Most surgeries and many medical procedures commonly make use of some form of anesthesia to maximize patient comfort and safety. However, all are associated with risks. Obesity and related health care problems are relatively common in anesthesia and also have a negative effect on morbidity and mortality. Trends in pediatric obesity show increases in both the prevalence and risks for the development of other disease. Using the 1997 through 2009 Kids’ Inpatient Database (KID), this study will assess diagnostic codes to identify complications related to anesthesia in the obese pediatric population. Information gained from this study may serve to advance research and the development of anesthetic techniques to improve both safety and overall health for this population.

>Magister Scientiae - MSc / Background and Objectives: The reporting of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) is a major public health necessity. It is estimated that only six to 10 percent of all ADRs are reported worldwide. This number is far less than the actual cases of ADRs which occur in healthcare facilities. There appears to be lack of knowledge, awareness and willingness of healthcare professionals to report ADRs, which prompted some countries to nominate a person for ADR reporting in facilities. The objectives of this study were to ascertain which facilities had a nominated person or committee for ADR reporting, describe the knowledge and training of these individuals, describe the processes followed by the facilities for ADR reporting, determine the most commonly reported ADRs and causative drug classes, and, determine the factors which facilitate or hinder ADR reporting. Method: This was an exploratory, multicenter study. A structured questionnaire with closed and open-ended questions was used for data collection. The study was conducted in Gauteng province, where stratified non-random sampling was used to collect data in the selected regional and district public hospitals. Results: Six regional hospitals and five district hospitals participated in the study. Five (45.5%) of these hospitals had a person nominated for ADR reporting, of which all were pharmacists. All the respondents nominated for ADR reporting stated their knowledge and confidence in identification of ADRs as average and above. One (20%) of the nominated persons for ADR reporting did not have pharmacovigilance training. The reported number of ADRs over the past 12 months ranged between zero and 199. Only two (40%) of the hospitals with a nominated person for ADR reporting received feedback on the submitted reports from a committee. Only one (16.7%) of the six hospitals that did not have a nominated person or committee for ADR reporting had plans to nominate a person for this function. ADR reporting in these hospitals were performed by the pharmacy that collated the identified ADRs into a report and distributed these to the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee (PTC) and South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA). Only one hospital out of all the hospitals (n=11) did not use the national ADR reporting form and rather used an incident report. Out of all the participating hospitals, only two (18.2%) of the hospitals had an algorithm in place to assist with the identification of ADRs. The researcher went through the file where ADR reporting forms were kept for the past 12 months, and reported that the most commonly reported ADR type across participating facilities was allergic reactions such as rash and angioedema reported by eight of the facilities, followed by administration errors and quality issues each from three facilities. While the most frequently reported drug class associated with these ADRs included antiretrovirals (ARVs) and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors reported at eight and six facilities, respectively. The most common challenge to ADR reporting at participating facilities was non-reporting of ADRs, followed by fear of litigation and patient’s unwillingness. Although all the hospitals in this study had facility PTCs, only one hospital had a pharmacovigilance subcommittee and the others included ADRs as an agenda point of the PTC meetings. Conclusion: Less than half of the facilities had a person nominated for ADR reporting. Pharmacists and the pharmacy were synonymous with ADR reporting as all nominated persons were pharmacists and in facilities were there were no nominated person, the responsible pharmacist was identified as the contact person for ADR reporting. Although all hospitals had PTCs, there was rarely a subcommittee dedicated to pharmacovigilance or ADR reporting, which culminated in a lack of feedback to healthcare workers that could promote it in the facility. Underreporting of ADRs by health care workers was the major challenge to effective ADR reporting as this function was considered to be too time consuming.

