Irrigation and phosphorous fertilization management to minimize rice grain arsenic content.

This research sought to minimize inorganic arsenic levels in polished rice grain by using different irrigation and phosphorous fertilization practices while also maintaining crop yield and water productivity. Two experiments were conducted during seasons 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 using a split-plot design with three blocks, five irrigation treatments (main-plots) and two phosphorous levels (sub-plots). Irrigation treatments consisted of a traditional continuous flood (CF) control and four alternatives irrigation techniques with one or two drying events during the irrigation cycle. The phosphorous fertilization levels investigated were an unfertilized control (0 kg P2O5 ha-1) and the recommended fertilization level of 50 kg P2O5 ha-1. Soil pH and redox potentials were measured in each treatment. Strategically-timed, low severity drying events were effective at achieving aerobic soil conditions, resulting in Eh values over 50 mV. The alternative irrigation treatment with two drying events, implemented at panicle initiation and full flowering, was the most effective in reducing inorganic arsenic in grain without affecting grain yield or the amount of irrigation water applied. This irrigation technique could be considered as an alternative management to the traditional continuous flooded to reach minimal inorganic arsenic accumulation in grain in order to attend special quality standards or specific market requirements. Accumulated inorganic arsenic in grain was below international maximum levels in all analyzed samples, with an average value of 0.084 mg kg-1.

Regional variability of arsenic content in Uruguayan polished rice.

Characterization of the country internal variability of arsenic (As) accumulation in rice grain across different rice production regions is very important in order to analyze its compliance with international and regional limits. A robust sampling study scheme (n = 150 samples) was performed to determine total arsenic (tAs) and inorganic (iAs) levels from polished rice grain covering all rice producing regions along two growing seasons. The mean and median concentration of tAs were 0.178 mg kg-1 and 0.147 mg kg-1, with a minimum and maximum value of 0.015 mg kg-1 and 0.629 mg kg-1, respectively and a coefficient of variation of 63.6%. The mean and median concentration of iAs were 0.062 mg kg-1 and 0.055 mg kg-1 respectively ranging from 0.005 mg kg-1 up to a maximum of 0.195 mg kg-1 and a coefficient of variation of 51.5%. A moderate correlation was revealed within iAs and tAs. Levels of iAs in all of the samples were below the international limits of 0.2 mg kg-1 according to the international limits for human health by the Codex Alimentarius (FAO and WHO, 2019). Rice fields cultivated on soils originated from igneous geological material reported lower arsenic levels accumulated in rice grain in relation to sedimentary soils. Japonica cultivars presented significantly lower tAs and iAs concentrations than Indica ones (p = 0.0121 and p < 0.0001; respectively). Consumption of rice by male and female adults in Uruguay is safe according to its level of annual consumption and based on the mean iAs levels determined in this study.

[Study of the deadlines for the use after sterilization of hot-sealable bags and sheaths]. / Étude des dates limites d'utilisation après stérilisation des sachets et gaines thermoscellables.

INTRODUCTION: The choice of packaging is crucial for the sterility of a reusable medical device. The use-by dates for sterile barrier systems (SBSs) are currently determined solely on the basis of an empirical rating scale developed in 1985. The objective of our work is to validate in a scientific way this deadline for the use of SBS for heat-sealable sleeves and bags, with protective packaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty SBSs were tested after different storage periods ; six, nine and twelve months. They contained five different types of medical devices, followed the different sterilization steps and were stored in the operating room. The SBSs have or have not been folded in order to analyze this practice in our unit as well. Various tests were carried out on the paper side of the SBS, the plastic side and the welds. RESULTS: After 6 months of storage, SBS are still sterile. After 9 and 12 months, the results are more moderate. Folding the SBS will affect the weld, regardless of the storage time. DISCUSSION: This study allowed us to extend all our expiration dates up to 6 months, to stop the habit of folding the SBS and to become aware of the importance of having a size of SBS adapted to the different devices to be packaged and lastly, to protect the ends. CONCLUSION: Each sterilization unit must carry out its own study and risk analysis because the determination of shelf life periods depends on many factors.

Adrenal involvement in MEN1. Analysis of 715 cases from the Groupe d'etude des Tumeurs Endocrines database.

