Systematic review: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and construction workers.

BACKGROUND: Between 15 and 20% of prevalent cases of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have been attributed to occupational exposures to vapours, gases, dusts and fumes. Dust at construction sites is still a challenge, but no overview exists of COPD among construction workers. AIMS: To assess the occurrence of COPD among construction workers. METHODS: We performed a systematic search in PubMed and Embase between 1 January 1990 and 31 August 2016 in order to identify epidemiological studies with a risk estimate for either COPD morbidity/mortality or a spirometry-based definition of airway obstruction among workers in the construction industry. The authors independently assessed studies to determine their eligibility and performed a quality assessment of the included papers. RESULTS: Twelve studies were included. Nine studies found a statistically significant association between COPD and work in the construction industry, although only among never-smokers in one study and only for the period after 2000 in another study. One study found that the annual decline in forced expiratory volume in 1 s was significantly higher among construction workers compared with bus drivers. CONCLUSIONS: This review suggests that COPD occurs more often among construction workers than among workers who are not exposed to construction dust. It is not possible to draw any conclusions on specific subgroups as most studies analysed construction workers as one united group. In addition, no potential exposure-effect relationship could be identified.

A novel holistic framework for genetic-based captive-breeding and reintroduction programs.

Research in reintroduction biology has provided a greater understanding of the often limited success of species reintroductions and highlighted the need for scientifically rigorous approaches in reintroduction programs. We examined the recent genetic-based captive-breeding and reintroduction literature to showcase the underuse of the genetic data gathered. We devised a framework that takes full advantage of the genetic data through assessment of the genetic makeup of populations before (past component of the framework), during (present component), and after (future component) captive-breeding and reintroduction events to understand their conservation potential and maximize their success. We empirically applied our framework to two small fishes: Yarra pygmy perch (Nannoperca obscura) and southern pygmy perch (Nannoperca australis). Each of these species has a locally adapted and geographically isolated lineage that is endemic to the highly threatened lower Murray-Darling Basin in Australia. These two populations were rescued during Australia's recent decade-long Millennium Drought, when their persistence became entirely dependent on captive-breeding and subsequent reintroduction efforts. Using historical demographic analyses, we found differences and similarities between the species in the genetic impacts of past natural and anthropogenic events that occurred in situ, such as European settlement (past component). Subsequently, successful maintenance of genetic diversity in captivity-despite skewed brooder contribution to offspring-was achieved through carefully managed genetic-based breeding (present component). Finally, genetic monitoring revealed the survival and recruitment of released captive-bred offspring in the wild (future component). Our holistic framework often requires no additional data collection to that typically gathered in genetic-based breeding programs, is applicable to a wide range of species, advances the genetic considerations of reintroduction programs, and is expected to improve with the use of next-generation sequencing technology.

Lipocalin 2 performs contrasting, location-dependent roles in APCmin tumor initiation and progression.

Evidence that lipocalin 2 (LCN2) is oncogenic has grown in recent years and comes from both animal models and expression analysis from a variety of human cancers. In the intestine, LCN2 is overexpressed in colitis patients and its overexpression is a negative prognostic indicator in colorectal cancer. Functionally, LCN2 has a number of different activities that may contribute to its oncogenic potential, including increasing matrix metalloproteinase activity, control of iron availability and stimulating inflammation. In this report, we examined APCmin intestinal tumorigenesis in an LCN2-deficient background. We found that the loss of LCN2 increased tumor multiplicity specifically in the duodenum, suggesting a potential tumor-suppressive activity. Concurrently, however, LCN2 increased the average small intestinal tumor size particularly in the distal small intestine. We found that this increase was correlated to tumor iron(II) content, suggesting that an iron-scavenging role is important for LCN2 oncogenic activity in the intestine.

Activation procedures in the electroencephalograms of healthy and epileptic cats under propofol anaesthesia.

