ABSTRACT
Coral reef biota including stony corals, sponges, gorgonians, fish, benthic macroinvertebrates and foraminifera were surveyed in coastal waters near La Parguera, in southwestern Puerto Rico. The goal was to evaluate sensitivity of coral reef biological indicators to human disturbance. Proxies for human disturbance were measured as distance to town (DTT) and rankings of a low-level sediment contamination gradient analyzed from a previous study. Contaminant rank and DTT showed that percent mud, stony coral taxa richness, reef rugosity, and numbers of invertebrates and sponges were higher at sites closer to human disturbance, but a foraminiferal assemblage index was significantly lower at sites with higher proxies for human disturbance. Fish indicators showed no significant relationships with human activity, but associations between fish community measures and certain measures of stony corals, gorgonians and sponges were found. Contrasting responses between foraminifera and reef organisms may be due to greater exposure and sensitivity of foraminifera to sediment contaminants.
Subject(s)
Coral Reefs , Environmental Monitoring/statistics & numerical data , Environmental Pollutants/analysis , Fishes/physiology , Foraminifera/physiology , Geologic Sediments/chemistry , Invertebrates/physiology , Analysis of Variance , Animals , Population Density , Puerto Rico , Species SpecificityABSTRACT
A case of severe pelvic inflammatory disease and peritonitis following Falope Ring tubal ligation is described. Pelvic viscera appeared normal at the time of laparoscopy. Severe pelvic inflammatory disease and peritonitis should be included in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with significant abdominal pain following Falope Ring tubal ligation. The problem of serious pelvic infection following Falope Ring tubal ligation is reviewed.
Subject(s)
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease/etiology , Peritonitis/etiology , Sterilization, Tubal/adverse effects , Adult , Bacterial Infections/etiology , Female , HumansABSTRACT
A case of diabetic acidosis during pregnancy is presented in which the fetal heart rate tracing demonstrated late decelerations. Sodium bicarbonate, intravenous fluids and insulin treatment resulted in correction of both the maternal acidosis and the abnormal fetal heart rate tracings. The rationale for bicarbonate therapy for treatment of the presumed fetal distress is discussed.
Subject(s)
Diabetic Ketoacidosis/complications , Fetal Distress/therapy , Pregnancy in Diabetics/complications , Adult , Bicarbonates/therapeutic use , Diabetic Ketoacidosis/therapy , Female , Fetal Distress/etiology , Fetal Heart , Humans , Insulin/therapeutic use , Pregnancy , Water-Electrolyte BalanceABSTRACT
It is now recognized that magnesium plays an important role in calcium homeostasis. Although the effects of hypomagnesemia have been frequently reported, little has been written to suggest a clinically important role for hypermagnesemia. A case is reported in which severe hypocalcemia, with a low plasma parathyroid hormone (PTH) concentration, resulted from the therapeutic use of magnesium sulfate for toxemia of pregnancy. Following recovery, the parathyroid glands were shown to respond normally to a phosphate load. It is suggested that the hypermagnesemia directly suppressed PTH secretion, resulting in symptomatic hypocalcemia.
