Biodistribution of naturally occurring radionuclides and radiocesium in wild European perch (Perca fluviatilis).

Wild European perch (Perca fluviatilis) is one of the most important freshwater fish species, in Sweden, due to its widespread and his value for recreational fishing. Little it is known regarding the biodistribution of naturally occurring radionuclides such as 238U, 234U, 226Ra, 210Po in perch. Therefore, in this study, perches from five lakes located in different counties in Sweden were collected to investigate the biodistribution of 238U, 234U, 226Ra, 210Po and 137Cs in organs and tissues of perch as well as their radiological impact. The results showed that uranium radionuclides ranged between 0.1 and 6 Bq/kg with an average value of 1.1 ± 1.5 Bq/kg. 226Ra varied from 0.4 to 8 Bq/kg with a mean concentration of 1.7 ± 1.9 Bq/kg. The ranged of 210Po was 0.5 - 250 Bq/kg, with an average value of 24 ± 52 Bq/kg. On the other hand, the highest activity concentration of 137Cs, 151 ± 1 Bq/kg, was detected in muscle samples of perch from Redsjösjön lake. For uranium radionuclides and 226Ra uptake from water is the main source whereas for 210Po and 137Cs the uptake is controlled by the perch diet. Regarding naturally occurring radionuclides, the perch tended to accumulated uranium radionuclides in fins, gills, and skin; 226Ra in bones, fins and skin and 210Po in the organs linked to digestive system. Finally, in case of consumption, it is advised the consumption of skinned fillets of perch due to the higher bioaccumulation of the radionuclides investigated in the skin and scales.

Validation of a questionnaire algorithm based on repeated open application testing with the constituents of fragrance mix I.

BACKGROUND: In a European study on contact allergy in the general population, it was hypothesized that the combination of contact allergy to a fragrance together with a history indicating dermatitis at exposure, and thereafter subsequent avoidance of scented products, implied a diagnosis of allergic contact dermatitis. OBJECTIVES: The primary aim of this study was to validate this hypothesis and algorithm. The secondary aim was to investigate whether there was any association between the outcome of the repeated open application test (ROAT) and the patch test reactivity. METHODS: In total, 109 patients with and without contact allergy to fragrance mix (FM) I were recruited. Volunteers from six European dermatology clinics participated in the study including a patch test and a ROAT. RESULTS: Positive ROAT reactions were noted in 26 of the 44 volunteers with contact allergy to FM I. None of the volunteers reacted to the vehicle (P < 0·001). More individuals with a positive algorithm had positive ROATs than those with a negative algorithm. However, the difference was not statistically significant. The lower the patch test concentration eliciting a positive test reaction, the more likely a positive ROAT and the more likely that the positive ROAT appeared early during the investigative period. CONCLUSIONS: The algorithm used in this study was not substantiated in this ROAT set-up. The stronger the patch test reactivity the more likely was a positive ROAT and the more likely it was that the positive ROAT appeared early during the application period. What's already known about this topic? To the best of our knowledge, a scientifically designed and conducted repeated open application test (ROAT) has never been performed before to validate a diagnosis of allergic contact dermatitis partly based on a questionnaire. What does this study add? This is the largest controlled, randomized and blinded ROAT performed to date. Higher patch test reactivity to fragrance mix I indicated a greater likelihood of a positive ROAT. What are the clinical implications of this work? Further refinement of the questions is required in order to diagnose allergic contact dermatitis from fragrances based on a questionnaire.

Hand strength and dexterity in individuals with hand eczema.

BACKGROUND: Patients with hand eczema often describe symptoms such as pain, clumsiness and difficulty flexing their fingers, thus impairing the function of the hand. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate whether hand eczema is associated with a measurable impairment of hand strength and dexterity. We also studied the relationship between hand function and the ability to perform activities of daily living (ADL), pain level and quality of life measured with the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). METHODS: Twenty-one participants with ongoing hand eczema were examined with well-established methods for measuring hand grip strength, pinch strength and dexterity. A questionnaire was designed to investigate perceived ability to perform ADL. The participants were also asked to grade their current pain level, and the DLQI was used to assess the participants' quality of life. A group of 12 participants was reinvestigated when healed. RESULTS: The participants demonstrated a significant improvement in all functional tests when healed. There was a strong correlation between ADL and both dexterity and hand grip strength. There was also a strong correlation between ADL and pain. All participants reported some difficulty performing ADL. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that ongoing hand eczema may lead to a measurable decrease of strength and dexterity of the hand, leading to an impairment of the ability to perform ADL and consequently to a poorer quality of life.

