Case Studies of Small-Medium Food Enterprises around the World: Major Constraints and Benefits from the Implementation of Food Safety Management Systems.

Global food safety and security are key principles to be followed in the context of the implementation of food safety management systems. The objective of this paper is to assess the contemporary developments of Food Safety Management System standards (FSMS) worldwide and to identify the primary constraints and advantages associated with their implementation by small and medium-sized enterprises across different regions. The effectiveness of these systems has also been evaluated.

Thermomechanical Response of Polycarbonate/Aluminum Nitride Nanocomposites in Material Extrusion Additive Manufacturing.

Polycarbonate-based nanocomposites were developed herein through a material extrusion (MEX) additive manufacturing (AM) process. The fabrication of the final nanocomposite specimens was achieved by implementing the fused filament fabrication (FFF) 3D printing process. The impact of aluminum nitride (AlN) nanoparticles on the thermal and mechanical behavior of the polycarbonate (PC) matrix was investigated thoroughly for the fabricated nanocomposites, carrying out a range of thermomechanical tests.

Association of endometriosis with family history of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: presentation of 10 cases.

Purpose: Women with endometriosis have been reported to be at increased risk of developing non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). The purpose of this article was to investigate the familial risk of NHL in women with endometriosis. We report on 10 cases with endometriosis and positive family history of NHL.

Arguments for a left lateral predisposition of endometrioma.

Objective: To analyze a hypothesis regarding the pathogenesis of endometriosis.

Design: Retrospective study.

Setting: Two academic endometriosis referral centers.

Expression of serum human leukocyte antigen and growth factor levels in a Greek family with familial endometriosis.

Objective: An increased incidence of endometriosis in the first-degree relatives of patients with endometriosis has been reported, suggesting a familial predisposition and possible genetic influence. In this study, we present a family with four members who have histologically proven endometriosis (mother and three daughters) in two generations and one member with suspected endometriosis in the third generation. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of serum-soluble class I and class II human leukocyte antigen (sHLA) levels, because they have been shown to be reduced in women with endometriosis.

Serum concentrations of growth factors in women with and without endometriosis: the action of anti-endometriosis medicines.

Endometriosis is a common gynecologic syndrome of unknown etiology and pathogenesis. Growth factors and inflammatory mediators produced by peritoneal leukocytes have recently been postulated to participate in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. Angiogenic factors released from peritoneal macrophages may also play a role in the development of this disease.

Diagnostic role of inhibin B in resistant ovary syndrome associated with secondary amenorrhea.

To report two rare cases of gonadotropin-resistant ovary syndrome associated with secondary amenorrhea and normal levels of inhibin B. Case report. Two university teaching hospitals.

Down-regulation of liver iron-regulatory protein 1 in haemochromatosis.

Cellular iron homoeostasis is maintained by iron sensor proteins known as iron-regulatory proteins (IRPs), which act post-transcriptionally by binding RNA stem-loop structures, termed iron-responsive elements (IREs), present on the mRNAs of proteins involved in iron storage, utilization and transport. IRP1 is a bifunctional protein that can act either as a cytoplasmic aconitase or as an IRE-binding protein. The RNA-binding activity of IRP1 is regulated post-translationally by the insertion or extrusion of a 4Fe-4S cluster, without changes in the levels of protein.

Pulmonary endometriosis in a patient with unicornuate uterus and noncommunicating rudimentary horn.

Objective: To report a rare case of a patient with catamenial hemoptysis, secondary infertility, and endometriosis associated with a unicornuate uterus and noncommunicating rudimentary horn.

Design: Case report.

Setting: University hospital.

Detection of interleukin-6, interleukin-8, and interleukin-11 in plasma from women with spontaneous abortion.

Objective: To investigate the role of IL-6, IL-8, and IL-11 in the immune-regulatory mechanisms involved in the spontaneous abortion of the first trimester of pregnancy.

Study Design: Plasma levels of IL-6, IL-8, and IL-11 were determined in 68 women who had a spontaneous abortion of unknown aetiology during the first trimester of pregnancy. They were compared with the corresponding levels of 73 age-matched pregnant women who had an uneventful pregnancy, and 52 age-matched non-pregnant women.

Soluble ICAM-1 levels in the serum of endometriotic patients appear to be independent of medical treatment.

Adhesion molecules regulate the interaction of cells with the extracellular matrix and/or other cells. The intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1; CD54) is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily and expressed by several cell types, including leukocytes and endothelial cells. A circulating form of the usually membrane-bound molecule was identified and characterized in normal human serum and in sera from patients with endometriosis.

The possible anti-inflammatory role of circulating human leukocyte antigen levels in women with endometriosis after treatment with danazol and leuprorelin acetate depot.

Background: Endometriosis is defined as an inflammatory condition of the female reproductive tract, a state often associated with infertility and miscarriage. Many exogenously administered factors (treatments) control the disease via as yet unknown pathways. Possible candidate molecules involved in these mechanisms could be the serum-soluble human leukocyte antigens (sHIA) that have been detected in a variety of human body fluids and that are associated with several diseases.

Three-year follow-up of [CA-125, CA 19-9, CA 15-3, SIL-2R, IL-6, IL-la, TNF-a, sCD8 and sCD4] levels in a woman with severe endometriosis.

