Sublethal effects of tetrachloro-1,2-benzoquinone--a component in bleachery effluents from pulp mills--on vertebral quality and physiological parameters in fourhorn sculpin

The effects of tetrachloro-1,2-benzoquinone (TCQ), a component in bleached kraft mill effluents (BKME), on vertebral and physiological parameters were investigated in juvenile fourhorn sculpin, Myoxocephalus quadricornis L. After about 4.5 months of exposure to 0.1 and 0.5 mg TCQ/liter in 7% salinity brackish water, the fish demonstrated vertebral deformities, aberrant mechanical properties of the vertebrae, effects on white and red blood cell counts, enhanced activity of delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase in erythrocytes, and increased levels of ascorbic acid in the liver. The effects are discussed in relation to those previously observed in fish exposed to complex BKME in the field and the laboratory.     

Evaluation of the float sign for determining adequacy of specimens obtained with transbronchial biopsy.

This study prospectively evaluated the alveolar content of transbronchial biopsy specimens based on whether or not they floated in formalin. One hundred biopsy specimens were obtained from 18 patients. Specimens with any alveoli were significantly more likely to float (45 of 61, 74%) than those with no alveolar tissue (15 of 39, 39%; p less than 0.001). The majority of diagnostic specimens were obtained in eight patients with sarcoidosis, where 47 biopsies were obtained. Fourteen of 19 specimens (74%) with noncaseating granulomas floated, whereas only 11 of 28 (39%; p less than 0.05) nondiagnostic specimens floated. The results of this study suggest that this simple bedside observation may serve to determine the adequacy of transbronchial biopsy specimens, particularly in sarcoidosis.     

Logics and Logistics of Community Intervention Against Osteoporosis: An Evidence Basis

Under designations like small areas action research and intervention, directed ‘ground-up’ health promotion and prevention in the population form an important part of the ongoing medical systems development. There is recent evidence of the success of community intervention against cardiovascular disease. In osteoporosis, however, there is still a lack of conclusive data on both the logics and logistics of such an approach. Since 1988, a county health policy program has been formulated and implemented in Östergötland, Sweden, following the principles and guidelines of the WHO HFA 2000 declaration. Vadstena (n ? 7,600) was chosen for a local and generalizable osteoporosis prevention project mediated by the primary care organization by means of health promotion and education in the community. In the present report we emphasize that community intervention is an important new advancement of the medical systems, where the basic research questions include operational and management aspects as equally vital and measurable requisites and results as other performance and outcome variables. We found that a community intervention trial against osteoporosis is both motivated and feasible and in this report wish to provide evidence on these crucial issues of logics and logistics.     

The influence of a low-dose combined oral contraceptive on menstrual blood loss and iron status.

The influence of a low-dose combined oral contraceptive (ethinyl estradiol 30 micrograms + desogestrel 0.15 mg) on menstrual blood loss (MBL) was evaluated in 20 healthy, young women. MBL prior to commencing oral contraception was 60.2 +/- 5.6 ml (range 22-116 ml), and decreased (p < 0.001) to 36.5 +/- 5.2 ml (range 7-80 ml) and 33.7 +/- 4.1 ml (range 5-70 ml) after 3 and 6 months' oral contraceptive medication, respectively. The reduction in MBL during oral contraception was most apparent during the first two days of menstruation. Five women had an MBL > 80 ml prior to commencing oral contraceptive medication. In all of these women, MBL during the 6th menstrual period after commencing oral contraception was < 80 ml. All the women included in this study had a normal blood hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit and erythrocyte indices and there were no significant changes in these variables during the course of the study. Serum ferritin concentration prior to commencing oral contraception was 44.2 +/- 9.0 micrograms/l and was largely unchanged after 6 months' oral contraception (39.7 +/- 6.3 micrograms/l). On admission to the study, two women had a serum ferritin < 10 micrograms/l, indicative of low iron stores. Both these women had an MBL > 80 ml at the baseline assessment. Serum ferritin concentration increased during oral contraceptive medication in both women (from 8.5 micrograms/l to 12.0 micrograms/l and from 5.4 micrograms/l to 6.8 micrograms/l, respectively). The duration of menstruation (p < 0.01) and the number of women suffering from dysmenorrhea (p < 0.05) was reduced during oral contraception.     

