The Mayer Institute

The particle filter for most diesels and some petrol categories is now state of the art. The worldwide population is estimated to be >250 million vehicles with filters. The nanoparticle concentration in ambient air is thus reduced in Switzerland to one third of the status of 2005 and worldwide premature deaths by traffic related ambient air is reduced by >2 million cases annually. This success story started in 1995 when SUVA, the Swiss occupation health authority, had to guarantee safety and health in the world's largest railway transalpine tunnelling system, NEAT, scheduled to be built from the year 2000. The solution was VERT certified diesel particle filters (DPFs) on all engines without any exceptions. Transfer to other applications and other countries, however, had to overcome serious resistance of industry and politics which delayed the process remarkably until filters became mandatory by the EU-legislation 2011. The decisive element was the introduction of the particle number (PN) limit for solid particles of sizes 10-500 nm in place of particulate matter (PM) mass in 1995. Many vehicles are still waiting for filters worldwide and the effect of this highly effective and cost-efficient tool on health and global warming could be more than tripled.

Environ 800 000 Canadiens ont une maladie artérielle périphérique (MAP), une cause majeure d'amputation. Pourtant, le public et les cliniciens connaissent très peu cette maladie. Le présent article traite de la campagne de sensibilisation Si vous pensez que c'est juste un mal de jambe… détrompez-vous que l'Association canadienne du soin des plaies a lancée pour contrer cette tendance. Il porte également sur les facteurs de risque et le dépistage de la MAP, son lien avec le diabète, son traitement et ses soins, ses innovations en matière de soins de la MAP et la nécessité de faire preuve de leadership sur le plan des politiques.

From the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Winnipeg General Hospital, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. I wish to thank Dr. Angus Boyd of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and Dr. Norman F. Miller of Ann Arbor, Mich., for suggestions respecting the design of the retractors. I also appreciate the encouragement given to me by members of attending and resident staffs of the Winnipeg General Hospital. Further information regarding these retractors may be had from Down Bros. and Mayer and Phelps Ltd., 70 Grenville Street, Toronto 5, Ontario, Canada.