Your browser doesn't support javascript.
loading
Show: 20 | 50 | 100
Results 1 - 20 de 58
Filter
1.
Sci Rep ; 13(1): 4006, 2023 03 10.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36899010

ABSTRACT

Myocardial inflammation following myocardial infarction (MI) is crucial for proper myocardial healing, yet, dysregulated inflammation may promote adverse ventricular remodeling and heart failure. IL-1 signaling contributes to these processes, as shown by dampened inflammation by inhibition of IL-1ß or the IL-1 receptor. In contrast, the potential role of IL-1α in these mechanisms has received much less attention. Previously described as a myocardial-derived alarmin, IL-1α may also act as a systemically released inflammatory cytokine. We therefore investigated the effect of IL-1α deficiency on post-MI inflammation and ventricular remodeling in a murine model of permanent coronary occlusion. In the first week post-MI, global IL-1α deficiency (IL-1α KO mice) led to decreased myocardial expression of IL-6, MCP-1, VCAM-1, hypertrophic and pro-fibrotic genes, and reduced infiltration with inflammatory monocytes. These early changes were associated with an attenuation of delayed left ventricle (LV) remodeling and systolic dysfunction after extensive MI. In contrast to systemic Il1a-KO, conditional cardiomyocyte deletion of Il1a (CmIl1a-KO) did not reduce delayed LV remodeling and systolic dysfunction. In conclusion, systemic Il1a-KO, but not Cml1a-KO, protects against adverse cardiac remodeling after MI due to permanent coronary occlusion. Hence, anti-IL-1α therapies could be useful to attenuate the detrimental consequences of post-MI myocardial inflammation.


Subject(s)
Interleukin-1alpha , Myocardial Infarction , Ventricular Remodeling , Animals , Mice , Coronary Occlusion/complications , Disease Models, Animal , Inflammation/complications , Interleukin-1alpha/metabolism , Myocardial Infarction/metabolism , Myocarditis/complications , Ventricular Remodeling/physiology
2.
Cancer Radiother ; 27(1): 31-41, 2023 Feb.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35965243

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To compare three different radiotherapy devices able to perform pulmonary stereotactic radiotherapy: CyberKnife® (CK), Helical Tomotherapy® (HT), and volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT). This study aims to define the patients' outcome in terms of SBRT efficacy and toxicities depending of the device choice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical, radiological, and dosimetric data of patients treated with lung SBRT between 2016 and 2020 at Lausanne University Hospital, using the Chi2 test for proportions, the t-test for means comparisons, the Kaplan-Meier method for survival, and the Log-rank test and Cox-regression for intergroups comparisons. RESULTS: We identified 111 patients treated by either CK (59.9%), VMAT (38.0%), or HT (2.1%). Compared to other techniques, CK treated comparable gross tumor volume (GTV; 2.1 vs. 1.4cm3, P=0.84) with smaller planning treatment volume (PTV; 12.3 vs. 21.9cm3, P=0.013) and lower V5 (13.5 vs. 19.9cm3, P=0.002). Local control rates at 2years were not different whatever the irradiation device, respectively of 96.2% (range, 90.8-100) and 98.1% (range, 94.4-100), P=0.68. Toxicity incidence significantly increased with V5 value>17.2% (56.0 vs. 77.4%, P=0.021). CONCLUSION: Compared to other SBRT techniques, CK treatments permitted to treat comparable GTV with reduced PTV and V5. Toxicity incidence was less frequent when reducing the V5. CK is particularly attractive in case of multiple courses of lung SBRT or lung reirradiation.


Subject(s)
Lung Neoplasms , Radiosurgery , Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated , Humans , Radiosurgery/adverse effects , Radiosurgery/methods , Retrospective Studies , Lung Neoplasms/pathology , Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated/adverse effects , Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated/methods , Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted/methods , Radiotherapy Dosage , Lung
3.
Neuropsychologia ; 173: 108301, 2022 08 13.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35697089

