VAT: a precise mechanism to identify drug-food companies.

The impact of drug-foods (tobacco and cane sugar, cocoa and caffeine) and the consequences of their production on the health of both public and planet are wide ranging and increasing from obesity to pressure on water supply. The world's food system is dominated by a small number of global corporations making and promoting drug-foods in myriad forms. The use of sugar-substitute non-sugar sweeteners, and their design of products, are specifically formulated to be 'moreish', to stimulate pleasure responses above and beyond the natural pleasure of eating.

Mobile telecommunications and health: report of an investigation into an alleged cancer cluster in Sandwell, West Midlands.

Aims: Residents of one street expressed concern about the number of incident cancers, following the installation of a nearby mobile phone base station. The investigation explored whether the base station could be responsible for the cancers.

Methods: Data were collected from residents' medical records.

Mathematical modeling to define optimum operating room staffing for pediatric patients in trauma centers.

Background: Adult trauma centers (TCs) in the United States may be verified with an on-call operating room team if the performance improvement program shows no adverse outcome. Using queuing and simulation methodology, this study attempts to add a volume guideline for injured children.

Methods: Data from 63 verified TCs identified demographic factors including specific information regarding the first pediatric trauma-related operation done between 11 pm and 7 am each month for 1 year.