Demonstration of dilatation of peripheral airways

Summary. To investigate the ability of various lung-function tests to demonstrate dilatation of peripheral airways, ten asthmatics inhaled increasing doses of a f2-agonist by two different and controlled techniques. Low inspiratory flow with a long post-inspi-ratory pause favoured peripheral deposition, and a high inspiratory flow with a short post-inspiratory pause favoured central deposition of drug in the airways. Ordinary spirometry, maximum expiratory flow rates after breathing air as well as a helium-oxygen mixture, a single breath N₂-test and resistance of the respiratory system were obtained before and after each of five terbutaline doses with both inhalation techniques. By using a double-dummy technique, the study could be performed double blinded. Effects were compared at doses giving equal effects on PEF, assumed to represent equal deposition of bronchodilator and effects on central airways. At such ‘iso A PEF doses’, particularly FVC and the slope of phase III of the N₂-test improved more following the slow inhalation technique. It is concluded that changes in those tests reflect dilatation in peripheral airways in asthmatics.,     

Straight leg raising test versus radiologic size, shape, and position of lumbar disc hernias.

In 30 patients with a computed tomography-verified lumbar disc herniation, the relation between the straight leg raising test and the size, shape, and position of the hernia was evaluated before, 3, and 24 months after inception of nonoperative treatment. Hernia size was expressed as an index relating it to the size of the spinal canal. The limitation of the straight leg raising test was not related to size or position of the hernia. Before treatment, straight leg raising was equally restricted in patients with sharply pointed or blunt hernias, but after 3 months straight leg raising was less limited in patients with sharply pointed hernias, whereas after 24 months straight leg raising was regularly normalized. Size index was lower for sharply pointed hernias at all three computed tomography scans. A decrease in hernia size over time, irrespective of shape, was not correlated to a concomitant improvement in straight leg raising. It must be presumed that additional factors, such as inflammatory reactions affecting the nerve roots, are of importance for the magnitude of straight leg raising.     

Akuter thrombembolischer ST-Hebungs-Infarkt bei einem Patienten mit essenzieller Thrombozytose

A 48-year-old man presented with acute chest pain and a greatly increased platelet count. Emergency coronary angiographc revealed thrombotic occlusion of the right coronary artery. Coronary angioplasty and stenting were successfully combined with intracoronary abciximab administration. Due to inadequate postinterventional platelet inhibition an intensified dual antiplatelet therapy with acetylsalicylic acid (ASS) and clopidogrel was applied to prevent stent thrombosis. Due to the thrombo-embolic complication and a platelet count over 1 million/µl a cytoreductive treatment with hydroxyurea was initiated.     

Immunoglobulin Y Levels in Egg Yolk From Three Chicken Genotypes

Laying hens are very efficient producers of antibodies and provide an interesting alternative for large-scale production of specific antibodies. These antibodies also have biochemical advantages over mammalian antibodies (e.g. rabbit antibodies) that can be used to improve immunoassays where antibodies are used. The concentration of IgY in egg yolk is an important production parameter. The purpose of this study was to investigate the genetic variation of IgY levels in egg yolk. We have compared IgY concentrations in egg yolks from two lines, selected for egg production traits at the Swedish University for Agricultural Sciences (Single Comb White Leghorn and Rhode Island Red) and a cross between the two lines (SLU-1392). Single Comb White Leghorns have the highest mean concentration of yolk IgY, 2.21 mg ml^-1 compared to SLU-1392 1.95 mg ml^-1 and Rhode Island Red 1.68 mg ml^-1. The cross thus had an intermediate IgY concentration in relation two the two other lines. There were great differences between individual animals within each line. Our results indicate that it should be possible to increase yolk antibody production by using a high producing chicken line and by genetic selection within the line. We found three individuals with very low yolk IgY concentrations among the Rhode Island Red hens. Newly hatched chickens with limited amounts of IgY from the hen may be more susceptible to infections.     

Rupture of the extensor pollicis longus tendon: a study of aetiological factors.

Although rupture of the extensor pollicis longus (EPL) tendon is a well-known complication of distal radial fractures, a number of patients rupture the EPL because of other conditions. We have retrospectively studied the aetiology of 27 ruptures of the EPL in 26 consecutive patients. Of 19 patients with injured wrists 12 had distal radial fractures, five had blunt trauma, and two had stab wounds that resulted in rupture. In the radial fractures operated on, the EPL rupture was caused by chafing against a dorsal plate (n = 2) or wear against the pins of an external fixator (n = 2). Six patients were taking steroids for systemic diseases and in two cases a local steroid injection was given just before the rupture. We conclude that previous injury is the most common cause of rupture of the EPL. but that rheumatoid arthritis or local or systemic steroids, or both, are also important aetiological factors. Seven patients had an iatrogenic cause for their rupture.