Stability of whole blood samples at different temperatures: a systematic review.

Prevalence of Generalized Anxiety Disorder in General Practice in Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden

Objective: The objective of this study is to identify points of agreement and disagreements among general practitioners (GPs) in Denmark concerning how the existential dimension is understood, and when and how it is integrated in the GP–patient encounter.Design: A qualitative methodology with semi-structured focus group interviews was employed.Setting: General practice setting in Denmark.Subjects: Thirty-one GPs from two Danish regions between 38 and 68 years of age participated in seven focus group interviews.Results: Although understood to involve broad life conditions such as present and future being and identity, connectedness to a society and to other people, the existential dimension was primarily reported integrated in connection with life-threatening diseases and death. Furthermore, integration of the existential dimension was characterized as unsystematic and intuitive. Communication about religious or spiritual questions was mostly avoided by GPs due to shyness and perceived lack of expertise. GPs also reported infrequent referrals of patients to chaplains.Conclusion: GPs integrate issues related to the existential dimension in implicit and non-standardized ways and are hindered by cultural barriers. As a way to enhance a practice culture in which GPs pay more explicit attention to the patients’ multidimensional concerns, opportunities for professional development could be offered (courses or seminars) that focus on mutual sharing of existential reflections, ideas and communication competencies.Key pointsAlthough integration of the existential dimension is recommended for patient care in general practice, little is known about GPs’ understanding and integration of this dimension in the GP–patient encounter.The existential dimension is understood to involve broad and universal life conditions having no explicit reference to spiritual or religious aspects.The integration of the existential dimension is delimited to patient cases where life-threatening diseases, life crises and unexplainable patient symptoms occur. Integration of the existential dimension happens in unsystematic and intuitive ways.Cultural barriers such as shyness and lack of existential self-awareness seem to hinder GPs in communicating about issues related to the existential dimension. Educational initiatives might be needed in order to lessen barriers and enhance a more natural integration of communication about existential issues.

BackgroundThe increasing health expenditure for general practitioners (GPs) in Denmark requires that other ways of financing the health system are investigated. This study aims to analyse possibilities for implementing out-of-pocket payments to GPs in Denmark.MethodsThe study was conducted as a literature review with 11 articles included. The Health Policy Triangle and the Kingdon Model were used in analysing and discussing the implementation of a cost-sharing policy with an emphasis on the out-of-pocket payments method.ResultsThe Danish Parliament has expressed mixed opinions about out-of-pocket payments, whereas the Danish population, the GPs and the media are against introducing payments. The public debate and the fact that Danes are used to healthcare being free of charge both work against introducing co-payments. However, experiences from Sweden, Norway and OECD countries serve to promote implementation, but at the expense of decreased accessibility for the most vulnerable population groups.ConclusionsIntroducing out-of-pocket payments in Denmark may lead to decreased health expenditure, but also increased inequalities. Due to a lack of support from the relevant policy actors in the country, in addition to a lack of a policy window, it may not be possible to introduce out-of-pocket payments for GPs in Denmark in the short term.

Effects of temperature, storage time and their combination on germination of aspen (Populus tomentosa) seeds were investigated. Aspen seeds were germinated at 5 to 30°C at 5°C intervals after storage for a period of time under 28°C and 75% relative humidity. The effect of temperature on aspen seed germination could not be effectively described by the thermal time (TT) model, which underestimated the germination rate at 5°C and poorly predicted the time courses of germination at 10, 20, 25 and 30°C. A modified TT model (MTT) which assumed a two-phased linear relationship between germination rate and temperature was more accurate in predicting the germination rate and percentage and had a higher likelihood of being correct than the TT model. The maximum lifetime threshold (MLT) model accurately described the effect of storage time on seed germination across all the germination temperatures. An aging thermal time (ATT) model combining both the TT and MLT models was developed to describe the effect of both temperature and storage time on seed germination. When the ATT model was applied to germination data across all the temperatures and storage times, it produced a relatively poor fit. Adjusting the ATT model to separately fit germination data at low and high temperatures in the suboptimal range increased the models accuracy for predicting seed germination. Both the MLT and ATT models indicate that germination of aspen seeds have distinct physiological responses to temperature within a suboptimal range.