ABSTRACT

The ability to inhibit behavior is thought to be an import skill for avoiding criminal conduct, especially when combined with personal predispositions or criminogenic needs such as a pedophilic preference disorder. While previous research emphasized the relationship between impulsivity and child sexual offending, not pedophilia per se, studies on the underlying neurobiological mechanisms in subdomains of impulsivity remained scarce. Here, we focused on interference inhibition and examined event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data of three groups of men performing a color-word Stroop task: (1) pedophiles with a history of CSO (P+CSO, n = 11), (2) pedophiles without a history of CSO (P-CSO, n = 8) and (3) non-pedophilic, non-offending healthy controls (HC, n = 10). On the behavioral level, P+CSO revealed increased Stroop interference as compared to P-CSO and HC. Moreover, increased Stroop interference in P+CSO was accompanied by enhanced conflict-related activity in left superior parietal cortex and precentral gyrus as compared to P-CSO. Albeit behavioral analyses of error and post-error processing revealed no significant between-group differences, P-CSO showed increased post-error-related activity in left posterior cingulate, precuneus and middle temporal gyrus as compared to P+CSO. Our preliminary data highlight inhibition deficits in offending as compared to non-offending pedophiles or healthy men and suggest that functional alterations in attention reallocation and impulse suppression/control may moderate the risk for committing CSO in men suffering from pedophilia.


Subject(s)
Child Abuse, Sexual , Pedophilia , Child , Humans , Inhibition, Psychological , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Male , Pedophilia/diagnostic imaging , Sexual Behavior
4.
Nat Commun ; 12(1): 5173, 2021 08 27.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34453047

ABSTRACT

Disease modelling has had considerable policy impact during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and it is increasingly acknowledged that combining multiple models can improve the reliability of outputs. Here we report insights from ten weeks of collaborative short-term forecasting of COVID-19 in Germany and Poland (12 October-19 December 2020). The study period covers the onset of the second wave in both countries, with tightening non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) and subsequently a decay (Poland) or plateau and renewed increase (Germany) in reported cases. Thirteen independent teams provided probabilistic real-time forecasts of COVID-19 cases and deaths. These were reported for lead times of one to four weeks, with evaluation focused on one- and two-week horizons, which are less affected by changing NPIs. Heterogeneity between forecasts was considerable both in terms of point predictions and forecast spread. Ensemble forecasts showed good relative performance, in particular in terms of coverage, but did not clearly dominate single-model predictions. The study was preregistered and will be followed up in future phases of the pandemic.


Subject(s)
COVID-19/epidemiology , COVID-19/virology , Forecasting , Germany/epidemiology , Humans , Models, Statistical , Pandemics/statistics & numerical data , Poland/epidemiology , SARS-CoV-2/physiology , Seasons
5.
BMC Infect Dis ; 20(1): 527, 2020 Jul 22.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32698804

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Conidiobolus spp. (mainly C. coronatus) are the causal agents of rhino-facial conidiobolomycosis, a limited soft tissue infection, which is essentially observed in immunocompetent individuals from tropical areas. Rare cases of invasive conidiobolomycosis due to C. coronatus or other species (C.incongruus, C.lamprauges) have been reported in immunocompromised patients. We report here the first case of invasive pulmonary fungal infection due to Conidiobolus pachyzygosporus in a Swiss patient with onco-haematologic malignancy. CASE PRESENTATION: A 71 year-old female was admitted in a Swiss hospital for induction chemotherapy of acute myeloid leukemia. A chest CT performed during the neutropenic phase identified three well-circumscribed lung lesions consistent with invasive fungal infection, along with a positive 1,3-beta-d-glucan assay in serum. A transbronchial biopsy of the lung lesions revealed large occasionally septate hyphae. A Conidiobolus spp. was detected by direct 18S rDNA in the tissue biopsy and subsequently identified at species level as C. pachyzygosporus by 28S rDNA sequencing. The infection was cured after isavuconazole therapy, recovery of the immune system and surgical resection of lung lesions. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first description of C. pachyzygosporus as human pathogen and second case report of invasive conidiobolomycosis from a European country.