Health information technology has been widely accepted as having the potential to decrease the prevalence of adverse events and improve workflows and communication between healthcare workers. However, the emergence of health technologies has introduced a new type of medical error. Technology-induced errors are a type of medical error that can result from the use of health information technology in all stages of the health information systems life cycle. The purpose of this study is to identify what types of technology-induced errors are present in the key health information technology vendors in the United States, determine if there are any similarities and differences in technology-induced errors present among the key health information technology vendors in the United States, and determine what methods are utilized, if any, by the key vendors of health information technologies to address and/or resolve reported technology-induced errors. This study found that the most commonly reported technology-induced errors are those related to unexpected system behaviours, either through their direct use or through the communication between systems. It was also found that there is a large difference in the number of adverse events being reported by the key health information technology vendors. Just three vendors represent 85% of the adverse events included in this study. Finally, this study found that there are vendors who are posting responses to reported technology-induced errors and these vendors are most commonly following up with software updates and notifications of safety incidents. This study highlights the importance of analyzing adverse event reports in order to understand the types of technology-induced errors that are present in health information technology. / Graduate

Thesis advisor: Callista Roy / Problem: Nurses act as safety nets, protecting patients from harm through the identification, interruption and recovery of medical errors and adverse events but we need to know more about ways to learn from safety events. This study aimed to address a gap in our understanding of how the PRISM Program affects nurses’ attitudes of safety culture, awareness of the recovery of medical errors, and practice as they relate to patient safety and error prevention. Participants: Critical care nurses in a large academic hospital from intervention (n=95) and control (n=90) units were surveyed pre and post-implementation of the PRISM Program. Intervention unit nurse response rates were 46% pre-survey and 41% post-survey. Control unit nurses' response rates were 38% for pre-survey and 31% for post-survey responses. A total of 42 (44%) intervention unit nurses participated in the PRISM Program. Methods: A pre/post-test design with an intervention and control unit was used to evaluate the effects of the PRISM Program on nurses’ responses on the Safety Attitude Questionnaire (SAQ) and the Recovery of Medical Error Inventory (RMEI) over a three month period. Nurses responded to questions about the impact on their practice. Findings: Analysis demonstrated a significant decrease in the SAQ working conditions post-survey subscale scores and significant findings in the main effects, decreased SAQ subscales: teamwork, job satisfaction, safety climate and perceptions of hospital management. The RMEI did not produce any significant findings. Comments provided insight into some nurses’ participation in the program and the impact on their practice. Implications: A significant decrease in post-survey scores indicate that informed nurses had a more critical view of safety culture and the environment they work in. Nurses expressed a desire to further use surveillance and additional manual checks that placed increased accountability and responsibility for their role in using strategies to keep patient safe and prevent errors and patient harm. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2017. / Submitted to: Boston College. Connell School of Nursing. / Discipline: Nursing.

Introduction: Alcohol is an indirect contributor to HIV transmission in sub-Saharan Africa. Alcohol users in general, and heavy, episodic drinkers in particular, are more likely to engage in risky sexual behaviour. Interventions promoting the reduction of alcohol use in conjunction with sex are likely to enhance the HIV prevention response. However, little is known about the relationship between different dimensions of alcohol use and risky sexual behaviour in the general adult population in South Africa. The overall aim of this study was to examine the relationship between alcohol dependence, binge drinking and frequency of drinking in the past month and risky sexual behaviour among males and females aged 16-55 years in South Africa in 2012. Methods: This was a secondary analysis of data from a nationally representative cross-sectional study of males and females aged 16-55 years in 2012. Bivariate and multivariate analysis was conducted to investigate the relationship between alcohol use and risky sexual behaviour. Three nuanced measures of alcohol use were used – alcohol dependence, binge drinking, and frequency of drinking in the past month. The outcomes examined included multiple sexual partners (MSP) in the past 12 months, MSP in the past month, transactional sex, age-disparate sex and condom use at last sex. Results: Some 10,034 respondents (n=4,065 males and n=5,969 females) were interviewed. This study found that for males, there was no significant relationship between alcohol dependence and risky sexual behaviour. For females, those who were alcohol dependent were more likely to have received money/gifts in exchange for sex. Binge drinking and frequency of drinking in the past month were associated with risky sexual behaviour for both males and females. For males, binge drinking was associated with: MSP in the past 12 months (AOR: 1.93, 95% CI 1.37 - 2.72), providing gifts/money in exchange for sex (AOR: 1.53, 95% CI 1.01 - 2.33), and having a sexual partner five or more years younger than themselves (AOR 1.44, 95% CI 1.09 - 1.89). An interaction between binge drinking and self-efficacy for resisting MSP was positively associated with MSP in the past month. Frequency of drinking in the previous month was associated with all five outcome variables and a dose response relationship was present. An interaction between frequency of drinking and self-efficacy for resisting MSP was positively associated with MSP in the past month. For females, binge drinking was associated with: MSP in the past 12 months (AOR 1.93, 95% CI 1.37-2.72), MSP in the past month (AOR 1.79, 95% CI: 1.03 - 3.10), and receiving money/gifts in exchange for sex (AOR 3.10, 95% CI 1.45 - 6.62). An interaction between binge drinking and self-efficacy for resisting MSP was positively associated with MSP in the 12 past months. Frequency of drinking was associated with MSP in the past month. A dose response relationship was evident with females who drank more frequently in the past month being more likely to have had MSP in the past 12 months. This study found high levels of non-drinking (62.80%) but high levels of hazardous drinking among those who drank. Males were more likely to drink and to display hazardous drinking patterns. In general males were more likely to engage in risky sexual behaviour, although males were more likely to have used a condom at last sex. Conclusions: Overall this study has described the patterns and prevalence of alcohol use and risky sexual behaviour in the general population in South Africa. It has demonstrated gender-specific relationships between various types of alcohol use and risky sexual behaviour and has new insights into the complex relationship between these two phenomena. Results suggest that the drinking environment facilitates high-risk sexual encounters. Findings from this study can be used to design and implement future interventions to address this important risk factor for HIV.

