Nutrient loss from three small-size watersheds in the southern Baltic Sea in relation to agricultural practices and policy.

Agriculture is the major contributor of waterborne nutrient fluxes into the Baltic Sea, one of the world's most eutrophication-sensitive areas. Poland, as a large, densely populated state ohf the Baltic Region, with dominating agricultural land use, largely contributes to riverborne loads of N and P. The aim of our study was to examine the input of nutrients from three small first-order agricultural watersheds (Bladzikowski Stream, Gizdepka river and Mrzezino canal) in the Pomerania region, into the Bay of Puck, inner part of the Gulf of Gdansk. This study attempts to give a partial answer as to the question if inputs of nutrients from the 3 analysed watersheds comply with the targets of the Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP) and Country Allocated Reduction Targets (CART). The impact of agricultural practices was assessed on the basis of farm questionnaires and calculations of nutrient balances for the examined farms. The nutrient concentrations in the soil and drainage ditches were examined, followed by an assessment of nutrient concentrations in the watercourses at the sampling points located close to the estuaries. The average mineral N fertiliser consumption (109 kg N/ha) in the analysed watersheds was higher than Poland's average. The average N and P surpluses for surveyed farms (96.4 kg/ha and 4.4 kg/ha, respectively) were higher than the EU mean in case of N and markedly lower in case of P. We used Principal Component Analysis which confirmed that there were correlations between nutrient surpluses and nutrient concentrations in streams and/or drainage ditches. The N-NO3 and Pmin concentrations were also correlated to precipitation. The average N concentrations in the analysed watercourses were equal to 1.53 mg/L for Gizdepka, 1.88 mg/L for Mrzezino canal and 3.52 mg/L for Bladzikowski Stream. The mean P concentrations observed in the investigated watercourses were markedly higher than 0.1 mg/L. With regard to BSAP objectives, as well as CART set for Poland, the average nutrient concentrations in rivers should be approximately at the level of 2.5 mg N/L and 0.07 mg P/L.

The impact of the Nitrates Directive on nitrogen emissions from agriculture in the EU-27 during 2000-2008.

A series of environmental policies have been implemented in the European Union (EU) to decrease nitrogen (N) emissions from agriculture. The Nitrates Directive (ND) is one of the main policies; it aims to reduce nitrate leaching from agriculture through a number of measures. A study was carried out to quantify the effects of the ND in the EU-27 on the leaching and runoff of nitrate (NO3(-)) to groundwater and surface waters, and on the emissions of ammonia (NH3), nitrous oxide (N2O), nitrogen oxides (NO(x)) and dinitrogen (N2) to the atmosphere. We formulated a scenario with and a scenario without implementation of the ND. The model MITERRA-Europe was used to calculate N emissions on a regional level in the EU-27 for the period 2000-2008. The calculated total N loss from agriculture in the EU-27 was 13 Mton N in 2008, with 53% as N2, 22% as NO3, 21% as NH3, 3% as N2O, and 1% as NO(x). The N emissions and leaching in the EU-27 slightly decreased in the period 2000-2008. Total emissions in the EU in 2008 were smaller with implementation of the ND than without the ND, by 3% for NH3, 6% for N2O, 9% for NO(x), and 16% for N leaching and runoff in 2008. However, regional differences were large. The lower emissions with ND were mainly due to the lower N inputs by fertilizers and manures. In conclusion, implementation of the ND decreased both N leaching losses to ground and surface waters, and gaseous emissions to the atmosphere. It is expected that the ND will result in a further decrease in N emissions in EU-27 in the near future, because the implementation of the measures for the ND is expected to become more strict.

Subjective and objective scales to assess the development of children cerebral palsy.

Many scoring systems hale been constructed to assess the motor development of cerebral palsy children and to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment. According to the purposes they fulfill, these instruments may be divided into three types: discriminative, evaluative and predictive. The design and measurement methodology are the criteria that determine whether a given scale is quantitative or qualitative in nature, and whether is should be considered to be objective or subjective. The article presents the "reaching, losing and regaining" scale (constructed by the authors to assess functional development and its changes in certain periods of time), the Munich Functional Development Diagnostics, and the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM). Special attention is given to the GMFM, its methods, evaluation of results, and application. A comparison of subjective and objective assessment of two cerebral palsy children is included.

