Trace elements in pacific Dunlin (Calidris alpina pacifica): patterns of accumulation and concentrations in kidneys and feathers

Ecotoxicology - Trace element concentrations were measured in Pacific Dunlin (Calidris alpina pacifica) to identify factors that influence accumulation and to assess toxicity risks. We report...     

Effect of carbenoxolone sodium on aspirin-induced injury of the rat gastric mucosa

Investigations were performed in the rat to examine the effect of carbenoxolone sodium on aspirin-induced gastric mucosal injury. Mucosal damage was quantitated histologically in the body of the stomach (corpus) after a single dose of aspirin and after 2 weeks of daily aspirin. Over dosage ranges of 2–30 mg/kg/day of carbenoxolone and 10–120 mg/kg of aspirin, carbenoxolone treatment conferred no protection, despite evidence of a significant carbenoxolone effect on gastric mucus. This contrasts with the known protective action of carbenoxolone against injury by restraint stress and by corticosteroids. Much current evidence suggests that the mechanisms of erosion production by aspirin differ from those by restraint stress and corticosteroids, and it is likely that the present findings reflect such differences in pathogenesis.     

Pregnancy and neonatal screening in Austria

In Austria neonatal mortality remains higher than in comparable industrial countries. For this reason the Austrian Academy of Sciences published a study (K?ck Ch., Kytir J., Münz R.: Risiko Süglingstod, Pl?doyer für eine gesundheitspolitische Reform, Franz Deuticke, Wien 1988) comprising a historical review, an analysis of the present situation and proposals for improvement of the public health care programmes for pregnant women, mothers and neonates. Furthermore, current Austrian health policy is criticized on the basis of two concrete examples (the neonatal mass screening programme for inherited metabolic diseases and compulsory ultrasound screening in pregnancy). However, the authors reach their conclusions from incompletely cited and subjectively (partly falsely) interpreted scientific literature, with misleading consequences. Reviewing the literature in a more complete way, we wish to point out the superficial character of the research carried out by the authors. This kind of work should not serve as a basis for decisions in public health policy.     

Maternal role development following childbirth among Australian women

Title. Maternal role development following childbirth among Australian women. Aim. This paper is a report on the examination of demographic, birthing and social correlates of maternal role development in childbearing women. Background. Successful adaptation to the maternal role provides a mother with confidence and satisfaction in her ability to nurture and care for her infant. Despite the importance of this developmental process for maternal well‐being, little attention has been given to social and demographic predictors of positive role development in recent years. Methods. A prospective study was undertaken at three publicly‐funded metropolitan antenatal clinics in Queensland, Australia between March and November 2003. A total of 605 women completed a survey at 36 weeks gestation and 12 weeks postpartum, with a response rate of 78% (n = 473). A self‐report questionnaire was used to collect data about personal and birth variables, domestic violence, social support and maternal role development. Findings. The majority of women (81%) were of White ethnic background, modal age was 30–45 years (40%, n = 189) and 66 percent (n = 312) were in paid employment. Bivariate analysis identified age, marital status, length of relationship and social support to be statistically significantly associated with maternal role development. Optimal scaling showed social support to be the most important factor in maternal role development. Conclusion. Maternal role development following childbirth is complex and can be adversely affected by older maternal age, married status, inadequate social support and short partner relationships. A deeper understanding of this process is needed if healthcare professionals are to assist mothers in making a smooth transition to motherhood.     

Inhibitors of factor XIIIa

Factor XIIIa (FXIIIa) catalyzes the covalent crosslinking of fibrin polymers and incorporation of proteins into the fibrin network and thus confers on the thrombus additional structural stability and relative resistance to plasmin-mediated degradation. Moreover, FXIIIa is involved in other physiological and pathophysiological processes such as wound healing and arteriosclerosis. Selective FXIIIa inhibitors may be a valuable tool for evaluation of the various functions of FXIIIa and their pharmacological control. This paper presents an overview of the inhibitors of FXIIIa. Analogues of natural FXIIIa substrates - including glutamine containing peptides and low molecular weight substituted alkylamines - are incorporated into the fibrin network and thus prevent crosslinking of fibrin. Naturally occurring, direct inhibitors of FXIIIa have been isolated from a leech species and microorganisms. With effective concentrations in the nanomolar range the peptide tridegin is the most potent FXIIIa inhibitor up to now. The majority of the synthetic, low molecular Weight inhibitors bind covalently to Cys314 at the active site of FXIIIa. Besides the relatively nonspecific thiol reagents, azol derivatives, azolium salts and related substances are described as specific inhibitors of FXIIIa. They inhibit the activity of FXIIIa at nanomolar concentrations. Animal experiments have demonstrated improved thrombolysis by a plasminogen activator in combination with a FXIIIa inhibitor.     

Seroprevalence of anti-N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor antibodies in women with ovarian teratoma

Recently antibodies against neuronal receptors have been identified as cause of a new type of encephalitis. The anti-N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (anti-NMDA-R) encephalitis is the prototype of these disorders. Patients have a high incidence of teratomata. Removal of teratoma is considered the essential treatment of anti-NMDA-R encephalitis. Here, we aimed to investigate whether neurologically asymptomatic individuals suffering from ovarian teratomata may have positive anti-NMDA-R antibodies to be detected by an established assay. Over a time period of 15 months, all patients suffering from ovarian teratomata without neurological symptoms were included in this prospective study. Twenty consecutive patients were pair matched to patients with other benign ovarian disease and healthy controls. Preoperatively, patients had a gynaecological examination, transvaginal ultrasound, neurological examination and determination of anti-NMDA-R antibodies. None of the patients or controls presented with neurological symptoms. All tumours could be removed completely by laparoscopy. Anti-NMDA-R antibodies were absent in the group of patients with teratomata as well as in patients with benign ovarian tumours and healthy controls. Testing for anti-NMDA-R antibodies revealed negative findings in well-characterised patients with ovarian teratomata lacking neurological symptoms. Our data support the current clinical practice that a systematic screening for anti-NMDA-R antibodies in teratoma patients is not indicated.