Intermittent breath holding during moderate bicycle exercise provokes consistent changes in muscle oxygenation and greater blood lactate response.

AIM: This study examined the effect of intermittent breath holding (IBH) on physiological response, including oxygenation in working muscle, to moderate-intensity exercise. METHODS: Thirteen men performed bicycle exercise for 5 min at 65% of peak oxygen uptake with normal breathing (NB) and with IBH. Muscle oxygenation, concentration changes of oxyhemoglobin (ΔOxy-Hb), deoxyhemoglobin (ΔDeoxy-Hb) and total hemoglobin (ΔTotal-Hb), in the right vastus lateralis were continuously monitored using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Finger capillary blood samples were taken after exercise for analyzing blood lactate concentration (BLa). RESULTS: NIRS parameters showed acute changes to each BH episode in the IBH condition (Total-Hb and ΔOxy-Hb decreased, ΔDeoxy-Hb increased). Accordingly, in the IBH condition, ΔOxy-Hb was lower (P<0.05) and ΔDeoxy-Hb was higher (P<0.05) compared to that in the NB condition, whereas there was no difference in ΔTotal-Hb in the both conditions. BLa levels were greater (P<0.05) in the IBH condition compare to the NB condition. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that IBH during moderate-intensity exercise provokes consistent changes in muscle oxygenation, leading to lower tissue oxygenation. Our data also indicate that exercise with IBH induces higher BLa.

[Pleuroperitoneal communication at the beginning of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis; report of a case].

A 46-years-old woman admitted for induction of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). When peritoneal functional test was performed, dyspnea was occurred. Chest X-ray and chest computed tomography (CT) scan revealed massive right hydrothorax. Technetium-99m macroaggregated albumin scintigraphy showed communication between abdominal cavity and thoracic cavity. The thoracoscopic diaphragmal repair was performed. After CAPD was started, right hydrothorax occurred again. Re-repair of the diaphragm was performed in small thoracotomy and small hole was revealed. The hole was sutured and diaphragm was coverd by fibrin glue and polyglycolacid (PGA) felt all over. Since then, CAPD was continued successfully. Thoracoscopic surgery is less invasive and appropriate therapy for this case. It is important that the diaphragm will be covered all over by fibrin glue and PGA sheet because even pin-hole makes recurrence. For detect of the communicative portion, use of indigocarmin and examination of glucose concentration in the pleural effusion were effective.

Chlorinated persistent organic pollutants in black-tailed gulls (Larus crassirostris) from Hokkaido, Japan.

Concentrations and patterns of several chlorinated persistent organic pollutants (POPs) including polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and biphenyls (PCBs) and DDTs, HCHs, CHLs and HCB were determined in black-tailed gulls (Larus crassirostris) from breeding grounds in Hokkaido, Japan. Subcutaneous fat of five adult gulls was analyzed, which had different concentrations of target compounds, whereas gull eggs contained similar concentrations of target compounds. Similar congener profiles were found between adult gulls and eggs. The concentrations of non-ortho PCBs varied from 3.4 to 13.5 ng/g lipid weight (lw) in the fat of black-tailed gulls and from 2.4 to 7.4 ng/g lw in their eggs. 2,3,7,8-PCDD/Fs occurred at relatively lower concentrations than non-ortho PCB congeners in both adult gulls and eggs. The total TEQs (toxic equivalents, PCDD/Fs+ non-ortho PCB) ranged from 0.26 to 1.0 ng/g lw in adult gulls and ranged from 0.19 to 0.58 ng/g lw in eggs.

Accumulation profiles of persistent organochlorines in waterbirds from an estuary in Korea.

