Physiological and behavioral responses of stonefly nymphs to enhanced limestone treatment of acid mine drainage.

A new acid mine drainage (AMD) treatment system uses pulsed, fluidized beds of limestone, and carbon dioxide pretreatment of influent AMD, to enhance limestone neutralization of AMD. We conducted laboratory studies to evaluate the behavior and physiology of larval stoneflies (Pteronarcys proteus, Plecoptera) exposed to effluents produced by the treatment system. Survival, sodium balance, drift, and feeding responses by P. proteus to treated and untreated AMD were examined. P. proteus nymphs exhibited significant losses of whole body sodium in exposures to untreated AMD. Nymphs exposed to treated effluents experienced no loss of whole-body sodium. Nymphs exposed to untreated AMD showed elevated drift rates and depressed feeding rates relative to those of nymphs exposed to treated AMD, and to AMD-free controls. No significant differences in feeding or drift behavior occurred between nymphs exposed to treated effluents and those exposed to AMD-free controls. The treatment system, with and without CO2 pretreatment, provided water that was not toxic to the test animals, and that allowed normal behavioral and physiological function.

The quantity and quality of medical information available to the public.

This study was designed to assess medical information available to the public. This study included three components -- a telephone survey, a patient quiz and a quantitative study of medical topics in popular magazines. The study was conducted in a community of about 16,000 people. Our results suggest that physicians are the most trusted source of medical information and that the majority of the public would like more medical information provided by physicians; that more public awareness is needed in such selected areas as childhood poisoning, the prevention of falls, and breast cancer detection; and that 28% of the magazine covers surveyed dealt with health/medical issues.

Local anesthesia for soft-tissue surgery.

The use of local anesthetics in soft-tissue facial surgery can be safe, efficient, economical, and convenient. Understanding these agents and using them with proficiency allows the surgeon to perform a variety of operative procedures with minimal anesthetic morbidity on patients who are relaxed, comfortable, and insensitive to pain.