Protocol for assessing mortality reduction with the early use of noninvasive ventilation in prehospital emergency services: A multicentre, observational cohort study in Madrid, Spain.

BACKGROUND: Acute respiratory failure (ARF) has become one of the most prevalent serious pathologies encountered in the emergency medical service (EMS). In hospital settings, noninvasive ventilation (NIV) therapy prevents complications from more aggressive treatments for that condition. However, the scarce evidence on the benefits of NIV in prehospital EMS (i.e., during transport to the hospital) is inconclusive. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether the administration of NIV during prehospital EMS in cases of ARF reduces in-hospital mortality compared with starting NIV on arrival to in-patient EMS. METHODS: This is a multicentre, observational, prospective cohort study. We recruited a total of 317 patients from the Madrid region (Spain) who were prescribed NIV for their ARF using a nonprobabilistic consecutive sampling method. Analyses of the main outcome (in-hospital mortality) and secondary outcomes (length of hospital stay, readmissions, percentage of intensive care unit admissions, and cost-effectiveness) will include descriptive analyses of patients' characteristics, as well as bivariate and multivariate analyses and cost-effectiveness analysis. DISCUSSION: This study will provide data on NIV management in prehospital and in-patient EMS in patients with ARF. Results will contribute to the existing evidence on the benefits of NIV in the context of prehospital EMS while underlining the importance of a standardized formal training for physicians and nurses working in prehospital and in-patient EMSs. CONCLUSION: The VentilaMadrid study will provide valuable data on the clinical factors of patients receiving NIV in prehospital EMS. Further, were our hypothesis to be confirmed, our results would strongly suggest that the administration of NIV in prehospital EMS by medical and nursing profesionals formally trained in the technique reduces mortality and improves prognoses.

Impact of creating a hemodynamics room, a coronary care unit, and a primary angioplasty program on the prognosis of acute coronary syndrome in a district hospital.

OBJECTIVE: This work aims to analyze the prognosis and mortality of patients hospitalized for acute coronary syndrome before and after the implementation of a coronary care unit, hemodynamics room, and the Código Corazón [Infarction Code] primary angioplasty program. METHODS: We conducted an observational, retrospective study that analyzed the epidemiological characteristics, reperfusion strategies, adverse cardiovascular events, and mortality over a follow-up period of five years. The results from the post-code period (March 1 - December 31, 2012; n=471) were compared with those from the pre-code period (March 1 - December 31, 2009; n=432). RESULTS: There were no differences in the baseline characteristics of the two groups. However, an increase in ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (STE-ACS) from 17.6% to 34.8% (p<.001) was observed during the postcode phase. The use of percutaneous coronary intervention was made widespread at the hospital and was used in 64.8% of non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) cases and in 95.5% of STE-ACS cases. A reduction was observed in readmissions (from 38.2% to 25.1% for NSTE-ACS (p=.001) and from 23.7% to 11.0% for STE-ACS (p=.018)), the composite prognostic variable of adverse cardiovascular events and 5-year mortality (from 58.7% to 45% (p=.001) for NSTE-ACS and from 40.8% to 23.8% (p=.009) for STE-ACS), and a decrease in 30-day mortality in STE-ACS (from 11.8% to 3.7%; p=.021). CONCLUSIONS: With the structural changes in the hospital, the use of percutaneous coronary intervention was made widespread and improved the prognosis of patients with acute coronary syndrome, decreasing admissions, adverse cardiovascular events, and mortality.

