Phosphorus Release from Unamended and Gypsum- or Biochar-Amended Soils under Simulated Snowmelt and Summer Flooding Conditions.

Prolonged flooding changes the oxidation-reduction status of soils, often enhancing P release to overlying floodwater. We studied P release from unamended, gypsum-amended, and biochar-amended soils under simulated snowmelt flooding (previously frozen, cold flooding at +4°C) and summer flooding (unfrozen, warm flooding at +22°C) using two soils, Fyala clay (FYL-Cl) and Neuenberg sandy loam (NBG-SL), from Manitoba, Canada. Amended and unamended soils were packed into vessels and flooded under cold and warm temperatures in the laboratory. Pore water and floodwater samples were taken weekly for 6 wk after flooding (WAF) and thereafter biweekly for 10 WAF and analyzed for dissolved reactive P (DRP), pH, and cation concentrations. The NBG-SL showed a significantly higher DRP concentration in pore water and floodwater despite its low Olsen P content. Redox potential (Eh) decreased slowly under cold versus warm flooding; hence, redox-induced P release was substantially lower under cold flooding. Gypsum amendment significantly decreased the floodwater DRP concentrations in NBG-SL by 38 and 35% under cold and warm flooding, respectively, but had no significant effect in FYL-Cl, which had low DRP concentrations (<1.2 mg L) throughout the flooding period. Biochar amendment significantly increased floodwater DRP concentrations by 27 to 68% in FYL-Cl under cold and warm flooding, respectively, but had no significant effect in NBG-SL. The results indicate substantially less P release under cold than under warm flooding. Gypsum was effective in reducing floodwater DRP concentrations only at high DRP concentrations; thus, the effectiveness was greater under warm than under cold flooding conditions.

[Hepatocellular carcinomas and their mimics]. / Hepatozelluläre Karzinome und leberzellähnliche Tumoren.

High resolution cross-sectional imaging techniques means that even small, well-differentiated hepatocellular tumors can also be diagnosed with biopsy. In cirrhotic liver tissue, macroregenerative and dysplastic nodules must be discriminated from hepatocellular cancer (HCC). In non-cirrhotic liver tissue the differential diagnosis includes hepatocellular adenoma, macroregeneratory nodules, fibrolamellar carcinoma, as well as primary tumors and metastases. The diagnostic procedure includes matrix diagnosis of the tumor-bearing liver tissue, cyto- and histomorphologic analysis including capillarization of vascular bed, and adapted immunohistological testing with antibodies which underline possible malignancy or hepatocellular differentiation. A flow chart for the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinomas and their mimics on liver biopsies is presented.

Phosphorus Release to Floodwater from Calcareous Surface Soils and Their Corresponding Subsurface Soils under Anaerobic Conditions.

Enhanced phosphorus (P) release from soils to overlying water under flooded, anaerobic conditions has been well documented for noncalcareous and surface soils, but little information is available for calcareous and subsurface soils. We compared the magnitude of P released from 12 calcareous surface soils and corresponding subsurface soils to overlying water under flooded, anaerobic conditions and examined the reasons for the differences. Surface (0-15 cm) and subsurface (15-30 cm) soils were packed into vessels and flooded for 8 wk. Soil redox potential and concentrations of dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) and total dissolved Ca, Mg, Fe, and Mn in floodwater and pore water were measured weekly. Soil test P was significantly smaller in subsurface soils than in corresponding surface soils; thus, the P release to floodwater from subsurface soils was significantly less than from corresponding surface soils. Under anaerobic conditions, floodwater DRP concentration significantly increased in >80% of calcareous surface soils and in about 40% of subsurface soils. The increase in floodwater DRP concentration was 2- to 17-fold in surface soils but only 4- to 7-fold in subsurface soils. With time of flooding, molar ratios of Ca/P and Mg/P in floodwater increased, whereas Fe/P and Mn/P decreased, suggesting that resorption and/or reprecipitation of P took place involving Fe and Mn. Results indicate that P release to floodwater under anaerobic conditions was enhanced in most calcareous soils. Surface and subsurface calcareous soils in general behaved similarly in releasing P under flooded, anaerobic conditions, with concentrations released mainly governed by initial soil P concentrations.

[Hepatocellular tumours in noncirrhotic liver tissue]. / Hepatozelluläre Tumoren im nichtzirrhotischen Lebergewebe.

In recent years, the spectrum of tissue-based diagnostics of hepatocellular tumours has changed due to novel molecular pathological findings. Innovative radiographics filter out small lesions and ambiguous tumours for bioptical sampling. The spectrum of these tumours includes hepatocellular carcinoma, hepatocellular adenomas, focal nodular hyperplasia and macroregenerative nodules. Primarily, morphological analysis should identify the dignity of a lesion. After exclusion of HCC and reactive liver cell nodules, hepatocellular adenomas should be further subclassified based on immunohistochemical/molecular pathological criteria according to the WHO classification of liver tumours. This procedure provides significant additional information regarding the prognosis and therapeutic implications of hepatocellular adenomas.

