Hg concentrations in fish from coastal waters of California and Western North America.

The State of California conducted an extensive and systematic survey of mercury (Hg) in fish from the California coast in 2009 and 2010. The California survey sampled 3483 fish representing 46 species at 68 locations, and demonstrated that methylHg in fish presents a widespread exposure risk to fish consumers. Most of the locations sampled (37 of 68) had a species with an average concentration above 0.3µg/gwet weight (ww), and 10 locations an average above 1.0µg/gww. The recent and robust dataset from California provided a basis for a broader examination of spatial and temporal patterns in fish Hg in coastal waters of Western North America. There is a striking lack of data in publicly accessible databases on Hg and other contaminants in coastal fish. An assessment of the raw data from these databases suggested the presence of relatively high concentrations along the California coast and in Puget Sound, and relatively low concentrations along the coasts of Alaska and Oregon, and the outer coast of Washington. The dataset suggests that Hg concentrations of public health concern can be observed at any location on the coast of Western North America where long-lived predator species are sampled. Output from a linear mixed-effects model resembled the spatial pattern observed for the raw data and suggested, based on the limited dataset, a lack of trend in fish Hg over the nearly 30-year period covered by the dataset. Expanded and continued monitoring, accompanied by rigorous data management procedures, would be of great value in characterizing methylHg exposure, and tracking changes in contamination of coastal fish in response to possible increases in atmospheric Hg emissions in Asia, climate change, and terrestrial Hg control efforts in coastal watersheds.

Spatial trends and impairment assessment of mercury in sport fish in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta watershed.

A three-year study was conducted to examine mercury in sport fish from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. More than 4000 fish from 31 species were collected and analyzed for total mercury in individual muscle filets. Largemouth bass and striped bass were the most contaminated, averaging 0.40 microg/g, while redear sunfish, bluegill and rainbow trout exhibited the lowest (<0.15 microg/g) concentrations. Spatial variation in mercury was evaluated with an analysis of covariance model, which accounted for variability due to fish size and regional hydrology. Significant regional differences in mercury were apparent in size-standardized largemouth bass, with concentrations on the Cosumnes and Mokelumne rivers significantly higher than the central and western Delta. Significant prey-predator mercury correlations were also apparent, which may explain a significant proportion of the spatial variation in the watershed.

MMG-based classification of muscle activity for prosthesis control.

We have previously proposed the use of "muscle sounds" or mechanomyography (MMG) as a reliable alternative measure of muscle activity with the main objective of facilitating the use of more comfortable and functional soft silicone sockets with below-elbow externally powered prosthesis. This work describes an integrated strategy where data and sensor fusion algorithms are combined to provide MMG-based detection, estimation and classification of muscle activity. The proposed strategy represents the first ever attempt to generate multiple output signals for practical prosthesis control using a MMG multisensor array embedded distally within a silicon soft socket. This multisensor fusion strategy consists of two stages. The first is the detection stage which determines the presence or absence of muscle contractions in the acquired signals. Upon detection of a contraction, the second stage, that of classification, specifies the nature of the contraction and determines the corresponding control output. Tests with real amputees indicate that with the simple detection and classification algorithms proposed, MMG is indeed comparable to and may exceed EMG functionally.

Systematic characterisation of silicon-embedded accelerometers for mechanomyography.

Silicon soft suction sockets (roll-on sleeves) currently used in passive prostheses for below-elbow amputees could also be used in externally powered prostheses, enhancing their functionality and comfort. However, as it is extremely difficult to hold currently used electromyography (EMG) sensors in place reliably within a silicon socket, an alternative measurement of muscular activity as the control input is necessary. Mechanomyography (MMG) is the epidermal measurement of the low-frequency vibrations produced by a contracting muscle. MMG sensors do not have to be in direct contact with the skin. Moreover, the embedding of sensors in the roll-on sleeve may also solve attachment issues, making sensor placement flexible. Therefore the objective was to determine the feasibility of recording MMG signals using silicon-embedded, micro-machined accelerometers. Fifteen embedded accelerometers were excited with predefined vibration patterns. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and frequency response of each sample were measured and compared with those of non-embedded accelerometers. The SNR of embedded samples (approximately equal to 19 dB) was significantly higher than that of non-embedded samples (approximately equal to 12 dB), owing to the considerable mechanical damping effect of the silicon in the 300-900 Hz bandwidth (p=0.0028). This has implications for the application of silicon-embedded accelerometers for externally powered prosthesis control.

Liberation of lithium from sustained release preparations. A comparison of seven registered brands.

We investigated the rate of release of seven commercial lithium preparations designated as sustained-release preparations and available in Europe and the USA. The examined products release lithium completely within four hours. The rate of liberation from three drugs resembles that of nonsustained-release preparations, three of which were tested under the same conditions. In one case, the comparison between two batches of sustained-release preparations reveals marked differences in quality. Physicians should be aware that some drugs available on the market and designated as sustained-release preparations do not comply with the international standard for this type of formulation.

Phase II trial of PALA in combination with 5-fluorouracil in advanced pancreatic cancer.