OBJECTIVE: Limited data regarding adrenal involvement in multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) is available. We describe the characteristics of MEN1-associated adrenal lesions in a large cohort to provide a rationale for their management. METHODS: Analysis of records from 715 MEN1 patients from a multicentre database between 1956 and 2008. Adrenal lesions were compared with those from a multicentre cohort of 144 patients with adrenal sporadic incidentalomas. RESULTS: Adrenal enlargement was reported in 20.4% (146/715) of patients. Adrenal tumours (>10 mm in size) accounted for 58.1% of these cases (10.1% of the whole patient cohort). Tumours were bilateral and >40 mm in size in 12.5 and 19.4% of cases respectively. Hormonal hypersecretion was restricted to patients with tumours and occurred in 15.3% of them. Compared with incidentalomas, MEN1-related tumours exhibited more cases of primary hyperaldosteronism, fewer pheochromocytomas and more adrenocortical carcinomas (ACCs; 13.8 vs 1.3%). Ten ACCs occurred in eight patients. Interestingly, ACCs occurred after several years of follow-up of small adrenal tumours in two of the eight affected patients. Nine of the ten ACCs were classified as stage I or II according to the European Network for the Study of Adrenal Tumors. No evident genotype/phenotype correlation was found for the occurrence of adrenal lesions, endocrine hypersecretion or ACC. CONCLUSIONS: Adrenal pathology in MEN1 differs from that observed in sporadic incidentalomas. In the absence of relevant symptoms, endocrine biology can be restricted to patients with adrenal tumours and should focus on steroid secretion including the aldosterone-renin system. MEN1 is a high-risk condition for the occurrence of ACCs. It should be considered regardless of the size of the tumour.

[Transurethral resection in prostate cancer, a radical procedure. Experience with 1017 cases]. / Resección transuretral en cáncer de próstata, un procedimiento radical. Experiencia con 1017 casos.

OBJECTIVES: From the beginning of TUR in 1931 the reseccionists thought of resecting prostate cancer. Execution however failed for deficient instruments and techniques. The first transurethral resection for prostate cancer: TURPC--was performed at our institution in 1957 by Hans J. Reuter. Low pressure irrigation enabled safe transurethral resection of the prostate including the capsule. Thus we started in 1985 a prospective study to verify TURPC as a radical procedure. METHOD: TURPC requires continuous low pressure irrigation with irrigating reservoir fixed at the operating table. The liquid level within is to maintain less than 20 cm. water above the pubic region in lithotomy position. Continuous flow is maintained by suprapubic trocar and a resectoscope with 28Fr. sheath. An autoregulated electro-surgical unit is indispensable. It automatically adjusts the high-frequency current to suit the cut tissue's electrical resistance for precise cutting. Videomonitoring is mandatory. The prostate is resected completely with its capsule into periprostatic fat together with the seminal vesicles. The specimen is retrieved in fractions to guarantee correct histopathological staging. If indicated laparoscopic staging lymphadenectomy is performed. A secondary session for control of positive margins follows after 12 weeks. RESULTS: From 1985-2004 1,017 patients with a mean age of 68.9 years and with clinically localized prostate cancer were resected by 5 surgeons with curative intention. The cancer stage distribution was in %: T1: 12, T2: 43, T3: 41, T4: 4.--G1: 8, G2: 72, G3: 20. Mortality 1 out of 1,017. Bladder neck incision 8.9%. Incontinence grade 3: none. Postoperative survival over 10 years was 82% in T1, 87% in T2, 81% in T3 and 34% in T4 patients. Biochemical recurrence as of the rise of three consecutive PSA-values was within 5 years 15% in T1, 19% in T2, 27% in T3. CONCLUSIONS: Considering our results we conclude that prostate cancer can be resected transurethrally as radical as with open surgery. The outcome as to survival and PSA-recurrence is comparable, the incontinence rate is less then with open surgery. It is mandatory to have low pressure irrigation with suprapubic trocar, 28Fr. sheath and on autoregulated electrosurgical unit, video monitoring and a well experienced reseccionist.