The current study evaluated the diagnostic value of electroencephalographic recordings (EEG) in cats with epilepsy under special consideration of photic stimulation and hyperventilation. EEGs in six healthy cats were recorded under light (mean dose of 0.23 mg/kg/min) and deep (mean dose of 0.7 mg/kg/min) propofol anaesthesia, whereas EEGs in 13 diseased cats were recorded under a propofol anaesthesia which was kept as light as possible (mean dose of 0.39 mg/kg/min). Paroxysmal discharges were detected in six of 13 cats suffering from seizures (two cats with idiopathic epilepsy and four cats with symptomatic epilepsy). Activation techniques did not enhance the diagnostic value of the EEGs. Photic driving was detected in one of six healthy cats under light, in five of six healthy cats under deep propofol anaesthesia and in 11 of 13 cats with seizures. Systematic use of activation techniques does not seem to increase the diagnostic yield of the recorded EEGs and should not be used in a clinical setting until future studies indicate value. Further investigations into the origin of photic driving under propofol anaesthesia are needed and could lead to the development of a reliable animal model to research into drug effects on the EEG.

Disease progression and treatment response of idiopathic epilepsy in Australian Shepherd dogs.

BACKGROUND: Idiopathic epilepsy (IE) in Australian Shepherds (ASs) occurs worldwide but there is a lack of description of the epilepsy syndrome in this breed. The ABCB1-1Δ mutation is more prevalent in ASs than in many other dog breeds. HYPOTHESIS: Australian Shepherds suffer from a poorly controlled IE syndrome with prevailing severe courses. Seizure control and ABCB1-1Δ mutation might be related in this breed. ANIMALS: Fifty ASs diagnosed with IE and 50 unaffected ASs. METHODS: Predominant study design is a longitudinal cohort study. Pedigrees, medical records, seizure, and treatment data of ASs with IE were analyzed descriptively. Sex, color, and the ABCB1-1Δ genotype were compared between case and control groups and ASs with poorly or well-controlled seizures. Differences in survival times were assessed by logrank tests and Cox regression analysis. RESULTS: Idiopathic epilepsy in ASs is dominated by moderate and severe clinical courses with the occurrence of cluster seizures and status epilepticus and a high seizure frequency. Poor seizure control and a high initial seizure frequency (≥10 seizure days/first 6 months) are associated with shorter survival times (P < .05). Poor seizure control, unrelated to the ABCB1(MDR1) genotype, is evident in 56% of epileptic ASs. Pedigree analysis suggests a genetic basis. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Frequent severe clinical courses, poor seizure control unrelated to the ABCB1(MDR1) genotype, and a young age at death compromise animal welfare and warrant further genetic studies to unravel the underlaying molecular mechanisms of IE and seizure control in the breed.

[Computed tomography of the pig lung. An innovative approach to the definition of the pulmonary health status]. / Computertomographie der Lunge des Schweines. Ein innovativer Ansatz zur Definition des Lungengesundheitsstatus.

OBJECTIVE: In veterinary medicine computed tomography (CT) imaging has gained importance in recent years, especially for diagnostics in pets, but also during the course of experimental studies in animal models for human medicine. In this study the applicability of CT as an imaging method for the depiction of the porcine thorax and in particular of the pig lung was evaluated. MATERIAL AND METHODS: CT examinations were performed with 11 healthy pigs of two age groups. For evaluation, CT findings were related to clinical, radiological, macroscopical, microscopical, and microbiological findings. RESULTS: Clinically relevant anatomical structures were determined and recorded using transverse slices. In ventral recumbency, lung parenchyma density measurements at the levels of the second, fourth and seventh thoracic vertebrae resulted in significantly higher densities of the ventral in comparison to those of the dorsal lung quadrants. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Computed tomography is a valuable tool for the high-contrast depiction of the porcine lung without superposition. In future studies this CT reference base for unaltered pig lungs may facilitate the identification of anatomical structures within the porcine lung as well as the assessment of pathological lung alterations.

Epilepsy in Border Collies: clinical manifestation, outcome, and mode of inheritance.

