um fragmento de fígado através de agulha tipo TRU-CUT®. Observou-se hepatócitos tumefados, vacuolização de células nos sinusóides, necrose focal, anisocitose, cariomegalia, células de Kupffer com variadas pigmentações, fibrose e presença de pigmento biliar nos hepatócitos caracterizando doença hepática. Concluise baseado nos exames histopatológicos que as concentrações oferecidas de sementes de C. spectabilis 0,2, 0,4 e 0,6% no período de 28 dias são tóxicas aos cães / Abstract: It is known that C. spectabilis is widely used as green manure and for controlling nematodes, with that spreads easily, mingling with the infecting maize and other cereal rations. The aim of this study was to evaluate the toxic effects of Crotalaria spectabilis seeds, when crushed and mixed with the food of dogs. In this experiment we used 12 dogs, six males and six females, of various ages, which were divided into three groups of four animals. Each group received respectively 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6% of seeds of C. spectabilis, for 28 days, which were crushed and added to the diet. Weekly it was evaluated the hematological and biochemical profile of dogs, in addition to physical examination performed daily. In biochemical tests performed, significant alteration of the enzyme GGT. Clinical signs observed were mainly periocular alopecia and diffuse alopecia, and hyperkeratosis on nose, sneezing, coughing, occasional vomiting, constipation and dry feces. For the histopathology was extracted through a liver biopsy needle type TRU-CUT®, it was observed tumefactive hepatocytes, vacuolization of cells in the sinusoids, focal necrosis, anisocytosis cariomegalia, Kupffer cells with different pigmentation, fibrosis and presence of bile pigment in hepatocytes, characterizing liver disease. It was based on histopathological examinations offered that concentrations of seeds of C. spectabilis 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6% during the 28 days are toxic to dogs / Mestre

Entre os meses de junho e agosto 2006 dois surtos de intoxicação pelas larvas de P. flavipes ocorreram, um em ovinos (surto 1) e outro em bovinos (surto 2). O surto nos ovinos ocorreu nos meses de junho e julho no município de Encruzilhada do Sul RS e morreram 25 ovinos de um rebanho de 175 ovinos e 11 bovinos. Os ovinos eram mantidos em uma área de 40 hectares de pasto nativo. O surto nos bovinos ocorreu no mês de agosto no município de Sombrio SC e morreram 17 animais que estavam num lote de 77 bovinos, o rebanho total da propriedade era de 280 animais. O lote de bovinos estava em uma área de 90 hectares onde dois animais morreram devido à ingestão das larvas de P. flavipes. O lote foi transferido para outra área onde morreram mais 15 animais em um período de 5 dias. Seis ovinos do surto 1 e seis bovinos do surto 2 foram necropsiados. Grande quantidade de agrupamentos de larvas de P. flavipes foram encontradas no campo e no rúmen dos animais de ambos os surtos. Larvas de P. flavipes foram coletadas em ambos os surtos e foram armazenadas congeladas a -20º. Larvas frescas e larvas congeladas foram administradas para 6 ovinos, por meio de uma seringa com a ponta cortada. A menor dose letal foi de 7,5 g/kg em administração única. Animais que receberam doses sub-letais de 5 g/kg e posteriormente doses letais de 10 g/kg e 15 g/kg em intervalos de 15 e 30 dias, mostraram menor sensibilidade à intoxicação, um animal não adoeceu e outro adoeceu apenas depois de receber uma dose de 15 g/kg. Os animais intoxicados experimentalmente mostraram sinais de doença cerca de 48 horas e morreram cerca de 54 horas após a intoxicação. O exame bioquímico realizado em intervalos de 12 horas revelou alterações apenas nos animais que adoeceram. Os níveis séricos de GGT apresentavam-se elevados depois de 24 horas da intoxicação e continuaram a se elevar até a morte, AST apresentou aumento significativo cerca de 30 horas após a dosificação e posteriormente decaindo até a morte, os níveis séricos de glicose sofreram queda próximo à morte dos animais. As lesões de necropsia observadas nos casos espontâneos e experimentais foram semelhantes e mais