Urban parks provide ecosystem services by retaining metals and nutrients in soils.

Urban greenspaces provide ecosystem services like more natural ecosystems do. For instance, vegetation modifies soil properties, including pH and soil organic matter content, yet little is known about its effect on metals. We investigated whether the accumulation and mobility of heavy metals, nutrients and carbon is affected by plant functional types (evergreen or deciduous trees, lawns) in urban parks of varying ages in southern Finland. Plant types modified soil physico-chemical parameters differently, resulting in diverging accumulation and mobility of metals and other elements in park soils. However, the effects of plant functional type depended on park age: lawns in parks of ca. 50 y old had the highest contents of Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, and Zn, and in these, and older parks (>100 y old), contents of most metals were lowest under evergreen trees. The mobility of metals and other elements was influenced by the amount of water leached through the soils, highlighting the importance of vegetation on hydrology. Soils under evergreen trees in young parks and lawns in intermediately-aged parks were most permeable to water, and thus had high loads of Ca, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, tot-P and tot-N. The loads/concentrations of elements in the leachates was not clearly reflected by their content/concentration in the soil, alluding to the storage capacity of these elements in urban park soils. Our results suggest that in urban systems with a high proportion of impermeable surfaces, park soil has the potential to store nutrients and metals and provide an important ecosystem service particularly in polluted cities.

Scrotal Involvement with Testicular Nonseminomatous Germ Cell Tumour.

A 37-year-old male presented with a traumatic injury to the scrotal region necessitating emergency surgery. Evacuation of a haematoma and bilateral orchidectomy were performed. A left sided nonseminomatous germ cell tumour (NSGCT), predominantly yolk sac, was identified. Microscopic margins were positive for tumour. Initial tumour markers revealed an AFP of 22,854 ng/mL, HCG of <1 mIU/mL, and LDH of 463 IU/L. Eight weeks after surgery, AFP levels remained elevated at 11,646 ng/mL. Computed tomography (CT) scanning demonstrated left inguinal adenopathy, 1.5 cm in max dimension. On review, extensive evidence of scrotal involvement was evident. His tumour was staged as stage IIIC, poor risk NSGCT. He was treated with 4 cycles of bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin over a 12-week period. His tumour markers normalised after 3 cycles. There was a marked improvement noted clinically. Follow-up CT scans demonstrated complete resolution of his tumour. He later underwent further surgery to remove a small amount of remaining spermatic cord. Histology revealed no malignant tissue. The patient suffered many complications including testosterone deficiency, osteopenia, infertility, and psychological distress. Discussion. A small proportion of testicular cancer may present in an atypical manner. The scrotum and testicle have markedly different embryonic origins and therefore a distinct anatomic separation. As a result the scrotum is not a typical site of spread of testicular cancer. Case reports have been described that were managed in a similar manner with good outcomes. Therefore, even with significant scrotal involvement, if timely and appropriate treatment is administered, complete resolution of the tumour may be achieved.

Dysregulated STAT1-SOCS1 control of JAK2 promotes mammary luminal progenitor cell survival and drives ERα(+) tumorigenesis.

We previously reported that STAT1 expression is frequently abrogated in human estrogen receptor-α-positive (ERα(+)) breast cancers and mice lacking STAT1 spontaneously develop ERα(+) mammary tumors. However, the precise mechanism by which STAT1 suppresses mammary gland tumorigenesis has not been fully elucidated. Here we show that STAT1-deficient mammary epithelial cells (MECs) display persistent prolactin receptor (PrlR) signaling, resulting in activation of JAK2, STAT3 and STAT5A/5B, expansion of CD61(+) luminal progenitor cells and development of ERα(+) mammary tumors. A failure to upregulate SOCS1, a STAT1-induced inhibitor of JAK2, leads to unopposed oncogenic PrlR signaling in STAT1(-/-) MECs. Prophylactic use of a pharmacological JAK2 inhibitor restrains the proportion of luminal progenitors and prevents disease induction. Systemic inhibition of activated JAK2 induces tumor cell death and produces therapeutic regression of pre-existing endocrine-sensitive and refractory mammary tumors. Thus, STAT1 suppresses tumor formation in mammary glands by preventing the natural developmental function of a growth factor signaling pathway from becoming pro-oncogenic. In addition, targeted inhibition of JAK2 may have significant therapeutic potential in controlling ERα(+) breast cancer in humans.

Neuro-ophthalmological Complications of Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyradiculoneuropathy.