O presente estudo tem o objetivo de analisar as notificações dos incidentes relacionados à assistência à saúde em um hospital universitário brasileiro entre os anos de 2015 e 2016.Para tanto, foram coletados dados secundários dos Eventos Adversos (EA) ocorridos no hospital e registrados no sistema VIGIHOSP, e foram descritos eventos de 8 perfis distintos: Procedimentos cirúrgicos, Quedas, Identificação do Paciente, Flebite, Medicamentos utilizados, Perda do Cateter, Lesão na Pele, e Sangue e Hemocomponentes. Os resultados alcançados têm suporte na literatura, tanto em relação à porcentagem de ocorrência de cada notificação, como também no que diz respeito às notificações que se tornam EA. Uma lacuna foi identificada: a literatura científica reforça bastante o problema da subnotificação e as mazelas dela decorrentes; mas, além desse fato, o que este estudo chama atenção é para a efetividade das notificações incompletas. Sugere-se ao hospital pesquisado a promoção das notificações como parte de uma cultura de segurança, buscando mais os resultados do que os culpados. Propõe-se também a utilização dos EA como indicadores de resultado para a gestão hospitalar, atrelados aos objetivos de qualidade e de custo / This study aims to analyze the reports of incidents related to health care in a Brazilian university hospital during the years 2015 and 2016. To do so, secondary data from Adverse Events (AD) occurred at the hospital and were recorded in the VIGIHOSP system, and events of 8 different profiles were described: Surgical Procedures, Falls, Patient Identification, Phlebitis, Medications Used, Catheter Loss, Skin Injury, and Blood and Hemocomponents. The results obtained are supported in the literature, both in relation to the percentage of occurrence of each notification, as well as with regard to notifications that become AD. A gap has been identified: the scientific literature strongly reinforces the problem of underreporting and the ensuing problems; but beyond this fact, what this study calls attention to is the effectiveness of incomplete notifications. For the researched hospital is suggested to promote the notifications as part of a safety culture, seeking more results than the culprits. It is also proposed the use of AD as outcome indicators for the hospital management, linked to quality and cost objectives

Chan Mok-wah, Paul. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1993. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves [219-231]). / ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS / SUMMARY / LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS / Chapter CHAPTER 1. --- INTRODUCTION / Chapter 1.1 --- HISTORY --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- RADIATION EXPOSURES OF THE POPULATION --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- The Projected Expansion of Medical Exposures --- p.2 / Chapter 1.3 --- RADIATION HAZARDS --- p.6 / Chapter 1.3.1 --- Deterministic Effects --- p.6 / Chapter 1.3.2 --- Stochastic Effects --- p.7 / Chapter 1.3.3 --- Pre-natal Irradiation --- p.9 / Chapter 1.4 --- THE LOCAL SITUATION --- p.9 / Chapter 1.5 --- JUSTIFICATION OF THE STUDY OF LOCAL PATIENT DOSE --- p.10 / Chapter CHAPTER 2. --- THE MEDICAL EXPOSURES IN HONG KONG / Chapter 2.1 --- INTRODUCTION --- p.11 / Chapter 