Magnetism mediated by a majority of [Fe³âº + VO²â»] complexes in Fe-doped CeO2 nanoparticles.

We examine the role of Fe(3+) and vacancies (V(O)) on the magnetism of Fe-doped CeO2 nanoparticles. Magnetic nanoparticles of Ce(100-x)Fe(x)O2 (x = 0, 0.26, 1.82, 2.64, 5.26, 6.91, and 7.22) were prepared by a co-precipitation method, and their structural, compositional and magnetic properties were investigated. The CeO2 nanoparticles had a mixed valance of Ce(4+) and Ce(3+) ions, and doping introduced Fe(3+) ions. The decrease in Ce(3+) and increase in Fe(3+) concentrations indicated the presence of more [Fe(3+) + V(O)(2-)] complexes with Fe loading in the particles. Charge neutralization, Fe(3+) + V(O)(2-) + 2Ce(4+) ↔ 2Ce(3+) + Fe(3+), identified the impact of V(O) on the magnetism, where our results suggest that the Fe-doped CeO2 nanoparticle magnetism is mediated by a majority of [Fe(3+) + V(O)(2-)]-Ce(3+) -[Fe(3+) + V(O)(2-)] complexes.

Immunomodulation by splenectomy or by FTY720 protects the heart against ischemia reperfusion injury.

The pathogenesis of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MI/R) involves an inflammatory response in the myocardium undergoing reperfusion. Modulation of this response by splenectomy constitutes an option to protect the heart from MI/R. To mimic the effect of splenectomy in a pharmacological approach, the sphingosine-1-phosphate agonist FTY720 was applied at the onset of reperfusion. In a closed chest model of MI/R, infarct size was assessed by triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining after 1 h of ischemia and 24 h of reperfusion, and by Masson trichrome staining 21 days after reperfusion in splenectomised mice, mice post-conditioned with FTY720 IP (1 mg/kg), and controls. In addition, hemodynamic parameters were recorded after 24 h and 21 days by catheterization. Infarct size, and immune cell invasion of phagocytic monocytes investigated by FACS after 24 h of reperfusion were significantly reduced by both splenectomy, and FTY720 treatment. Evaluation after 21 days of reperfusion revealed that FTY720 treated animals had an improved hemodynamic outcome compared to placebo treated as well as splenectomised animals. FTY720 treatment reduced cell injury as effectively as splenectomy by lowering the number of phagocytic monocytes invading the myocardium and ameliorated hemodynamic outcome within the first 21 days.

[Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and cirrhosis in young adult patients with hypothalamic-pituitary dysfunction]. / Nichtalkoholische Steatohepatitis mit Zirrhose bei jungen Erwachsenen mit hypothalamisch-hypophysärer Dysfunktion.

BACKGROUND: In rare cases, hypothalamic-pituitary dysfunction can be associated with an extraordinarily active non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and subsequent liver cirrhosis. CASE REPORT: The two young adult patients described in this report presented with NASH together with advanced liver fibrosis and cirrhosis 5 and 19 years, respectively after resection of a craniopharyngeoma. CONCLUSIONS: In young patients and children with active steatohepatitis, an association with hypothalamic-pituitary dysfunction should be excluded. Especially hypothalamic-pituitary-related NASH tends to develop rapidly into liver cirrhosis.

ERG protein expression and genomic rearrangement status in primary and metastatic prostate cancer--a comparative study of two monoclonal antibodies.

BACKGROUND: Overexpression of the ERG protein is highly prevalent in prostate cancer (PCa) and commonly results from gene fusions involving the ERG gene. Recently, N-terminal epitope-targeted mouse and a C-terminal epitope-targeted rabbit monoclonal anti-ERG antibody (ERG-MAbs) have been introduced for the detection of the ERG protein. Independent studies reported that immunohistochemistry (IHC) with both ERG-MAbs highly correlates with the underlying ERG gene rearrangement status. However, comparative studies of both antibodies are lacking. Here, we are among the first to compare the mouse ERG-MAb with the rabbit ERG-MAb for their concordance on the same PCa cohort. Furthermore, we assessed whether the ERG protein expression is conserved in lymph node and distant PCa metastases. METHODS: We evaluated tissue microarrays of 278 specimens containing 265 localized PCa, 29 lymph node, 30 distant metastases and 13 normal prostatic tissues. We correlated ERG protein expression with ERG rearrangement status using an ERG break-apart fluorescence in-situ hybridization assay and IHC of both ERG-MAbs. RESULTS: ERG expression and ERG rearrangement status were highly concordant regardless of whether the mouse or rabbit ERG-MAb was used (97.8% versus 98.6%, respectively). Of interest, both ERG antibodies reliably detected the ERG expression in lymph node and distant PCa metastases, of which a subset underwent decalcification. Lymphocytes only revealed immunoreactivity using the rabbit ERG-MAb. If ERG protein expression was present in localized PCa, we observed the same pattern in the corresponding lymph node metastases. CONCLUSIONS: By demonstrating a broad applicability of IHC to study ERG protein expression using either antibody, this study adds an important step toward a facilitated routine clinical application. Further, we demonstrate that the clonal nature of the ERG rearrangement is not restricted to the genomic level, but proceeds in the proteome. Together, our results simplify future efforts to further eliucidate the biological role of ERG in PCa.