The effects of storage time and temperature and anticoagulant on laboratory measurements of canine blood progesterone concentrations

Effect of storage time and temperature on the viability of E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella spp., Listeria innocua, Staphylococcus aureus, and Clostridium sporogenes vegetative cells and spores in vacuum-packed canned pasteurized milk cheese

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of storage temperature and time on the quality parameters of eggs from laying hens at peak production. A total of 576 eggs were obtained from Lohmann Light-Brown hens, which were collected 3 times when the hens were 26, 27, and 28 weeks old. The fresh eggs were collected and measured within 2 h of being laid. Samples of 48 eggs each were stored in chambers for 2, 5, or 10 d inside a refrigerator (5C), at room temperature (21C), and at a high temperature (29C). As the storage temperature and time increased, egg weight, percentage of albumen, Haugh unit (HU), and yolk color significantly (p<0.001) decreased. In addition, egg shell weight, shell percentage, and albumen weight significantly (p<0.001) decreased with storage time. Yolk weight, yolk percentage, and albumen pH significantly (p<0.001) increased with increasing storage temperature, and yolk pH significantly (p<0.001) increased with increasing storage time. When the storage temperature was increased to 29C, egg weight loss dramatically increased from 1.74 to 3.67% at 5 and 10 d of storage time, respectively. With the exception of the 5C storage temperature, HU dramatically decreased according to storage time and temperature, decreasing from 91.3 to 72.63 at 21C and from 87.62 to 60.92 at 29C during 10 d of storage; however, this decline was not found at 5C. A rapid increase in albumen alkalinity was observed even after just 2 d of storage regardless of the storage temperature. Interactions between storage time and temperature were significant (p<0.001) with respect to egg weight loss, egg shell weight and percentage, albumen weight and percentage, yolk weight and percentage, albumen and yolk pH, HU, and yolk color. The results of the current study indicated that eggs from laying hens at peak production had significant deterioration of internal quality with increasing storage temperature and time. The results suggest that egg weight loss, albumen pH, and HU are parameters that are greatly influenced by the storage temperature and time of eggs from hens at peak laying.

Red lentil (Lens culinaris Medikus), an important pulse crop produced in Western Canada, is mainly consumed as split or whole cotyledon (“football”) after the seed coat has been removed through dehulling. However, related information on the effects of storage time, postharvest treatments and storage temperature on the dehulling efficiency and cooking quality of red lentils at different moisture contents are not readily available for processors, marketers, breeders, as well as growers. The objective of this study is therefore to investigate the effect of storage temperature, postharvest treatments and storage time on the dehulling efficiency and cooking quality of red lentil. While a laboratory Satake dehuller was used to evaluate the dehulling characteristics of red lentil, an automated Mattson cooker was used to determine the cooking quality. Red lentil of ‘Robin’ variety for 2007 harvest with moisture contents of 10.07%, 11.31% and 13.27% w.b., as well as ‘Robin’ samples for 2008 harvest of moisture contents 10.13%, 11.52% and 13.37% were kept in storage at two temperatures of 5oC and 25oC. In addition, samples with the moisture contents of 10.07%, 10.13%, 13.27% and 13.37% were subjected to three freeze-thaw cycles and stored at 5oC only. Similar treatments were given to lentil samples of ‘Impact’ variety with moisture contents of 10.21%, 11.56%, and 13.14% w.b. for 2007 harvest and 10.33%, 11.48% and 13.54% for 2008 harvest. In addition, lentil sample of ‘Impact’ and ‘Robin’ varieties at 13.14% and 13.27% (w.b.) moisture contents for 2007 harvest as well as 13.54% and 13.37% moisture contents for 2008 harvest respectively were further reconditioned to a moisture content of 18% (w.b.). As part of the postharvest treatment, these samples were dried at near ambient temperature and at 80°C under forced convention (simulating extreme drying conditions) to two final moisture contents of 10% and 13%. These samples were further stored at 5°C and 25°C. Dehulling efficiency and cooking quality were determined after 1 and 6 month storage. Also, lentil sample (2007 harvest) of ‘Impact’ variety at 10.21% and 13.14% as well as ‘Robin’ variety at 10.07% and 13.27% moisture contents were subjected to 5 cycles of drying and rewetting in the range of ±2% from its nominal moisture and tested for quality (dehulling efficiency and cooking quality) after 1 and 2 months storage at 5°C. This same postharvest treatment was given to lentil sample (2008 harvest) of ‘Impact’ variety at 10.33% and 13.54% moisture contents as well as ‘Robin’ variety at 10.13% and 13.37% moisture contents. Tests on dehulling efficiency and cooking quality were conducted at specific time intervals. Generally, there was a decrease in the dehulling efficiency values of ‘Robin’ and ‘Impact’ lentil samples with storage time up to 12 months for both harvest years (2007 and 2008). Among the postharvest treatments considered in this study, the drying and rewetting of lentil samples (‘Robin’ and ‘Impact’) had the most significant impact on dehulling efficiency. For other postharvest treatments, the trends were not consistent. In some cases dehulling efficiency increased for samples dried at 80°C, but observations like this were not consistent for other variety. Generally, storage time did not affect the cooking time values of ‘Robin’ and ‘Impact’ lentil samples. This is true for samples stored at 5°C, 25°C and 5°C subject to freeze thaw cycles, and also those subjected to other postharvest treatments at different moisture contents. Drying and rewetting of ‘Robin’ and ‘Impact’ lentils significantly increased the cooking time of these samples.

