Retroperitoneal abscess from dropped appendicolith complicating laparoscopic appendectomy.

Abscesses can occur after appendectomy. With the increasing use of laparoscopy, this risk has increased in the same way as the incidence of abscesses related to dropped gallstones increased after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. However, this occurrence has been rarely reported. We describe here the case of a young patient who developed retroperitoneal abscess one year after laparoscopic appendectomy.

Biodegradation of polychlorinated biphenyls in Aroclor 1232 and production of metabolites from 2,4,4'-trichlorobiphenyl at low temperature by psychrotolerant Hydrogenophaga sp. strain IA3-A.

AIMS: To determine the extent and pattern of degradation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in Aroclor 1232 at 5 degrees C by a psychrotolerant bacterium, and to confirm the formation of intermediates of PCB metabolism at low temperature using 2,4,4'-trichlorobiphenyl (2,4,4'-TCB). METHODS AND RESULTS: 10 ppm of Aroclor 1232 or 100 micromol l(-1) 2,4,4'-TCB was incubated with biphenyl-grown cells at 5 degrees C or 30 degrees C for 48 or 72 h. Degradation of PCBs and the products of metabolism of 2,4,4'-TCB were confirmed by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. Extents of degradation of many of the PCBs were similar at 5 degrees C and 30 degrees C. The extent of biodegradation of PCBs in Aroclor 1232 at 5 degrees C was dependent on chlorination pattern. The 14 chlorine-containing intermediates of 2,4,4'-TCB metabolism, which were detected, include several isomers of dihydrodiols, dihydroxy compounds and meta-cleavage compounds. CONCLUSIONS: The bacterium will be useful for bioremediation of PCB-contaminated sites in cold climates; however, knowledge of the products of PCB metabolism is necessary, as they could be more toxic than the parent compounds. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Substantial degradation of some PCBs in Aroclor 1232 was demonstrated at low temperature within 48 h. The detection of several isomeric intermediates suggests that multiple pathways are used to transform PCBs in this strain. For the first time, formation of metabolic products from 2,4,4'-TCB at low temperature is confirmed.

Temperature-dependent biotransformation of 2,4'-dichlorobiphenyl by psychrotolerant Hydrogenophaga strain IA3-A: higher temperatures prevent excess accumulation of problematic meta-cleavage products.

AIMS: The present work investigates the possibility that temperature could regulate the pattern of transformation of 2,4'-chlorobiphenyl (2,4'-CB) by psychrotolerant Hydrogenophaga sp. IA3-A. METHODS AND RESULTS: Transformation of 2,4'-chlorobiphenyl to 2- and 4-chlorobenzoic acid (2- and 4-CBA), and meta-cleavage products by cells of strain IA3-A incubated at 10 degrees C, 25 degrees C, 37 degrees C or 45 degrees C were monitored by UV spectrometry, HPLC and GC-MS analyses. Cultures incubated at 10 degrees C, 25 degrees C or 37 degrees C produced low amounts of CBAs and excess levels of meta-cleavage products from 2,4'-CB. Cultures incubated at 45 degrees C transformed most of the degraded 2,4'-CB to CBAs and low level of meta-cleavage product. Culture extracts contained unusual varieties of isomeric hydroxylated metabolic products. CONCLUSIONS: Efficient transformation of 2,4'-CB to CBAs was possible in cultures incubated at 45 degrees C. Evidence for the involvement of multiple pathways in the transformation of 2,4'-CB in strain IA3-A suggests that differential regulation of the pathways at different temperatures was likely responsible for the change in the pattern of transformation of 2,4'-CB in cultures incubated at 45 degrees C. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: It may be possible to condition cells to transform chlorinated biphenyls more efficiently without accumulating excess level of toxic intermediates.

Continued post-bleaching decline and changed benthic community of a Kenyan coral reef.