Subject(s)
Conidiobolus/genetics , Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/complications , Lung Diseases, Fungal/complications , Lung Diseases, Fungal/diagnosis , Zygomycosis/complications , Zygomycosis/diagnosis , Aged , Antifungal Agents/therapeutic use , Biopsy , Conidiobolus/isolation & purification , DNA, Fungal/genetics , DNA, Ribosomal/genetics , Female , Humans , Hyphae/isolation & purification , Immunocompromised Host , Lung Diseases, Fungal/drug therapy , Lung Diseases, Fungal/pathology , Nitriles/therapeutic use , Pyridines/therapeutic use , Switzerland , Tomography, X-Ray Computed , Treatment Outcome , Triazoles/therapeutic use , Zygomycosis/drug therapy , Zygomycosis/pathology
6.
ISME J ; 13(4): 989-1003, 2019 04.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30542077

ABSTRACT

Under homoeostatic conditions, the relationship between the coral Pocillopora damicornis and Vibrio coralliilyticus is commensal. An increase in temperature, or in the abundance of V. coralliilyticus, can turn this association pathogenic, causing tissue lysis, expulsion of the corals' symbiotic algae (genus Symbiodinium), and eventually coral death. Using a combination of microfluidics, fluorescence microscopy, stable isotopes, electron microscopy and NanoSIMS isotopic imaging, we provide insights into the onset and progression of V. coralliilyticus infection in the daytime and at night, at the tissue and (sub-)cellular level. The objective of our study was to connect the macro-scale behavioural response of the coral to the micro-scale nutritional interactions that occur between the host and its symbiont. In the daytime, polyps enhanced their mucus production, and actively spewed pathogens. Vibrio infection primarily resulted in the formation of tissue lesions in the coenosarc. NanoSIMS analysis revealed infection reduced 13C-assimilation in Symbiodinium, but increased 13C-assimilation in the host. In the night incubations, no mucus spewing was observed, and a mucus film was formed on the coral surface. Vibrio inoculation and infection at night showed reduced 13C-turnover in Symbiodinium, but did not impact host 13C-turnover. Our results show that both the nutritional interactions that occur between the two symbiotic partners and the behavioural response of the host organism play key roles in determining the progression and severity of host-pathogen interactions. More generally, our approach provides a new means of studying interactions (ranging from behavioural to metabolic scales) between partners involved in complex holobiont systems, under both homoeostatic and pathogenic conditions.


Subject(s)
Anthozoa/microbiology , Symbiosis , Vibrio/physiology , Animals , Anthozoa/anatomy & histology , Anthozoa/metabolism , Anthozoa/physiology , Behavior, Animal , Dinoflagellida/metabolism , Host-Pathogen Interactions , Nutrients , Temperature
7.
J Psychiatr Res ; 104: 55-57, 2018 09.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29982082

ABSTRACT

We and others have recently found that botulinum toxin injected into the brow muscles has significant antidepressant properties as compared to placebo in randomized controlled trials in patients with major depressive disorder. However, data for the treatment of bipolar depression with botulinum toxin is lacking. We report here six patients with bipolar disorder experiencing moderate to severe depressive episodes who were treated on a compassionate basis with botulinum toxin given their persistent depressive symptoms and adverse side effects from medications. Four of six patients with bipolar depression experienced a remission following treatment with botulinum toxin, and the other two patients experienced a reduction of depressive symptoms. When the effect of botulinum toxin on the frown muscles began to wear off, depressive symptoms returned and retreatment with botulinum toxin provided successful relief of depressive symptoms again.


Subject(s)
Bipolar Disorder/drug therapy , Botulinum Toxins/therapeutic use , Neurotoxins/therapeutic use , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Psychiatric Status Rating Scales , Treatment Outcome
8.
Sex Abuse ; 30(7): 781-802, 2018 Oct.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29188755

ABSTRACT

The presence of pedophilic sexual interests is considered of high importance for predicting recidivism among individuals who have committed sexual offenses. However, objective and valid assessment methods that are robust against confounding issues such as cognitive capacity and manipulation are sparse. We applied the Approach-Avoidance Task (AAT) for detecting sexual interests in 38 pedophilic men (18 primarily attracted to boys) and 27 male nonpedophilic (11 gay) participants. The AAT relies on automatic approach and avoidance tendencies, independent of cognitive abilities such as memory capacity and intelligence. Approach-avoidance tendencies toward stimuli depicting seminude prepubescent boys and girls as well as men and women are reported. The results were consistent with previous research on the utility of the AAT: Except for pedophiles attracted to girls, the mean AAT scores (approach minus avoidance reaction time for each stimulus category) were positive only for stimuli of the preferred category. A multivariate binary logistic regression approach revealed 80% overall accuracy in differentiating pedophilic from nonpedophilic participants.