Averting cumulative lifetime attributable risk (LAR) of cancer by decontamination of residential areas affected by a large-scale nuclear power plant fallout: time aspects of radiological benefits for newborns and adults.

The averted cumulative lifetime attributable risk (LAR), the residual dose and highest ground deposition of 137Cs complying with a reference dose level of 20 mSv yr-1 to an individual returning after one year to an area contaminated by unfiltered releases of fission products from a nuclear power plant (NPP) were evaluated by applying an existing exposure model designed to compute age- and gender-dependent time-integrated LAR. The model was applied to four types of nuclear fallout scenarios, partly based on data from the Chernobyl and Fukushima releases and from theoretical source terms from Swedish NPPs. For rapid decontamination measures that achieve a 50% relative reduction in external dose rate within 1 year, compliance with the reference level 20 mSv yr-1 can be attained for an initial 137Cs ground deposition of up to 2 MBq m-2 with relaxed food restrictions. This compliance can be attained at even higher ground deposition (up to 4.5 MBq m-2) if using the strict food restrictions employed in Japan after 2011. Considering longer than 1 year return times it was also found that the benefit of implementing decontamination decreases rapidly with time (2-3 years half-time), especially if the fallout has a high initial 134Cs to 137Cs activity ratio and if the ecological half-time of the external dose rate is short (<5 years). Depending on fallout scenario the averted cumulative LAR for newborn girls by decontamination that is achieved after 5 years is only between 6% and 11% of that obtained by evacuation alone during the same time, indicating a rather limited radiological benefit of decontamination if delayed more than a few years. We conclude that decision makers and emergency response planners need to consider that protracted decontamination measures may have limited radiological benefit compared with evacuation in terms of averted future cancer cases, albeit it may have other societal benefits.

A model for estimating the total absorbed dose to the thyroid in Swedish inhabitants following the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant accident: implications for existing international estimates and future model applications.

The time-integrated absorbed dose to the thyroid gland in the years after a fallout event can indicate the potential excess number of thyroid cancers among young individuals after a radionuclide release. Typical mean values of the absorbed dose to the thyroid have been calculated previously using reported data on radioiodine obtained from air sampling and dairy milk surveys in Sweden after the Chernobyl fallout, not including the contribution from 134Cs and 137Cs. We have developed a model for Swedish conditions taking these additional dose contributions into account. Our estimate of the average time-integrated absorbed dose to the thyroid, D th,tot, during the first 5 years after fallout ranged from 0.5-4.1 mGy for infants and from 0.3-3.3 mGy for adults. The contribution to D th,tot from 131I through inhalation and milk consumption varied considerably among different regions of Sweden, ranging from 9%-79% in infants, and from 4%-58% in adults. The external irradiation and exposure from the ingestion of 134,137Cs in foodstuffs accounted for the remaining contributions to D th,tot (i.e. up to 96% for adults). These large variations can be explained by the highly diverse conditions in the regions studied, such as different degrees of fractionation between wet and dry deposition, different grazing restrictions on dairy cattle, and differences in 134,137Cs transfers through food resulting from differences in the local fallout. It is our conclusion that the main contribution to D th,tot from nuclear power plant fallout in areas subjected to predominantly wet deposition will be from external exposure from ground deposition, followed by internal exposure from contaminated food containing the long-lived fission product 137Cs and the neutron-activated fission product 134Cs. The contribution from 134,137Cs to the thyroid absorbed dose should thus be taken into account in future epidemiological studies.

Clues for early detection of autoimmune Addison's disease - myths and realities.