Función ventricular derecha en residentes nativos a gran altura / Right ventricular function in native residents at high altitude

Los adaptados genéticamente a la altura son los tibetanos, sherpas y etíopes; los aymaras y quechuas están aclimatados (Bolivia, Perú y norte de Chile). En Bolivia el mal crónico de montaña afecta 10% de la población masculina. El objetivo fue determinar la función ventricular derecha en residentes sanos y con mal crónico de montaña mediante ecocardiografía transtoráxica. Se utilizaron participantes sanos y con mal crónico de montaña admitidos por el IBBA, desde el año 2012 al 2013. Las variables tomadas son: demográficas, espirometria forzada, gasometría arterial en reposo e hiperoxia, ECG y ECCTT. Los controles (n 40), la edad promedio (44,13±9,69 años), predominio masculino y sobrepeso (IMC 26,27±6,68kg /m2), procedentes de La Paz 3.600 msnm (54%), Potosí 4.000 msnm (22%), El Alto 4.100 msnm (15%) y Oruro 3.800 msnm (9%), el promedio de Hematocrito 51,34±2,91%, hemoglobina 17,15±0,89gr/ dl, Espirometria forzada y Gasometría arterial en reposo e hiperoxia normales, la ECCTT muestra hipertensión pulmonar leve (35,85±3,64mmHg), aumento de grosor del VD (0,51±0,08), TAPSE (2,94±3,85mmHg) y el índice de Tei (0,44±0,22) normales. Los casos (n 40), la edad promedio (48,43±8,08 años), predominio masculino y sobrepeso (IMC 29,54±3,41kg / m2), procedente de La Paz 3.600 msnm (56%), Potosí 4.000 msnm (24%), El Alto 4.100 msnm (13%) y Oruro 3.800 msnm (7%), Hematocrito 63,08±6,2%, Hemoglobina 21,01±2,01gr/dl con eritrotrocitosis, espirometría forzada normal, gasometría arterial en reposo con hipoxemia moderada (PaO2 51,73±4,68mmHg), hipocapnia (PaCO2 27,62±2,04mmHg) y gradiente Alveolo-arterial aumentado (7,61±3,15). Gasometría arterial en hiperoxia descarta shunt (PaO2 308,9±52,58mmHg), el ECG muestra 2 de 11 criterios de crecimiento VD, la ECCTT con hipertensión pulmonar moderada (PSAP 45,22±5,69mmHg), aumento de grosor del VD (0,73±0,22), TAPSE (2,08±0,18cm), normal e índice de Tei (0,51±0,10) ligeramente aumentado. Se concluyó que la función ventricular derecha se encuentra conservada, a pesar de tener hipertensión pulmonar leve (controles) y moderada (casos), con aumento del grosor del ventrículo derecho.

Those genetically adapted to the height are the Tibetans, Sherpas, and Ethiopians; the Aymara and Quechuas are acclimatized (Bolivia, Peru, and northern Chile). In Bolivia, chronic mountain sickness affects 10% of the male population. The objective was to determine the right ventricular function in healthy residents with chronic mountain sickness using transthoracic echocardiography. Use the healthy and chronically ill mountain participants admitted by the IBBA, from 2012 to 2013. The variables taken are demographic, forced spirometry, arterial blood gas at rest and hyperoxia, ECG, and ECCTT. Controls (n 40), average age (44.13 ± 9.69 years), male predominance and overweight (BMI 26.27 ± 6.68kg / m2), frequency from La Paz 3,600 masl (54%), Potosí 4,000 masl (22%), El Alto 4,100 masl (15%) and Oruro 3,800 masl (9%), the average Hematocrit 51.34 ± 2.91%, hemoglobin 17.15 ± 0.89gr / dl, Forced spirometry y Resting arterial blood gas and normal hyperoxia, ECCTT shows mild pulmonary hypertension (35.85 ± 3.64 mmHg), increased RV thickness (0.51 ± 0.08), TAPSE (2.94 ± 3.85 mmHg ) and the Tei index (0.44 ± 0.22) normal. The cases (n 40), the average age (48.43 ± 8.08 years), male predominance and overweight (BMI 29.54 ± 3.41kg / m2), derived from La Paz 3,600 masl (56%), Potosí 4,000 masl (24%), El Alto 4,100 masl (13%) and Oruro 3,800 masl (7%), Hematocrit 63.08 ± 6.2%, Hemoglobin 21.01 ± 2.01gr / dl with erythrocytosis, normal forced spirometry , resting arterial blood gas with moderate hypoxemia (PaO2 51.73 ± 4.68mmHg), hypocapnia (PaCO2 27.62 ± 2.04mmHg) and increased Alveolo-arterial gradient (7.61 ± 3.15). Arterial blood gas in hyperoxia rules out shunt (PaO2 308.9 ± 52.58mmHg), ECG shows 2 of 11 RV growth criteria, ECCTT with moderate pulmonary hypertension (PSAP 45.22 ± 5.69mmHg), increased RV thickness (0.73 ± 0.22), TAPSE (2.08 ± 0.18cm), normal and Tei index (0.51 ± 0.10) slightly increased. It was concluded that the right ventricular function is preserved, a weight of having mild pulmonary hypertension (controls) and moderate (cases), with increased thickness of the right ventricle.