2.2 --- MAN-MADE RADIATION IN HONG KONG --- p.11 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Occupational Exposure --- p.11 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Radioactive Fall-out --- p.12 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Nuclear Medicine --- p.12 / Chapter 2.2.4 --- Diagnostic Radiology --- p.12 / Chapter 2.3 --- THE FUTURE TREND --- p.13 / Chapter 2.4 --- THE CURRENT STUDY --- p.15 / Chapter CHAPTER 3. --- METHODS OF OPTIMISATION / Chapter 3.1 --- INTRODUCTION --- p.17 / Chapter 3.2 --- JUSTIFICATION OF DIAGNOSTIC RADIATION EXPOSURE --- p.17 / Chapter 3.3 --- OPTIMISATION OF DIAGNOSTIC RADIATION EXPOSURE --- p.18 / Chapter 3.4 --- THE CONTROL OF EXPOSURES --- p.19 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- The Control of Occupational Exposure --- p.19 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- The Control of Public Exposure --- p.20 / Chapter 3.4.3 --- The Control of Patient Exposure --- p.20 / Chapter 3.5 --- A PRACTICAL APPROACH TO CONTROL PATIENT EXPOSURES --- p.23 / Chapter 3.5.1 --- Intrumental Approach --- p.23 / Chapter 3.5.2 --- Technical Approach --- p.24 / Chapter 3.5.3 --- Administrative Approach --- p.25 / Chapter 3.6 --- CONCLUSION --- p.26 / Chapter CHAPTER 4. --- METHOD OF STUDY / Chapter 4.1 --- INTRODUCTION --- p.27 / Chapter 4.2 --- A WORKING SCHEME --- p.27 / Chapter 4.3 --- THE MEASUREMENT OF ESD --- p.29 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Thermoluminescent Dosimetry --- p.29 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- The TL Material Adopted --- p.30 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- Irradiated of TLDs --- p.32 / Chapter 4.3.4 --- Readout of the Exposed TLDs --- p.32 / Chapter 4.3.5 --- Accuracy of Readings --- p.35 / Chapter 4.4 --- MONTE CARLO SIMULATION --- p.36 / Chapter 4.4.1 --- Introduction --- p.36 / Chapter 4.4.2 --- History --- p.38 / Chapter 4.4.3 --- The Principle --- p.38 / Chapter 4.4.4 --- Photon History --- p.40 / Chapter 4.4.5 --- The Use of Monte Carlo simulation in Organ Doses Estimation --- p.47 / Chapter 4.4.6 --- The Electron-Gamma-Shower (EGS4) Code System --- p.51 / Chapter 4.5 --- A LOCAL MATHEMATICAL PHANTOM --- p.52 / Chapter 4.5.1 --- Introduction --- p.52 / Chapter 4.5.2 --- An Ideal Mathematical Phantom --- p.52 / Chapter 4.5.3 --- Choice of Mathematical Phantom Model --- p.53 / Chapter 4.5.4 --- The Development of a Chinese Mathematical Phantom --- p.55 / Chapter 4.5.5 --- Results --- p.56 / Chapter 4.5.6 --- A Comparison --- p.60 / Chapter 4.6 --- A SUMMARY --- p.62 / Chapter CHAPTER 5. --- POPULATION STUDIES / Chapter 5.1 --- INTRODUCTION --- p.63 / Chapter 5.2 --- FREQUENCY SURVEY --- p.63 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- Survey in Private Sectors --- p.63 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- Surveyin Government Sectors --- p.64 / Chapter 5.3 --- DOSE SURVEY --- p.66 / Chapter 5.3.1 --- Selection of Regions and Projections --- p.66 / Chapter 5.3.2 --- Selection of Hospitals and Laboratories --- p.66 / Chapter 5.4 --- SAMPLE SIZE --- p.67 / Chapter CHAPTER 6. --- RESULTS / Chapter 6.1 --- INTRODUCTION --- p.68 / Chapter 6.2 --- SAMPLE SIZE --- p.68 / Chapter 6.3 --- AGE BAND AND SEX DISTRIBUTION --- p.68 / Chapter 6.4 --- THE MEASURED