Sensation seeking as a common factor in opioid dependent subjects and high risk sport practicing subjects. A cross sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: Animal research has outlined a vulnerability trait to drug dependence like behavior. The behavioral characteristic of this vulnerability is hyperactivity in response to a novel environment of which sensation seeking (SS) has been suggested as a possible equivalent in humans. If this is the case, SS should be more frequent in drug dependent and risky sports practicing subjects then controls. The objective of this study was to determine if opioid dependent subjects (ODS) and regular paragliders (RP) would be more SS then normal controls. DESIGN: Cross sectional study. PARTICIPANTS: Three groups of 34 individuals (total 102) matched for age and sex were selected from ODS seeking treatment, a paragliding club, and a college staff. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Global and sub-scores of the Zuckerman sensation seeking scale (SSS). RESULTS: Non parametric statistics (Kruskal Wallis and Wilcoxon 2-Sample Tests) were used given the non-normal distribution of SSS scores in the ODS and RP groups. Significant differences were found across the three groups for the Thrill and Adventure Seeking (TAS) (P = 0.001), dishinibition (Dis) (P = 0.0003) and total score (P = 0.001). ODS and RP scored significantly higher than controls on two (Dis and the TAS scales). RP also scored significantly higher on the Boredom Susceptibility (BS) scale (P = 0.04). CONCLUSION: Our results show that RP and ODS differ from controls and have some similarities based on the SSS. In this study, the ODS and the RP could express different forms of a general tendency to seek intense and abrupt sensations through various behaviors. Our results in humans are in favor of the hypothesis that the behavioral trait of vulnerability to drug dependence behavior is expressed through SS.

Preparation and characterization of nanoparticles containing an antihypertensive agent.

Isradipine, an antihypertensive agent, was encapsulated by the nanoprecipitation method using polymers including poly(epsilon-caprolactone), poly(D,L-lactide) and poly(d, L-lactide-co-glycolide). In vitro scanning electron microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry were used to characterize the nanoparticles. The average diameters of the nanoparticles ranged from 110 nm to 208 nm. PCL nanoparticles were larger than nanoparticles prepared with the other polymers. The zeta potential of the nanoparticles was negative, with values of about -25 mV which promoted good stabilization of the particles. The amorphous state of PLA and PLAGA non-loaded nanoparticles and the semi-crystalline state of PCL were demonstrated with X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry. For all nanoparticles, isradipine was found to be totally amorphous in the polymer which suggested that the drug was molecularly dispersed in the matrix. The colloidal suspensions displayed a sustained release profile in comparison with the drug release profile of isradipine in a PEG solution. Results from this investigation suggest that these nanospheres will be a good candidate delivery system for oral administration, to reduce the initial hypotensive peak and to prolong the antihypertensive effect of the drug.

[The decrease in thyroid hormones in CAPD is not explained either by iodine saturation or by dialysate loss]. / La diminution des hormones thyroïdiennes en DPCA ne s'explique ni par la saturation iodée ni par la perte dans le dialysat.

Total T4, total T3 and TSH were measured in blood, urine and dialysate of 13 patients on CAPD. Iodine was measured in blood and urine. Free T4 and T3 were measured in blood only. Serum measurements revealed one true hypothyroidism, normal total T4, T3 and TSH for 12 patients, low free T4 and T3 with normal TSH for 9 patients. Iodine was slightly elevated for 3 patients. Urinary T4 and T3 were low. Dialysate T4 and T3 were low (T4 = 13, 6 nmol/24 H). Low free thyroid hormones are not relevant to iodine excess, nor to dialysate losses. Low free thyroid hormones may be considered as an endocrine dysfunction of chronic illnesses.

[Hypertensive type I diabetics have a higher level of microalbuminuria than normotensives irrespective of blood glucose equilibrium]. / Les diabétiques type I hypertendus ont une microalbuminurie plus élevée que les normotendus indépendamment de l'équilibre glycémique.

