Controlled-release of Chlorine Dioxide in a Perforated Packaging System to Extend the Storage Life and Improve the Safety of Grape Tomatoes.

A controlled-release chlorine dioxide (ClO2) pouch was developed by sealing a slurry form of ClO2 into semipermeable polymer film; the release properties of the pouch were monitored in containers with or without fruit. The pouch was affixed to the inside of a perforated clamshell containing grape tomatoes, and the effect on microbial population, firmness, and weight loss was evaluated during a 14 day storage period at 20 °C. Within 3 days, the ClO2 concentration in the clamshells reached 3.

Early post-tsunami disaster medical assistance to Banda Aceh: a personal account.

The south Asian tsunami on 26 December, 2004, saw Australia deploy civilian teams to an international disaster in large numbers for the first time. The logistics of supporting such teams in both a self sustainability capacity and medical equipment had not previously been planned for or tested. For the first Australian team deployed to Banda Aceh, which arrived on the fourth day after the tsunami, equipment sourced from the New South Wales Fire Brigades Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) cache supplied all food, water, tents, generators and sleeping equipment.

A cancer incidence and mortality study of Dow Chemical Canada Inc. manufacturing sites.

Background: Previously, the mortality was reported in a cohort of male workers at an Ontario chemical plant.

Aims: To expand the cohort and to investigate the mortality and cancer incidence risk among chemical manufacturing sites.

Methods: We followed 5277 men and 1301 women from 1950 to 1999.

Antibiotic exposure and breast cancer in New Zealand.

Aims To investigate the hypothesis that use of antibiotics is related to subsequent development of breast cancer and also to apply this theory to other cancer types. Materials and methods A nested case-control study was conducted, using data linkage between the RNZCGP Research Unit database and the New Zealand Hospital Separation Diagnosis database. Cancer related hospital admissions were identified between 1998 and 2002, and prior antibiotic exposure in these patients was then found.

Information Technology systems in general practice medicine in New Zealand.

Aims: Until recently, very little national and international information has existed on the level of computerisation in general practice medicine. This study was undertaken to describe the current state of information technology (IT) systems in general practice medicine in New Zealand.

Methods: A questionnaire detailing many aspects of computerisation and information technology was sent to all currently operating general practices (a total of 1188) in New Zealand, as identified from public directories.

Level of prehospital care and risk of mortality in patients with and without severe blunt head injury.

Objectives: To determine the association between mortality and the level of prehospital care in severely injured blunt trauma patients with or without severe head injury.

Method: Retrospective review of 2010 severe blunt trauma patients (injury severity score (ISS) >15) with or without severe head injury in a tiered trauma system involving ambulance officers (basic life support (BLS) and advanced life support (ALS)) and physicians, and a Level 1 trauma centre.

Results: After adjusting for age, type of head injury, glasgow coma scale score (GCS), systolic blood pressure, ISS and prehospital time, intensive care unit (ICU) admission modified the association between level of prehospital care and mortality.