RESUMO
The Humboldt penguin (Spheniscus humboldti) population at the Punta San Juan Marine Protected Area in Peru is considered critical to the long-term sustainability of this endangered species in Peru. Exposure of the rookery to environmental toxicants is a mounting concern because of regional growth of industries and human populations. Whole blood samples were collected from 30 free-ranging penguins in 2011 as part of a broader population health monitoring program. Dried blood spots (DBS) containing 50 µl of blood were prepared and analyzed to assess exposure to five groups of environmental contaminants. Concentrations of elements arsenic, cadmium, iron, lead, mercury, selenium, and thallium were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Persistent organic pollutant concentrations were measured using gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry to analyze organochlorine pesticides (OCP; p,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDE, ß-hexachlorocyclohexane, t-nonachlor, and oxychlordane), polychlorinated biphenyls (congeners 138 and 153), and polybrominated flame retardants (polybrominated biphenyl-153 and polybrominated diphenyl ether congeners 47 and 99). Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, including perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid were measured using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Results revealed low levels of exposure to these selected contaminants, at levels not considered to be of concern for wildlife health. DBS methodology was considered effective in a field-based setting for quantification of whole blood concentrations of environmental contaminants in penguins.
Assuntos
Spheniscidae , Animais , Humanos , Peru , Poluentes Orgânicos Persistentes , Animais Selvagens , Cromatografia Líquida/veterinária , DDT , Diclorodifenil DicloroetilenoRESUMO
Coastal wetland responses to sea-level rise are greatly influenced by biogeomorphic processes that affect wetland surface elevation. Small changes in elevation relative to sea level can lead to comparatively large changes in ecosystem structure, function, and stability. The surface elevation table-marker horizon (SET-MH) approach is being used globally to quantify the relative contributions of processes affecting wetland elevation change. Historically, SET-MH measurements have been obtained at local scales to address site-specific research questions. However, in the face of accelerated sea-level rise, there is an increasing need for elevation change network data that can be incorporated into regional ecological models and vulnerability assessments. In particular, there is a need for long-term, high-temporal resolution data that are strategically distributed across ecologically-relevant abiotic gradients. Here, we quantify the distribution of SET-MH stations along the northern Gulf of Mexico coast (USA) across political boundaries (states), wetland habitats, and ecologically-relevant abiotic gradients (i.e., gradients in temperature, precipitation, elevation, and relative sea-level rise). Our analyses identify areas with high SET-MH station densities as well as areas with notable gaps. Salt marshes, intermediate elevations, and colder areas with high rainfall have a high number of stations, while salt flat ecosystems, certain elevation zones, the mangrove-marsh ecotone, and hypersaline coastal areas with low rainfall have fewer stations. Due to rapid rates of wetland loss and relative sea-level rise, the state of Louisiana has the most extensive SET-MH station network in the region, and we provide several recent examples where data from Louisiana's network have been used to assess and compare wetland vulnerability to sea-level rise. Our findings represent the first attempt to examine spatial gaps in SET-MH coverage across abiotic gradients. Our analyses can be used to transform a broadly disseminated and unplanned collection of SET-MH stations into a coordinated and strategic regional network. This regional network would provide data for predicting and preparing for the responses of coastal wetlands to accelerated sea-level rise and other aspects of global change.