Pigment identification in artwork using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry.

The use of a sampling technique is described for the identification of metals from inorganic pigments in paint. The sampling technique involves gently contacting a cotton swab with the painted surface to physically remove a minute quantity ( approximately 1-2mug) of pigment. The amount of material removed from the painted surface is invisible to the unaided eye and does not cause any visible effect to the painted surface. The cotton swab was then placed in a 1.5ml polystyrene beaker containing HNO(3) to extract pigment metals prior to analysis using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS). GFAAS is well suited for identifying pigment metals since it requires small samples and many pigments consist of main group elements (e.g. Al) as well as transition metals (e.g. Zn, Fe and Cd). Using Cd (cadmium red) as the test element, the reproducibility of sampling a paint surface with the cotton swab was approximately 13% in either a water or oil medium. To test the feasibility of cotton sampling for pigment identification, samples were obtained from paintings (watercolour and oil) of a local collection. Raman spectra provided complementary information to the GFAAS, which together are essential for positive identification of some pigments. For example, GFAAS indicated the presence of Cu, but the Raman spectra positively identified the modern copper pigment phthalocyanine green (Cu(C(32)Cl(16)N(8)). Both Raman spectroscopy and GFAAS were useful for identifying ZnO as a white pigment.

Escherichia coli beta-galactosidase is heterogeneous with respect to a requirement for magnesium.

Commercially obtained E. coli beta-galactosidase was stored at 25 degrees C in buffer containing 1 mM MgCl2 and in buffer containing no added MgCl2. Samples were removed at set times and the activity of individual enzyme molecules assayed. When stored in the presence of 1 mM magnesium, the number of active molecules did not change over a 2.5-h period. When stored in the absence of added MgCl2, over half the enzyme molecules became inactive within the first hour. However, those molecules which retained activity remained active for the duration of the experiment. This indicates that there may exist two populations of E. coli beta-galactosidase, one which requires storage in the presence of the higher concentration of Mg2+ in order to remain active. There was no observed correlation between this requirement for magnesium and reaction rate. Additionally, the presence of the 1 mM MgCl2 was found to decrease the average activity of the beta-galactosidase molecules under the conditions employed.

[Autopsy techniques in congenital heart defects. Influence of prenatal diagnosis on the planning and carrying out of autopsies]. / Sektionstechniken bei kongenitalen Herzfehlbildungen. Auswirkungen der Ergebnisse der pränatalen Diagnostik auf Sektionsplanung und -durchführung.

As a result of the quality of prenatal ultrasound and the expanded experience of prenatal diagnosticians, it is possible to observe congenital heart malformations in increasingly greater detail and at an ever earlier stage of gestation [4]. Since it is on the basis of ultrasound findings that decisions to terminate pregnancies are made, it is of cardinal importance that after termination monitoring and confirmation of the prenatal diagnosis be carried out. This need can only be adequately met by autopsy. There are different methods for carrying out autopsies when there is suspicion of a congenital heart defect: a) the Anderson sequential segmental analysis as modified according to the Berlin method; b) use of a special autoptic method corresponding to the ultrasound findings, based on defining a preferred sectional plane; c) stereomicroscopically; or d) microscopically after embedding and preparation of serial microscopic sections. For the pathologist the consequence is that he has to adapt his autopsy method to the ultrasound findings and the age of the fetus. This enables him to determine an optimal, case-based autopsy strategy for each type of cardiac defect, which is essential for monitoring of the prenatal diagnosis. The present paper discusses the various autoptic methods used in cases of congenital heart malformations and the consequences for the pathologist of the continuing improvements in prenatal diagnostics.

The atrioventricular junctions in Ebstein malformation.