BACKGROUND: There is a lack of data on idiopathic epilepsy (IE) in Border Collies (BCs) in the veterinary literature. HYPOTHESIS: Genetic epilepsy occurs in BCs and is frequently characterized by a severe clinical course and poor response to medical treatment. ANIMALS: Forty-nine BCs diagnosed with IE. METHODS: Medical records, seizure data, treatment data, and pedigree information of affected dogs were collected. Cases were classified phenotypically as affected or not affected; mild, moderate, or severe clinical course; active epilepsy (AE) or remission; and drug resistant or not drug resistant. RESULTS: Clinical manifestations were classified as having a moderate (33%) or severe clinical course (49%), characterized by a high prevalence of cluster seizures and status epilepticus. Survival time was significantly decreased in dogs < 2 years of age at seizure onset, and in dogs with a severe clinical course. Drug resistance was apparent in 71% of 24 dogs treated with > 2 antiepileptic drugs. The epilepsy remission rate was 18%. Median age at onset was significantly higher and initial seizure frequency was significantly lower in dogs with remission compared with dogs with AE. Pedigree analyses indicated a strong genetic founder effect in the appearance of epilepsy, resembling autosomal recessive inheritance. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: The present study confirms the occurrence of genetically mediated epilepsy with a frequent severe clinical course and drug resistance in BCs. The results provide information about the long-term prognosis of IE in BCs for veterinarians and concerned owners, and may benefit breeders as well.

Barbiturate intoxication in two dogs confirmed by toxicological urinalysis.

Two dogs were presented within 24 hours to the Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery at the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover for investigation of the sudden onset of neurological abnormalities following a walk in the same park. One dog was observed ingesting a piece of meat. Analysis of urine by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry from each of the dogs identified the presence of barbiturates. Both dogs recovered with supportive treatment. This is the first report to describe the use of toxicological urinalysis with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for the diagnosis of barbiturate intoxication in dogs.

The surgical treatment of cubital tunnel syndrome: a decision analysis.

The objective of our study was to use decision analysis to compare four common surgical treatments for cubital tunnel syndrome: simple decompression of the cubital tunnel, medial epicondylectomy, anterior subcutaneous transposition and anterior submuscular transposition. The variables used for this decision analysis model were based on data from the literature. Extensive sensitivity analyses were carried out to test the impact of the values given to these variables on the outcome of the model. The highest expected utility, 0.973, was associated with simple decompression. The expected utility was 0.969 for subcutaneous transposition and 0.965 for submuscular transposition. Medial epicondylectomy had the lowest expected utility at 0.961. Simple decompression remained the preferred strategy in extensive one-way sensitivity analyses.

Enhanced solubilization of arsenic and 2,3,4,6 tetrachlorophenol from soils by a cyclodextrin derivative.

The application of extracting aqueous solutions with cyclodextrins in several soil remediation technologies has been increasingly studied but little is known about their removal capacities toward the inorganic species. Herein, the effectiveness of cyclodextrins (CDs) in extracting arsenic, copper, and iron from a mining soil is presented. In a preliminary test of four types of CD aqueous solutions, only the addition of carboxylmethyl-beta-cyclodextrin CMCD (a cyclodextrin derivative) led to a significant enhancement in arsenic removal. An increase in the concentration of copper and iron in the leachates was also observed with CMCD. Kinetic study of arsenic release was carried out at two temperatures (20 and 35 degrees C). The arsenic concentration in the leachates increases with increasing cyclodextrin concentration. At an 80 mM CMCD concentration, arsenic, copper, and iron released in filtrates were about 20-, 1,000-, and 4,000-fold greater, respectively, than that obtained using deionized water. In the soil system, the CMCD capacity removal was found to be higher for cations than for arsenic. Because the tetrachlorophenol can co-occur with arsenic and copper in several contaminated sites, its solubilization by CMCD was also investigated. Extraction experiments were performed to extract 2,3,4,6 tetrachlorophenol (TeCP) in spiked soil with CMCD. The results of batch experiments have shown that CMCD could significantly increase the TeCP extraction from soil. CD sorption on soils as quantified by a fluorescence technique was low, indicating no significant loss of CD during the leaching experiments. The use of CMCD as a flushing agent to enhance the removal of both inorganic and organic pollutants from mixed-contaminated soils appears as a promising remediation method.