Assuntos
Mudança Climática , Ecossistema , Monitoramento Ambiental/normas , Água do Mar , Áreas Alagadas , Alabama , Monitoramento Ambiental/métodos , Florida , Golfo do México , Serviços de Informação/organização & administração , Serviços de Informação/normas , Louisiana , Mississippi , Projetos de Pesquisa/normas , Estudos de Amostragem , TexasRESUMO
Helicobacter pylori infection causes gastric cancer, the third leading cause of cancer death worldwide. More than half of the world's population is infected, making universal eradication impractical. Clinical trials suggest that antibiotic treatment only reduces gastric cancer risk in patients with non-atrophic gastritis (NAG), and is ineffective once preneoplastic lesions of multifocal atrophic gastritis (MAG) and intestinal metaplasia (IM) have occurred. Therefore, additional strategies for risk stratification and chemoprevention of gastric cancer are needed. We have implicated polyamines, generated by the rate-limiting enzyme ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), in gastric carcinogenesis. During H. pylori infection, the enzyme spermine oxidase (SMOX) is induced, which generates hydrogen peroxide from the catabolism of the polyamine spermine. Herein, we assessed the role of SMOX in the increased gastric cancer risk in Colombia associated with the Andean mountain region when compared with the low-risk region on the Pacific coast. When cocultured with gastric epithelial cells, clinical strains of H. pylori from the high-risk region induced more SMOX expression and oxidative DNA damage, and less apoptosis than low-risk strains. These findings were not attributable to differences in the cytotoxin-associated gene A oncoprotein. Gastric tissues from subjects from the high-risk region exhibited greater levels of SMOX and oxidative DNA damage by immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry, and this occurred in NAG, MAG and IM. In Mongolian gerbils, a prototype colonizing strain from the high-risk region induced more SMOX, DNA damage, dysplasia and adenocarcinoma than a colonizing strain from the low-risk region. Treatment of gerbils with either α-difluoromethylornithine, an inhibitor of ODC, or MDL 72527 (N(1),N(4)-Di(buta-2,3-dien-1-yl)butane-1,4-diamine dihydrochloride), an inhibitor of SMOX, reduced gastric dysplasia and carcinoma, as well as apoptosis-resistant cells with DNA damage. These data indicate that aberrant activation of polyamine-driven oxidative stress is a marker of gastric cancer risk and a target for chemoprevention.
Assuntos
Adenocarcinoma , Infecções por Helicobacter/complicações , Helicobacter pylori/fisiologia , Oxirredutases atuantes sobre Doadores de Grupo CH-NH/fisiologia , Neoplasias Gástricas , Adenocarcinoma/epidemiologia , Adenocarcinoma/genética , Adenocarcinoma/microbiologia , Adulto , Animais , Células Cultivadas , Colômbia/epidemiologia , Dano ao DNA/genética , Indução Enzimática , Gerbillinae , Infecções por Helicobacter/genética , Humanos , Peróxido de Hidrogênio/metabolismo , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Estresse Oxidativo/genética , Fatores de Risco , Neoplasias Gástricas/epidemiologia , Neoplasias Gástricas/genética , Neoplasias Gástricas/microbiologia , Poliamina OxidaseRESUMO
BACKGROUND: This study was designed to identify all elderly people of ethnic minorities living in a defined geographical area in inner-city Liverpool and to identify psychiatric morbidity and barriers to use of services. This paper reports the prevalence of dementia and depression. METHOD: A survey of the community was carried out using the Geriatric Mental State Examination, AGECAT and ethnically matched interviewers. The sampling frame consisted of Family Health Services Authority lists as a basis, with additional information from community lists, 'snow-balling' and a door-to-door survey. RESULTS: 418 people were interviewed, with a high percentage (55%) of young elderly (65-74) men. The prevalence of dementia ranged from 2 to 9% and of depression from 5 to 19%, and there were no significant differences in levels between English-speaking ethnic groups and the indigenous population. Higher levels of dementia were found among non-English-speaking groups. CONCLUSIONS: A complete enumeration of the elderly in ethnic minority groups is best achieved by using several different methods. Diagnosis of dementia may be misleading among those who do not speak the dominant language.