consistentes no fígado, que se apresentava com acentuação do padrão lobular e com áreas de coloração amarelada com petéquias subcapsulares. Foram observados também edemas cavitários, edema da parede da vesícula biliar, perirrenal e na região inicial do duodeno, pâncreas e abomaso. Além das hemorragias no fígado havia hemorragias no tecido subcutâneo, coração, e mucosas e serosas da cavidade abdominal. O principal achado histopatológico era caracterizado por necrose coagulativa centrolobular ou massiva associada à hemorragia e congestão centrolobular e degeneração e tumefação hepática na região periportal. Observou-se ainda, depleção e necrose linfóide nos centros germinativos de linfonodos, nas placas de Peyer e na polpa branca do baço. A microscopia eletrônica demonstrou lesão hepática com hepatócitos necróticos, e dilatação dos espaços de Disse e endotélio vascular. Foi observada também intensa proliferação de reticulo endoplasmático liso no animal que recebeu doses graduais das larvas. As larvas descongeladas e dessecadas a 100ºC por 24 horas foram administradas a um coelho e mostraram-se tóxicas. Outros dois coelhos receberam frações sólidas e liquidas das larvas respectivamente e apenas o coelho que recebeu a fração sólida morreu. / Between June and August 2006, two outbreaks of P. flavipes larvae poisoning were observed. In outbreak 1 occurred in a farm located at the county of Encruzilhada do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil, 25 out of 175 sheep were affected and died. Although there were 11 cattle in the same paddock, none of them was affected. Animals were kept in a 40 hectares paddock of native pastures. In outbreak 2, occurred in a farm located at county of Sombrio, Santa Catarina State, 11 out of 77 cattle were affected and died. In total, 6 sheep and 6 cattle from respective outbreaks were necropsied. High numbers of compact masses containing up to 150 larvae were scattered on the paddocks in which animals were grazing. Larvae were collected and frozen at –20ºC. Perreyia flavipes larval body fragments and heads were found in the forestomach contents of all necropsied animals. Fresh and thawed larvae were administered to six sheep by a tip-cut plastic syringe. The lower single lethal dosis was 7,5 g/kg. Animals which received an initial sublethal doses of 5 g/kg and subsequently were dosed with lethal 10 to 15 g/kg at 15 and 30 days intervals showed lower susceptibility to the intoxication. Animals that were experimentally poisoned showed signs of disease about 48 h after dosing and died in approximately 54 h. Biochemical tests performed at 12 h intervals showed changes only in diseased animals. Serum levels of GGT started being higher 24 h after intoxication and kept enhancement until death. AST serum levels were significatively enhanced about 30 h after dosing and then, decreased to death. Glucose serum levels decreased close to the death. Necropsy lesions were similar in both, spontaneous and experimental cases and were most prominent in the livers, which had enhanced lobular pattern and yellowish areas with subcapsular pinpoint hemorrhages. Edema in body cavities, gallbladder wall, perirenal tissues, initial portion of duodenum, pancreas, and abomasum was also seen. Hemorrhages were also present in subcutaneous tissues, heart, and in mucosal and serosal membranes of the abdominal cavity. The principal histological finding was centrolobular to massive coagulative necrosis associated with centrolobular hemorrhage and congestion and periportal degeneration and tumefaction. There also were lymphoid depletion and necrosis in the germinative centres of lymph nodes, Peyer’s patches, and white pulp of the spleen. Transmission electron microscopy showed necrotic hepatocytes and dilatation in the space of Disse and vascular endothelium. Severe proliferation of smooth endoplasmic reticulum was also seen in animal receiving more than one dosis of larvae. Thawed larvae were desiccated at 100ºC for 24 h and administered to one rabbit that also became ill. Additional two rabbit were dosed with solid or liquid fractions of larvae and only which received the solid fraction died.