Subject(s)
Attention/physiology , Pedophilia/psychology , Reaction Time/physiology , Adult , Child , Child Abuse, Sexual/psychology , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Photic Stimulation , Young Adult
9.
Am J Transplant ; 15(4): 993-1002, 2015 Apr.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-25772069

ABSTRACT

The growing demand for suitable lungs for transplantation drives the quest for alternative strategies to expand the donor pool. The aim of this study is to evaluate the outcomes of lung transplantation (LTx) with donation after circulatory determination of death (DCDD) and the impact of selective ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP). From 2007 to 2013, 673 LTx were performed, with 62 (9.2%) of them using DCDDs (seven bridged cases). Cases bridged with mechanical ventilation/extracorporeal life support were excluded. From 55 DCDDs, 28 (51%) underwent EVLP. Outcomes for LTx using DCDDs and donation after neurological determination of death (DNDD) donors were similar, with 1 and 5-year survivals of 85% and 54% versus 86% and 62%, respectively (p = 0.43). Although comparison of survival curves between DCDD + EVLP versus DCDD-no EVLP showed no significant difference, DCDD + EVLP cases presented shorter hospital stay (median 18 vs. 23 days, p = 0.047) and a trend toward shorter length of mechanical ventilation (2 vs. 3 days, p = 0.059). DCDDs represent a valuable source of lungs for transplantation, providing similar results to DNDDs. EVLP seems an important technique in the armamentarium to safely increase lung utilization from DCDDs; however, further studies are necessary to better define the role of EVLP in this context.


Subject(s)
Blood Circulation , Lung Transplantation , Tissue Donors , Adult , Female , Humans , Lung , Male , Middle Aged , Perfusion , Prognosis , Retrospective Studies
10.
Int J Sports Med ; 36(1): 75-81, 2015 Jan.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-25264860

ABSTRACT

This study investigated sex-specific effects of surface instability on kinetics and lower extremity kinematics during drop jumping and landing. Ground reaction forces as well as knee valgus and flexion angles were tested in 14 males (age: 23±2 years) and 14 females (age: 24±3 years) when jumping and landing on stable and unstable surfaces. Jump height was found to be significantly lower (9%, p<0.001) when drop jumps were performed on unstable vs. stable surface. Significantly higher peak ground reaction forces were observed when jumping was performed on unstable versus stable surfaces (5%, p=0.022). Regarding frontal plane kinematics during jumping and landing, knee valgus angles were higher on unstable compared to stable surfaces (19-32%, p<0.05). Additionally, at the onset of ground contact during landings, females showed higher knee valgus angles than males (222%, p=0.027). Sagittal plane kinematics indicated significantly smaller knee flexion angles (6-35%, p<0.05) when jumping and landing on unstable vs. stable surfaces. During drop jumps and landings, women showed smaller knee flexion angles at ground contact compared to men (27-33%, p<0.05). These findings imply that knee motion strategies were modified by surface instability and sex during drop jumps and landings.


Subject(s)
Environment Design , Lower Extremity/physiology , Plyometric Exercise , Adult , Biomechanical Phenomena , Female , Humans , Knee Joint/physiology , Male , Movement , Sex Factors , Young Adult
11.
Rev Med Suisse ; 10(435): 1337-42, 2014 Jun 18.
Article in French | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-25051596

ABSTRACT

Most cases of emphysema are managed conservatively. However, in severe symptomatic emphysema associated with hyperinflation, lung volume reduction (LVR) may be proposed to improve dyspnea, exercice capacity, pulmonary functions, walk distance and to decrease long-term mortality. LVR may be achieved either surgically (LVRS) or endoscopically (EVLR by valves or coils) according to specific clinical criteria. Currently, the optimal approach is discussed in a multidisciplinary setting. The latter permits a personalized evaluation the patient's clinical status and allows the best possible therapeutic intervention to be proposed to the patient.