Impact of creating a haemodynamics room, a coronary unit and a primary angioplasty programme on the prognosis of acute coronary syndrome in a district hospital. / Impacto de la creación de una sala de hemodinámica, una unidad coronaria y un programa de angioplastia primaria en el pronóstico del síndrome coronario agudo en un hospital comarcal.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the prognosis and mortality of patients hospitalised for acute coronary syndrome before and after the implementation of a coronary unit, haemodynamics room and the Código corazón primary angioplasty programme. METHODS: We conducted an observational and retrospective study that analysed the epidemiological characteristics, reperfusion strategies, adverse cardiovascular events and mortality for 5 years of follow-up. The results of the post-code period (March 1 - December 31, 2012; n=471) were compared with those of the pre-code stage (March 1 - December 31, 2009; n=432). RESULTS: There were no differences in the baseline characteristics of the 2 groups; however, an increase in ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (STE-ACS) from 17.6% to 34.8% (P<.001) was observed during the post-code phase. The use of percutaneous coronary intervention was made widespread at the hospital, achieving rates of 64.8% in non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) and of 95.5% in STE-ACS. Readmissions were reduced (from 38.2% to 25.1% for NSTE-ACS [P=.001] and from 23.7% to 11.0% for STE-ACS [P=.018]), the combined prognostic variable of adverse cardiovascular events and mortality at 5 years of follow-up was reduced (from 58.7% to 45% [P=.001] for NSTE-ACS and from 40.8% to 23.8% [p=.009] for STE-ACS), and 30-day mortality was decreased for STE-ACS (from 11.8% to 3.7%; P=.021). CONCLUSIONS: With the structural changes in the hospital, the use of percutaneous coronary intervention was made widespread and improved the prognosis of patients with acute coronary syndrome, decreasing admissions, adverse cardiovascular events and mortality.

Analysis of Eshelby-Cheng's model in anisotropic porous cracked medium: An ultrasonic physical modeling approach.

Many effective medium theories are designed to describe the macroscopic properties of a medium (the rock, or reservoir in this case) in terms of the properties of its constituents (the background matrix of the rock and the inclusions, for our scenario). A very well known effective medium theory is the Eshelby-Cheng model, which was studied by us in previous work, being tested for the case where the background medium was weakly-anisotropic and porous. The analysis was done testing elastic velocities and Thomsen parameters - as a function of crack density for fixed values of aspect ratio - predicted by the model with data acquired from synthetic rock samples. In this work, we aim to complete the analysis of the Eshelby-Cheng model capabilities when applied to rocks with porous and vertical transversely isotropic (VTI) backgrounds, testing the model for the elastic velocities as functions of aspect ratio - for fixed values of crack density - against experimental data. The data used to test the model were obtained from 17 synthetic rock samples, one uncracked and 16 cracked, the latter divided into four groups of four samples each, each group with cracks having the same aspect ratio, but with the samples having different crack densities. In these samples, ultrasonic pulse transmission measurements were performed to obtain the experimental velocities used to test the model. As was not possible to acquire data for velocity as a function of aspect ratio for fixed values of crack density, we performed interpolations of the experimental data to estimate these velocities. Eshelby-Cheng model effective velocities and Thomsen parameters were calculated using three formulations proposed for the crack porosity: one proposed by Thomsen, the second one proposed in our previous work (which depends only on the crack density) and the third one proposed in this work (which depends on the crack porosity and the aspect ratio, just like Thomsen's proposal). The comparisons between elastic velocities and Thomsen parameters - as function of crack aspect ratio, for fixed values of crack density - predicted by the model and estimated from the data via interpolation showed that the third formulation produced better fittings (lower root-mean-square errors) between model and experimental data for all ranges of aspect ratio and crack density.