[Inter-observer variation of the Caterall and Herring classification in Perthes disease]. / Zgodnosc klasyfikacji radiologicznych Catteralla i Herringa w ocenie choroby Perthesa.

The reliability of the Caterall and the Herring classifications (inter-observer study) was compared using radiographs of 63 hips in 58 patients. The radiographs were reviewed by three independent observers with various clinical experience. The results were analyzed using kappa statistics and the percentage of inter-observer agreement. The less experienced observers seemed to be more prone to classify the hips as more affected than they actually were. They also seemed to produce a higher agreement rate. Disagreement was most common in the Caterall groups II and III. The Herring classification appears to be more reliable, also in children older than six, which perhaps makes it more useful in deciding between conservative or operative treatment.

Dega's transiliac osteotomy in the treatment of spastic hip subluxation and dislocation in cerebral palsy.

The study presents the long-term results of operative treatment of spastic subluxation and dislocation of hip joints in cerebral palsy children with open reduction and pelvic transiliac osteotomy by Dega. The subjects were 25 patients (30 hips) and the follow-up lasted from 3 to 25 years (average 12 years). Final examinations were carried out after the end of body growth. Detailed analysis covered a patient's function, occurrence and intensity of pain in the hip joint, value of radiological parameters such as angle of centre-edge of the roof after Wiberg (CE), acetabular index (AI), neck-shaft angle (NS) and migration percentage (MP). The final evaluation of radiological results was carried out in accordance with Severin's classification. The clinical and radiological results obtained showed gradual deteriorations in comparison with the early postoperative results (dating from 12 months after surgery). In the final examination, in one patient a recurrent dislocation of the hip joint was diagnosed and subluxation was diagnosed in six patients (23%). Only the values of the CE angle went up (from -16 degrees in the early postoperative examination to 20 degrees in the final assessment), which we consider to be due to the change of sphericity of the head of femur. The remaining radiological parameters did not change significantly: AI from 22 degrees to 23 degrees, MP from 11% to 23%, NS from 133 degrees to 140 degrees. The surgical method presented is currently applied in a modified form, with a wider release within the soft tissues, more radical varusderotation osteotomy and greater shortening of the femur.

Evaluation of patella position based on radiologic and ultrasonographic examination: comparison of the diagnostic value.

This study compared radiologic and ultrasonographic methods of evaluation of patella position. The radiologic examination was based on the evaluation of Insall and Salvati's index (I-S index), whereas the ultrasonographic examination was based on the determination of analogous coefficient called the patellar tendon-patellar coefficient (T-P coefficient). The total number of examined knee joints was 55 in 30 patients (13 children, aged 7-16 years and 17 adults aged 17-39 years) with knee pain. Considerable differences of the evaluated parameters were observed in the group of examined children: I-S index, 1.50; T-P coefficient, 1.20; and small differences in the group of adults: 1.17 and 1.32, respectively. Those differences resulted from difficulties with interpretation of the apparent radiologic picture of the knee joint with the patella incompletely ossified. The ultrasonographic picture in both children and adults is a real picture, and the possibilities of its interpretation are independent of the degree of patellar ossification.

Patella position versus length of hamstring muscles in children.

The results of ultrasonographic examinations of the patellar height in the knee joints in children was subjected to analysis. The study aimed at the specification of a norm of patellar height in the developmental age, based on the tendon-patellar coefficient (analogous to the radiologic measurement according to Insall and Salvati). The results of ultrasonographic and clinical examinations of 114 knee joints performed in 57 healthy children were used for the study. The average value of the tendon-patellar coefficient was 1.2 and was independent of age or sex. A statistically significant dependence of the coefficient on the popliteal angle was demonstrated, which indirectly proved the dependence of the coefficient on the length of the hamstrings. In our opinion, the use of ultrasonographic tendon-patellar coefficient allows the differentiation of the so-called physiologic shortening of hamstrings from its pathologic form.

Trypanosomiasis in raccoons from Georgia.