Subject(s)
Dyspnea/etiology , Pneumonectomy/methods , Pulmonary Emphysema/surgery , Endoscopy/methods , Exercise Tolerance , Humans , Interdisciplinary Communication , Pulmonary Emphysema/physiopathology , Severity of Illness Index
12.
Caries Res ; 47(1): 69-77, 2013.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-23147531

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Certain major pathogens such as Streptococcus mutans, Lactobacillus spp. and others have been reported to be involved in caries initiation and progression. Yet, in addition to those leading pathogens, microbial communities seem to be much more diverse and individually differing. The aim of this study, therefore, was to analyze the bacterial composition of carious dentin and the plaque of caries-free patients by using a custom-made, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay (RQ-PCR). METHODS: The study included 26 patients with caries and 28 caries-free controls. Decayed tooth substance and plaque samples were harvested. Bacterial DNA was extracted and tested for the presence of 43 bacterial species or species groups using RQ-PCR. RESULTS: Relative quantification revealed that Propionibacterium acidifaciens was significantly more abundant in caries samples than were other microorganisms (fold change 169.12, p = 0.023). In the caries-free samples, typical health-associated species were significantly more prevalent. Unsupervised hierarchical cluster analysis showed a high abundance of P. acidifaciens in caries subjects and distinct but individually differing bacterial clusters in the caries-free subjects. The distribution of 11 bacteria allowed full discrimination between caries and caries-free subjects. CONCLUSION: Within the investigated cohort, P. acidifaciens was the only pathogen significantly more abundant in caries subjects. Cluster analysis yielded a diverse flora in caries-free subjects, whereas it was narrowed down to a small range of a few outcompeting members in caries subjects.


Subject(s)
Biofilms/classification , Dental Caries/microbiology , Adult , Bacteria/classification , Capnocytophaga/classification , Cariostatic Agents/therapeutic use , Cohort Studies , DMF Index , DNA Primers , DNA, Bacterial/analysis , Dental Caries Susceptibility , Dental Plaque/microbiology , Dental Plaque Index , Dentin/microbiology , Female , Fluorides/therapeutic use , Fusobacterium/classification , Humans , Lactobacillus/classification , Leptotrichia/classification , Male , Oral Hygiene , Parents , Periodontal Index , Propionibacterium/classification , Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction , Streptococcus/classification , Treponema/classification
13.
Rev Med Suisse ; 8(346): 1326-31, 2012 Jun 20.
Article in French | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-22792597

ABSTRACT

Thirty percent of patients suffering from malignant disease will develop pulmonary metastases. Effective chemotherapy is lacking for many of these tumors. Many studies suggest survival benefit in selected patients when pulmonary metastasectomy allows complete resection. Several operative approach may be offered in order to achieve complete resection and maximal lung sparring. Pre-operative workup must assess the control of the primary tumor and the possibility of performing complete resection. Minimally invasive approaches may offer better quality life and equivalent oncologic outcomes than open approach.


Subject(s)
Adenocarcinoma/secondary , Adenocarcinoma/therapy , Lung Neoplasms/secondary , Lung Neoplasms/therapy , Metastasectomy/statistics & numerical data , Adenocarcinoma/diagnosis , Adenocarcinoma/surgery , Bone Neoplasms/diagnosis , Bone Neoplasms/pathology , Bone Neoplasms/surgery , Colorectal Neoplasms/diagnosis , Colorectal Neoplasms/pathology , Colorectal Neoplasms/surgery , Humans , Kidney Neoplasms/diagnosis , Kidney Neoplasms/pathology , Kidney Neoplasms/surgery , Lung Neoplasms/diagnosis , Lung Neoplasms/surgery , Melanoma/diagnosis , Melanoma/pathology , Melanoma/surgery , Metastasectomy/methods , Pneumonectomy/methods , Pneumonectomy/statistics & numerical data , Sarcoma/secondary , Sarcoma/surgery , Sarcoma/therapy , Skin Neoplasms/diagnosis , Skin Neoplasms/pathology , Skin Neoplasms/surgery , Time Factors
14.
Rev Med Suisse ; 8(346): 1337-41, 2012 Jun 20.
Article in French | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-22792599

ABSTRACT

Lobectomy via video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is now considered as a valid alternative to conventional thoracotomy for early-stage primary lung cancer. Various studies have reported that VATS lobectomy is a safe technique associated with fewer postoperative complications and better post-operative recovery than open thoracotomy. Furthermore, studies suggest oncological equivalence between VATS and open lobectomy.