Assuntos
Demência/etnologia , Transtorno Depressivo/etnologia , Grupos Minoritários/estatística & dados numéricos , África/etnologia , Fatores Etários , Idoso , Ásia/etnologia , China/etnologia , Demência/epidemiologia , Transtorno Depressivo/epidemiologia , Inglaterra/epidemiologia , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Prevalência , Saúde da População Urbana , Índias Ocidentais/etnologiaRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the outcome of school-age children with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in terms of nutrition, pulmonary function, and intelligence, and to compare the results with a preterm cohort matched for gestational age and birth weight, and with a term control group. DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING: Follow-up clinic at level III neonatal intensive care unit, university-affiliated hospital, Children's Hospital. SUBJECTS: Twelve children who had BPD as infants and 2 control groups of 12 children each. MAIN OUTCOME VARIABLES: Anthropometric measurements, dietary intake, resting energy expenditure, pulmonary function, body composition measurements by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry, and Weschler intelligence test scores. RESULTS: Children with BPD had decreased forced expiratory volume at 1 second, decreased forced expiratory flow between 25% and 75% of vital capacity, and decreased maximal expiratory flow velocity at 50% of vital capacity compared with age-matched normal inborn subjects (p = 0.025, p = 0.005, and p = 0.0013, respectively). Both children with BPD and matched preterm control children were shorter than infants in the term control group (p = 0.018). There were no significant differences in the other anthropometric parameters studied. The groups did not differ in resting energy expenditure. Lean body mass was lower in the BPD group compared with the term control groups (p = 0.017). Bone mineral content was lower in the BPD group compared with both the preterm and term control infants (p = 0.050 and p = 0.059, respectively). The mean performance intelligence quotient (IQ) and full-scale IQ scores in the BPD group were lower than in the term control group (p = 0.011 and p = 0.029, respectively). The proportion of children with borderline or intellectually deficient scores was significantly higher in the preterm group compared with the term group for verbal, performance, and full-scale IQ scales (p = 0.046, p = 0.018, and p = 0.048 respectively). The proportion of children with BPD who had borderline or deficient performance IQ scores was higher than for the term group (p = 0.046). CONCLUSIONS: The lower height and intelligence scores in children with BPD may be related to prematurity and perinatal events rather than pulmonary disease. Subclinical pulmonary dysfunction in children with BPD persists at school age. The lower amount of lean body mass and possible decrease in bone mineral content in children with BPD may be related to their smaller size.
Assuntos
Displasia Broncopulmonar/epidemiologia , Composição Corporal , Estatura , Índice de Massa Corporal , Densidade Óssea , Displasia Broncopulmonar/fisiopatologia , Estudos de Casos e Controles , Criança , Estudos Transversais , Ingestão de Energia , Metabolismo Energético , Feminino , Seguimentos , Humanos , Recém-Nascido , Inteligência , Masculino , Espirometria , Fatores de Tempo , Escalas de WechslerRESUMO
Profound growth failure despite elevated GH levels in GH receptor deficiency (GHRD) results from reduced insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) synthesis. Recent reports of improved growth velocity in children with GHRD during IGF-I therapy indicate growth-promoting potential in humans. We evaluated the pharmacokinetics and metabolic/hormonal effects of recombinant human IGF-I (40 micrograms/kg every 12 h) given sc for 7 days to six adults with GHRD. Hypoglycemia (< 2.5 mmol/L) did not occur, and mean 2 h postprandial insulin levels were reduced. Urinary calcium increased 2-fold (P < 0.01), and serum calcium was unchanged. The mean integrated 24-h GH level was suppressed (6.5 +/- 2.1 to 1 +/- 0.2 micrograms/L), as were the number of peaks, area under the curve, and clonidine-stimulated GH release (all P < 0.05). The mean pretreatment IGF-I level (36 +/- 2 micrograms/L) was 19% of the Ecuadorian control value (190 +/- 15 micrograms/L), it achieved a peak (253 +/- 11 micrograms/L) between 2-6 h after IGF-I injection, and at 12 h it was 137 +/- 8 micrograms/L. There were no significant changes in the half-life (8.2 +/- 1.5 to 9.7 +/- 1.9 h) or metabolic clearance (0.35 +/- 0.1 to 0.24 +/- 0.05 mL/kg.min) between days 1 and 7; however, distribution volume increased (183 +/- 10 to 266 +/- 36 mL/kg; P < 0.03). Baseline IGF-II levels were 47% of the control value and decreased during IGF-I therapy (273 +/- 10 to 178 +/- 9 micrograms/L; P < 0.01), correlating inversely with IGF-I levels (r = -0.3; P < 0.001). Although IGF-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) levels were not significantly influenced, baseline IGFBP-2 levels (153% of the control) increased 45% (P < 0.01). We conclude that IGF-I (40 micrograms/kg every 12 h) given sc to adults with GHRD is safe; achieves normal levels of IGF-I; reduces insulin, IGF-II, and GH levels; and increases IGFBP-2 concentrations and urinary excretion of calcium.
