Terrestrial toxicity evaluation of decabromodiphenyl ethane on organisms from three trophic levels.

Decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDP-Ethane) was evaluated for its potential to effect sewage sludge respiration, soil nitrification, survival and reproduction in Eisenia fetida, and seedling emergence and growth in Zea mays, Lolium perenne, Glycine max, Allium cepa, Lycopersicon esculentum, and Cucumis sativa. The no observed effect concentrations (NOECs) were identified at the limit concentration level for sewage sludge respiration (>10 mg DBDP-Ethane/kg dry soil), >2500 mg/kg dry soil for soil nitrification, >3720 mg/kg dry soil for earthworm survival, and >6250 mg/kg dry soil for seedling emergence and growth in Z. mays, L. perenne, and G. max . Treatment-related effects were identified for E. fetida reproduction, C. sativa survival, and L. esculentum and A. cepa height and dry weight. The most sensitive endpoints were decreased height and dry weight for A. cepa and decreased reproduction for E. fetida with NOECs of 1563(nominal) (1540(measured)) and 2210(nominal) (1907(mean measured)) mg/kg dry soil. The NOEC for soil nitrification and the lowest NOEC identified for soil (i.e., A. cepa) were used to derive predicted no effect concentrations (PNEC) values of 2500 mg/kg for sewage sludge and 156 mg/kg for soil. The calculated PNECs indicate DBDP-Ethane presents little risk to organisms in the sewage sludge and soil compartments.

Chymotryptic activity in perfusates of isolated rat trachea: correlation with mucosal and connective tissue mast cell secretion.

Serine proteinases participate in many inflammatory events in the airway. We therefore screened perfusates of isolated rat tracheas for tryptic, elastolytic, and chymotryptic serine proteinases. Only chymotryptic activity, indicated by hydrolysis of the synthetic substrate N-succinylalanylalanylprolylphenylalanyl p-nitroaniline (AAPF), was consistently detected in these perfusates. Basal levels of chymotryptic activity were not increased significantly by electrical field stimulation (EFS) (mean change +/- SEM: -0.05 +/- 0.05 m o.d. units, n = 4) or by 10(-7) M substance P (SP) (+0.04 +/- 0.02 m o.d. units, n = 14). However, the mean change after the stimuli were jointly administered (0.17 +/- 0.06 m o.d. units, n = 12) was significantly greater than control or after EFS (P = 0.01, one-way ANOVA). The SP + EFS-induced chymotryptic activity was inhibited by PMSF, soybean trypsin inhibitor, and chymostatin and was associated with an increase in histamine concentration and immunoreactivity to rat mast cell proteases (RMCP), indicating that the activity is due to mast cell degranulation. However, the activity was not significantly decreased by pretreating rats with systemic compound 48/80. SP + EFS-induced chymotryptic activity peaked rapidly and was associated with modest histamine release and an immediate peak in immunoreactivity to RMCP II, a marker of mucosal mast cells. Immunoreactivity to RMCP I, a marker of connective tissue mast cells, also increased after SP + EFS, but this immunoreactivity was either delayed or more sustained and did not coincide with the peak of chymotryptic activity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

CT detection of hepatic metastases with Ethiodized Oil Emulsion 13.

The use of an experimental liposoluble contrast agent-Ethiodized Oil Emulsion 13 (EOE 13)--is described in hepatic computed tomography (CT) of 23 oncologic patients. Without exception, all the hepatic metastases were better delineated in the EOE 13 enhanced scans. The postcontrast scans also detected an increased number of lesions but not all were malignant. There is no specificity to the increased lesion detection. Various splenic abnormalities were detected. Very few minor side effects and no major side effects were caused by the contrast media. We feel that with time, hepatic specific agents such as EOE 13 will become the contrast media of choice in hepatic CT examinations. Also, CT with hepatic specific agents may become the preoperative examination of choice in candidates for partial hepatectomy.

Improvement of left ventricular function after ligation of the anomalous left coronary artery during infancy.

Considerable controversy surrounds the optimal management of symptomatic infants with anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery; this includes the timing and type of surgical intervention. Long-term follow-up was obtained on three patients who had simple ligation of the anomalous left coronary artery at or before 8 months of age; long-term follow-up on an adolescent treated with a saphenous vein bypass graft from the aorta to the coronary artery was available for comparison. Remarkable increase in left ventricular contractility was observed in the three patients treated only by simple ligation of the anomalous left coronary artery during infancy. Thallous chloride T1 201 exercise studies disclosed no perfusion abnormalities in any of the patients despite angiographically demonstrable wall-motion abnormalities in two of the four patients. Our study suggests that simple ligation of the anomalous left coronary artery near its origin in patients with angiographically detectable left-to-right shunting can provide long-term survival with good left ventricular function and minimal clinical complaints.

High resolution computed tomography in the staging of carcinoma of the larynx.

The normal anatomy of the larynx as displayed on computed tomography is illustrated. Pathological alterations in patients with carcinoma of the larynx are depicted and discussed. Computed tomography (CT) is recommended as the initial radiological procedure when additional diagnostic information is required to supplement the findings of laryngoscopy. CT provides information regarding deep penetration of tumor, including cartilaginous invasion, and about the inferior extension of neoplasm, including the subglottic area. This knowledge helps to determine whether conservative surgery as opposed to total laryngectomy is possible.

Multimodal imaging in evaluation of two cases of adenocarcinoma of the renal pelvis.

Primary adenocarcinoma arising in the renal pelvis is a rare entity. Two cases are presented in which computed tomography (CT), ultrasound, and antegrade pyelography were performed in addition to conventional urographic methods. One patient's multifocal tumor involving several calyces was best demonstrated by ultrasound; the other patient's centrally placed pelvic mass was seen by CT. Adenocarcinomas are etiologically linked to repeated infection. Although it has been stated in previous reviews that the diagnosis of malignancy is seldom made preoperatively in these patients, the use of CT, ultrasound, and antegrade pyelography allowed the diagnosis to be made prospectively in both cases.