ABSTRACT
Due to the lack of real-time monitoring information of traditional epidemiological investigation methods， in recent years， a new method of obtaining relevant epidemiological information through wastewater analysis has become an effective way to maintain the health of the population， which is called wastewater-based epidemiology. Information obtained from the chemical analysis of wastewater can be used to estimate exposure or consumption of chemicals. This work introduces the principle and the investigation method of wastewater-based epidemiology. Compared with traditional epidemiological survey methods， the advantages and disadvantages of wastewater-based epidemiology are analyzed. Development and prospects of wastewater-based epidemiological investigation methods in China are analyzed and some suggestions are discussed.
ABSTRACT
At present, methods of water-intake survey include government, industry, sector statistics data, dietary survey (24 hours dietary recall, dietary record and food frequency questionnaire), fluid intake survey (retrospective fluid-intake questionnaire, 1-5 days 24 hours fluid-intake survey, 7 days 24 hours fluid-intake record), weighing method with the food composition table, weighing method, duplicate portion method and chemical analysis, and so on. The method of 7 days 24 hours fluid-intake record is an internationally recognized and authoritative method for fluid-intake survey with the highest accuracy, which can reflect the differences of fluid intake between working and non-working days, and can obtain detailed data on behaviors and patterns of fluid water, such as the time, types and places of fluid intake. The method of combining weighing method, duplicate portion method and chemical analysis is used to analyze water intake from food with the highest accuracy, which can be used in an extensive range of population and areas, but with high cost and complex operating steps. It is of great practical significance to compare and evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of different methods about water-intake survey, which will be helpful for researchers to choose appropriate methods for water-intake survey to obtain accurate and representative data in various areas, different population, and complex circumstances.
ABSTRACT
According to the technology requirements of the fourth national survey of Chinese Materia Medica resources (pilot), suitable investigation method of exploration and suggestions for investigating Chinese Materia Medica resources was proposed based on the type of wetland and artificial water of Hongze Lake region. Environment of Hongze Lake and overview of wetland, present situation of ecology and vegetation and vegetation distribution were analyzed. Establishment of survey plan, selection of sample area and sample square and confirmation of representative water area survey plan were all suggested. The present study provide references for improving Chinese materia medica resources survey around Hongze Lake, and improving the technical specifications. It also provide references for investigating Chinese Materia Medica resources survey on similar ecological environment under the condition of artificial intervention.
ABSTRACT
<b>Objective: </b>To develop a label comprehension study (LCS) of package inserts for over-the-counter medications in Japan, we evaluated whether it would be possible to detect differences in the level of understanding due to layout, and font size of different types of package insert using the interview method for LCS we developed previously.<br><b>Design: </b>A face-to-face questionnaire investigation.<br><b>Methods: </b>Two different types of package insert (including layout, and font size) for H<sub>2</sub>-antagonists (package insert groups A and B) were used. Study participants (≥18 years old) comprised consumers who visited a drugstore with a dispensing service in Saitama Prefecture. They were randomly assigned to group A or B and divided by age range (young, 18-39 years; middle-aged, 40-59 years; eldely, ≥60 years). First, the volunteers read the package insert with no time limitation and then answered 14 scenario-type questions during an interview to determine the level of understanding of the insert. When both the correct answer and correct reason were given, the response was judged as correct. The level of understanding of the package insert was calculated as the number of persons giving correct responses divided by all respondents.<br><b>Results: </b>Questionnaire responses from 86 consumers (43 in each group) were obtained. The mean age in groups A and B was 46.5 years and 47.0 years, respectively. The mean level of understanding of the package insert (14 questions) in groups A and B was 50.2 and 38.1%, respectively. By age range, the mean level of understanding of the package insert in groups A and B in the young group was 60.6 and 56.9%, respectively, and there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups. However, the mean level of understanding in groups A and B was 56.9 and 35.0% in the middle-aged group and 26.3 and 14.5% in the elderly group, respectively. The mean understanding in group A was therefore higher than that in group B in both age ranges. The association between understanding and age within groups indicated that with increasing age, understanding was lower in both groups (group A, <i>p</i>=0.001; group B, <i>p</i><0.001). There was no difference in the level of understanding between the young and middle-aged in group A, but the difference in group B was greater than 20%.<br><b>Conclusion: </b>By comparing two package inserts of products in a similar pharmacological category using our LCS method, it suggested that font size and layout influenced consumers’ understanding of package inserts. It might be able to evaluate the difference in the understanding of the package insert by using our LCS method.