Experimental characterization of synthetic porous orthorhombic fractured medium: A physical modeling approach.

The study of fractures in subsurface is very important since they are, in some cases, the main conduits for hydrocarbon flow in a reservoir. There are many ways to study the behavior of seismic waves in different fracturing conditions, including the use of physical modeling. This method allows, among other approaches, the analysis of the behavior of seismic wave properties in complex fractured media, such as media with orthorhombic symmetry. In this work we performed ultrasonic measurements on fractured physical models with orthorhombic symmetry from which we analyzed the behavior of elastic velocities and anisotropy parameters for different number of fractures. The presented results show the efficiency of the construction methodology used in the study by presenting P- and S- wave velocity values consistent with the theory for an orthorhombic medium. It was observed that for the direction perpendicular to the fracture system the values of P and S-wave velocities were the smallest for each model, and that the velocities decreased as the number of fractures increased in all models. Furthermore, most of the ∊ and γ values show a decreasing behavior as a function of the decreasing number of cracks, being the trend curves of ∊ linear and most of the trend curves of γ quadratic. Additionally, all the ∊ parameters presented a high correlation with the γ parameters for a small number of fractures, lower than 5.

Effect of Spin Clustering on Basic and Relaxometric Properties of Magnetic Nanoparticles.

An increasing awareness about novel medical applications of smaller, inorganic-based nanoparticles, possessing unique properties at the nanoscale, has led to a burst of research activities in the development of "nanoprobes" for diagnostic medicine and agents for novel, externally activated therapies. In this research field magnetic nanoparticles are prominent due to fundamental peculiar properties particularly appealing for their use in materials and biomedical applications. Aiming to study the relationship between the topology of the magnetic nanoparticles and their efficacy as MRI contrast agents (relaxometric properties), we prepared three different stable colloidal suspension (ferrofluid) of magnetic nanobeads (MNBs) constituted by a discrete number of maghemite nanoparticles, arranged in disordered clusters or ordered in a polymeric matrix. An accurate morpho-dimensional and magnetic characterization displays the close correlation between the magnetic fundamental properties and the topology of our spin systems. The NMR relaxometry profiles confirmed the nature of the physical mechanisms inducing the increase of nuclear relaxation rates at low (magnetic anisotropy) and high (Curie relaxation) magnetic fields. Moreover the transverse relaxivity (r2) values for all the MNBs are higher than those of common contrast agents and the differences between the three MNBs are suggested to be due to the spin topology effect.

Oral mucous membrane pemphigoid: A clinical study of 100 low-risk cases.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the severity of the oral lesions in low-risk oral mucous membrane pemphigoid (OMMP) measured according to the size of the bullous areas and the number of simultaneously affected oral locations. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 100 cases of low-risk OMMP were studied. The symptoms and location of OMMP in the oral cavity were analyzed. The bullous areas were measured, establishing three grades according to the greatest bullous lesion size (grade 1: < 3 cm in size; grade 2: 3-6 cm; and grade 3: > 6 cm). RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 66.07 ± 13.55 years, with a clear predominance of females (84%). Desquamative gingivitis was the most common presentation (97%). A single oral location was found in 67% of the cases, two in 18% and three in 15%. The most common presentation corresponded to grade 1 (the greatest bullous lesion size < 3 cm; 51.6% of the cases). CONCLUSIONS: Most cases of low-risk OMMP are restricted to a single site in the oral cavity, the gingiva being the most common location-the predominant grade corresponding to the greatest bullous lesion size < 3 cm.