Effect of storage time and temperature of milk protein concentrate (MPC85) on the renneting properties of skim milk fortified with MPC85

To determine effects of storage temperature and time on pH and specific gravity of and number and size of crystals in urine samples from dogs and cats. Randomized complete block design. 31 dogs and 8 cats. Aliquots of each urine sample were analyzed within 60 minutes of collection or after storage at room or refrigeration temperatures (20 vs 6 degrees C [68 vs 43 degrees F]) for 6 or 24 hours. Crystals formed in samples from 11 of 39 (28%) animals. Calcium oxalate (CaOx) crystals formed in vitro in samples from 1 cat and 8 dogs. Magnesium ammonium phosphate (MAP) crystals formed in vitro in samples from 2 dogs. Compared with aliquots stored at room temperature, refrigeration increased the number and size of crystals that formed in vitro; however, the increase in number and size of MAP crystals in stored urine samples was not significant. Increased storage time and decreased storage temperature were associated with a significant increase in number of CaOx crystals formed. Greater numbers of crystals formed in urine aliquots stored for 24 hours than in aliquots stored for 6 hours. Storage time and temperature did not have a significant effect on pH or specific gravity. Urine samples should be analyzed within 60 minutes of collection to minimize temperature- and time-dependent effects on in vitro crystal formation. Presence of crystals observed in stored samples should be validated by reevaluation of fresh urine.

Effects of storage temperature and time on enzymatic digestibility and fermentability of Densifying lignocellulosic biomass with chemicals pretreated corn stover

Background: Populus luziarum and P. primaveralepensis are endemic species of western Mexico; growing in riparian forests they are critically endangered. The best way to conserve their seeds is unknown, which could be limiting for their conservation. Hypothesis: The germinability of both subtropical species is like that of boreal and template Salicaceae species that disperse seeds in spring and early summer, as they germinate quickly with high percentages, and rapidly lose their viability when stored at ambient temperature. Studied species: Populus luziarum and P. primaveralepensis. Study site and dates: Western Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt. Jalisco, Mexico. October 2019. Methods: The physical integrity of the seeds was assessed by X-ray imaging and compared with germinability. In addition, the effect of storage time (nine weeks) under two temperatures (4 and 21 °C) on the percentage and mean germination rate was evaluated. Results: No significant differences were found between physical integrity and germination in freshly collected seeds for both species. Germination in the first 24 hrs was 91 and 95 % for Populus luziarum and P. primaveralepensis, respectively (week 0). Germination percentages were lower when stored at 21 °C, but P. primaveralepensis was decreased more slowly. Conclusions: Seeds of subtropical Populus respond similarly to those of species from temperate and boreal climates with early seed dispersal, a crucial condition for establishing ex situ reforestation and conservation programs.