Subject(s)
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/surgery , Lung Neoplasms/surgery , Pneumonectomy/methods , Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted/methods , Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/pathology , Humans , Lung Neoplasms/pathology , Pneumonectomy/adverse effects , Pneumonectomy/instrumentation , Postoperative Complications/epidemiology , Postoperative Complications/etiology , Practice Guidelines as Topic , Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted/adverse effects , Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted/statistics & numerical data , Treatment Outcome
15.
Rev Mal Respir ; 29(2): 138-48, 2012 Feb.
Article in French | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-22405109

ABSTRACT

The discovery of an anterior mediastinal mass requires careful management with specific consideration of the pathology. More than 50% of all mediastinal masses seen in adults are in the anterior mediastinum. The most frequent diagnoses are thymoma, lymphoma, teratoma and benign thyroid tumours. 60% of cases are malignant. Often the clinical and radiological findings do not allow a definitive diagnosis and a histological diagnosis is often required to select the optimal treatment modality. The choice of biopsy technique depends on the localization of the lesion, clinical factors, and the availability of special techniques and equipment. Biopsy may be obtained by trans-thoracic puncture under computed tomography or ultrasound guidance, or by a surgical approach (mediastinotomy or thoracoscopy).


Subject(s)
Mediastinal Neoplasms/diagnosis , Mediastinal Neoplasms/therapy , Adult , Biomarkers, Tumor/analysis , Biopsy, Needle , Carcinoid Tumor/diagnosis , Carcinoid Tumor/therapy , Carcinoma/diagnosis , Carcinoma/therapy , Diagnosis, Differential , Granuloma/diagnosis , Granuloma/therapy , Humans , Lipoma/diagnosis , Lipoma/therapy , Lymphoma/diagnosis , Lymphoma/therapy , Mediastinum/pathology , Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal/diagnosis , Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal/therapy , Thymoma/diagnosis , Thymoma/therapy , Thymus Hyperplasia/diagnosis , Thymus Hyperplasia/therapy , Thymus Neoplasms/diagnosis , Thymus Neoplasms/therapy , Thyroid Neoplasms/diagnosis , Thyroid Neoplasms/therapy
16.
Sci Total Environ ; 417-418: 169-82, 2012 Feb 15.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-22277148

ABSTRACT

This paper demonstrates the application of a low-cost and rapid natural fluorescence technique for tracing and quantifying the transport of pollutants from livestock farming through a small headwater catchment. Fluorescence intensities of Dissolved Organic Matter (DOM) present in different pollutant sources and drainage waters in the Den Brook catchment (Devon, UK) were monitored through storm events occurring between January 2007 and June 2008. Contrasting fluorescence signals from different sources confirmed the technique's usefulness as a tracer of pollutants from livestock farming. Changes in fluorescence intensities of drainage waters throughout storm events were used to assess the dynamics of key pollutant sources. The farmyard area of the catchment studied was shown to contribute polluted runoff at the onset of storm events in response to only small amounts of rain, when flows in the Den Brook first-order channel were low. The application of slurry to a field within the catchment did not elevate the fluorescence of drainage waters during storm events suggesting that when slurry is applied to undrained fields the fluorescent DOM may become quickly adsorbed onto soil particles and/or immobilised through bacterial breakdown. Fluorescence intensities of drainage waters were successfully combined with discharge data in a two component mixing model to estimate pollutant fluxes from key sources during the January 2007 storm event. The farmyard was shown to be the dominant source of tryptophan-like material, contributing 61-81% of the total event flux at the catchment outlet. High spatial and temporal resolution measurements of fluorescence, possibly using novel in-situ fluorimeters, may thus have great potential in quickly identifying and quantifying the presence, dynamics and sources of pollutants from livestock farming in catchments.


