Prevalence and habitat preference of quill mites (Acari,Syringophilidae) parasitizing forest passerine birds in Poland

We surveyed the prevalence of quill mites in wild passerines captured in Wielkopolski National Park, Poland. A total of 438 birds of 12 species were mist-netted during three consecutive spring seasons from 2006–2008. Eight bird species were infested with syringophilid mites: Erithacus rubecula (L.) (index of prevalence, IP = 16.2%), Turdrus merula L. (IP = 22.4%), T. philomelos Brehm (IP = 10.5%), Fringilla coelebs L. (IP = 36.2%), Coccothraustes coccothraustes (L.) (IP = 7.4%), Sturnus vulgaris L. (IP = 53.6%), Sylvia atricapilla (L.) (IP = 6.1%) and Troglodytes troglodytes (L.) (IP = 7.1%). In four cases, multiple infestation was observed, where one bird species was parasitized by 2–3 species of quill mites occupying separate niches in the plumage of the host.     

Heart rate changes following knee extensor muscles isometric exercise and Russian stimulation

Background. Static exercise leads to a greater heart rate increase than comparable dynamic effort, which matters in cardiovascular disorders. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation is an alternative to volitional isometric exercise. Heart rate increases following both kinds of static effort to knee extensor muscles were compared. Material and Methods. 65 healthy volunteers (33 males, 32 females), aged 20 - 22 (mean 20.94) years, completed the trial. Isometric exercise and electrical stimulation were performed randomly, with 48 hours' rest period. Each repetition's peak contraction forces were measured. Heart rate was recorded at rest and post- effort. Results. Contraction forces decreased in subsequent repetitions. First and last repetition measurements were 380.7 N (+/-6.9), 349.2 N (+/-51.9), 635.3 N (+/-120.0) and 562.1 N (+/-102.7), in females and males, respectively. In the same manner, electrically evoked contraction forces were as follows: 126.7 N (+/-84.5), 137.63 N (+/-7.1), 28.2 N (+/-102.81) and 262.2 N (+/-117.7). Heart rate increased immediately after exercise in females by 52.2 beats/min and differences (p< 0.001, p< 0.01) existed for 2 minutes during recovery. In males the increase was 56.9 beats/min and differences were significant (p< 0.001, p< 0.01) for 3 minutes post-exercise. Heart rate increased immediately after stimulation by 12,9 beats/min (p<0.001) in females and by 9,9 beats/min (p<0,001) in males. Conclusions. In young, healthy males and females, intensive voluntary isometric exercise leads to bigger and more prolonged heart rate increase than Russian electrical stimulation.     

Local arterial infusion of superparamagnetic iron oxide particles in hepatocellular carcinoma: A feasibility and 3.0 T MRI study

OBJECTIVES: We sought to prove feasibility of selective arterial infusion of superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) particles in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied 13 patients with HCC who underwent modified transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). Six patients received concurrent infusion of Ferucarbotran (Resovist, Schering, Berlin, Germany) in tumor-feeding arteries, and another 6 received MFL AS (MagForce, Nanotechnologies, Berlin, Germany). The iron content of both dispersions was 3.92 mg. One patient served as a control. All patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as baseline and immediate follow-up investigation. RESULTS: Selective arterial infusion of both SPIO particles resulted in significant intratumoral signal intensity decrease on T1-weighted sequences (P < 0.0001), which was greater after MagForce infusion compared with Resovist (P = 0.002). Only minimal amounts of dispersed particles were found in adjacent normal liver parenchyma. No change in intratumoral signal intensity was noted when ferromagnetic particles were omitted. CONCLUSIONS: Modified TACE with selective arterial infusion of SPIO particles can be used for precise tumor targeting in patients with HCC, for which MagForce appeared superior to Resovist.     

CT-Guided Brachytherapy (CTGB) versus Interstitial Laser Ablation (ILT) of Colorectal Liver Metastases

PURPOSE: To compare local tumor control after percutaneous tumor ablation by interstitial laser therapy (ILT) or CT-guided brachytherapy (CTGB). PATIENTS AND METHODS: In a matched pair analysis including 18 patients with 36 liver metastases of colorectal primary, both ILT and CTGB were performed in different lesions. The following matching factors were considered: (i) tumor size < or = 5 cm, and (ii) execution of chemotherapy after tumor ablation. Primary endpoint was local tumor control. RESULTS: Treated lesions were identical in terms of tumor size and all matching criteria were fulfilled in all patients except for the performance of adjuvant chemotherapy. Median follow-up was 14 months (3-24 months) for both groups. Only five of 18 patients (28%) demonstrated local tumor progression after CTGB, whereas in ten of 18 patients (56%) tumor progression was found after ILT. Differences encountered were significant for all patients (p = 0.04), whereas in those who fulfilled all matching criteria (n = 14) the level of statistical significance was not reached (p = 0.23). CONCLUSION: CTGB demonstrated superior local tumor control compared to ILT in long-term follow-up.     

Long-Term Results of Gastric Bypass Surgery in Morbidly Obese Type 1 Diabetes Patients

Background  

Long-term effects of bariatric surgery in morbidly obese type 1 patients are unknown. Five to eight-year experience in the case series of type 1 diabetes subjects is presented.