Enhanced solubilization and removal of naphthalene and phenanthrene by cyclodextrins from two contaminated soils.

The development of innovative methods for cleaning contaminated soils has emerged as a significant environmental priority. Herein, are investigated the effectiveness of cyclodextrin (CD) to solubilize and to extract organic pollutants from soils. The interactions in the cyclodextrin/pollutant/soil system have been studied "step by step" using two kinds of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), naphthalene (Nap) and phenanthrene (Phe), cyclodextrins and soils. Inclusion complex formation of PAH with beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) and hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HPCD) has been investigated and was proposed as a way to facilitate the pollutant removal from soil. Little effect of ionic strength was observed on CD complex formation for both compounds. The solubility of PAH in 50 g L(-1) of HPCD was enhanced 20- and 90-fold for naphthalene and phenanthrene, respectively. Batch experiments were performed to study the adsorption-desorption of two PAH on two soils and the influence of CDs over these processes. These experiments were also conducted with a mixture of two PAH. The batch desorption results indicate that removal capacity of HPCD was higher than that of beta-CD. Phenanthrene was strongly sorbed on soils, this led to low desorption rates compared to that of naphthalene, whatever the extracting agent used. When HPCD solution was used as a flushing agent, 80% of naphthalene and 64% of phenanthrene recovery from soil were observed. For both compounds, the slowest desorption rate was found for the soil that had the greatest content of organic matter. CD sorption on soils, was relatively low and depended on soil type. The soil organic matter (SOM) could favor the retention of both CD and pollutant involving the extraction rate to be decreased. A competitive hydrophobic interactions of pollutant between SOM and CD molecules, and co-sorption were expected to be the mechanism for the inhibited desorption.

[Video-assisted endoscopic sinus revision for treatment of chronic, unilateral odontogenic maxillary sinusitis]. / Die videoassistierte endoskopische Sinusrevision zur Therapie der chronischen einseitigen dentogenen Sinusitis maxillaris.

BACKGROUND: The proportion of dental causes of maxillary sinusitis is estimated between 10% and 40%. The mechanisms are manifold and originate from the close relation of the side teeth and the maxillary sinus. In the past, the transantral approach was commonly used by maxillofacial surgeons as their first choice. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 01/1999 and 10/2001 38 patients underwent endoscopic surgery controlled via the fossa canina. Apart from the mandatory treatment of the dental focus and the mucosal pathologies, a fenestration to the middle meatus of the nose was performed in 7 cases. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The dental medical history, OPG, CT scans in coronary plane, endoscopic findings, and histology showed the commonly "silent" course of dental sinusitis. Typical findings in CT scans are unilateral basal maxillary opacities adjacent to the molar and premolar teeth. In 20% of the cases there was also a blockade of the infundibulum. All patients were reexamined 6-12 months postoperatively. The patients are free of symptoms, but sometimes suffer from headaches. An exact diagnosis and the clear separation of rhinogenic causes are vital points for the therapy of dental sinusitis. In cases of unilateral sinusitis, a comprehensive investigation by the maxillofacial surgeon should be recommended. Video-assisted endoscopic sinus revision is preferable to the transantral approach and is especially suitable for the treatment of mucosal retention cysts, the removal of foreign bodies, endoscopically controlled resections of apical roots, elevations of the sinus floor, and dental implants. If the ethmoidal infundibulum and maxillary ostium are open, no fenestration is needed. In cases of blockade, fenestration to the middle nose canal is indicated.

Solubilization of the neutral and charged forms of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol by beta-cyclodextrin, methyl-beta-cyclodextrin and hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin in water.