BACKGROUND: Early detection of autoimmune Addison's disease (AAD) is important as delay in diagnosis may result in a life-threatening adrenal crisis and death. The classical clinical picture of untreated AAD is well-described, but methodical investigations are scarce. OBJECTIVE: Perform a retrospective audit of patient records with the aim of identifying biochemical markers for early diagnosis of AAD. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A multicentre retrospective study including 272 patients diagnosed with AAD at hospitals in Norway and Sweden during 1978-2016. Scrutiny of medical records provided patient data and laboratory values. RESULTS: Low sodium occurred in 207 of 247 (84%), but only one-third had elevated potassium. Other common nonendocrine tests were largely normal. TSH was elevated in 79 of 153 patients, and hypoglycaemia was found in 10%. Thirty-three per cent were diagnosed subsequent to adrenal crisis, in whom electrolyte disturbances were significantly more pronounced (P < 0.001). Serum cortisol was consistently decreased (median 62 nmol L-1 [1-668]) and significantly lower in individuals with adrenal crisis (38 nmol L-1 [2-442]) than in those without (81 nmol L-1 [1-668], P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The most consistent biochemical finding of untreated AAD was low sodium independent of the degree of glucocorticoid deficiency. Half of the patients had elevated TSH levels. Only a minority presented with marked hyperkalaemia or other nonhormonal abnormalities. Thus, unexplained low sodium and/or elevated TSH should prompt consideration of an undiagnosed AAD, and on clinical suspicion bring about assay of cortisol and ACTH. Presence of 21-hydroxylase autoantibodies confirms autoimmune aetiology. Anticipating additional abnormalities in routine blood tests may delay diagnosis.

Skincare products containing low concentrations of formaldehyde detected by the chromotropic acid method cannot be safely used in formaldehyde-allergic patients.

BACKGROUND: Formaldehyde is a well-known contact sensitizer. Formaldehyde releasers are widely used preservatives in skincare products. It has been found that formaldehyde at concentrations allowed by the European Cosmetics Directive can cause allergic contact dermatitis. However, we still lack information on whether formaldehyde at low concentrations affects dermatitis in formaldehyde-allergic individuals. OBJECTIVES: To study the effects of low concentrations of formaldehyde on irritant contact dermatitis in formaldehyde-allergic individuals. METHODS: Fifteen formaldehyde-allergic individuals and a control group of 12 individuals without contact allergy to formaldehyde and formaldehyde releasers were included in the study. The individuals performed the repeated open application test (ROAT) during 4 weeks with four different moisturizers releasing formaldehyde in concentrations that had been determined as > 40, 20-40, 2·5-10 and 0 p.p.m. by the chromotropic acid (CA) spot test. Dimethyloldimethylhydantoin was used as a formaldehyde releaser in the moisturizers. The ROAT was performed on areas of experimentally induced sodium lauryl sulfate dermatitis. The study was double blind, controlled and randomized. RESULTS: Nine of the 15 formaldehyde-allergic individuals had reappearance or worsening of dermatitis on the areas that were treated with moisturizers containing formaldehyde. No such reactions were observed in the control group (P < 0·001) or for the moisturizers without formaldehyde in the formaldehyde-allergic individuals (P < 0·001). CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that the low concentrations of formaldehyde often found in skincare products by the CA method are sufficient to worsen an existing dermatitis in formaldehyde-allergic individuals.

Preservatives in cosmetics in the Israeli market conform well to the EU legislation.

BACKGROUND: Preservatives are important and frequent skin sensitizers, found in a wide range of products for personal and occupational use. According to the European legislation, some cosmetic ingredients are restricted in terms of quantity and a detailed list of ingredients must be present on the product or packaging. OBJECTIVES: To examine the use of preservatives in common cosmetics on the Israeli market. MATERIALS/METHODS: Sixty different Israeli brand cosmetics, including shampoos, liquid soaps, body creams and hand creams were randomly selected. Ingredient labels were examined. The products were investigated by the chromotropic acid method for release of formaldehyde and by high performance liquid chromatography for the presence of formaldehyde, DMDM hydantoin and methylchloroisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone (MCI/MI) and MI content. RESULTS: All products but one contained a detailed list of ingredients printed on the package. According to labelling, the most prevalent preservatives in Israeli shampoos and liquid soaps were DMDM hydantoin and MCI/MI. Hand creams and body creams contained mainly parabens but also iodopropynyl butylcarbamate, phenoxyethanol and DMDM hydantoin. Formaldehyde in doses from 4 to 429 ppm, and DMDM hydantoin were detected in 38 and 16 (63% and 27%) of the products, respectively. MCI/MI was detected in 11 (18%) of the products, with highest prevalence in rinse- off products (55%). Excluding one hand cream which measured 106 ppm MI, the amount of formaldehyde, DMDM hydantoin, MCI/MI and MI was within the allowed concentrations by the European directive in all cases. CONCLUSIONS: In Israel, adaptation of the European directive prevails, as shown by the measurements we performed on randomly selected products.

