Current ecotoxicity testing needs among selected U.S. federal agencies.

U.S. regulatory and research agencies use ecotoxicity test data to assess the hazards associated with substances that may be released into the environment, including but not limited to industrial chemicals, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, food additives, and color additives. These data are used to conduct hazard assessments and evaluate potential risks to aquatic life (e.g., invertebrates, fish), birds, wildlife species, or the environment. To identify opportunities for regulatory uses of non-animal replacements for ecotoxicity tests, the needs and uses for data from tests utilizing animals must first be clarified. Accordingly, the objective of this review was to identify the ecotoxicity test data relied upon by U.S. federal agencies. The standards, test guidelines, guidance documents, and/or endpoints that are used to address each of the agencies' regulatory and research needs regarding ecotoxicity testing are described in the context of their application to decision-making. Testing and information use, needs, and/or requirements relevant to the regulatory or programmatic mandates of the agencies taking part in the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Validation of Alternative Methods Ecotoxicology Workgroup are captured. This information will be useful for coordinating efforts to develop and implement alternative test methods to reduce, refine, or replace animal use in chemical safety evaluations.

Implementation of the European Working Time Directive in an NHS trust: impact on patient care and junior doctor welfare.

To comply with the European Working Time Directive (EWTD), from 1 August 2009, junior doctors are required to work no more than 48 hours per week. In accordance with this, East Sussex Hospitals Trust introduced changes to working practice in August 2007. To assess the impact upon patient care and junior doctor welfare a retrospective observational survey comparing data from the year prior to and the year following August 2007 was conducted. No impact on the standard of patient care, as measured by length of stay, death during admission or readmission was found. However, there was a notable increase in episodes of sick leave among junior doctors. Implementation of the EWTD may maintain standards of patient care but may be detrimental to the welfare of doctors in training.

A New Technique for Radiographic Visualization of the Scaphotrapeziotrapezoid Joint.

Standard radiographs of the wrist do not provide adequate visualization of the scaphotrapeziotrapezoid joint. A radiographic technique that provides an improved and more complete visualization of the joint compared with routine views is described. [Orthopedics. 2020; 43(2):e123-e124.].

Bone morphogenetic protein signaling pathway plays multiple roles during gastrointestinal tract development.

The bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling pathway plays an essential role during gastrointestinal (GI) tract development in vertebrates. In the present study, we use an antibody that recognizes the phosphorylated and activated form of Smad1, 5, and 8 to examine (by immunohistochemistry) the endogenous patterns of BMP signaling pathway activation in the developing GI tract. We show that the endogenous BMP signaling pathway is activated in the mesoderm, the endoderm, and the enteric nervous system (ENS) of the developing chick GI tract and is more widespread than BMP ligand expression patterns. Using an avian-specific retroviral misexpression technique to activate or inhibit BMP signaling pathway activity in the mesoderm of the gut, we show that BMP activity is required for the pattern, the development, and the differentiation of all three tissue types of the gut: mesoderm (that forms the visceral smooth muscle), endoderm (that forms the epithelium), and ectoderm (that forms the ENS). These results demonstrate that BMP signaling is activated in all the tissue layers of the GI tract during the development and plays a role during interactions and reciprocal communications of these tissue layers.