O arsênio é um metaloide encontrado nas formas orgânica e inorgânica em estado de oxidação trivalente ou pentavalente. Na medicina veterinária a intoxicação por arsênio foi associada, no passado, ao contato acidental com pesticidas e ao uso indevido de medicamentos à base de arsênio inorgânico. Atualmente a intoxicação em bovinos tem sido relatada devido à exposição prolongada a ambientes contaminados. No Brasil, devido à proibição do uso de arsênio inorgânico na formulação de pesticidas, herbicidas a base de metanoarseniato ácido monossódico (MSMA), um arsenical orgânico pentavalente, considerado menos tóxico, têm sido utilizados em plantas infestantes em pós-emergência em culturas de algodão, café, cana-de-açúcar e citros. Em maio de 2014, em uma fazenda no município de Barra do Ribeiro, RS, foi realizada aplicação via aérea de um herbicida formulado com MSMA. Cerca de 200 vacas de corte e terneiros estavam sobre o local e apresentaram diarreia acentuada e severa desidratação após ingerir o pasto contaminado. Dezesseis animais morreram em até 20 dias, sendo seis submetidos ao exame de necropsia. As principais alterações macroscópicas consistiram de avermelhamento difuso da mucosa dos pré-estômagos, abomaso, e intestino, múltiplas úlceras e desprendimento multifocal da mucosa de pré-estômagos com acentuado edema de submucosa e hemorragia multifocal nas serosas. Microscopicamente, as principais alterações foram caracterizadas por necrose isquêmica multifocal associada à necrose fibrinoide de vasos e trombose na mucosa e submucosa. Com exceção de um bovino, os níveis de arsênio detectados estavam acima do limite de referência para a espécie, de 0,5 μg/g ou ppm. O exame anatomopatológico dos bovinos demonstrou que o MSMA promove lesões na mucosa de pré-estômagos por meio de necrose fibrinoide da parede de arteríolas e capilares. Apesar de ser classificado como pentavalente, durante sua metabolização, o MSMA pode gerar metabólitos intermediários trivalentes, que poderiam ter contribuído supostamente com as lesões observadas neste surto. As lesões observadas são similares às alterações promovidas pela forma inorgânica trivalente do arsênio em bovinos. A utilização de herbicidas que contém MSMA deve ser cautelosa, evitando-se o contato de animais em pastagens recém-pulverizadas. / Arsenic is a metalloid found in organic and inorganic forms in a state of trivalent or pentavalent oxidation. In veterinary medicine arsenic poisoning has been associated in the past to accidental contact with pesticides and misuse of medicinal products containing inorganic arsenic. Currently subclinical poisoning in cattle has been reported due to prolonged exposure to contaminated environments. In Brazil, due to the ban of of inorganic arsenic in pesticide formulation, herbicides methane arsenate monosodium acid (MSMA), an organic arsenical pentavalent, considered less toxic, has been used against weeds in post-emergent cotton, coffee, sugarcane and citrus. In May 2014, on a farm in the municipality of Barra do Ribeiro, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, air application was made on a Tifton cultivated paddock with a MSMA formulated herbicide. About 200 beef cows and calves were on the paddock and showed severe diarrhea and severe dehydration after consuming contaminated pasture. Sixteen animals died in 20 days, six of which were necropsied. The main gross lesions consisted of diffuse reddening of the mucosa of the fore stomachs, abomasum and intestines; multiple ulcers and multifocal detachment of the mucosa with severe edema of submucosa and multifocal hemorrhage in the serous membranes. Microscopically the main changes were characterized by multifocal ischemic necrosis associated with fibrinoid necrosis of vessels and thrombosis in the mucosa and submucosa. Except in one bovine, the levels of organic arsenic detected were above the reference level for the species (0,5 μg/g or ppm). The pathology found in the affected cattle showed that MSMA causes injuries in the mucosal pre-stomachs through fibrinoid necrosis the walls of arterioles and capillaries. Although it is classified as pentavalent, during their metabolism the MSMA can generate trivalent intermediate metabolites, supposedly responsible for the injuries observed in this outbreak. The lesions found in the outbreak of this repot are similar to those caused in cattle by inorganic trivalent form of arsenic. Herbicides containing MSMA must be used with caution, avoiding the contact of the animals with freshly sprayed pasture.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-07-22T20:50:19Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-01-27 / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Amazonas (FAPEAM) / Introdução: Centros de Informações Toxicológicas (CIT) prestam papel essencial na assistência de pacientes intoxicados, sem contar com financiamento seguro de suas atividades. Objetivo: verificar a diferença no tempo de internação dos pacientes intoxicados que receberam atenção remota de um CIT em comparação aos que não receberam. Métodos: foi organizada uma coorte retrospectiva incluindo todos pacientes intoxicados hospitalizados em um pronto-socorro de Manaus de 2005 a 2007, dos quais os pacientes selecionados (com agente tóxico conhecido, tempo de exposição inferior a 12 horas e sem comorbidades graves) tiveram a gravidade avaliada por dois revisores independentes