Targeted resequencing of candidate genes using selector probes.

Targeted genome enrichment is a powerful tool for making use of the massive throughput of novel DNA-sequencing instruments. We herein present a simple and scalable protocol for multiplex amplification of target regions based on the Selector technique. The updated version exhibits improved coverage and compatibility with next-generation-sequencing (NGS) library-construction procedures for shotgun sequencing with NGS platforms. To demonstrate the performance of the technique, all 501 exons from 28 genes frequently involved in cancer were enriched for and sequenced in specimens derived from cell lines and tumor biopsies. DNA from both fresh frozen and formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded biopsies were analyzed and 94% specificity and 98% coverage of the targeted region was achieved. Reproducibility between replicates was high (R(2) = 0, 98) and readily enabled detection of copy-number variations. The procedure can be carried out in <24 h and does not require any dedicated instrumentation.

Experimental determination of concentration factors of Mn, Zn and I in the phytoplankton species Phaeodactylum Tricornutum.

Anthropogenic radionuclides released into the environment cause a radiation dose to wildlife and humans which must be quantified, both to assess the effect of normal releases, and to predict the consequences of a larger, unplanned release. To estimate the spread of the radioactive elements, the ecosystem around release points is modelled, and element uptake is usually quantified by concentration factors (CF), which relates the concentration of an element in an organism to the concentration of the same element in a medium under equilibrium conditions. In this work, we experimentally determine some phytoplankton CF that are needed for improved modelling of the marine ecosystems around nuclear facilities and release points. CFs that require better determination have been identified through literature search. Sensitivity studies, using the currently used ecosystem modelling software PREDO, show that for most studied groups, the dose committed by the respective radionuclides is almost proportional to the corresponding phytoplankton CFs. In the present work, CFs are determined through laboratory experiments with cultured phytoplankton and radionuclides of the concerned elements, assessing the element uptake by the phytoplankton through detection of the emitted radiation. The three CF assessed in this work were those for manganese, zinc and iodine in phytoplankton. Conservative estimates of these CF based on the present data are 40 000 L/kg for manganese, 50 000 L/kg for zinc and 180 L/kg for iodine with the phytoplankton masses referring to their dry weight.

Experimental determination of concentration factors of Ni, Ru and Sb in the model diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum.

This paper describes the experimental determination of concentration factors (CF) for nickel, ruthenium and antimony in the model diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum Bohlin (Bacillariophyceae), which was chosen as a representative of marine phytoplankton. Better determinations of these CF are needed to improve the modelling of marine ecosystems at release points, where radioactive pollutants enter the ecosystem, for more accurate predictions of radiation dose to humans caused by these pollutants. A literature study revealed that the currently implemented values of these CF are based on very scarce data, and a computational sensitivity study showed that the radiation dose caused by radioisotopes of these elements depend strongly on the phytoplankton CF. Nutrient-enriched water samples from Swedish coastal waters were used as a medium for growing of the diatom species P. tricornutum and radioactive isotopes of the studied elements were added to the cultures during the exponential growth phase. The radioactivity in the P. tricornutum and in the culture medium were measured separately and used for determination of CF. Conservative estimates of the CF based on this phytoplankton proxy on the present data are 6400 L/kg for nickel, 20,000 L/kg for ruthenium and 890 L/kg for antimony, with P. tricornutum biomass masses referring to dry weight. The estimates for nickel and ruthenium are similar to previously published values, which underpins the credibility of radiation dose calculations based on these values. The estimate for antimony is uncertain, but also, to our knowledge, represents the first published experimentally based data on this CF.

Canine herpesvirus during pregnancy and non-pregnant luteal phase.