Trypanosoma cruzi frequently infects wild mammals in the southern United States but little is known about the effect of the parasite on reservoir hosts such as the raccoon (Procyon lotor). To investigate this issue, 30 raccoons trapped on St. Catherine's Island (Georgia, USA) during September, 1994 were tested for T. cruzi infection by examination of wet mounts of fresh blood and by culturing blood in liver infusion tryptose medium. Thirteen animals (43%) were found to be infected with T. cruzi. Heart tissues from 10 of the infected raccoons and 4 uninfected raccoons were fixed, sectioned, stained and examined for the presence of parasites and evidence of tissue damage. One T. cruzi pseudocyst was found in cardiac tissue from the left ventricle of a female raccoon. In addition, Sarcocystis sp. sarcocysts and schizonts of Hepatozoon sp. were observed in heart tissue from seven of the T. cruzi-infected raccoons. Mild, multifocal and interstitial inflammation was observed in the heart tissues of all 10 of the infected animals. No evidence of T. cruzi pseudocysts or tissue damage was observed in heart tissue from C3H/HeJ mice infected with culture forms of the parasites isolated from raccoons. Our findings suggest that the T. cruzi parasites isolated from raccoons in Georgia are not pathogenic to this host or C3H/HeJ mice and may be of low virulence.

The epidemiology and clinical manifestations of hamstring muscle and plantar foot flexor shortening.

A population of 920 healthy children was studied with the aim of assessing the incidence of hamstring muscle and plantar foot flexor tightness, and to correlate such symptoms with gait, posture, and low back discomfort or pain. Special attention was paid to the popliteal angle and dorsal foot flexion. The borderline values for the popliteal angle in the following age groups were, boys: 3 to 5 years, 40 degrees; 6 to 15 years, 50 degrees; and 16 to 19 years, 40 degrees; girls: 3 to 5 years, 30 degrees; 6 to 14 years, 45 degrees; 15 to 19 years, 30 degrees. The borderline values for dorsal foot flexion in the following age groups were 3 to 4 years, 7 degrees; 5 to 13 years, 10 degrees; and 14 to 19 years, 5 degrees. The results obtained indicate a natural increase in hamstring tightness, particularly shortly before the pubertal growth spurt. This seems to be linked with the natural evolution of lumbar lordosis and pelvic tilt. When hamstring tightness surpassed borderline values, dorsiflexion and lumbar lordosis decreased leading to postural deformities, bending-forward deficit, discomfort when sitting, and a shambling gait.

[Epidermal nevus syndrome--bi-symptom type]. / Zespól znamienia naskórkowego--postac dwuobjawowa.

Epidermal nevus syndrome is a neurocutaneous disorder in which epidermal nevi are associated with other abnormalities, mostly of skeletal and central nervous system. A case of 6-year old girl with noninflammatory verrucous nevus, skeletal abnormalities of the left leg and Wilms tumor is presented.

Calculation of rotationally symmetric multi-focal lens surface.

A numerical method to calculate surfaces for refractive multi-focal intraocular lenses is presented. The computations, performed in a plane containing the axis of rotation of the surface, provide sag values as well as the curvature of the surface between values. Standard ray tracing techniques may then be applied to the calculated surface to verify the optical performance.

Succinate decarboxylation to propionate and the associated phosphorylation in Fasciola hepatica and Spirometra mansonoides.

The trematode, Fasciola hepatica, and the cestode, Spirometra mansonoides have been shown to be similar to the nematode Ascaris lumbricoides in that all three decarboxylate succinate to propionate plus CO2. Associated with this decarboxylation is an incorporation of 32Pi into organic phosphate. Both the decarboxylation and phosphorylation are markedly stimulated by the addition of propionyl-CoA, are dependent on coenzyme B12 and are inhibited by avidin. The trematode and cestode exhibit propionyl-CoA carboxylase, methylmalonyl-CoA mutase and acyl-CoA transferase activities in sonicated mitochondrial preparations. Data are consistent with the occurrence of a mitochondrial substrate level site for ATP generation which is coupled with the decarboxylation of succinate. In Fasciola preparations, acetyl-CoA stimulates the decarboxylation and phosphorylation to a considerably larger extent than propionyl-CoA, indicating the possibility that acetyl-CoA may serve physiologically in these reactions by donating the CoA moiety to succinate.