The solubilities of the neutral and charged forms of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (TCP) in beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) and two of its most used derivatives: methyl-beta-cyclodextrin (MCD) and hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HPCD) solutions were investigated. The three cyclodextrins were found to form 1:1 inclusion complexes. Binding constants estimated from an enhancement solubility method revealed that the stability of the complexes was dependent on the polarity of the compound and on the cyclodextrin used.In general, weaker binding constants were observed for TCP with beta-CD than with HPCD or MCD. The solubilization efficiencies towards TCP can be ranked in the following order: MCD > HPCD > beta-CD. For all cyclodextrins, the stability constant of neutral TCP (logK(ow)=3.85) was larger than that of charged TCP (logK(ow)=1.4).A precipitation occurred in TCP/beta-CD solution (around 10 g/l beta-CD concentration) at pH 3. However, this phenomenon is not observed for TCP/beta-CD solution at pH 8.8.

The cause of delirium in patients with hip fracture.

OBJECTIVES: To ascertain the most common causes of delirium, to establish the initiation and timing of delirium, and to determine the duration of delirium in patients with hip fracture. METHODS: Five hundred seventy-one (88%) of 650 patients with hip fracture admitted to 4 New York City hospitals were prospectively interviewed on a daily basis, 5 days a week, with the Confusion Assessment Method for the presence of delirium. The patients were enrolled within 48 hours of admission. Their medical charts and the data collected by the study staff were reviewed and summarized. Two of us (R.S.M. and A.L.S.) reviewed the case summaries independently and assigned a cause based on a previously developed classification system, estimated the onset of the delirious episode, and determined whether the delirium had cleared, improved, or persisted at discharge. Subsequently, discrepancies in cause, timing of initiation, and mental status on discharge between the 2 physicians reviewers were discussed until consensus was reached. RESULTS: The prevalence of delirium was 9.5% (54/ 571; 95% confidence interval, 7.0-11.9). Seven percent of episodes were assigned a definite cause, 20% a probable cause, 11% a possible cause, and 61% were attributable to 1 or more comorbid conditions. Twenty-eight (53%) of 54 subjects developed delirium after surgery. The delirium had cleared or improved in 40 (74%) of 54 subjects at the time of discharge. CONCLUSIONS: Delirium in patients with hip fracture appears to be a different syndrome from that observed in patients who are otherwise medically ill; it also appears to follow a different clinical course. These results have important implications for the management of delirium in patients with hip fracture.

[Papillary carcinoma of the thyroid in a thyroglossal duct cyst with metastasis to an ipsilateral cervical lymph node]. / Metastasiertes dystopes papilläres Schilddrüsenkarzinom in einer medianen Halszyste.

A 22-year-old male presented with a submandibular cystic mass in the ENT Clinic of Berlin-Buch. Histopathology revealed a dystopic papillary carcinoma in a thyroglossal duct cyst. Worldwide only about 150 cases are known. We describe our diagnostic and therapeutic procedures employed and included tumor excision, bilateral neck dissections and total thyroidectomy. No abnormalities in the thyroid gland but a metastatic carcinoma was uncovered in an ipsilateral lymph node in the jugular foramen area. A preoperative (99) Tc-thyroid scan and MRI study had not shown any evidence for a malignant tumor. The therapeutic approach advocated in literature is controversial but the intraoperative findings in our patient supported our decision to choose a relatively radical but not mutilating therapy.

Comparative clinical evaluation of the 13C-mixed triglyceride breath test as an indirect pancreatic function test.