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) can lead to prominent nerve hypertrophy, which can mimic other forms of neuropathy radiologically. Neuro-ophthalmological complications can also occur in CIDP, either at presentation or chronically in the disorder. This can also cause diagnostic difficulties. We report three cases of neuro-ophthalmological complications of CIDP: two cases of papilloedema and one case of proptosis. In all three cases cranial nerve hypertrophy was present. CIDP should be considered in neuro-ophthalmological presentations associated with cranial/spinal nerve root hypertrophy.

Fine-scale population genetic structure and sex-biased dispersal in the smooth snake (Coronella austriaca) in southern England.

Human-induced alteration of natural habitats has the potential to impact on the genetic structuring of remnant populations at multiple spatial scales. Species from higher trophic levels, such as snakes, are expected to be particularly susceptible to land-use changes. We examined fine-scale population structure and looked for evidence of sex-biased dispersal in smooth snakes (Coronella austriaca), sampled from 10 heathland localities situated within a managed coniferous forest in Dorset, United Kingdom. Despite the limited distances between heathland areas (maximum <6 km), there was a small but significant structuring of populations based on eight microsatellite loci. This followed an isolation-by-distance model using both straight line and 'biological' distances between sampling sites, suggesting C. austriaca's low vagility as the causal factor, rather than closed canopy conifer forest exerting an effect as a barrier to dispersal. Within population comparisons of male and female snakes showed evidence for sex-biased dispersal, with three of four analyses finding significantly higher dispersal in males than in females. We suggest that the fine-scale spatial genetic structuring and sex-biased dispersal have important implications for the conservation of C. austriaca, and highlight the value of heathland areas within commercial conifer plantations with regards to their future management.

Schizophrenia risk gene CAV1 is both pro-psychotic and required for atypical antipsychotic drug actions in vivo.

Caveolin-1 (Cav-1) is a scaffolding protein important for regulating receptor signaling cascades by partitioning signaling molecules into membrane microdomains. Disruption of the CAV1 gene has recently been identified as a rare structural variant associated with schizophrenia. Although Cav-1 knockout (KO) mice displayed no baseline behavioral disruptions, Cav-1 KO mice, similar to schizophrenic individuals, exhibited increased sensitivity to the psychotomimetic N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist phencyclidine (PCP). Thus, PCP disruption of prepulse inhibition (PPI) and PCP-induced mouse locomotor activity were both enhanced by genetic deletion of Cav-1. Interestingly, genetic deletion of Cav-1 rendered the atypical antipsychotics clozapine and olanzapine and the 5-HT(2A)-selective antagonist M100907 ineffective at normalizing PCP-induced disruption of PPI. We also discovered that genetic deletion of Cav-1 attenuated 5-HT(2A)-induced c-Fos and egr-1 expression in mouse frontal cortex and also reduced 5-HT(2A)-mediated Ca(2+) mobilization in primary cortical neuronal cultures. The behavioral effects of the 5-HT(2A) agonist (2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine) including head twitch responses and disruption of PPI were also attenuated by genetic deletion of Cav-1, indicating that Cav-1 is required for both inverse agonist (that is, atypical antipsychotic drug) and agonist actions at 5-HT(2A) receptors. This study demonstrates that disruption of the CAV1 gene--a rare structural variant associated with schizophrenia--is not only pro-psychotic but also attenuates atypical antipsychotic drug actions.

Workers' exposure to dust, endotoxin and ß-(1-3) glucan at four large-scale composting facilities.

OBJECTIVES: To characterise compost workers' exposure to dust, endotoxin and ß-(1-3) glucan during various operational practices and investigate whether dust concentrations are a useful indicator of endotoxin exposure in compost workers. METHODS: This study assessed inhalable dust fractions, bacterial endotoxin and ß-(1-3) glucan in 117 personal samples and 88 ambient samples from four large-scale composting facilities. RESULTS: Employees' exposures to inhalable dust, endotoxin and ß-(1-3) glucan exhibited a large range. Inhalable dust was found to be generally low (GM 0.99 mg/m(3), GSD 2.99 mg/m(3)). Analysis of the biological component of the dust showed that employees' exposures to endotoxin were elevated (GM 35.10 EU/m(3), GSD 9.97 EU/m(3)). Employees' exposure to ß-(1-3) glucan was low (GM 0.98 ng/m(3), GSD 13.39 ng/m(3)). Dust levels were elevated during manual sorting and screening of waste and high levels of endotoxin and ß-(1-3) glucan were observed during all practices involving the movement of waste. A significant correlation was observed between the personal dust levels and personal endotoxin concentrations (r=0.783, p<0.05) and that personal inhalable dust concentration may be a valuable predictor for personal endotoxin concentration in the sites studied. CONCLUSIONS: Workers at composting sites are exposed to high levels of bacterial endotoxin consistent with adverse respiratory outcomes even though in most cases, their personal dust exposure is below the suggested regulatory levels. Dose-response data for the biological components present in the dust encountered at composting sites are not well established at this time and site operators should adopt precautionary measures when assessing and managing these potential risks.