Persistent organochlorine pollutants (POPs), such as polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and organochlorine (OC) pesticides such as DDTs (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane), HCHs (hexachlorocyclohexane isomers), CHLs (chlordane compounds) and HCB (hexachlorobenzene), were measured in subcutaneous fat of resident and migratory birds collected from the Nakdong River estuary (NRE) in Korea. Black-tailed gull, a resident bird from the NRE, contained greater concentrations of PCDD/Fs and PCBs than the migratory birds collected in the estuary. For example, mean concentrations of PCDD/Fs in black-tailed gull (395.5 pg/g fat weight) were higher than those in migratory birds, such as greenshank (198.3 pg/g fat weight), common gull (90.9 pg/g fat weight) black-headed gull (84.2 pg/g fat weight), and common tern (47.1 pg/g fat weight). However, concentrations of DDTs and/or HCHs were great in some migratory species, such as little tern (mean DDT 6,200 ng/g fat weight) and black-necked grebe (HCHs 475 ng/g fat weight). This suggested that contamination of PCDD/Fs and PCBs in resident gulls are due to intake of locally contaminated fish near the NRE. Elevated OC pesticide levels in migratory birds indicated that these birds have been exposed to DDTs and HCHs during their migration in Southeast Asian countries where chlorinated pesticides are still used. 2,3,7,8-Tetrachloro dibenzo-p-dioxin equivalents (TEQs) were calculated using the toxic equivalency factors (TEFs) reported by World Health Organization in 1998. Four of the 2,3,7,8-substituted congeners of PCDD/Fs contributed over 90% of the TEQs.

Polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorine pesticides in soils from the southern part of Poland.

Surface soil and sediment samples collected from the cities of Kraków, Katowice, and Chorzow in 1993-94 were analyzed to determine the residual levels of persistent organochlorine pesticides (HCB, HCHs, DDTs, CHLs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Detection, identification, and quantification were made after a two-step clean-up and fractionation of sample extract with concentrated sulfuric acid and Florisil gel, followed by capillary gas chromatography with a 63Ni electron capture detector (GC-ECD) or a mass selective detector (GC-LRMS). The soil from the city of Katowice is relatively more polluted, mainly by PCBs but also by the other organochlorines. Both the soil in the cities of Kraków and Katowice are more polluted by organochlorines than soil from many other places in Poland. The residual concentrations of the organochlorines indicated nonexistence of the domestic sources of pollution by CHLs and elevated local contamination with PCBs. Sediment contained PCBs and CHLs in much higher concentrations than found in soil. In the case of DDTs, HCHs and HCB, the concentrations were of the same order of magnitude. Composition of DDT metabolites and of HCH isomers were investigated in detail.

[Polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorine pesticides in soils in Poland]. / Polichlorowane bifenyle i pestycydy chloroorganiczne w glebach w Polsce.

The concentrations of organochlorine pesticides such as DDTs, HCHs, CHLs, HCBz and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were determined in 59 soil samples collected in Poland in 1990-1994 to understand the scale of contamination, spatial distribution and sources of these compounds. Identification and quantification of organochlorines were carried out using HRGC-ECD (63Ni) and HRGC-LRMS. All soil samples were contaminated by DDTs, PCBs and HCHs, while HCBz and CHLs were absent in a few samples. DDTs dominated as organochlorine residues in Polish soil and on the concentration of other insecticides was two orders of magnitude lower. Percentage composition of DDTs (about 60% of p,p'-DDT) indicates a very slow metabolism of DDT in Polish soils. Spatial distribution of HCHs in Poland is similar to distribution of DDTs, while HCBz and CHLs are rather evenly distributed. PCBs concentrations in soil of the Former Soviet Union Army Base are 10 times higher then in urban soils, and 100 times higher then in cultivated and forests soils.

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), dibenzofurans (PCDFs), biphenyls (PCBs), and organochlorine pesticides in yellow-blotched map turtle from the Pascagoula River basin, Mississippi, USA.