Phosphonacetyl-L-aspartate (PALA), in inhibitor of aspartate transcarbamylase that depletes uridine nucleotide pools, selectively potentiates the antitumor activity of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in preclinical models. Due to the promising results we obtained using PALA/5-FU in colorectal cancer, we performed a phase II trial in patients presenting with advanced pancreatic cancer. PALA was given intravenously at 250 mg/m2 on day 1, followed 24 h later by 2,600 mg/m2 5-FU given by 24-h infusion. Treatments were repeated weekly. A total of 41 patients who had not previously undergone chemotherapy were entered in the trial; of these, 35 were evaluable for response. Toxicity was generally mild to moderate; neurotoxicity (13/35) and diarrhea (8/35) predominated. Among the 35 patients, 1 achieved a complete response and 4, a partial remission, for an overall response rate of 14%. The median survival was 5.1 months. Pretreatment with PALA alone was not sufficient to enhance the activity of 5-FU in pancreatic cancer.

A study of infusional cisplatin and infusional fluorouracil for locally advanced or metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer: a Mid-Atlantic Oncology Program study.

A combination of cisplatin administered as a 24-hour infusion and fluorouracil administered as a 5-day infusion was used to treat 97 patients with non-small-cell lung (NSCLC) cancer in a phase II trial. Thirty patients had stage IIIB disease; 67 patients, stage IV disease (new international classification). Patients with stage IIIB disease also received thoracic radiation after chemotherapy. The regimen was well tolerated, with 24% or less grade 3 or greater toxicities of all types. One toxic death was attributed to fluid overload. The response rate, partial and complete, was 43% (95% confidence interval, 27% to 63%), and median survival was 13.8 months for patients with stage IIIB disease. Response rates refer to the chemotherapy response. For patients with stage IV disease, the response rate was 34% (95% confidence interval, 24% to 47%), and median survival was 6.2 months. On this regimen, stable-disease patients with stage IV disease had survivals at least equal to responders.

Comparison of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and vincristine with an alternating regimen of methotrexate, etoposide, and cisplatin/cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and vincristine in the treatment of extensive-disease small-cell lung carcinoma: a Mid-Atlantic Oncology Program study.

An alternating regimen for the treatment of extensive-disease small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) was compared with standard treatment with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and vincristine (CAV) in 170 patients. Overall severity of toxicity was similar in both arms, with four toxic deaths in each arm (4.7%). Response results were also similar, with 54% complete and partial responses with the standard regimen and 53% complete and partial responses with the alternating regimen. Median survival time was 6.9 months with the standard regimen and 9.2 months with the alternating regimen (P = .078). The 2-year survival rate was 1.2% for the standard regimen and 4.7% for the alternating regimen. Survival benefit for treatment with the alternating regimen reached statistical significance only in those subsets of patients with poorer prognosis (male sex, performance status 3, liver metastases, bone marrow metastases, and oat cell histologic subtype).

A prospective randomized comparison of protracted infusional 5-fluorouracil with or without weekly bolus cisplatin in metastatic colorectal carcinoma. A Mid-Atlantic Oncology Program study.

One hundred eighty-four patients with advanced measurable colorectal cancer not previously treated with chemotherapy were entered into a prospective randomized clinical trial by the Mid-Atlantic Oncology Program (MAOP) to assess the value of weekly cisplatin (20 mg/m2) when added to a protracted schedule of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) infusion (PIF) at 300 mg/m2/d for 10 weeks of every 12 weeks. The liver was the primary indicator lesion in approximately 75% of the study group. All tumor measurements required radiographic confirmation. The response rate in the PIF alone arm was 35% (29 of 83; 95% confidence interval [CI], 25% to 46%) compared with 33% (28 of 85; 95% CI, 23% to 44%) for the arm in which weekly cisplatin was added to PIF. The median survival times were 11.8 and 11.2 months in the two groups. Weekly cisplatin does not appear to add to the effectiveness of PIF in colorectal carcinoma.

[Experience with ambulatory, preoperative autologous blood donation in heart surgery patients with special reference to hemodynamic parameters]. / Erfahrungen mit der ambulanten, präoperativen autologen Blutspende bei kardiochirurgisch zu versorgenden Patienten unter besonderer Berücksichtigung hämodynamischer Parameter.

Our study is based on 843 autologous blood donations that we collected from 379 patients. The coronary angiogram, the diagnosis of the ventricles and the ergometry served to judge the patients suffering from a coronary insufficiency. The complication rate could be reduced to 1% with the help of volume substitution during the donation and the contraindications we ascertained. The exercise electrocardiogram proved to be a significant parameter of the complication rate. It was not the number and the extent of stenoses, but the interpretation of the myocardial oxygen supply that proved to be helpful for the diagnosis based on the evaluation of the coronary angiogram. Our technique of collecting blood and the assessment of the patients' ability as donors give even patients with highly affected coronary vessels the possibility of a preoperative autologous blood donation.

Genetics for nonbiology students: three suggestions.

This paper describes three techniques that have been found useful in the teaching of a human genetics course for students not oriented toward the biological sciences. These techniques are based on thirteen years of teaching such a course under an unusual academic calendar.