e divergências resolvidas por outro revisor. A concordância foi calculada através do índice Kappa. Resultados: Foram incluídos 198 pacientes; aqueles com auxílio remoto do CIT ficaram em média 3,43 dias (- 6,10 a -0,77 IC 95%) a menos internados quando comparados a nenhum auxílio do CIT. Noventa pacientes tiveram gravidade avaliada; não houve diferença estatística na gravidade entre os pacientes com ou sem assistência do CIT (p > 0,5). A concordância entre os revisores foi significativa. Conclusão: Pacientes com assistência remota do CIT tiveram tempo de internação inferior a pacientes sem este auxílio. A análise de gravidade mostrou-se factível de ser incorporada à prática dos CIT brasileiros. / Introduction: Poison Control Centers (PCC) play an essential role in caring for poisoned patients, albeit without secure funding for their activities. Objective: to investigate differences in length of hospital stay among poisoned patients, between those who received remote assistance from a PCC and those who did not. Methods: a retrospective cohort including all poisoned patients hospitalized at an emergency service in Manaus between 2005 and 2007 was set up. Patients presenting a known toxic agent, with less than 12 hours elapsed since exposure and without severe comorbidities, were selected. Their severity of poisoning was evaluated by two independent reviewers and divergence was solved by another reviewer. Agreement was obtained by Kappa index. Results: 198 patients were included. Those who received remote assistance from a PCC stayed in hospital on average for 3.43 days less than those without PCC assistance (95% CI: -6.10 to -0.77). Severity was assessed in the cases of 90 patients: there was no statistical difference in severity between the patient groups (p > 0.5). Agreement between reviewers was substantial. Conclusion: Patients with PCC aid had a lower length of stay then patients without this aid. Severity assessment is likely to be incorporated into Brazilian PCC routine. / TEDE / BV UNIFESP: Teses e dissertações

Submitted by Frederico Azevedo (fazevedo@cdts.fiocruz.br) on 2010-11-11T11:51:50Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação Rosane Abdala.pdf: 817833 bytes, checksum: d9e4285465ac47138c85adec6c0c948e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2010-11-11T11:51:50Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação Rosane Abdala.pdf: 817833 bytes, checksum: d9e4285465ac47138c85adec6c0c948e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2005 / No Brasil, como no resto do mundo, a incidência de intoxicações e envenenamentos constitui um grave problema de saúde pública. Especialmente para esse segmento, a importância de se dispor, a tempo e a hora, de informações fidedignas é condição primordial para se traçar estratégias eficazes e efetivas de vigilância epidemiológica e sanitária. “Qualidade dos dados”, com toda a complexidade envolvida no conceito, passa então a ocupar lugar de destaque na agenda das políticas públicas, inclusive para o Brasil. Para investigar uma faceta da qualidade dos dados sobre intoxicações e envenenamentos no país, o foco do presente estudo está centrado nos Centros de Informação e Assistência Toxicológica, uma das principais fontes para notificação e registro de tais casos, os quais fornecem dados que são consolidados pelo Sistema Nacional de Informações Tóxico- Farmacológicas – SINITOX. Partindo do pressuposto que a padronização é uma das principais variáveis que impactam a qualidade dos dados coletados pelo SINITOX, o estudo visa analisar a maneira como esses Centros interpretam e registram cada um dos eventos a eles notificados, dentro de uma abordagem metodológica que buscou ressaltar a importância da padronização nos processos de registro dos casos. Os resultados apontam para o baixo grau de padronização dos dados que chegam ao SINITOX, ressaltando a importância de se desenhar estratégias que minimizem tal problema, contribuindo assim para minimizar as ocorrências deste agravo à saúde em nossa sociedade. / In Brazil, as in the rest of the world, human poisoning constitutes a serious problem of public health. Readily available and reliable information in this field are essential to the full implementation of epidemiological and sanitary surveillance and to establish efficient and effective strategies of control. The continuous improvement of data quality and consistency ─ no doubt, a permanent challenge ─ has a key role in the definition of sound public policies. To assess the accuracy of Brazilian data on human poisonings, the present study explores data from a network of Toxicological Information and Assistance Centers, one of the main sources of such data in Brazil. Data are consolidated by the National Poison Information System – SINITOX. Assuming that standardization is one of the main procedures that influence the quality of the data collected and analyzed by SINITOX, the study assesses the operations of the Centers affiliated to the SINITOX carry out to interpret and register the events reported to them. A detailed case study highlights the procedures used to standardize case reports. Our findings made evident an insufficient degree of standardization of data received by SINITOX. We emphasize the need to design strategies to improve standardization, aiming to develop a reliable system and to minimize the harms associated to human poisoning in Brazil.