ESD --- p.75 / Chapter 6.4.1 --- Histograms of ESDs by Projection --- p.75 / Chapter 6.4.2 --- A Comparison of ESDs by Projection --- p.89 / Chapter 6.4.3 --- A Comparison of ESDs by Centre --- p.93 / Chapter 6.4.4 --- A Comparison of Collective ESDs by Centre --- p.96 / Chapter 6.5 --- THE ESTIMATED ORGAN DOSES --- p.103 / Chapter 6.5.1 --- Introduction --- p.103 / Chapter 6.5.2 --- Method --- p.103 / Chapter 6.5.3 --- Normalised Organ Doses --- p.105 / Chapter 6.5.4 --- Organ doses per Projection --- p.105 / Chapter 6.5.5 --- A Computerised programme --- p.119 / Chapter 6.6 --- A COMPARISON OF ORGAN DOSES ESTIMATED ON LOCAL AND NRPB MODELS --- p.152 / Chapter CHAPTER 7. --- SOURCES OF UNCERTAINTY / Chapter 7.1 --- UNCERTAINTITIES IN COMPUTATION --- p.156 / Chapter 7.1.1 --- Inaccuracy of the Justaposition of Complex Human Anatomy and the X-ray Beam --- p.156 / Chapter 7.1.2 --- Statistical Uncertainties --- p.156 / Chapter 7.1.3 --- Attenuation Coefficient Uncertainties --- p.157 / Chapter 7.1.4 --- Anatomic Inexactitudes --- p.157 / Chapter 7.2 --- ERRORS CONTRIBUTED BY TLDs --- p.155 / Chapter 7.3 --- TOTAL POSSIBLE ERROR --- p.157 / Chapter 7.4 --- VERIFICATION OF THE RESULTS --- p.158 / Chapter 7.4.1 --- Verification of the Measured ESD --- p.158 / Chapter 7.4.2 --- Verification of the Estimated Organ Doses --- p.158 / Chapter CHAPTER 8. --- HEALTH IMPLICATIONS / Chapter 8.1 --- INTRODUCTION --- p.161 / Chapter 8.2 --- DATA SOURCE --- p.161 / Chapter 8.3 --- ASSUMPTIONS --- p.162 / Chapter 8.4 --- SOMATIC RISK --- p.162 / Chapter 8.4.1 --- Somatically Significant Dose (SSD) --- p.162 / Chapter 8.4.2 --- Results --- p.163 / Chapter 8.5 --- LEUKAEMIC RISK --- p.166 / Chapter 8.5.1 --- Leukaemically Significant Dose (LSD) --- p.166 / Chapter 8.5.2 --- Results --- p.167 / Chapter 8.6 --- GENETIC RISK --- p.170 / Chapter 8.6.1 --- Genetically Significant Dose (GSD) --- p.170 / Chapter 8.6.2 --- Results --- p.171 / Chapter 8.7 --- DISCUSSION --- p.174 / Chapter CHAPTER 9. --- DISCUSSION --- p.199 / Chapter 9.1 --- MEAN ESDs PER PROJECTION --- p.199 / Chapter 9.2 --- A COMPARISON OF MEAN ESDs BETWEEN LOCAL CENTRES --- p.200 / Chapter 9.3 --- A COMPARISON OF MEAN ESDs BETWEEN COUNTRIES --- p.202 / Chapter 9.4 --- EFFECTIVE DOSE PER EXAMINATION --- p.203 / Chapter 9.5 --- NEED FOR LOCAL ANTHROPOMORPHIC PHANTOM --- p.204 / Chapter 9.6 --- ORGAN DOSES WITH HIGH CANCER INDUCTION --- p.205 / Chapter 9.7 --- A DISTRIBUTION OF COLLECTIVE DOSES --- p.206 / Chapter 9.8 --- "A DISTRIBUTION OF SSD, LSD AND GSD" --- p.209 / Chapter 9.9 --- OVERALL RISK ESTIMATION --- p.212 / Chapter 9.10 --- POPULATION ORGAN DOSES --- p.213 / Chapter 9.11 --- SUMMARY --- p.214 / Chapter CHAPTER 10. --- CONCLUSION --- p.217 / REFERENCES --- p.R 1 - 12 / APPENDICES / Chapter A. --- RADIATION QUANTITIES USED IN PATIENT DOSIMETRY --- p.A 1 - 12 / Chapter B. --- QUALITY ASSURANCE --- p.B 1 - 14 / Chapter C. --- DOSE REDUCTION --- p.C 1 - 11 / Chapter D. --- REJECT ANALYSIS --- p.D 1 - 15 / Chapter E. --- PUBLISHED WORK IN DOSE MEASUREMENT --- p.E 1 - 18 / Chapter F. --- THERMOLUMINESCENT DOSIMETRY --- p.F 1 - 27 / Chapter G. --- A STUDY ON ANTHROPOMORPHIC PHANTOM --- p.G 1 - 4

by Lo Ping Fai. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1987. / Includes bibliographical references.

