Reduced viability of F1 egg ropes in Chironomus riparius exposed to di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP).

The midge (Chironomus riparius), an aquatic invertebrate, was exposed to di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) to evaluate the effects on reproductive processes via sediment toxicity. The test endpoints included emergence, sex ratio, fecundity and viability of F1 offspring egg ropes. After exposures of C. riparius to DEHP in this study, a significant result was observed only in the viability test of F1 egg ropes. That is, hatching rates of F1 egg ropes from DEHP exposed adults were decreased significantly. This result provides the evidence that DEHP could lead abnormal egg ropes development by DEHP exposure during larval period. This means that DEHP could effect to Chironomus population density through reduced F1 offspring.

Clinical Study of Benign Convulsion with Acute Gastroenteritis / 소아과

PURPOSE: This study was performed to characterize clinical features of benign convulsions with acute gastroenteritis(CwG) in infants. METHODS: We reviewed 83 consecutive seizures in 42 patients with CwG between January 1995 and December 2003. CwG was defined as convulsions having the following two characteristics : (a) seizures accompanied with symptoms of gastroenteritis without clinical signs of dehydration or electrolyte derangement; and (b) the body temperature remained less than 37.5 before and after the seizures. The clinical characteristics were compared between rotavirus positive and negative groups. RESULTS: Their ages ranged from 6 to 37 months(mean, 18.1 months). The average interval between the onset of astroenteritis and that of seizures was 56.4 hours. The seizure episodes ranged from one to seven times in cluster. Two or more seizures occurred in 23 patients(54.8%) within one episode of gastroenteritis. The seizure types constituted of generalized tonic-clonic(89.2%), generalized tonic(9.6%), or generalized clonic(1.2%). Only four of 42 patients showed abnormal electroencephalogram(EEG) findings, which reverted to normal during the follow-up period. All patients displayed normal psychomotor development without recurrent seizures, except two patients who had febrile seizures and a recurrence of CwG. Comparing the rotavirus positive group with the rotavirus negative group, the rotavirus positive group had more females, older patients and longer durations of seizure, significantly(P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The prognosis of afebrile seizures following acute gastroenteritis was benign.