Coagulation factor assays are very important for diagnosing, treating, and monitoring inherited and acquired factor deficiencies. Appropriate pre-analytical storage conditions of citrate-anticoagulated plasma are essential for detection of coagulation factor activity. We aimed to investigate the effects of storage temperature and time on coagulation factor (F) II, FV, FVII, FX, FXI, and FXII activity up to 24 h and the effects of freeze-thaw times at -80 °C on factor activity. Twenty-two blood samples were analyzed after storage for 0 (baseline), 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, and 24 h at 25 and 4 °C. Mean percent changes, numbers of samples with >10% changes, percent change trend plots, and difference plots were evaluated to determine clinically relevant differences. The acceptable storage times for FII coagulation activity (FII:C), FV:C, FVII:C, FX:C, FXI:C, and FXII:C were 24, 8, 8, 24, 12, and 12 h at 4 °C and 24, 4, 8, 8, 12, and 12 h at 25 °C, respectively. The acceptable freeze-thaw times for FII:C, FV:C, FVII:C, FX:C, FXI:C, and FXII:C were 2, 2, 3, 3, 2, and 1, respectively. When factor activity cannot be determined within these acceptable timeframes, we recommend that plasma samples should be frozen and thawed at appropriate times for analysis.

Platelets store a plethora of different molecules within their granules, modulating numerous pathways, not only in coagulation, but also in angiogenesis, wound healing, and inflammatory diseases. These molecules get rapidly released upon activation and therefore represent an easily accessible indirect marker for platelet activation. Accurate analysis of platelet-derived molecules in the plasma requires appropriate anticoagulation to avoid in vitro activation and subsequent degranulation of platelets, potentially causing artificially high levels and masking biologically relevant differences within translational research studies. However, there is still enormous heterogeneity among anticoagulants used to prevent unwanted platelet activation, so that plasma levels reported for platelet granule contents range over several orders of magnitude. To address this problem and to define the most robust method of plasma preparation to avoid in vitro platelet activation during processing, we compared plasma concentrations of the three platelet-stored factors thrombospondin (TSP-1), platelet factor 4 (PF4), and soluble P-selectin (sCD62P) between human blood samples anticoagulated with either citrate-theophylline-adenosine-dipyridamole (CTAD), acid-citrate-dextrose (ACD), citrate, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) or heparin. Additionally, we assessed the effect of storage temperature and time between blood drawing and sample processing within the differentially anticoagulated samples. Our data strongly support the use of CTAD as anticoagulant for determining plasma concentrations of platelet-stored molecules, as anticoagulation with heparin or EDTA led to a 12.4- or 8.3-fold increase in plasma levels of PF4, respectively. Whereas ACD was similar effective as CTAD, citrate only showed comparable PF4 plasma levels when plasma was kept at 4°C. Moreover, blood sampling with CTAD as anticoagulant resulted in the most reproducible values, even when samples were processed at ambient temperature or after storage over 6 hours. In the latter case, anticoagulation with heparin or EDTA led to artificially high plasma levels indicative of in vitro platelet activation. Therefore, we want to raise scientific awareness for choosing CTAD as optimal anticoagulant for the detection of platelet-stored molecules in plasma.

Abstract: Red lentils produced in Canada undergo biochemical changes when exported to countries with different climates. This may adversely affect their end-use as chemical composition affects dehulling quality. Therefore, there is a need to develop a knowledge base on the effects of storage conditions and storage pre-treatments on dehulling quality of Canadian red lentils. In this study, effects of storage time (up to 12 months), storage temperature (5 and 25oC), and storage pre-treatments (moisture tempering, drying, cycles of freezing-thawing, and cycles of rewetting) on dehulling quality of red lentils (Redberry cultivar) were investigated. The rewetting cycles had the most deleterious effect on dehulling efficiency of lentils, evident especially after 12 months of storage. The samples subjected to freezing and thawing cycles possessed dehulling efficiency values that were most similar to those of the un-treated stored lentils at the 12 months storage period. Storage time had the most significant effect on the dehulling parameters of the pre-treated samples stored for 12 months. In most cases, storage moisture content was the second most important contributor affecting the dehulling parameters of lentils. Storage temperature had a marginal effect on dehulling efficiency of stored red lentils subjected to the moisture tempering and drying pre-treatments.