During the global coral bleaching event of 1997/1998 Kenyan reefs experienced between 50% and 90% coral mortality, with coral cover at Malindi being reduced from 35-45% (pre-bleaching) to 10-20%. Even before this event there was concern that these reefs were being impacted by increased sediment loads from the nearby Sabaki River. Here we report that since 1998 coral cover has declined yet further with, in 2004, means of 5.1% being recorded at North Reef (within the non-fished Malindi Marine National Park) and 2.3% on Leopard Reef (within the fished Marine Reserve). Prior to bleaching 55 coral genera were recorded from the area, currently we find only 23. Meanwhile algal cover, especially the calcareous green alga Halimeda, has increased, and on Leopard Reef is twice that on North Reef. Taken with the evidence of previous studies, these data suggest a combined impact of coral bleaching with sedimentation and fishing.

Primary intraventricular brain abscess.

We report a primary intraventricular brain abscess in a 13-year-old boy. We discuss possible explanations for this rare occurrence.

Induction of labour with single insertion of vaginal tablet of prostagladin E2 (PGE2), amniotomy, and oxytocin infusion.

A randomised controlled study of the clinical value of single insertion of vaginal tablets of prostagladin E2 (PGE2) containing 3mg of dinoprostin for induction of labour in patients with Low Bishop Scores (B/S less than 5) was carried out on 20 singleton pregnant Nigerian women, of different parity. (Primiparae n = 10 Multiparae n = 10). The control were 10 singleton pregnant women (Primiparae 3; Multiparae 7). The mean age of the subjects were 28.4 +/- 1.5 years and 29.8 +/- 0.9 years for the control and the PGE2 treatment groups respectively. The indications for induction of labour were Pregnancy Induced Hypertension (PIH); Post-maturity, Intra-uterine foetal death IUD, spontaneous rupture of membrane, diabetes mellitus in pregnancy and intra uterine growth retardation syndrome (IUGR). A single insertion of PGE2 vaginal tablet significantly improved the Bishop Score in the PGE2 treatment group from a mean of 4.0 to 10.5 +/- 0.4, after a mean interval of 8.7 +/- 1.1 hrs. This reduction in the IDI by the PGE2 in the treatment group was however more significant in the multiparae (Mean IDI 7.25 +/- 1.8 hrs; P = 0.02) than the primiparae (Mean IDI 11.1 +/- 2.3 hrs; p > or = 0.05). It is suggested that a single insertion of PGE2 vaginal tablet is effective for induction of labour in the multiparae in cases of Pregnancy Induced Hypertension (PIH), Post-maturity; and intra-uterine fetal death (IUD) but similar procedure may not be so effective in the primiparae.

Public health officials' perceptions of dental caries preventive methods.

The Wisconsin Division of Health has traditionally promoted the implementation of cost-effective dental public health caries prevention programs through the cooperation of communities, schools, and local health agencies. Because of the opportunities created by the division's goal to enhance the capabilities of local public health agencies and the difficult program-priority decisions produced by diminishing federal funding, an evaluation of the state's dental public health promotional efforts appeared appropriate. In 1982, as part of this evaluation process, an opinion survey of dental caries prevention methods was distributed to local public health officials. The survey instrument consisted of seven questions that ranked caries-prevention measures. The questionnaire return rate was 85 percent, or 104 responses. Data were arrayed by frequency of rank, composite-rank score, and overall rank. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to determine the significance of composite-score data. The results of the survey indicated that 1) local public health officials perceive consumer-passive and school-based caries-preventive methods as the most effective and cost-beneficial means of preventing tooth decay in school-age children, 2) this knowledge could permit them to act as informed dental public health advocates, and 3) this knowledge may account for the implementation and maintenance of cost-effective public health caries-prevention programs throughout Wisconsin.

Children's ability to evaluate television commercial messages for sugared products.

A study of the ability of 120 children to evaluate the cariogenic potential of products presented in commercial television messages was undertaken. Each child was shown commercials for sugar-containing products. The results indicated: 1) grade-related differences exist in a child's ability to evaluate products; 2) no differences between socioeconomic status groups were found in a child's ability to evaluate products; 3) a weak relationship between the level of dental health knowledge and ability to evaluate the products.