Canine herpesvirus (CHV) is a widespread infection among dogs that typically get latently infected after exposure and can reactivate the infection after stress. The aim of the present study was to study the effects of latent CHV infection during pregnancy on pregnancy outcome, and to study if there are signs of genital viral reactivation during pregnancy or during non-pregnant luteal phase. Twelve mated bitches and eight control bitches were followed and sampled regularly during pregnancy or non-pregnant luteal phase. Blood samples were taken for antibody analysis and vaginal swabs for real-time PCR analysis. Three of the pregnant bitches were vaccinated against CHV during pregnancy. All bitches had antibodies to CHV. Two pregnant bitches that were not vaccinated had a twofold or larger increase in CHV titre, with no negative effects detected on pregnancy. Higher titres were not associated with smaller litters or with vaccination. There was no consistent variation in antibody titres due to pregnancy or non-pregnant luteal phase. Vaginal excretion of CHV was not detected from any of the bitches.

Clinically relevant contact allergy to formaldehyde may be missed by testing with formaldehyde 1·0%.

BACKGROUND: It has been found that patch testing with 15 µL formaldehyde 2·0% aq. detects twice as many allergies as by testing with 1·0%. The clinical relevance of positive patch test reactions is often difficult to determine. Repeated open application tests are simple to do and help to evaluate the significance of patch test results. OBJECTIVES: To study the clinical relevance of contact allergy to formaldehyde detected by 2·0% formaldehyde (0·60 mg cm(-2) ) but not by 1·0%. METHODS: Eighteen patients positive to formaldehyde 2·0% but negative to 1·0%, and a control group of 19 patients with dermatitis but without allergy to parabens, formaldehyde and formaldehyde releasers were included in the study. Formaldehyde 2000 p.p.m., the maximum concentration permitted in leave-on cosmetics according to the EU Cosmetics Directive, was added to a batch of moisturizer preserved with parabens. The same batch without formaldehyde served as a control. The study was double-blinded and randomized. The patients were provided with both moisturizers and instructed to apply one of them twice a day on a marked-out 5 × 5-cm area on the inside of one upper arm and the other moisturizer on the other arm. Reading of the test sites was done once a week for a maximum of 4 weeks. RESULTS: In the control group there were no allergic reactions to either of the moisturizers. Nine of 17 formaldehyde-allergic patients reacted with an allergic reaction to the moisturizer which contained formaldehyde (P < 0·001). No positive reactions were observed to the moisturizer without formaldehyde. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that contact allergy to formaldehyde 2·0% may be clinically relevant.

Variation in allergen content over time of acrylates/methacrylates in patch test preparations.

BACKGROUND: Acrylates/methacrylates are volatile substances. There might be a gradual decrease in acrylate/methacrylate allergen content over time in patch test preparations but this has not yet been documented. OBJECTIVES: To determine the allergen content of acrylates/methacrylates in patch test preparations over time under different storage conditions. METHODS: Five acrylate/methacrylate allergens [2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (2-HEMA), methyl methacrylate (MMA), ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA), triethylene glycol diacrylate (TREGDA) and 2-hydroxypropyl acrylate (2-HPA)] in syringes and IQ™ chambers (Chemotechnique Diagnostics, Vellinge, Sweden) were analysed using gel permeation chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography to measure the allergen content over time in samples stored in the freezer, refrigerator and under room temperature. RESULTS: The concentration of allergens in syringes decreased with time. Those stored at room temperature had the fastest rate of decrease, followed by those in the refrigerator and freezer. In most cases, in syringes or IQ™ chambers under all storage conditions, the MMA decreased most rapidly, followed by 2-HPA, 2-HEMA, EGDMA and TREGDA. The allergens in the IQ™ chambers rapidly disappeared, with almost all samples reaching nondetectable levels by day 8. MMA was the first to reach a nondetectable level--at day 2. CONCLUSIONS: Acrylate/methacrylate allergens are lost rapidly from IQ™ chambers especially if stored at room temperature. Allergens in syringes remain above 80% of their initial concentrations for longer periods compared with IQ™ chambers. In syringes and IQ™ chambers there is a slower rate of decrease in concentration when the storage temperature is lower. Allergens should be stored refrigerated, replaced regularly, and freshly applied on to test patches on the day of use.

Pit lakes from Southern Sweden: natural radioactivity and elementary characterization.