What's new in...obstetrics and gynaecology.

This article outlines some recent advances in both obstetrics and gynaecology. In obstetrics, the new screening tests for Down's syndrome and the introduction of computer analysis of the fetal ECG are discussed. Cervical screening and the role of human papilloma virus detection is examined and advances in the non-surgical management of menorrhaghia and improvements in the management of urinary stress incontinence are also reviewed.

Incomplete sexual isolation in sympatry between subspecies of the butterfly Danaus chrysippus (L.) and the creation of a hybrid zone.

Subspecies chrysippus, dorippus and alcippus of the butterfly Danaus chrysippus differ at three biallelic colour gene loci. They have partially vicariant distributions, but their ranges overlap over a substantial part of central and East Africa, where hybridism is commonplace. We now report that the West African subspecies alcippus differs from other subspecies, not only in nuclear genotype but also in mitochondrial haplotype in both allopatry and sympatry. The maintenance of concordant nuclear and cytoplasmic genetic differences in sympatry, and in the face of hybridisation, is prima facie evidence for sexual isolation. Other evidence that suggests alcippus may be isolated from chrysippus and dorippus include differences in sex ratio (SR), heterozygote deficiency at one site and deduced differences in patterns of migration. We suggest that, within the hybrid zone, differential infection of subspecies by a male-killing Spiroplasma bacterium causes SR differences that restrict female choice, triggering rounds of heterotypic mating and consequent heterozygote excess that is largely confined to females. The absence of these phenomena from hybrid populations that test negative for Spiroplasma supports the hypothesis. The incomplete sexual isolation and partial vicariance of alcippus suggests that it is a nascent species.

Use of questionnaire screening for vibration white finger in a high risk industrial population.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the results of questionnaire screening with those of objective testing in the identification of vibration white finger (VWF) in a high risk population. METHODS: Three groups of men (79 riveters, 52 healthy controls and 79 compensation claimants) were assessed for VWF by a detailed questionnaire covering occupational and general medical history and incorporating specific questions related to the presence or absence of relevant symptoms in their hands. Each then underwent provocative cold testing under controlled conditions using established protocols. The presence or absence of digital vasospasm following cooling was determined by finger systolic pressure measurements using laser Doppler flowmetry. The test protocols used have been evaluated in patients with a clear clinical diagnosis of non-occupational Raynaud's syndrome. RESULTS: 6.3% of the riveters and 83.5% of the claimants reported specific Raynaud's syndrome symptoms but 30.4% of the riveters and only 19% of the claimants tested positive for vasospasm after middle phalangeal cooling to 10 degrees C for 5 min. Using a more severe cooling protocol provoked vasospasm in 46.8% of the claimants. Lack of sensitivity or specificity of the objective testing could not explain the large discrepancies between the findings in the riveters and in the claimants. CONCLUSIONS: Questionnaire responses concerning VWF symptoms can be influenced by the context in which they are recorded. It is important to employ more objective methods in assessing all workers at risk of developing VWF.

Digital vascular responses and serum endothelin-1 concentrations in primary and secondary Raynaud's phenomenon.

OBJECTIVE: To determine circulating endothelin-1 levels (ET-1) in patients with primary or secondary associated Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) under resting conditions and in response to cold provocation. METHODS: Patients were categorised as primary RP (18) or scleroderma associated RP (14). Finger blood flow was measured by venous occlusion plethysmography at finger temperatures of 32 degrees C and 24 degrees C. Vasospasm was detected as a finger systolic pressure of 0 mm Hg after standardised provocative cooling. Severity of vasospasm was assessed by the level of cooling required to provoke spasm. Plasma ET-1 levels were measured in antecubital blood withdrawn under baseline conditions (finger 32 degrees C) and at the point of vasospasm. Measurements were also made in 19 matched control subjects. RESULTS: Finger blood flow was lower in patients with RP than in controls, with no difference between the two RP groups. Vasospasm occurred in all patients with RP but not in any control subjects and a grading system of severity was established. Baseline plasma ET-1 levels were similar in patients with RP and controls. Increases in ET-1 levels at the point of vasospasm in patients or corresponding timepoint in controls were also similar. There was no significant difference between the ET-1 levels in the two RP subgroups when the fingers were warm or when vasospasm was present. CONCLUSIONS: These results do not support the hypothesis that ET-1 plays a part in the pathogenesis of RP. Objective testing is a useful adjunct to the clinical diagnosis of RP and allows assignment of a severity grade.

