Tobacco treatment implementation within 28 commission on cancer accredited programs in the Northeast region of the USA: A pilot study

The European waste water industry will need to develop denitrification processes to remove nitrogen as pressures increase to reduce nutrient levels discharged in effluents. In the USA deep bed filter technology has been used extensively to provide denitrification to levels less than 5 mg/l TN. This paper describes this technology and the full scale performance at some waste water plants in Florida, USA. This paper also describes a pilot study in the United Kingdom at Severn Trent Water. The results of the pilot plant study indicate that denitrification in deep bed sand filters is a sound robust technology using methanol addition. Nitrogen removals greater than the 70% required in the EC Directive 1991 are possible at winter sewage temperatures. The process is most suitable for achieving nitrogen removal at trickling filter plants. The cost of methanol addition is calculated to be ₤10/1000m3.

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A cross-cultural comparison of dietary intakes and physical activity between American and Czech school-aged children

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980008003546 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 12 (7) ◽

pp. 986-990 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Lenka Humenikova Shriver ◽

Gail Gates

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Czech Republic ◽

Public Schools ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Fast Food ◽

Dietary Intakes ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

The Czech Republic ◽

The Usa ◽

American Children

AbstractObjectiveThe prevalence of child overweight in the Czech Republic is substantially lower than that in the USA. The objective of the present pilot study was to explore dietary intakes, frequency of dining in fast-food establishments, and the amount and intensity of physical activity between a sample of American and Czech children.DesignA cross-sectional correlational pilot study.SettingFour public schools in the USA and four public schools in the Czech Republic.SubjectsNinety-five Czech and forty-four American 4–6th graders from urban public schools participated in the study. Dietary intake and number of fast-food visits were evaluated using two multiple-pass 24 h recalls. Physical activity was measured using the modified Self-Administered Physical Activity Checklist.ResultsAmerican children (mean age 10·8 (se 0·2) years) consumed more energy and fat, less fruits and vegetables, more soft drinks, and visited fast-food establishments more often than Czech children (mean age 11·0 (se 0·1) years). Although no differences were found in vigorous activity by nationality, Czech children spent significantly more time in moderate physical activities than American children.ConclusionsDespite the influx of some negative Western dietary trends into the country, Czech children had a healthier diet and were more physically active than American children. Further research is warranted to determine whether the same differences in dietary intakes, physical activity and fast-food visits exist between nationally representative samples of American and Czech children.

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Glycyrrhizic acid: the assessment of a no effect level

Human & Experimental Toxicology ◽

10.1191/096032700682694251 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 19 (8) ◽

pp. 434-439 ◽

Cited By ~ 39

Author(s):

C E M van Gelderen ◽

J A Bijlsma ◽

W van Dokkum ◽

T J F Savelkoull

Keyword(s):

Body Weight ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Glycyrrhizic Acid ◽

Mild Hypertension ◽

Daily Intake ◽

Long Term Effects ◽

Healthy Female ◽

The Usa ◽

Effect Level

Because from earlier experiments in rats and a pilot study in humans a no effect level of glycyrrhizic acid could not be established, a second experiment was performed in healthy volunteers. The experiment was performed in females only, because the effects were most marked in females in the pilot study. Doses of 0, 1, 2 and 4 mg glycyrrhizic acid/kg body weight were administered orally for 8 weeks to 39 healthy female volunteers aged 19-40 years. The experimentlasted 12 weeks including an adaptation and a “wash-out” period.Ano-effectlevel of2 mg/kgis proposed from the results ofthis study, from which an acceptable daily intake (ADI) of 0.2 mg/kg body weight can be extrapolated with a safety factor of 10. This means consumption of 12 mg glycyrrhizic acid/day for a person with a body weight of 60 kg. This would be equal to 6 g licorice a day, assuming that licorice contains 0.2% of glycyrrhizic acid. The proposed ADI is below the limit advised by the Dutch Nutrition Council of 200 mg glycyrrhizic acid/day. This reflects the relatively mild acute toxicity of glycyrrhizic acid, which is also emphasised by the “generally recognised as safe” (GRAS) status of glycyrrhizic acid in the USA in 1983. However, the long-term effects of a mild chronic intoxication (causing, for example, a mild hypertension), although not immediately lethal, justify special attention to the amount of glycyrrhizic acid used daily.