Benefits of adding forestry clearance residues for the soil and vegetation of a Mediterranean mountain forest.

Desertification is occurring throughout the mountainous areas of the Mediterranean. These processes lead to reduced soil fertility, increased soil loss, and reduced vegetation cover and species richness. To prevent further damage, it is recommendable to use low-cost approaches that are compatible with the European Strategy of Circular Economy guidelines. We investigated the systemic benefits from recycling of forest clearance residue by adding it to a dry Mediterranean mountainous area. More specifically, we performed afforestation without addition of residue in two control plots (C plots), and afforestation with addition of 10Mgha-1 of clearance residue from a nearby region dominated by Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis Mill.) in two other plots (PM plots). We conducted the experiments throughout 30months after the afforestation process. Eighteen months after the intervention, the PM plots had significant increases in the soil organic carbon (SOC), and related increases in ecosystem productivity and stability. More generally, addition of clearance residues improved soil and vegetation recovery, and contributed to more successful afforestation. The improvements may be explained by an increase of infiltration process due to the physical changes in the soil following bio-waste addition. Addition of the forest residues increased the formation of soil macrochannels, and also increased the sink area, thereby improving the hydrodynamics of the ecosystem. Thus, soil loss was reduced by 98.2% in the PM plots relative to the C plots. Our study indicates that application of forest clearance residues to Mediterranean mountainous areas is an effective land management practice that produces very little waste, and it is in accordance with European policy.

Exophytic papillary penile cancer.

Penile carcinoma is a rare disease that has a wide range of pathology and morbidity. Occurs commonly in the 6th and 7th decades of life. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the predominant histological type. We present a case of a penile lesion of exophytic papillary morphology accompanied by multiple bilateral mobile inguinal lymph nodes.

Less-studied TCE: are their environmental concentrations increasing due to their use in new technologies?

The possible environmental impact of the recent increase in use of a group of technology-critical elements (Nb, Ta, Ga, In, Ge and Te) is analysed by reviewing published concentration profiles in environmental archives (ice cores, ombrotrophic peat bogs, freshwater sediments and moss surveys) and evaluating temporal trends in surface waters. No increase has so far been recorded. The low potential direct emissions of these elements, resulting from their absolute low production levels, make it unlikely that the increasing use of these elements in modern technology has any noticeable effect on their environmental concentrations on a global scale. This holds particularly true for those of these elements that are probably emitted in relatively high amounts from other human activities (i.e., coal combustion and non-ferrous smelting), such as In, the most studied element of the group.

Topsoil moisture mapping using geostatistical techniques under different Mediterranean climatic conditions.

Soil mapping has been considered as an important factor in the widening of Soil Science and giving response to many different environmental questions. Geostatistical techniques, through kriging and co-kriging techniques, have made possible to improve the understanding of eco-geomorphologic variables, e.g., soil moisture. This study is focused on mapping of topsoil moisture using geostatistical techniques under different Mediterranean climatic conditions (humid, dry and semiarid) in three small watersheds and considering topography and soil properties as key factors. A Digital Elevation Model (DEM) with a resolution of 1×1m was derived from a topographical survey as well as soils were sampled to analyzed soil properties controlling topsoil moisture, which was measured during 4-years. Afterwards, some topography attributes were derived from the DEM, the soil properties analyzed in laboratory, and the topsoil moisture was modeled for the entire watersheds applying three geostatistical techniques: i) ordinary kriging; ii) co-kriging considering as co-variate topography attributes; and iii) co-kriging ta considering as co-variates topography attributes and gravel content. The results indicated topsoil moisture was more accurately mapped in the dry and semiarid watersheds when co-kriging procedure was performed. The study is a contribution to improve the efficiency and accuracy of studies about the Mediterranean eco-geomorphologic system and soil hydrology in field conditions.