Concentrations of polychlorinated-dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), -dibenzofurans (PCDFs), -biphenyls (PCBs), and organochlorine pesticides were measured in tissues of map turtles collected from two locations in the Pascagoula River drainage of Mississippi, USA. PCBs were most predominant among the organochlorines with a concentration of up to 99 ng/g, wet weight (580 ng/g, lipid weight) in livers. The greatest concentration of PCDDs/DFs of 1.1 pg/g, wet weight (15.76 pg/g, lipid weight) was found in the liver of a male turtle. The measured concentrations of organochlorines were less than those reported for turtles from the Great Lakes Basin and upper St. Lawrence River. PCBs contributed 90-99% of the total estimated 2, 3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin equivalents (TEQs). Particularly, PCB congeners 105, 118, and 156 accounted for 68-80% of the estimated toxic potency of PCBs in turtles.

The solution structures of calyculin A and dephosphonocalyculin A by NMR.

The NMR solution structure of calyculin A (1) in chloroform exhibits intramolecular interactions, resembling the original crystal structure. In methanol, calyculin A has the hydrogen bonding moieties solvent exposed. Dephosphonocalyculin A in chloroform resembles calyculin A in chloroform and the crystal structure of calyculin A. Dephosphonocalyculin A in methanol resembles calyculin A in methanol.

Octa- and nonaprenylhydroquinone sulfates, inhibitors of alpha1,3-fucosyltransferase VII, from an Australian marine sponge Sarcotragus sp.

Alpha1,3-fucosyltransferase (Fuc TVII) is a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of selectin ligands. We have isolated two inhibitors of Fuc TVII from a marine sponge Sarcotragus sp. They were characterized as octa- and nonaprenylhydroquinone sulfates on the basis of spectral data. These compounds inhibited Fuc-TVII with IC50 values of 3.9 and 2.4 microg/mL, respectively.

Organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans in human adipose tissue from western Kyungnam, Korea.

Hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs), dichlorodiphenyl trichloroethane and its metabolites (DDTs), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDDs/DFs) were determined in human adipose tissue samples collected from western Kyungnam, Korea. The residue levels of organochlorine compounds were in the order of DDTs followed by PCBs > HCHs > HCB > PCDDs/DFs. The mean concentrations of 2,3,7,8-TeCDD in male and female tissues were 2.8 and 1.7 pg.g-1 on lipid weight basis, respectively. No significant difference was found in the residue levels of PCDDs/DFs between sexes. In contrast, PCBs and DDTs showed a significant difference between sexes. Unlike the age trend observed for HCHs, PCBs and DDTs, PCDDs/DFs revealed a constant or rather decreasing pattern with increasing age. This is the first report on PCDDs/DFs contamination in human adipose tissue from Korea. Organochlorine concentrations in human adipose tissues from western Kyungnam were generally much lower than those of other countries.

Coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls in aroclor and kanechlor mixtures.

Three congeners of coplanar PCBs (non-o-o'-chlorine-substituted polychlorinated biphenyls) were determined in representative commercial PCB preparations. The 3,3',4,4'-tetrachlorobiphenyl was highest in Kanechlor 400 (8500 micrograms/g) and Aroclor 1248 (6060 micrograms/g) followed by Kanechlors 300, 500, and 600 and Aroclors 1242, 1254, and 1260 in that order. The toxic 3,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl and 3,3',4,4',5,5'-hexachlorobiphenyl were also detected in those mixtures. The highest concentrations of 3,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl were found in Kanechlor 400 (89.3 micrograms/g) and Aroclor 1248 (62.3 micrograms/g) followed by Kanechlors 500, 300, and 600 and Aroclors 1254, 1242, and 1260 in that order. The 3,3',4,4',5,5'-hexachlorobiphenyl was detected in all Kanechlor mixtures, with the highest concentration (1.16 micrograms/g) in Kanechlor 500. However, among Aroclor mixtures, it was detected only in Aroclor 1254 at a concentration of 0.66 micrograms/g. The importance of these toxic constituents in PCB mixtures is worth considering in view of widespread pollution of the environment by PCBs.