The influence of density on frequency-dependent food selection: a comparison of four experiments with wild birds.

We compare the results of four experiments, conducted at different times and with different protocols, that explored the relationship between frequency-dependent selection and prey density in wild birds feeding on artificial populations of coloured baits. One (experiment 4) used pastry baits that differed only in the presence or absence of a red stripe, and this experiment provided no evidence for any kind of selective behaviour. The other three experiments used green and brown baits, and they all provided evidence for a trend towards increasing anti-apostatic selection with high densities (>100 baits m-2). However, one of these (experiment 3) provided no evidence for frequency-dependent selection at low densities (0.5-20 baits m-2), while the other two experiments concurred in suggesting a trend towards increasing apostatic selection with low densities (down to 2 baits m-2). Together, these experiments both support and qualify the published findings of experiment 1 that frequency- dependent selection by wild birds on bait populations is modified by density. Experiment 4 indicates that frequency-dependent selection may break down entirely if bait types are too similar, while experiment 3 indicates that some details of this trend with density will depend either on the protocol used or on exogenous changes in the birds' feeding behaviour.

Unemployment, depression, and health: a look at the African-American community.

OBJECTIVES: While the unemployment rate of African-American people is more than twice that of the white population, the research on the impact of unemployment on the health of this population is scarce. This study analysed the impact of unemployment on depression and well being among African-American people, and the factors associated with well being. METHODS: Logistic and multiple regression models were used to analyse panel data collected in the National Survey of Families and Households 1987-1992. African-American (1369) and white (6660) respondents were analysed separately. Outcome variables included an index of depression and self reported health status. MAIN FINDINGS: Differences between employment and unemployment groups were less significant for African-Americans than for the white population in predicting depression and well being. Health enhancing factors such as education and wealth were significantly associated with better health and lower depression indices among the white population but not consistently so among African-Americans. Satisfaction with personal relationships was the strongest predictor of well being for both groups. CONCLUSION: Research should focus on the special needs and circumstances of African-Americans, because protective factors may not have the same impact in different groups of the population.

Autonomic function in patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate sympathetic function in the peripheries of patients on chronic ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) using noninvasive techniques. DESIGN: Comparison of peripheral blood flow responses in sympathetic vasoconstrictor reflexes in CAPD patients and matched control subjects. SETTING: Tertiary care hospital and research institution. PATIENTS: Twenty-three clinically stable CAPD patients and 23 control subjects matched for age, sex, and drug therapy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Sympathetic activity assessed from the reductions in hand and foot blood flow induced by a deep breath and by body surface cooling. Cardiac autonomic activity measured by the changes in heart rate produced by deep breathing, a Valsalva maneuver, and standing from lying. RESULTS: A deep breath induced mean decreases in hand blood flow of 65.1% in the patients and 82.8% in their matched controls. Corresponding reductions in the foot were 46.0% and 70.0%. Body surface cooling reduced mean hand blood flow by 50.3% in the patients and 71.8% in the control subjects. Corresponding values in the foot were 26.7% and 43.6%. The differences in response between the patients and their matched control subjects were all significant (p < 0.01). Cardiac autonomic function assessed by standard tests of heart rate variability was significantly impaired in the patients compared with the control subjects in two of the three tests used (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Cardiovascular autonomic impairment can affect the peripheral circulation as well as the heart in patients on dialysis, and this may have implications for cardiovascular homeostasis.

Acute effects of vibration on peripheral blood flow in healthy subjects.

OBJECTIVES: The main objective was to study the acute vascular effects in the hands of normal healthy subjects of a complex vibration spectrum similar to that generated by many industrial hand held tools. The effects of repeated bouts of vibrations and alterations in the intensity of vibration were also studied. METHODS: Blood flow was measured by venous occlusion plethysmography with strain gauges. Vibration across a frequency range of 0.4 to > 4000 Hz was generated by a pneumatic chisel and applied to the right hand. Blood flow was measured in both middle fingers, both big toes, or both forearms before, during, and after a two minute period of vibration. Systolic pressure of a finger and heart rate were also measured. RESULTS: Vibration was associated with a significant bilateral reduction in finger and toe blood flow (P < 0.01 and P < 0.03) and a significant increase in heart rate (P < 0.05) but had no effect on forearm blood flow. The finger response was not abolished by repeated bouts of the vibration but was initially most notable during the first minute of vibration. Increasing the intensity of vibration delayed recovery. CONCLUSIONS: Hand vibration causes a generalised increase in sympathetic tone in the heart and extremities. This may be a factor in the development of vasospastic disease in habitual users of hand held industrial vibrating tools.

