Transfer of elements released by aluminum galvanic anodes in a marine sedimentary compartment after long-term monitoring in harbor and laboratory environments.

Cathodic protection by galvanic anodes (GACP) is often used to protect immerged metallic structures in harbor environments, especially GACP employing aluminum-based anodes. To follow a previous study that was performed in a laboratory on Al-anode, two monitoring periods were performed in parallel, one in an in situ environment (in the Port of Calais) for 42 months and the other in a laboratory for 18 months, to evaluate the transfer of metals constituting the Al-anode towards the sedimentary compartment. During each monitoring, two conditions of agitation of water (weak and strong) were compared, and different factors of sediment quality were used to assess the enrichment and potential toxic effects of these released metals. The results showed that the dissolution of Al-anode-induced a greater Zn enrichment of sediment than an Al enrichment. This is in contrast with the abundance of these elements present in the composition of the anode and suggested a potential toxic effect for marine organisms with regards to the discovered Zn level, especially in confined areas.

A proof-of-concept study of the effectiveness of a removable device for offloading in patients with neuropathic ulceration of the foot: the Ransart boot.

AIM: To undertake a proof-of-concept study to determine whether a removable offloading device (the Ransart boot) for the management of diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) was as effective as reports of non-removable devices. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: This observational study used the Ransart boot for patients with DFU, in seven specialist centres. If a patient had two or more ulcers, one was selected as the index ulcer. Ulcers were classified by the University of Texas (UT) system. RESULTS: There were 135 patients (mean age 60.3 +/- 11.4 years); 96 (71.1%) male. Median ulcer duration at presentation was 90 [interquartile range (IQR) 30-1825] days. Seven were lost to follow-up, seven developed other major illnesses and four died; outcomes were documented in the remaining 117. Eighty-two (70.1% of 117) healed, after a median (IQR) 60 (43-99) days, while 22 (18.8%) ulcers were resolved by amputation (one major). The remaining 13 (11.1%) patients were judged non-compliant. There was a close correlation between ulcer classification at baseline and both time to healing (P < 0.001 chi(2)-test) and amputation (P < 0.001; Spearman's rank correlation coefficient). There was a positive correlation between ulcer duration at presentation and time to healing (P < 0.02), UT class (P < 0.01), glycated haemoglobin (P < 0.02) and amputation (P < 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Time to healing and incidence of amputation were comparable with those previously reported for non-removable devices. Given that a removable device is much more acceptable to the patient, the effectiveness, cost and acceptability of the removable devices, such as the Ransart boot, need to be compared with a non-removable device in a randomized trial. Diabet. Med. 26, 778-782 (2009).

Vibrio carchariae, a pathogen of the abalone Haliotis tuberculata.

Since 1997, mass mortality of the abalone Haliotis tuberculata L. has occurred in the natural environment along the French coast. The outbreak of disease started on the south coast of Brittany near Concarneau in 1997, then spread to the north of Brittany (in 1998) and the west coast of Normandy (Golfe de St. Malo in 1999). Between 60 and 80% of the abalone died. In 1999, mortality also affected a land-based abalone farm in Normandy during the summer. At this farm, a Vibrio sp. was isolated in abundance from abalone that had just died. The disease was experimentally reproduced by inoculation or by introducing the pathogen into the surrounding water. This vibrio, identified by genotypic and phenotypic characters, is related to V carchariae. It is similar to the V carchariae, responsible for mortality in the Japanese abalone Sulculus diversicolor supratexta, but some phenotypic characters differentiate both strains. In 2000, healthy abalone placed in 2 sites on the north and south coasts of Brittany died, and the pathogen V carchariae could be isolated from dead individuals, demonstrating that the pathogen was probably the cause of the abalone disease that has been occurring since 1997 in Brittany.