Invited Article: miniTimeCube.

We present the development of the miniTimeCube (mTC), a novel compact neutrino detector. The mTC is a multipurpose detector, aiming to detect not only neutrinos but also fast/thermal neutrons. Potential applications include the counterproliferation of nuclear materials and the investigation of antineutrino short-baseline effects. The mTC is a plastic 0.2% (10)B-doped scintillator (13 cm)(3) cube surrounded by 24 Micro-Channel Plate (MCP) photon detectors, each with an 8 × 8 anode totaling 1536 individual channels/pixels viewing the scintillator. It uses custom-made electronics modules which mount on top of the MCPs, making our detector compact and able to both distinguish different types of events and reject noise in real time. The detector is currently deployed and being tested at the National Institute of Standards and Technology Center for Neutron Research nuclear reactor (20 MWth) in Gaithersburg MD. A shield for further tests is being constructed, and calibration and upgrades are ongoing. The mTC's improved spatiotemporal resolution will allow for determination of incident particle directions beyond previous capabilities.

Negative outcomes associated with medication in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation who present at the emergency department.

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE: Medication is the main treatment option for patients with chronic atrial fibrillation. However, medication can have negative effects. We aimed to detect negative outcomes associated with medication that led to patients with chronic atrial fibrillation presenting themselves to hospital emergency departments. We assessed the severity of those outcomes and comment on whether they could have been avoided. METHODS: This descriptive, cross-sectional study included all patients with chronic atrial fibrillation who attended the emergency department of our tertiary hospital. We used the Dader method to identify and evaluate the negative outcomes associated with medication through interviews with patients and scrutiny of the clinical charts. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Of the 198 eligible patients who presented at the emergency department, 134 (67·7%) did so because of negative outcomes associated with medication (41% related to necessity, 32·1% to effectiveness and 26·9% to safety); 67·9% of those negative outcomes could have been avoided. In terms of severity, 6·7% were mild, 31·3% moderate, 51·5% severe and 10·4% fatal. The Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification anatomical group most frequently associated with negative outcomes was the cardiovascular system, followed by blood/blood-forming organs. WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION: A high percentage of patients with chronic atrial fibrillation presenting at hospital emergency departments had negative outcomes associated with medication. Some led to deaths. More than half of these were severe, and most could have been avoided.

Temporal evolution of organic carbon concentrations in Swiss lakes: trends of allochthonous and autochthonous organic carbon.

Evaluation of time series of organic carbon (OC) concentrations in lakes is useful for monitoring some of the effects of global change on lakes and their catchments. Isolating the evolution of autochthonous and allochthonous lake OC might be a useful way to differentiate between drivers of soil and photosynthetic OC related changes. However, there are no temporal series for autochthonous and allochthonous lake OC. In this study, a new approach has been developed to construct time series of these two categories of OC from existing dissolved organic carbon (DOC) data. First, temporal series (longer than ten years) of OC have been compiled for seven big Swiss lakes and another 27 smaller ones and evaluated by using appropriate non-parametric statistical methods. Subsequently, the new approach has been applied to construct time series of autochthonous and allochthonous lake OC in the seven big lakes. Doing this was possible because long term series of DOC concentrations at different depths are available for these lakes. Organic carbon concentrations generally increase in big lakes and decrease in smaller ones, although only in some cases are these trends statistically significant. The magnitude of the observed changes is generally small in big lakes (<1% annual change) and larger in smaller lakes. Autochthonous DOC concentrations in big lakes increase or decrease depending on the lake and the station but allochthonous DOC concentrations generally increase. This pattern is consistent with an increase in the OC input from the lakes' catchments and/or an increase in the refractoriness of the OC in question, and with a temporal evolution of autochthonous DOC depending on the degree of recovery from past eutrophication of each particular lake. In small lakes, OC dynamics are mainly driven by decreasing biological productivity, which in many, but not all cases, outweighs the probable increase of allochthonous OC.