Natural radioactivity in the environment is a field gaining more attention in last decades. This work is focused on the study of natural radioactivity complemented with elementary characterization at former non-uraniferous mining areas in Sweden. This aim is addressed through the study of mining lakes, called pit lakes, which are water bodies generated after opencast mining. Environmental matrices (water, sediments and rocks) from 32 Swedish pit lakes, commonly used for recreational purposes were radiometrically characterized via alpha (238U, 234U, 232Th, 230Th, 210Po isotopes) and gamma spectrometry (238U and 232Th series radionuclides). Additionally, ambient dose rate equivalent in the immediate surrounding of each pit lake was quantified. Physico-chemical parameters (pH, specific conductivity, dissolved oxygen, oxidation-reduction potential) and elemental composition (major and trace elements by ICP-MS) were analysed in water samples and elementary composition of sediments/rocks was measured by XRF and SEM-EDX in some specific cases. A non-negligible number of pit lakes (26%) with enhanced U levels in water was found. At some sites, rocks contained up to 4% of U in areas with high degree of interaction with local population. Concerning the elementary perspective, another popular site (due to its turquoise water) was found to have elevated dissolved heavy metal levels. Results obtained in this work prove that measurement of natural radioactivity is another component that should be included in routine analysis of characterization in mining areas, especially if restauration of post-mining sites is intended for human recreational.

226Ra, 210Po and lead isotopes in a pit lake water profile in Sweden.

A pit lake arises as a consequence of anthropogenic activities in opencast mining areas. These water bodies may be enriched in hazardous stable contaminants and/or in naturally occurring radionuclides depending on the local geological conditions. Mining legacy in Sweden produced hundreds of these pit lakes and most of them are used for recreational purposes in the southern part of the country. In this paper, one pit lake was selected for having enhanced levels of natural radionuclides. Physico-chemical parameters (temperature, pH, oxidation-reduction potential, dissolved oxygen and depth), elemental composition (via Inductive Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry) and radiometric characterization (via alpha spectrometry of 226Ra, 210Po and 210Pb) were carried along the depth of a 60 m depth pit lake, with the main aim to describe how natural radionuclides and elements behaves with depth in a non-uraniferous pit lake. Based on observed changes in physico-chemical parameters, a thermocline and a chemocline region were identified at around 10 and 30 m depth respectively. Concerning radionuclides, 226Ra ranged from 75 ± 3 up to 360 ± 12 mBq/kg while 210Po ranged from 11 ± 1 up to 71 ± 3 mBq/kg. 210Pb distribution with depth was also determined via secular equilibrium with 210Po after 2 years and also stable Pb was measured. Disequilibrium 226Ra-210Pb was found and the residence time of 210Pb in the water column was assessed. Additionally, different vertical distributions between 210Pb and Pb were found which points out different sources for different lead isotopes in the water body.

Is contact allergy to disperse dyes and related substances associated with textile dermatitis?

BACKGROUND: Disperse dyes (DDs) are the most common sensitizers among textile dyes, but there is little knowledge of the clinical relevance of positive patch test reactions. OBJECTIVE: To investigate if patient-reported textile-related skin problems can be explained by contact allergy to eight different DDs and/or to chemically related substances, by occupation or by atopic constitution, and if the skin problems are influenced by age or sex. METHODS: A questionnaire on textile-related skin problems was answered by 858 of 982 consecutively patch tested patients in Malmö, Sweden and in Leuven, Belgium. The baseline series used for patch testing was supplemented with a textile dye mix (TDM) consisting of the eight DDs and with the separate dyes. The association between textile-related skin problems and contact allergy to the DDs and other risk factors was investigated using multiple logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Eighteen per cent of the patients suspected textiles as a cause of their skin problems. Atopic constitution and female sex were risk factors for skin reactions. Synthetic materials were the most common textiles to give skin problems. A significant association was found between self-reported textile-related skin problems and contact allergy to para-phenylenediamine (PPD) [adjusted odds ratio (OR) 2.1; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.0-4.3]. A similar, but more imprecise, adjusted OR was found for TDM (OR 1.9; 95% CI 0.57-5.6). Contact allergy to black rubber mix was too rare to be evaluated. CONCLUSIONS: Contact allergy to PPD was a more prevalent indicator for skin reactions to textiles than the TDM used in this study.