OBJECTIVE: To review the anatomical structure of the right atrioventricular junction, including the specialised atrioventricular conduction system, in hearts with Ebstein's malformation, to identify potential substrates for the abnormalities in conduction. METHODS: Five heart specimens representing the morphological spectrum of Ebstein malformation were examined grossly and histologically. RESULTS: On the endocardial surface, the atrioventricular junction was marked by a faint line in two hearts, and by a small ridge in the other three. Analysis of the right parietal junction in four hearts revealed only two accessory muscular atrioventricular connections. A plane of fibrofatty tissue separated atrial from ventricular myocardium in the right parietal junction in all hearts. The compact atrioventricular node was closer to the coronary sinus than usual. Accessory nodoventricular connections were present in four hearts, while accessory fasciculo-ventricular connections were found in one. The right bundle branch was hypoplastic or absent in four hearts. CONCLUSIONS: In this small series, the parietal atrioventricular junction was better developed than previously thought. Structural abnormalities of the atrioventricular conduction system, however, were present. These may account for some of the conduction abnormalities frequently observed with the Ebstein malformation.

Rapid dissolution of metal in aqueous media using a modified commercial spark source unit.

In this preliminary study the feasibility of a modified spark source was investigated as a method of rapidly dissolving solid conductive samples in aqueous media prior to analysis by atomic spectroscopy. The spark source, originally designed for spark emission spectroscopy in air, was modified by the installation of a spark ablation vessel. This spark ablation vessel was designed for spark ablating samples in aqueous solution, such as deionised water. Samples such as mild steel and brass were ablated in 5-10 ml of deionised water for 2-30 s producing a colloidal suspension. The suspension was readily dissolved by adding 100 mul of concentrated HCl or HNO(3). In this paper the spark ablation vessel is described as well as some of the properties of spark ablation in aqueous solutions. Spark ablation rates on mild steel were measured with respect to spark ablation parameters such as applied current (power), polarity and spark time. Using mild steel as a test sample, spark ablation rates varied from 40 mug s(-1), with 2.5 A of applied current, to 70 mug s(-1) with 10 A of applied current to the electrodes. The feasibility of using this technique for analysing trace levels (mug g(-1)) of elements in solid samples was also demonstrated for elements such as Ni in brass with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Quantification of selected elements (Cr, Ni, Mn and Cu) in a certified alloy (SRM 663) and a non-certified stainless steel showed good agreement between the measured values using spark ablation and the accepted values.

Endogenous bone morphogenetic protein: immunohistochemical localization in repair of a punch hole in the rabbit's ear.

By means of monoclonal anti-bone morphogenetic protein 2 immunohistochemical methods, endogenous bone morphogenetic protein was observed in the process of generation of heterotopic bone in experimental punch holes in the rabbit's ear. In repair of the punch hole, dermis, subcutaneous connective tissue, and perichondrium proliferated, hypertrophied, and differentiated in the rim within 2 weeks. By 3 to 4 weeks, epidermis grew centripetally down into and across the dorsal and ventral openings and sealed the punch hole. A blastema-like structure consisting of a condensation of the mesenchymal type cells covered the cut ends of the elastic cartilage. The condensation differentiated into chondro-osteoprogenitor cells and hyaline cartilage within 4 to 5 weeks. Within 4 to 6 weeks, sprouting capillaries, macrophages, and monocytes resorbed and replaced hyaline cartilage with a perichondral ring of bone. Anti-bone morphogenetic protein 2 appeared first in the perichondrium, then in the condensation, and later in the chondro-osteoprogenitor cells. A basic assumption was that latent non-reactive bone morphogenetic protein was converted to the anti-bone morphogenetic protein 2-reactive form by injury, inflammation, and proteolysis. The reactive form and various other local factors contributed the temporal and spatial constraints of a morphogenetic field for development of heterotopic bone. The receptors and mechanism of bone morphogenetic protein signal transduction are unknown.

Activation parameters for the reconstitution of apotyrosinase by copper.

The reaction of apotyrosinase with divalent copper to give enzymatically active tyrosinase has been studied at pH 8.2 and temperatures from 278 to 303 K. At a 10-fold excess of Cu(II) over enzyme, the pseudo-first order rate constants range from 1.32 x 10(-3) s-1 to 2.93 x 10(-2) s-1 and yield activation parameters of delta H not equal to = 85 +/- 3 kJ.mol-1 and delta S not equal to = 5 +/- 20 J.mol-1.K-1. The near zero value for the entropy of activation is discussed.

The pH dependence of the reconstitution reaction of apotyrosinase: the question of Cu(I) versus Cu(II).

The rates of reconstitution of apotyrosinase by CuSO4 at various pH values have been determined. The rate at pH 6.0 is 130 times faster than that at pH 9.0. These results show that the idea of reconstitution by Cu(I) being a faster process than by Cu(II) by a factor of 200 should be discarded.