Temporal trends in organic carbon content in the main Swiss rivers, 1974-2010.

Increases in dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations have often been reported in rivers and lakes of the Northern Hemisphere over the last few decades. High-quality organic carbon (OC) concentration data have been used to study the change in DOC and total (TOC) organic carbon concentrations in the main rivers of Switzerland (Rhône, Rhine, Thur and Aar) between 1974 and 2010. These rivers are characterized by high discharge regimes (due to their Alpine origin) and by running in populated areas. Small long term trends (a general statistically significant decrease in TOC and a less clear increase in DOC concentrations), on the order of 1% of mean OC concentration per year, have been observed. An upward trend before 1999 reversed direction to a more marked downward trend from 1999 to 2010. Of the potential causes of OC temporal variation analysed (water temperature, dissolved reactive phosphorus and river discharge), only discharge explains a significant, albeit still small, part of TOC variability (8-31%), while accounting for barely 2.5% of DOC variability. Estimated anthropogenic TOC and DOC loads (treated sewage) to the rivers could account for a maximum of 4-20% of the temporal trends. Such low predictability is a good example of the limitations faced when studying causality and drivers behind small variations in complex systems. River export of OC from Switzerland has decreased significantly over the period. Since about 5.5% of estimated NEP of Switzerland is exported by the rivers, riverine OC fluxes should be taken into account in a detailed carbon budget of the country.

Long-term biomonitoring of soil contamination using poplar trees: accumulation of trace elements in leaves and fruits.

Phytostabilization aims to immobilize soil contaminants using higher plants. The accumulation of trace elements in Populus alba leaves was monitored for 12 years after a mine spill. Concentrations of As and Pb significantly decreased, while concentrations of Cd and Zn did not significantly over time. Soil concentrations extracted by CaCl2 were measured by ICP-OES and results of As and Pb were below the detection limit. Long-term biomonitoring of soil contamination using poplar leaves was proven to be better suited for the study of trace elements. Plants suitable for phytostabilization must also be able to survive and reproduce in contaminated soils. Concentrations of trace elements were also measured in P. alba fruiting catkins to determine the effect on its reproduction potential. Cadmium and Zn were found to accumulate in fruiting catkins, with the transfer coefficient for Cd significantly greater than Zn. It is possible for trace elements to translocate to seed, which presents a concern for seed germination, establishment and colonization. We conclude that white poplar is a suitable tree for long-term monitoring of soil contaminated with Cd and Zn, and for phytostabilization in riparian habitats, although some caution should be taken with the possible effects on the food web. Supplemental materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of International Journal of Phytoremediation to view the supplemental file.

Analysis of the presence of cell proliferation-related molecules in the Tgf-ß3 null mutant mouse palate reveals misexpression of EGF and Msx-1.

The Tgf-ß(3) null mutant mouse palate presents several cellular anomalies that lead to the appearance of cleft palate. One of them concerns the cell proliferation of both the palatal medial edge epithelium and mesenchyme. In this work, our aim was to determine whether there was any variation in the presence/distribution of several cell proliferation-related molecules that could be responsible for the cell proliferation defects observed in these palates. Our results showed no difference in the presence of EGF-R, PDGF-A, TGF-ß(2), Bmp-2, and Bmp-4, and differences were minimal for FGF-10 and Shh. However, the expression of EGF and Msx-1 changed substantially. The shift of the EGF protein expression was the one that most correlated with that of cell proliferation. This molecule is regulated by TGF-ß(3), and experiments blocking its activity in culture suggest that EGF misexpression in the Tgf-ß(3) null mutant mouse palate plays a role in the cell proliferation defect observed.