Subject(s)
Agriculture/methods , Environmental Monitoring/methods , Spectrometry, Fluorescence/methods , Water Movements , Water Pollutants, Chemical/chemistry , Animals , Livestock , United Kingdom
17.
Eur Surg Res ; 47(4): 196-204, 2011.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-21986386

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) at low drug-light conditions can enhance the transport of intravenously injected macromolecular therapeutics through the tumor vasculature. Here we determined the impact of PDT on the distribution of liposomal doxorubicin (Liporubicin™) administered by isolated lung perfusion (ILP) in sarcomas grown on rodent lungs. METHODS: A syngeneic methylcholanthrene-induced sarcoma cell line was implanted subpleurally in the left lung of Fischer rats. Treatment schemes consisted in ILP alone (400 µg of Liporubicin), low-dose (0.0625 mg/kg Visudyne®, 10 J/cm(2) and 35 mW/cm(2)) and high-dose left lung PDT (0.125 mg/kg Visudyne, 10 J/cm(2) and 35 mW/cm(2)) followed by ILP (400 µg of Liporubicin). The uptake and distribution of Liporubicin in tumor and lung tissues were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography and fluorescence microscopy in each group. RESULTS: Low-dose PDT significantly improved the distribution of Liporubicin in tumors compared to high-dose PDT (p < 0.05) and ILP alone (p < 0.05). However, both PDT pretreatments did not result in a higher overall drug uptake in tumors or a higher tumor-to-lung drug ratio compared to ILP alone. CONCLUSIONS: Intraoperative low-dose Visudyne-mediated PDT enhances liposomal doxorubicin distribution administered by ILP in sarcomas grown on rodent lungs which is predicted to improve tumor control by ILP.


Subject(s)
Antibiotics, Antineoplastic/therapeutic use , Doxorubicin/therapeutic use , Lung Neoplasms/drug therapy , Photochemotherapy , Sarcoma/drug therapy , Animals , Antibiotics, Antineoplastic/analysis , Antibiotics, Antineoplastic/pharmacology , Cell Line, Tumor , Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid , Doxorubicin/analysis , Doxorubicin/pharmacology , Liposomes/administration & dosage , Lung/chemistry , Lung/drug effects , Lung/pathology , Lung Neoplasms/pathology , Male , Microscopy, Fluorescence , Perfusion , Photosensitizing Agents/pharmacology , Photosensitizing Agents/therapeutic use , Porphyrins/pharmacology , Porphyrins/therapeutic use , Rats , Rats, Inbred F344 , Sarcoma/pathology , Verteporfin
18.
J Environ Monit ; 12(3): 731-9, 2010 Mar.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-20445863

ABSTRACT

This paper quantifies the yields of suspended solids (SS) from a headwater catchment managed as improved temperate grassland, providing the first direct, catchment-scale evidence of the rates of erosion from this land-use in the UK and assessing the threat posed to aquatic ecosystems. High-resolution monitoring of catchment hydrology and the concentrations of SS and volatile organic matter (VOM) were carried out in the first-order channel of the Den Brook headwater catchment in Devon (UK) during the 2006-2007 hydrological season. The widely used 'rating curve' (discharge-concentration) approach was employed to estimate yields of SS, but as demonstrated by previous researchers, this study showed that discharge is a poor predictor of SS concentrations and therefore any yields estimated from this technique are likely to be highly uncertain. Nevertheless, for the purpose of providing estimates of yields that are comparable to previous studies on other land uses/sources, this technique was adopted albeit in an uncertainty-based framework. The findings suggest that contrary to the common perception, grasslands can be erosive landscapes with SS yields from this catchment estimated to be between 0.54 and 1.21 t ha(-1) y(-1). In terms of on-site erosion problems, this rate of erosion does not significantly exceed the commonly used 'tolerable' threshold in the UK ( approximately 1 t ha(-1) y(-1)). In terms of off-site erosion problems, it is argued here that the conventional expression of SS yield as a bulk annual figure has little relevance to the water quality and ecological status of surface waters and therefore an alternative technique (the concentration-frequency curve) is developed within this paper for the specific purpose of assessing the ecological threat posed by the delivery of SS into surface waters. This technique illustrates that concentrations of SS recorded at the catchment outlet frequently exceed the water quality guidelines, such as those of the EU Freshwater Fisheries Directive (78/659/EC), and pose a serious threat to aquatic organisms. It is suggested that failure to recognise improved temperate grasslands as a potential source of particulate material could result in the non-compliance of surface waters to water quality guidelines, deterioration of ecological status and failure of water quality remediation measures.