by Josephine Wing Sze Lau. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 84-112). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Acknowledgment --- p.iii / Abstract --- p.iv / List of Abbreviations --- p.viii / Chapter CHAPTER ONE: --- INTRODUCTION / Chapter 1.1 --- Methamphetamine (METH) --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.1 --- Historical Background and Epidemiology --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.2 --- Physical Effects of METH --- p.4 / Chapter 1.1.3 --- Neurochemical Alternation of METH --- p.6 / Chapter 1.2 --- Mechanisms of METH Toxicity / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Oxidative Stress --- p.8 / Chapter 1.2.1.1 --- Superoxide (O2-) and Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) --- p.10 / Chapter 1.2.1.2 --- "Hydrogen Peroxide (H202), Catalase and Glutathione (GSH)" --- p.11 / Chapter 1.2.1.3 --- Hydroxyl Radical (OH.) --- p.12 / Chapter 1.2.1.4 --- Nitric Oxide (NO) --- p.13 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- Apoptosis --- p.16 / Chapter 1.2.3 --- Excitotoxicity --- p.17 / Chapter 1.2.4 --- Mitochondrial Dysfunction --- p.18 / Chapter 1.2.5 --- Hyperthermia --- p.21 / Chapter 1.2.5.1 --- Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) --- p.23 / Chapter 1.2.5.2 --- Heme-oxygenase-1 (HO-1) --- p.25 / Chapter 1.2.5.3 --- The Effects of Nitric Oxide (NO) on COX-2 and HO-1 Expressions --- p.27 / Chapter 1.3 --- Astrocytes / Chapter 1.3.1 --- Characteristics of Astrocytes --- p.29 / Chapter 1.3.2 --- Astrocyte Functions --- p.30 / Chapter 1.3.3 --- The Role of Astrocytes in METH-induced Neurotoxicity --- p.34 / Chapter 1.4 --- Aim of Project --- p.37 / Chapter CHAPTER TWO: --- MATERIALS AND METHODS / Chapter 2.1 --- Cell Cultures / Chapter 2.1.1 --- Astrocyte Cultures --- p.42 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- CATH.a Cell line and Astrocytes Co-cultures --- p.43 / Chapter 2.2 --- Treatment / Chapter 2.2.1 --- METH Treatment --- p.44 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Inhibition of Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase (iNOS) --- p.44 / Chapter 2.3 --- Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) Assay --- p.45 / Chapter 2.4 --- Assay for Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) Formation --- p.47 / Chapter 2.5 --- Assay for Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) Content --- p.48 / Chapter 2.6 --- Determination of Mitochondrial Membrane Potential (Δ Ψm) --- p.50 / Chapter 2.7 --- Determination of Nitrite Levels in Cultured Astrocytes --- p.51 / Chapter 2.8 --- Western Blot Analysis --- p.52 / Chapter 2.8.1 --- COX-2 --- p.53 / Chapter 2.8.2 --- HO-1 --- p.53 / Chapter 2.9 --- Viability Assay of CATH.a-Astrocyte Cocultures --- p.54 / Chapter 2.10 --- Statistics --- p.55 / Chapter CHAPTER THREE: --- RESULTS / Chapter 3.1 --- The Effects of METH Treatment on Cultured Astrocytes / Chapter 3.1.1 --- Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) Activities --- p.56 / Chapter 3.1.2 --- Morphological Changes --- p.56 / Chapter 3.1.3 --- The Production of Reactive Oxygen Species / Chapter 3.1.3.1 --- Rate of change (0-120 min) --- p.57 / Chapter 3.1.3.2 --- Time course (0 - 48 h) --- p.57 / Chapter 3.1.4 --- Change in ATP Content --- p.58 / Chapter 3.1.5 --- Change in Mitochondrial Membrane Potential (Δ Ψm) --- p.59 / Chapter 3.1.6 --- Nitrite levels after METH treatment / Chapter