A 37-year old woman presented with severe endometriosis and the patient underwent a conservative operation. We investigated the effect of treatment with danazol on the levels of CA-125, CA-19-9, CA 15-3, SIL-2R, IL-6, IL-1a, TNE-a, SCD8 and SCD4 in this woman. Our findings suggest that severe endometriosis is a condition which induces a rise of tumor markers and cytokine levels that are suppressed on danazol treatment.

Continuous spinal anesthesia/analgesia for perioperative management of morbidly obese patients undergoing laparotomy for gastroplastic surgery.

Background: The authors determined prospectively the safety of continuous spinal anesthesia combined with general anesthesia and the efficacy of postoperative pain relief with continuous spinal analgesia for morbidly obese patients undergoing vertical banded gastroplasty.

Methods: 27 patients (13 men, 14 women) with a mean body mass index (BMI) of 50.4 +/- 7.

Increase in serum leptin concentrations among women with endometriosis during danazol and leuprolide depot treatments.

Objective: This study was undertaken to evaluate serum leptin concentrations in women with endometriosis during treatment with danazol and with leuprolide depot.

Study Design: Twenty patients aged 18 to 42 years with regular menses and documented pelvic endometriosis were recruited from a university hospital setting. Treatment was 200 mg danazol 3 times daily for 6 months or 3.

A randomized comparison of danazol and leuprolide acetate suppression of serum-soluble CD23 levels in endometriosis.

Objective: To determine the effects of treatment with danazol and leuprolide acetate depot on serum-soluble CD23 concentrations in women with endometriosis.

Methods: This randomized trial involved 20 women 18-42 years old with regular menses and known pelvic endometriosis who were recruited from a university hospital between 1993 and 1998. Ten women took 200 mg of danazol three times daily for 6 months, and the remaining ten were given 3.

Factors that may predispose to rupture of tubal ectopic pregnancy.

Objective: The purpose of our study was to evaluate factors that may predispose to rupture of tubal ectopic pregnancy. The study included 99 cases of ectopic pregnancies that were treated during the 5-year period 1992-1996.

Results: It was found that: (1) tubal rupture is encountered more often in women with no history of ectopic pregnancy and in those who have full-term pregnancy, suggesting that ectopic pregnancy is less suspected in these women; (2) tubal rupture is encountered less often in lower age ectopic pregnancy; and (3) serum beta-hCG level does not predict tubal rupture.

Serum soluble CD23 and TNF-alpha in women with spontaneous abortion in the first trimester.

The present study was designed to investigate the participation of sCD23 and TNF-alpha in pregnant women in the first trimester. One hundred and forty-one patients were enrolled in the study. Women were classified into two groups.

Unexpected increase of the CA 19-9 tumour marker in patients with endometriosis.

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the ovarian function of women with endometriosis could be identified by serologic concentration of the oncofetal antigen CA 19-9 before, during and after treatment for 6 months with danazol. A total of 15 women with endometriosis, 20-40 years old, were studied. The serum CA 19-9 antigen was measured by immunoradiometric assay.

Immunologic variables in normal pregnancy and spontaneous abortion.

Objective: The aim of the study was to establish if pregnancy belongs to pathological situations, if it changes SIL-2R, sCD4 and sCD8 levels, and to verify if these levels have a prognostic value in the evaluation of pregnancy.

Patients And Methods: Thirty pregnant women in the first trimester of pregnancy were studied. Ten of them had a normal evolution of pregnancy, ten had a threatened abortion with a bad outcome, and ten had an ectopic pregnancy.

Delayed interval delivery and survival of the two fetuses after second trimester loss of one triplet.

Due to the implementation of assisted reproduction techniques, the incidence of multiple pregnancies associated with fetal and neonatal complications has significantly increased. A woman in the 24th week of a triplet pregnancy came to the hospital because of premature rupture of membranes of one amniotic sack and she had a miscarriage of one of the fetuses the same day. After confirmation of the viability of the two fetuses, she was kept under observation with antibiotic therapy only.

Pseudo-Meigs' syndrome caused by paraovarian fibroma.

Meigs' syndrome includes an ovarian tumor, usually fibroma, associated with hydrothorax and ascites. It is accepted that uterine tumors, like fibromas, can also be associated with ascites and hydrothorax, but this is extremely rare. The mechanism of formation of peritoneal and pleural effusion is not well documented.

Cytokine levels in seminal plasma.

We have studied IL-2, SIL-2R, and sCD4 concentrations in the seminal plasma of 20 healthy men (controls), 20 oligozoospermics and 20 azoospermics by the "sandwich" enzyme immunoassay technique. We have also measured IL-2, SIL-2R and sCD4 in the two fractions of the split ejaculate of 10 healthy men. Our results show that the mean IL-2 and sCD4 concentrations in the seminal plasma were significantly higher compared to the levels in the serum of normal men; furthermore, there were no significant differences of SIL-2R and sCD4 between the group of normal men and the groups of men with oligozoospermia or azoospermia.

Changes in immunologic variables (TNF-a, sCD8 and sCD4) during danazol treatment in patients with endometriosis.

Design: The levels of TNF-a, sCD8, and sCD4 were measured in serum samples taken from 20 women. Blood samples for TNF-a, sCD8 and sCD4 levels were taken from 10 endometriotic women before treatment, during the last 15 days of a 6-month administration of danazol and 3 months after treatment. Blood samples were taken only once from 10 women without endometriosis (control group).