Hydrostatic pressure has different effects on the assembly of tubulin, actin, myosin II, vinculin, talin, vimentin, and cytokeratin in mammalian tissue cells.

Hydrostatic pressures in the range of hundreds of atmospheres are known to disrupt cytoskeletal organization in tissue culture cells, with profound changes in cell shape. The molecular mechanisms of these effects are poorly understood. To determine the effect of pressure on the cytoskeleton, and thus to provide better indicators of the molecular mechanisms, we used fluorescent antibody staining to compare the organizations of seven different cytoskeletal proteins in HeLa cells and rat osteosarcoma cells (ROS-17/2.8) subjected to different pressures up to 400 atm. Pressures of 300 atm or more caused cells of both lines to "round up" and to withdraw their lamellar extensions. However, this response varied within a population of cells, with some cells remaining spread at pressures that caused their neighbors to round up. The most resistant to rounding were those cells touching other cells, and the occasional giant cells. As expected, the rounded cells showed disruption of actin stress fibers and of vinculin and talin at focal contacts. The unrounded cells showed less disruption in the organization of these same proteins. Microtubules and myosin II filaments appeared resistant to 400 atm pressure in both cell types, whether rounded or unrounded. However, in HeLa cells, the intermediate filaments, vimentin and cytokeratin, depolymerized and formed small vesicles when pressures exceeded 200 atm, and this occurred in rounded as well as unrounded cells. In osteosarcoma cells, which do not have cytokeratin, vimentin did not depolymerize. We discuss different mechanisms that might explain these responses to pressure, including direct effects on the equilibria of protein polymerization and less direct effects on regulatory mechanisms, such as phosphorylation pathways, that control cytoskeletal organization. The later type of explanation seems more consistent with both the variability of response within cell populations and the difference in vimentin's response in one cell line compared with the other.

Genotoxicity testing of pidotimod in vitro and in vivo.

The mutagenic potential of pidotimod ((R)-3-[(S)-(5-oxo-2- pyrrolidinyl)carbonyl]-thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid, PGT/1A, CAS 121808-62-6) was assessed in a series of five assays designed to measure gene mutation, chromosomal damage and primary DNA damage. All tests were carried out in accordance with appropriate EEC and OECD Guidelines. No indications of mutagenic potential were observed in any of the assays.

Peripheral autonomic impairment in patients newly diagnosed with type II diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: To measure both peripheral and central autonomic function in patients newly diagnosed with type II diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Measurements were made on 49 diabetic patients (8 with long-standing diabetes and neuropathic complications, 41 with newly diagnosed type II diabetes) and on 49 healthy, age- and sex-matched, control subjects. Five of the 41 newly diagnosed type II diabetic patients had retinopathy, and 4 had clinical evidence of neuropathy. No patient or control subject had significant vascular disease. Cardiac autonomic function was investigated by using standard cardiovascular reflex tests. The digital vasoconstrictor responses to deep breathing and body cooling were measured using venous occlusion plethysmography. RESULTS: The vasoconstrictor responses to a deep breath and body cooling were significantly reduced (P < 0.001) in the fingers and toes of the neuropathic patients compared with their matched control subjects, as were the heart rate responses (P < 0.02). The vasoconstrictor responses were significantly reduced in the toes (P < 0.001) and fingers (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) of the newly diagnosed patients compared with the corresponding responses in the control subjects. There was no significant difference in the heart rate or blood pressure responses of these patients and control subjects during standard tests of cardiac autonomic function. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with type II diabetes may have impaired peripheral autonomic function at diagnosis.

Vascular responses in chain saw operators.

The intensive use of chain saws is associated with development of the hand-arm vibration syndrome (vibration white finger). Objective testing for cold induced vasospasm was carried out on the fingers of 12 chain saw operators and 12 matched control men from a similar working environment. Two of the chain saw operators tested positive for vasospasm in the laboratory and another three had an abnormal result. All of the control subjects tested negative. Measurements of finger blood flow at different temperatures and during vibration of the hand were similar in the chain saw operators and controls. Use of the chain saw did not cause significant alterations in the plasma concentrations of von Willebrand factor antigen in either the long or the short term.