a) --- Striatal astrocytes --- p.59 / Chapter b) --- Mesencephalic astrocytes --- p.60 / Chapter c) --- Cortical astrocytes --- p.60 / Chapter 3.1.7 --- The Effects of Aminoguanidine (AG) on Nitrite Levels / Chapter a) --- Striatal astrocytes --- p.61 / Chapter b) --- Mesencephalic astrocytes --- p.62 / Chapter c) --- Cortical astrocytes --- p.62 / Chapter 3.1.8 --- The Effects of Indomethacin (INDO) on Nitrite Levels / Chapter a) --- Striatal astrocytes --- p.63 / Chapter b) --- Mesencephalic astrocytes --- p.64 / Chapter c) --- Cortical astrocytes --- p.64 / Chapter 3.1.9 --- Change in Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) Protein Levels / Chapter a) --- Striatal astrocytes --- p.65 / Chapter b) --- Mesencephalic astrocytes --- p.65 / Chapter c) --- Cortical astrocytes --- p.66 / Chapter 3.1.10 --- Change in Heme-oxygenase-1 (HO-1) Protein Levels / Chapter a) --- Striatal astrocytes --- p.66 / Chapter b) --- Mesencephalic astrocytes --- p.66 / Chapter c) --- Cortical astrocytes --- p.67 / Chapter 3.2 --- Cell Viability on CATH.a-Astrocyte Cocultures After METH Treatment --- p.67 / Chapter CHAPTER FOUR: --- DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION --- p.69 / REFERENCES --- p.84

by Chan Tung. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 85-102). / Abstract and questionnaire also in Chinese. / Abstract --- p.i / Chinese abstract --- p.ii / Table of contents --- p.iii / Acknowledgment --- p.v / List of tables --- p.vi / List of figures --- p.vii / Glossary of terms and abbreviations --- p.viii / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Asthma epidemiology --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Aim of study --- p.3 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Literature review --- p.4 / Chapter 2.1 --- Definitions of asthma --- p.4 / Chapter 2.2 --- Questionnaire in asthma epidemiological surveys --- p.7 / Chapter 2.3 --- Asthma prevalence studies in Western populations --- p.9 / Chapter 2.4 --- Asthma prevalence studies in Hong Kong --- p.13 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- Adult asthma --- p.14 / Chapter 2.4.2 --- Childhood asthma --- p.15 / Chapter 2.4.3 --- Asthma mortality --- p.17 / Chapter 2.5 --- Environmental risk factors of asthma --- p.17 / Chapter 2.5.1 --- Allergens --- p.19 / Chapter 2.5.2 --- Air pollution --- p.23 / Chapter 2.5.3 --- Environmental tobacco smoke --- p.27 / Chapter 2.5.4 --- Viral infections --- p.29 / Chapter 2.5.5 --- Dietary factors --- p.30 / Chapter 2.5.6 --- Allergen avoidance --- p.32 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Epidemiological survey --- p.34 / Chapter 3.1 --- Subjects and methods --- p.34 / Chapter 3.1.1 --- Subjects --- p.34 / Chapter 3.1.2 --- Written questionnaire --- p.35 / Chapter 3.1.3 --- Video questionnaire --- p.36 / Chapter 3.1.4 --- Bronchial hyperresponsiveness testing --- p.38 / Chapter 3.2 --- Results --- p.42 / Chapter 3.3 --- Discussion --- p.55 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Environmental survey --- p.63 / Chapter 4.1 --- Subjects and methods --- p.63 / Chapter 4.1.1 --- Subjects --- p.63 / Chapter 4.1.2 --- Questionnaire survey --- p.63 / Chapter 4.1.3 --- Allergen sampling --- p.64 / Chapter 4.2 --- Results --- p.68 / Chapter 4.3 --- Discussion --- p.73 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- Overall discussion and conclusions --- p.81 / References --- p.85 / Appendix