Micro-albuminuria, glycosylated haemoglobin and creatinine clearance were measured in 28 insulin dependent and 8 insulin requiring diabetic patients (17 males aged 45 +/- 14.4 and 19 females aged 40 +/- 17 years). Twelve had retinopathy and six had high blood pressure. There was no statistical difference of duration of diabetes, creatinine clearance and glycosylated haemoglobin between patients with normal microalbuminuria and patients with hyper microalbuminuria. There was no correlation between glycosylated haemoglobin and micro-albuminuria, between creatinine clearance and micro-albuminuria, and between creatinine clearance and glycosylated haemoglobin. Patients with retinopathy did not have significantly higher levels of micro-albuminuria. Hypertensive patients had a significantly higher micro-albuminuria (p = 0.03, m = 45.10 +/- 56) compared with normotensive patients (m = 15.49 +/- 17.54). Glycosylated haemoglobin did not differ whether patients were normo or hypertensive. Hypertensive patients were significantly older (p = 0.01) than normotensive. The lack of difference in glycemic control between normo and hypertensive diabetics suggests that diabetes and hypertension are two independent cumulative risk factors of micro-albuminuria. Hypermicro-albuminuria may be secondary to microangiopathy in young diabetics and secondary to hypertension in old diabetics.

Relationship between thyroid hormones and nutrition in chronic renal failure.

A cross-sectional study was performed in 19 patients on haemodialysis and in 11 on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) in order to investigate the relationship between thyroid hormones and nutritional status. T4, T3 resin uptake, T3, rT3 and TSH were measured by radio-immunoassay and compared with controls. Nutritional status was assessed by measurements of blood proteins, albumin, gamma-globulin, transferrin, arm muscle circumference and triceps skinfold thickness. In haemodialysis, T4, FTI, T3 and rT3 were significantly decreased. TSH was normal. In CAPD, thyroid hormones were normal. In both groups, proteins, albumin, gamma-globulin and transferrin were normal. Triceps skinfold thickness was normal in males and females, whereas arm muscle area was dramatically reduced in males and normal in females. In haemodialysis, a negative correlation was found between T3 and proteins (p less than 0.01), rT3 versus proteins (p less than 0.01) and versus gamma-globulin (p less than 0.01). In CAPD, a positive correlation was found between T3 and triceps skinfold thickness (p less than 0.05). We suggest that the overload of carbohydrate might normalize the thyroid hormones in patients on CAPD. The relationship between thyroid hormones and nutritional status in patients treated by dialysis suggests a putative protective effect of low T3 levels against protein breakdown.

[Continuous insulin therapy improves healing of diabetic foot sores]. / L'insulinothérapie continue améliore la cicatrisation des plaies des pieds diabétiques.

Three diabetic patients presenting with foot ulcers and arteriopathy were treated with continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion. Glycemic control was excellent and only minimal amputation was performed in two patients. Strict glycemic control improves healing of wounds even in diabetics suffering from chronic arteriopathy.

[Decrease in triiodothyronine and its reverse form under the effect of extrarenal dialysis. Role of carbohydrate intake]. / Diminution de la triiodothyronine et de sa forme inverse sous l'effet de lépuration extra-rénale. Rôle de l'apport glucidique.

Thyroid hormone levels were measured in 12 patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis and in 18 patients on haemodialysis, all in stable clinical status. Values in patients on peritoneal dialysis were not different from those found in controls, whereas a highly significant decrease in T3 and r T3 was observed in patients on haemodialysis. These results are in contrast with the low T3 syndrome and the high r T3 levels of systemic diseases and malnutrition. The difference between the two groups of patients on dialysis suggests that thyroid abnormalities do not result from renal failure alone, nor from malnutrition, but from a disturbance in the calorie/carbohydrate ratio of the ingesta.

[Autoimmune thyroid diseases associated with glomerular nephropathy. 3 cases]. / Maladies thyroïdiennes auto-immunes associées à une néphropathie glomérulaire. Trois observations.

The first patient had Hashimoto's thyroiditis and developed membranous glomerulonephritis with subepithelial deposits of IgG, C3, and thyroglobulin; the second patient had Graves' disease and developed, after the second administration of 131 I 2, rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis with epithelial crescents; in the remaining patient, Hashimoto's thyroiditis was diagnosed at the time of renal insufficiency due to crescentic glomerulonephritis. All three patients had circulating antithyroglobulin antibodies, with high titers in patients I and III; in every patient, the search for circulating immune complexes was negative at the time of the renal biopsy. Apart from the classical membranous type, other glomerular lesions may be associated with thyroiditis. The frequent clinical latency of Hashimoto's disease warrants systematically testing for circulating antithyroglobulin antibodies in women presenting with apparently idiopathic glomerulonephritis.