Collaborative work on evaluation of ovarian toxicity. 7) Effects of 2- or 4- week repeated dose studies and fertility study of cyclophosphamide in female rats.
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The main focus of this study was to determine the optimal administration period concerning the toxic effects on ovarian morphological changes in the repeated dose toxicity study. In order to assess the morphological and functional changes induced in the ovary by cyclophosphamide (CP), the compound was administrated to female rats at dose levels of 0, 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg for the repeated dose toxicity study for 2 or 4 weeks, and at 0, 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg for the female fertility study from 2 weeks prior to mating to Day 7 of pregnancy. In the repeated dose toxicity study, increases in large sized atretic follicles, atrophy of corpora lutea were observed in the 20 mg/kg group in the 4-week study by the histopathological examination of the ovaries. There were no drug-related changes in the ovary in the 2-week study. In the female fertility study, the numbers of implantation were slightly decreased and the corpora lutea of pregnancy was not observed in the 20 mg/kg group. The dose-dependent increase in the incidence of post-implantation loss was observed, and no abnormalities were observed in the estrus cycle and mating in all treated groups. From these findings, the histopathological changes in the ovary are important endpoints for the evaluation of drug-induced ovarian damage as well as caesarean section. In conclusion, a 4-week administration period is sufficient to detect the ovarian toxicity of CP in the repeated dose toxicity study. (+info)
Collaborative work on evaluation of ovarian toxicity. 8) Two- or four-week repeated-dose studies and fertility study of Anastrozole in female rats.
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The main focus of this study was to determine the optimal administration period in terms of toxic effects on ovarian morphological changes. To assess the morphological and functional changes induced by anastrozole in ovaries, the compound was administered to female rats at dose levels or 0, 0.01, 0.1 and 50 mg/kg for 2 or 4 weeks in the repeated dose toxicity study and at levels of 0, 0.01, 0.1 and 5 mg/kg from 2 weeks prior to mating to Day 7 or pregnancy in the female fertility study. In the repeated dose toxicity study, large abnormal atretic follicles, follicular cysts, a decrease in corpus luteum and depletion of developing corpus luteum were observed in the 1 and/or 50 mg/kg groups of both the 2-week and 4-week studies in a histopathological examination of the ovaries. In the female fertility study, the pregnancy rate was decreased in the 5 mg/kg group. Irregular estrous cycles, such as an extended cycle or no cycle, were observed in the 0.1 and 5 mg/kg groups. At necropsy, decreased numbers of implantations, corpora lutea and live fetuses were noted in the 1 and/or 5 mg/kg groups. Based on these findings, histopathological changes in the ovary are important endpoints for the evaluation of drugs inducing ovarian damage. We conclude that a 2-week administration period is sufficient to detect ovarian toxicity of anastrozole in a repeated dose toxicity study. (+info)
Investing in vaccines for developing countries: How public-private partnerships can confront neglected diseases.
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This commentary discusses the barrier of vaccine price on sustainable immunization programs in developing countries and offers examples of new mechanisms driven by public-private partnerships to overcome issues of affordability. These mechanisms include Advance Market Commitments with vaccine manufacturers, which take a demand-pull approach to ensure increased production of available vaccines or development of new vaccines for neglected diseases. A second approach applies a supply-push mechanism, such as technology transfer to developing-country manufacturers. A public-private partnership that set long-term, maximum public-sector pricing to increase access of a Japanese encephalitis vaccine for the developing world is highlighted. Lessons learned from this experience can be applied to address common obstacles to new vaccine introduction in resource-limited countries, including issues of affordability, manufacturing capacity, equity in access and quality assurance. (+info)
Building company health promotion capacity: a unique collaboration between Cargill and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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BACKGROUND: The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) helps protect the health and safety of all people. The workplace can be used to reach millions of workers and their families with programs, policies, and benefits that promote health. We describe a CDC-led project to build Cargill's workplace health promotion capacity and identify the importance of a company liaison in the public-private relationship. CONTEXT: The project goals were to engage diverse Cargill personnel, conduct a workplace health assessment, aid in the development of a workplace health program action plan, and develop Cargill's internal capacity using knowledge and skill-building. METHODS: CDC partnered with Cargill on a workplace health promotion project to build Cargill's capacity. A multicomponent assessment was conducted to determine priority employee health issues, stakeholder meetings were held to engage and educate Cargill management and employees, and technical assistance was provided regularly between CDC and Cargill. CONSEQUENCES: Identifying a company liaison to work with an external assessment team is critical to building capacity for a successful workplace health project. This relationship creates an understanding of company culture and operations, facilitates access to key stakeholders and data, and provides opportunities to enhance capacity and sustainability. INTERPRETATION: Employers undertaking workplace health promotion projects should identify a senior-level person to serve as the company health leader or liaison and who can devote the time necessary to build trusting relationships with partners to ensure project success. This person is valuable in facilitating communications, data collection, logistical support, troubleshooting, and influencing employer workplace health practices. (+info)
Healthy Maine Partnerships: policy and environmental changes.