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Emerging literacy in Spanish among Hispanic heritage language university students in the USA: a pilot study

International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism ◽

10.1080/13670050.2015.1037718 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 19 (2) ◽

pp. 185-201 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Marta Fairclough ◽

Flavia Belpoliti

Keyword(s):

Pilot Study ◽

University Students ◽

Heritage Language ◽

Emerging Literacy ◽

The Usa

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Quality of service and commitment to tobacco dependence treatment for individuals living with mental disorders in France: A pilot study

International Journal of Social Psychiatry ◽

10.1177/00207640211042914 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 002076402110429

Author(s):

João M Castaldelli-Maia ◽

Priscila D Gonçalves ◽

Danielle R Lima ◽

Helena F Moura ◽

Gisèle Apter

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Quality Of Service ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Mental Disorders ◽

Mental Health Professionals ◽

Health Professionals ◽

Tobacco Dependence ◽

Treatment Quality ◽

Tobacco Treatment

Background: There are remarkably high smoking rates in patients living with mental disorders (PLWMD), and the absence of a specific treatment policy for smoking cessation for these patients worldwide. The present study aimed to (i) investigate the quality of service and commitment to tobacco dependence treatment, and (ii) produce high-quality French versions of the Index of Tobacco Treatment Quality (ITTQ) and Tobacco Treatment Commitment Scale (TTCS). Methods: ITTQ and TTCS were used to assess French mental health professionals ( n = 80). Both scales were translated from their original language following standard procedures (i.e. forward translation). Descriptive analysis for total score, each factor and item were calculated for the entire sample, followed by subgroup analysis by gender, and role of the practitioner. Results: Nurses presented higher levels of both treatment commitment and treatment quality in their mental health care units, compared to psychiatrists, and residents. Overall, counseling offering was low and there was a perception that it is unfair to take tobacco away from PLWMD. In the other hand, there were high levels of smoking assessment and perceptions that nicotine dependence should be included in drug treatment programs. Conclusions: There is a gap in tobacco treatment implementation for French PLWMD. The present pilot study alerts about the problem, and should stimulate larger studies validating such measures for wide use with French-speaking mental health professionals. French nurses presented higher levels of both treatment commitment and quality, and could be in a leadership position for such implementation. Encouraging the implementation of tobacco counseling within conventional mental health treatment is critical to improve cessation rates among this population. There is a potential for the sustainability of tobacco treatment interventions since the levels of commitment observed here were higher than in previous studies conducted abroad.

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Mixed methods pilot study of a low-carbohydrate diabetes prevention programme among adults with pre-diabetes in the USA

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2019-033397 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. e033397 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Dina Hafez Griauzde ◽

Laura Saslow ◽

Kaitlyn Patterson ◽

Tahoora Ansari ◽

Bradley Liestenfeltz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Weight Loss ◽

Mixed Methods ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Outcome Measures ◽

Weight Change ◽

Diabetes Prevention ◽

Prevention Programme ◽

Diabetes Prevention Programme ◽

Low Carbohydrate ◽

The Usa

Objectives(1) To estimate weight change from a low-carbohydrate diabetes prevention programme (LC-DPP) and (2) to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of an LC-DPP.Research designSingle-arm, mixed methods (ie, integration of quantitative and qualitative data) pilot study.SettingPrimary care clinic within a large academic medical centre in the USA.ParticipantsAdults with pre-diabetes and Body Mass Index of ≥25 kg/m2.InterventionWe adapted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP)—an evidence-based, low-fat dietary intervention—to teach participants to follow a very low-carbohydrate diet (VLCD). Participants attended 23 group-based classes over 1 year.Outcome measuresPrimary outcome measures were (1) weight change and (2) percentage of participants who achieved ≥5% wt loss. Secondary outcome measures included intervention feasibility and acceptability (eg, attendance and qualitative interview feedback).ResultsOur enrolment target was 22. One person dropped out before a baseline weight was obtained; data from 21 individuals were analysed. Mean weight loss in kilogram was 4.3 (SD 4.8) at 6 months and 4.9 (SD 5.8) at 12 months. Mean per cent body weight changes were 4.5 (SD 5.0) at 6 months and 5.2 (SD 6.0) at 12 months; 8/21 individuals (38%) achieved ≥5% wt loss at 12 months. Mean attendance was 10.3/16 weekly sessions and 3.4/7 biweekly or monthly sessions. Among interviewees (n=14), three factors facilitated VLCD adherence: (1) enjoyment of low-carbohydrate foods, (2) diminished hunger and cravings and (3) health benefits beyond weight loss. Three factors hindered VLCD adherence: (1) enjoyment of high-carbohydrate foods, (2) lack of social support and (3) difficulty preplanning meals.ConclusionsAn LC-DPP is feasible, acceptable and may be an effective option to help individuals with pre-diabetes to lose weight. Data from this pilot will be used to plan a fully powered randomised controlled trial of weight loss among NDPP versus LC-DPP participants.Trial registration numberNCT03258918.

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