Subject(s)
Ecosystem , Fresh Water/chemistry , Geologic Sediments/chemistry , Environmental Monitoring , Water/chemistry
19.
J Photochem Photobiol B ; 98(1): 69-76, 2010 Jan 21.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-20056552

ABSTRACT

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) with Visudyne acts by direct cellular phototoxicity and/or by an indirect vascular-mediated effect. Here, we demonstrate that the vessel integrity interruption by PDT can promote the extravasation of a macromolecular agent in normal tissue. To obtain extravasation in normal tissue PDT conditions were one order of magnitude more intensive than the ones in tissue containing neovessels reported in the literature. Fluorescein isothiocyanate dextran (FITC-D, 2000 kDa), a macromolecular agent, was intravenously injected 10 min before (LK0 group, n=14) or 2h (LK2 group, n=16) after Visudyne-mediated PDT in nude mice bearing a dorsal skin fold chamber. Control animals had no PDT (CTRL group, n=8). The extravasation of FITC-D from blood vessels in striated muscle tissue was observed in both groups in real-time for up to 2500 s after injection. We also monitored PDT-induced leukocyte rolling in vivo and assessed, by histology, the corresponding inflammatory reaction score in the dorsal skin fold chambers. In all animals, at the applied PDT conditions, FITC-D extravasation was significantly enhanced in the PDT-treated areas as compared to the surrounding non-treated areas (p<0.0001). There was no FITC-D leakage in the control animals. Animals from the LK0 group had significantly less FITC-D extravasation than those from the LK2 group (p=0.0002). In the LK0 group FITC-D leakage correlated significantly with the inflammation (p<0.001). At the selected conditions, Visudyne-mediated PDT promotes vascular leakage and FITC-D extravasation into the interstitial space of normal tissue. The intensity of vascular leakage depends on the time interval between PDT and FITC-D injection. This concept could be used to locally modulate the delivery of macromolecules in vivo.


Subject(s)
Dextrans/metabolism , Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate/analogs & derivatives , Fluorescent Dyes/metabolism , Photochemotherapy , Animals , Blood Vessels/drug effects , Blood Vessels/physiology , Blood Vessels/radiation effects , Dextrans/administration & dosage , Extravasation of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Materials , Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate/administration & dosage , Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate/metabolism , Fluorescent Dyes/administration & dosage , Injections, Intravenous , Leukocytes/drug effects , Leukocytes/immunology , Leukocytes/radiation effects , Mice , Mice, Nude , Microscopy, Fluorescence , Photosensitizing Agents/pharmacology , Porphyrins/pharmacology , Skin/drug effects , Skin/radiation effects , Verteporfin
20.
J Environ Qual ; 37(3): 906-14, 2008.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-18453413

ABSTRACT

Grass vegetation has been recommended for use in the prevention and control of soil erosion because of its dense sward characteristics and stabilizing effect on the soil. A general assumption is that grassland environments suffer from minimal soil erosion and therefore present little threat to the water quality of surface waters in terms of sediment and sorbed contaminant pollution. Our data question this assumption, reporting results from one hydrological year of observations on a field-experiment monitoring overland flow, drain flow, fluxes of suspended solids, total phosphorus (TP), and molybdate-reactive phosphorus (<0.45 mum) in response to natural rainfall events. During individual rainfall events, 1-ha grassland lysimeters yield up to 15 kg of suspended solids, with concentrations in runoff waters of up to 400 mg L(-1). These concentrations exceed the water quality standards recommended by the European Freshwater Fisheries Directive (25 mg L(-1)) and the USEPA (80 mg L(-1)) and are beyond those reported to have caused chronic effects on freshwater aquatic organisms. Furthermore, TP concentrations in runoff waters from these field lysimeters exceeded 800 mug L(-1). These concentrations are in excess of those reported to cause eutrophication problems in rivers and lakes and contravene the ecoregional nutrient criteria in all of the USA ecoregions. This paper also examines how subsurface drainage, a common agricultural practice in intensively managed grasslands, influences the hydrology and export of sediment and nutrients from grasslands. This dataset suggests that we need to rethink the conceptual understanding of grasslands as non-erosive landscapes. Failure to acknowledge this will result in the noncompliance of surface waters to water quality standards.


Subject(s)
Geologic Sediments , Poaceae , Water , Environmental Monitoring , Wetlands
SELECTION OF CITATIONS
SEARCH DETAIL
...