BACKGROUND: Breath tests using stable isotopes of carbon or hydrogen are increasingly becoming established for the evaluation of various gastrointestinal functions, including measurement of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. We wanted to evaluate the clinical relevance of the non-invasive, non-radioactive 13C-mixed triglyceride breath test in comparison with the secretin-caerulein test as the 'gold standard' of pancreatic function testing and with faecal chymotrypsin and elastase 1 in patients with mild and severe exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. METHODS: The secretin-caerulein test, faecal fat analysis, 13C-mixed triglyceride breath test, faecal elastase 1, and chymotrypsin and various morphologic investigations were done in 26 patients with mild (n = 13) or severe (n = 13) exocrine pancreatic insufficiency and 25 patients with gastrointestinal diseases of non-pancreatic origin. Twenty-seven healthy volunteers served as normal controls. After a 12-h fast 200 mg mixed triglyceride (1,3-distearyl,2(carboxyl-13C)octanoyl glycerol) were orally administered with a test meal, and breath samples were taken before and at 30-min intervals for 5 h thereafter, and the increase in 13C/12C isotopic ratio in breath was analysed by mass spectrometry. Various modifications of the test procedure were investigated. RESULTS: Specificity for impaired pancreatic function was higher for faecal elastase (90%) and equal for faecal chymotrypsin (82%) as compared with the various variables of the 13C-mixed triglyceride breath test (69-85%). The sensitivity of the 13C-mixed triglyceride breath test for total and separately for mild and severe exocrine pancreatic insufficiency was higher (total, 69-81%) than that of faecal chymotrypsin (total, 56%) but lower than faecal elastase (total, 92%). CONCLUSION: The 13C-mixed triglyceride breath test very sensitively reflects severe exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (steatorrhoea) but has limited sensitivity for the detection of mild cases. With regard to the higher sensitivity and specificity, the higher practicability, and the much lower cost, determination of faecal elastase 1 concentrations is superior to the 13C-mixed triglyceride breath test and therefore remains the most reliable indirect pancreatic function test available today.

The gene for the major protein (SVSP109) of bovine semen: structure and promoter analysis.

We have characterized the gene of SVSP109, specifying the bovine secretory protein SVSP109, which is synthesized in a tissue- as well as species-specific manner. Approximately 1.3 kb upstream of the SVSP109 gene, the 3'-end of another gene designated HG5 was identified. The HG5 gene fragment comprises exon (n-1) and exon (n), separated by an intron. Exon (n) contains the complete 3'-untranslated region, whereas exon (n-1) encodes the C-terminal part of a hitherto unknown protein with high homology to SVSP109. The sequenced region of 6956 bp of a bovine genomic clone comprised the complete SVSP109 gene, which is made up of five exons and four introns. Primer extension analysis and RTPCR of poly(A+)RNA from seminal vesicle revealed that the first exon 1 extends to a position 34 bp downstream of the TATA sequence. Employing a CAT assay, a definitive but weak promoter activity was detected in pCATeSVSP15 (base pairs -639 to +574) and pCATeSVSP10 (base pairs -639 to +198); pCATeSVSP6 (base pairs -262 to +65) displayed promoter activity similar to the positive control. We conclude from these results that the TATA sequence located at position -34 is part of the functional promoter of the SVSP109 gene.

[Definitive therapy of supraventricular tachycardia using high frequency current catheter ablation]. / Definitive Therapie supraventrikulärer Tachykardien mittels Hochfrequenzstrom-Katheterablation.

BACKGROUND: Catheter ablation using radiofrequency current has been proven to be an effective and save tool for the treatment of adult patients with accessory atrioventricular pathways and with atrioventricular nodal reentry tachycardia. This study was designed to analyse the efficacy of this method in children and adolescents. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Using radiofrequency current, catheter ablation of an accessory pathway or of AV nodal reentry tachycardia was performed in 13 patients (mean age 12.7 years) with drug-refractory supraventricular tachycardia. Radiofrequency current was applied through a 6 French steerable catheter positioned against the mitral or tricuspid anulus. Criteria for radiofrequency current application (at 70 degrees C or with 30 W) were the recording of an accessory pathway potential or a local atrioventricular interval < 40 ms. In the patient with atrioventricular nodal reentry tachycardia, a potential of the slow pathway was recorded. RESULTS: In 6 of 7 patients with left-sided accessory pathways and in 4 of 5 patients with right-sided connections, conduction over these pathways was permanently interrupted. In the patient with atrioventricular nodal reentry tachycardia, radiofrequency current eliminated the tachycardia without affecting normal atrioventricular nodal conduction. In a patient with an anteroseptal pathway, induction of atrioventricular block was inevitable. No other complications were noted. CONCLUSION: Catheter ablation using radiofrequency current is a highly effective method for definite treatment of supraventricular tachycardia in children and adolescents.