Assuntos
Hormônio do Crescimento/deficiência , Fator de Crescimento Insulin-Like I/farmacologia , Receptores da Somatotropina/fisiologia , Adulto , Glicemia/metabolismo , Cálcio/sangue , Cálcio/urina , Proteínas de Transporte/sangue , Clonidina , Equador , Feminino , Hormônio do Crescimento/metabolismo , Meia-Vida , Humanos , Insulina/sangue , Proteína 2 de Ligação a Fator de Crescimento Semelhante à Insulina , Fator de Crescimento Insulin-Like I/farmacocinética , Fator de Crescimento Insulin-Like I/uso terapêutico , Fator de Crescimento Insulin-Like II/metabolismo , Cinética , Masculino , Proteínas Recombinantes/farmacocinética , Proteínas Recombinantes/farmacologia , SíndromeRESUMO
Bacillary angiomatosis is an infectious disease of the skin and viscera characterized by vascular lesions, originally described in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection. There are also case reports of bacillary angiomatosis occurring in immunocompetent patients and in noninfected patients with suppressed immune function. We report a case of bacillary angiomatosis in a child undergoing chemotherapy for acute leukemia.
Assuntos
Angiomatose Bacilar/induzido quimicamente , Protocolos de Quimioterapia Combinada Antineoplásica/efeitos adversos , Angiomatose Bacilar/patologia , Protocolos de Quimioterapia Combinada Antineoplásica/uso terapêutico , Criança , Humanos , Masculino , Microscopia Eletrônica , Leucemia-Linfoma Linfoblástico de Células Precursoras/tratamento farmacológicoRESUMO
Hexameric glucosamine-6-phosphate deaminase from Escherichia coli has been crystallized isomorphously with both phosphate and ammonium sulphate as precipitants, over a wide pH range (6.0 to 9.0). The crystals belong to space group R32 and the cell parameters in the hexagonal setting are a = b = 125.9 A and c = 223.2 A. A complete native data set was collected to 2.1 A resolution. Self-rotation function studies suggest that the hexamers sit on the 3-fold axis and have point group symmetry 32, with a non-crystallographic dyad relating two monomers linked by an interchain disulfide bridge. A possible packing for the unit cell is proposed.
Assuntos
Aldose-Cetose Isomerases , Carboidratos Epimerases/química , Escherichia coli/enzimologia , Regulação Alostérica/fisiologia , Carboidratos Epimerases/biossíntese , Carboidratos Epimerases/isolamento & purificação , Cristalização , Difração de Raios XRESUMO
Shortage of Coronary Care Unit (CCU) beds prompted a study (I) to determine the number of patients with a suspected acute myocardial infarction (SAMI) who could not be placed in the CCU, but qualified for intravanous (IV) B-Blocker therapy, and (II) to assess the safety of such therapy in a general medical ward. During a six-month period, 34 patients with chest pain and E.C.G. changes of SAMI could not be placed in the CCU. Criteria for exclusion from B-Blocker therapy were the presence of >= 1 of the following: (1) age > 70 years, (2) Systolic B.P. < 100 mmHg, (3) Heart rate < 60 /min., (4) Cardiac failure, (5) Heart block, (6) Poor peripheral circulation, (7) Asthma or chronic bronchitis, and (8) Prior therapy with B-Blocker or calcium antagonists. 15 (44 percent) patients were excluded from therapy based on the above criteria. 19 (56 percent) received 5-10 mg atenolol IV within 3-10 hours of onset of chest pain and atenolol 100 mg daily was started immediately and continued indefinitely. 12 of these patients had an anterior wall, and 3 an inferior wall infarction. 3 developed congestive cardiac failure and none required anti-arrhythmic therapy. There were 2 deaths - 1 from ventricular asystole, and the other from cardiogenic shock 8 and 12 hours respectively after IV atenolol. While this small-scale study highlights the need for more CCU beds for optimum care, our results suggest that selected patients with SAMI managed in the general medical wards can still safely obtain the benefits of IV B-Blockade. (AU)