Validation of PCR-based protocols for the detection of Echinococcus multilocularis DNA in the final host using the Intestinal Scraping Technique as a reference.

Oral uptake of infectious Echinococcus multilocularis eggs shed by canids with their faeces may lead to development of alveolar echinococcosis in humans, which is clinically similar to a malignant infiltrative tumor and may be fatal if left untreated. E. multilocularis is therefore regarded as one of the most important and neglected metazoan parasites in the Northern hemisphere. The diagnosis of this tapeworm in the final host plays a key role in the epidemiology of E. multilocularis. The diagnostic performance of a magnetic-capture (MC) DNA extraction protocol in combination with a minor groove-binder real time PCR (MC-MGBqPCR) for the detection of E. multilocularis eggs was determined relative to a highly sensitive variant of the Intestinal Scraping Technique (IST) using faecal samples of foxes. In addition, we compared results obtained by MC-MGBqPCR with those of a previously validated protocol (QIAamp Fast DNA Stool Mini Kit (QT) combined with a TaqMan qPCR). Furthermore, a workflow using the NucleoMagVet DNA extraction kit (NM) in combination with MGBqPCR and TaqMan-qPCR was also included in the comparisons. To estimate the analytical sensitivity, phosphate-buffered saline and fox faecal samples were spiked with different numbers of eggs and tested in defined combinations of DNA extraction and PCR protocols. To assess the diagnostic sensitivity of the different workflows, samples were used that had been collected from the ampulla recti or the rectum of 120 foxes hunted in Brandenburg, Germany. The samples represented five IST categories formed according to the E. multilocularis worm burden of the foxes. For DNA extraction by MC or using two other commercial extraction kits, the supernatants obtained from 3 g of bead-beaten faecal samples were used. The extracted DNAs were then processed in the respective PCR protocols. The MC-MGBqPCR showed the highest diagnostic sensitivity (93%; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 86-97%) relative to IST. The QT extraction protocol in combination with TaqMan-qPCR had the second highest sensitivity (89%; 95% CI: 80-94%), followed by NM with MGBqPCR (86%; 95% CI: 77-93%) in comparison to IST. The lowest diagnostic sensitivity was found for the NM combined with the TaqMan-qPCR protocol (72%; 95% CI: 62-82%). In conclusion, the MC-MGBqPCR seems to represent a suitable alternative to IST. However, applied to 3 g faecal samples, the less costly QT-TaqMan-qPCR workflow yielded a similar diagnostic sensitivity relative to IST. However, differences between these two workflows were not statistically significant.

Gamma radiation doses to people living in Western Sweden.

Indoor environments contribute to gamma radiation in the general population. The aims of the present study were to investigate average gamma radiation doses in a rural and an urban area of Sweden, compare indoor dose rates with personal exposure, and study the effects of building characteristics on radiation levels. Radiation was measured with thermoluminescence dosimeters (TLDs). Repeated measurements were performed with TLDs worn by participants (n=46) and placed in their dwellings. Personal dose rates were 0.092microSv/h (rural) and 0.096microSv/h (urban). The mean effective gamma dose rates in dwellings were 0.091microSv/h (rural) and 0.11microSv/h (urban), which are higher than the world average. Dose rates in apartments were higher than in detached houses and higher for concrete than wooden dwellings. Personal dose rates were strongly associated with dwelling dose rates (r(p)=0.68, p<0.01) and could be modelled. Within-participant variability was low.

Rapid gamma spectrometric analysis of soil samples after radioactive fallout using a "conjugate view" technique.

A method for fast determination of the activity in soil samples by measuring a fresh soil core sample from both ends with an HPGe-detector is proposed. The method was tested by simulations, as well as by measurements on spiked soil samples. Both simulations and measurements showed that the geometrical mean of the count rates when the sample is measured twice, with the bottom and the top end, respectively, facing the detector closely resembles the count rate from a measurement on a homogenized sample. Therefore, an efficiency calibration for homogenized samples could be used even if the activity is highly inhomogeneous in the soil core, as is the case with fresh fallout. It was also shown that by studying the ratio between the two measurements, a rough estimation of the extent of penetration of the radionuclide in the soil can be found. This will enhance the possibility to make rapid estimations of the soil inventory by field gamma spectrometry.