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BACKGROUND: Tobacco settlement funds were used to establish the Healthy Maine Partnerships (HMPs) to reduce tobacco use, increase physical activity, and improve nutrition through local policy and environmental change. CONTEXT: The HMP model is a progressive approach to public health. It provides for coordinated efforts between state and local partners for health promotion and disease prevention. Community coalitions, supported with funding and guidance by the state, are the basis for policy and environmental change. METHODS: The state awarded contracts and provided program guidance to foster policy and environmental change at the local level. The partnerships' efforts were assessed with a retrospective evaluation that consisted of 2 data collection periods conducted using the same tool. A survey booklet containing lists of possible environmental and policy changes was developed and mailed - once in 2005 and once in 2006 - to all 31 local partnership directors and school health coordinators who completed it. Additional data were collected from the local partnerships in the form of narrative reports required by their funder (Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention). CONSEQUENCES: All local partnerships implemented policy or environmental interventions to address tobacco use, physical activity, and nutrition during the period covered by the surveys (July 2002-June 2005 [fiscal years 2003-2005]). Cumulatively, more than 4,600 policy or environmental changes were reported; tobacco use policies represent most changes implemented. A second round of HMP funding has since been secured. INTERPRETATION: Although the survey methodology had limitations, results suggest that much work has been accomplished by the local partnerships. Plans are to share success stories among partnerships, provide training, and continue to improve the public health infrastructure in Maine. (+info)
Evaluating partnerships to prevent and manage chronic disease.
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To be effective and sustain themselves over time, public-private partnerships must make evaluation a priority. Specifically, partnerships should evaluate 1) their infrastructure, function, and processes; 2) programs designed to achieve their mission, goals, and objectives; and 3) changes in health and social status, organizations, systems, and the broader community. This article describes how to 1) develop a comprehensive evaluation strategy based on partnership theory; 2) select short-term, intermediate, and long-term indicators to measure outcomes; 3) choose appropriate methods and tools; and 4) use evaluation results to provide accountability to stakeholders and improve partnership function and program implementation. (+info)
Development of a community-wide cardiovascular risk reduction assessment tool for small rural employers in upstate New York.
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Employers are implementing workplace health promotion programs that address modifiable health risk factors such as overweight and obesity, smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, physical inactivity, poor diet, and high stress. Research with large employers has found that these programs can improve workers' health and decrease the costs associated with medical care, absenteeism, and presenteeism. Despite their promise, health promotion programs are not widely embraced by small businesses, especially those in rural communities. This article reviews the barriers encountered by small and rural businesses in implementing health promotion programs. We describe an approach developed in cooperation with the New York State Department of Health's Healthy Heart Program and the Cayuga Community Health Network to engage small businesses in health promotion. We review the development and implementation of an assessment tool created to evaluate current workplace health promotion programs, policies, and practices targeting cardiovascular disease among small, rural employers in upstate New York. Potential benefits of the assessment tool are discussed, and the instrument is made available for the public. (+info)
An emergency medical services toolkit for improving systems of care for stroke in North Carolina.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is partnering with the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors and the North Carolina Office of EMS to design, develop, and implement an emergency medical services (EMS) performance improvement toolkit to evaluate opportunities to improve the emergency identification and treatment of acute stroke. The EMS Acute Stroke Care Toolkit is being developed, tested, and implemented in all 100 counties in the state by the EMS Performance Improvement Center, the agency that provides technical assistance for EMS in North Carolina. The toolkit helps each EMS system in defining, measuring, and analyzing their system of care and promotes collaboration through public education, regional stroke planning with hospitals, EMS service configuration, EMS staffing patterns, EMS education, and timely care delivery. We outline the issues surrounding acute stroke care, the role of emergency medical systems in stroke care, and the components of the EMS Acute Stroke Care Toolkit designed to improve EMS systems and outcomes for stroke patients. (+info)