Method for the determination of three toxic non-ortho chlorine substituted coplanar PCBs in environmental samples at part-per-trillion levels.

A method has been devised combining alkali digestion, carbon chromatography and high-resolution gas chromatography for the determination of 3,3',4,4'-tetra, 3,3',4,4',5-penta, and 3,3',4,4',5,5'-hexachlorobiphenyl, the biologically active congeners of PCBs and approximate isostereomers of 2,3,7,8-TCDD. This method permits determinations of parts-per-trillion levels of these toxic residues in biological samples. Interference both from biogenic and from xenobiotic substances was reduced to extremely low levels. Using this method, 13.5 ng of 3,3'4,4'-tetrachlorobiphenyl/g, 0.89 ng of 3,3'4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl/g and 0.64 ng of 3,3',4,4'5,5'-hexachlorobiphenyl/g were detected on wet weight basis in the blubber of a finless porpoise. To our knowledge this is the first report on the three toxic non-ortho chlorine substituted PCB residues detected in a higher mammal in the wilderness.

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans in fly ash and cinders collected from several municipal incinerators in Japan.

Determination of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) in fly ash and cinders collected from nine municipal incinerators in Japan was made. The concentrations of PCDDs and PCDFs in this study were generally in the same range as those in Europe and North America. However, the rather different congener composition compared with those published already were found: higher percentages of lower chlorinated (di- and tri-) dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans and no or trace levels of the octachloro compounds, O8CDD and O8CDF. One possible explanation for this difference may be the higher incineration temperature in Japan. The same ranges of concentrations of PCDDs and PCDFs were found in cinders as well as fly ash. The volumes of the cinders are much larger than those of fly ash and therefore the fate and impact of PCDDs and PCDFs in dump sites of these cinders should be studied.

Solvent extraction-spectrophotometric determination of phosphate with molybdate and malachite green in river water and sea-water.

Molybdophosphate, formed between orthophosphate and molybdate in sulphuric acid solution, is extracted into a mixture of toluene and 4-methylpentan-2-one (1:3 v v ) with Malachite Green as counter-ion. A single extraction with equal phase volumes gives an apparent molar absorptivity for phosphate of 2.3 x 10(5) l.mole(-1).cm(-1) at 630 nm; the absorbance of the reagent blank is 0.03. With an organic to aqueous phase-volume ratio of 1:10, the molar absorptivity is 2.5 x 10(5) l.mole(-1).cm(-1) and the absorbance of the reagent blank 0.08. By the proposed method, ng ml levels of phosphorus can be determined, and the detection limit is about 0.1 ng ml . The standard deviation and relative standard deviation for the determination of phosphorus in tap water (4.3 ng ml ) are 0.05 ng ml and 1.1%, respectively. The method can also be applied to the determination of phosphorus in river water and sea-water.

Determination of trace amounts of phosphate in river water by flow-injection analysis.

A flow-injection analysis system for the determination of trace amounts of phosphate in river water has been developed. The phosphate is reacted with molybdate and Malachite Green in acidic medium to form a green species, the absorbance of which is measured at 650 nm. Phosphorus (as inorganic phosphate) can be determined at the level of several ng ml in water. Analyses can be done at a rate of up to 40 per hour.

Migration of plasticiser from haemodialysis blood tubing.

Di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) was found to migrate from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) blood tubing into human blood during both in vivo and in vitro haemodialysis. DEHP blood level increased during in vivo dialysis but decreased again toward the end of a six hour dialysis period. During in vitro haemodialysis of outdated human blood DEHP accumulated up to 5580 ppb. Although toxic effects have not yet been observed, we believe plastic tubing that does not contain extractable materials should be developed.

Migration of plasticizer from hemodialysis blood tubing. Preliminary report.

Di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate was found to be migrating from polyvinyl chloride blood tubing into human blood during hemodialysis in 16 patients with end-stage renal failure. Although toxic effects have not yet been observed, we believe plastic tubing that does not contain extractable materials should be developed.