Densely Populated Water Droplets in Heavy-Oil Seeps.

Most of the microbial degradation in oil reservoirs is believed to take place at the oil-water transition zone (OWTZ). However, a recent study indicates that there is microbial life enclosed in microliter-sized water droplets dispersed in heavy oil of Pitch Lake in Trinidad and Tobago. This life in oil suggests that microbial degradation of oil also takes place in water pockets in the oil-bearing rock of an oil leg independent of the OWTZ. However, it is unknown whether microbial life in water droplets dispersed in oil is a generic property of oil reservoirs rather than an exotic exception. Hence, we took samples from three heavy-oil seeps, Pitch Lake (Trinidad and Tobago), the La Brea Tar Pits (California, USA), and an oil seep on the McKittrick oil field (California, USA). All three tested oil seeps contained dispersed water droplets. Larger droplets between 1 and 10 µl revealed high cell densities of up to 109 cells ml-1 Testing for ATP content and LIVE/DEAD staining showed that these populations consist of active and viable microbial cells with an average of 60% membrane-intact cells and ATP concentrations comparable to those of other subsurface ecosystems. Microbial community analyses based on 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing revealed the presence of known anaerobic oil-degrading microorganisms. Surprisingly, the community analyses showed similarities between all three oil seeps, revealing common OTUs, although the sampling sites were thousands of kilometers apart. Our results indicate that small water inclusions are densely populated microhabitats in heavy oil and possibly a generic trait of degraded-oil reservoirs.IMPORTANCE Our results confirmed that small water droplets in oil are densely populated microhabitats containing active microbial communities. Since these microhabitats occurred in three tested oil seeps which are located thousands of kilometers away from each other, such populated water droplets might be a generic trait of biodegraded oil reservoirs and might be involved in the overall oil degradation process. Microbial degradation might thus also take place in water pockets in the oil-bearing oil legs of the reservoir rock rather than only at the oil-water transition zone.

Inhibition of sulfate-reducing bacteria with formate.

Despite hostile environmental conditions, microbial communities have been found in µL-sized water droplets enclosed in heavy oil of the Pitch Lake, Trinidad. Some droplets showed high sulfate concentrations and surprisingly low relative abundances of sulfate-reducing bacteria in a previous study. Hence, we investigated here whether sulfate reduction might be inhibited naturally. Ion chromatography revealed very high formate concentrations around 2.37 mM in 21 out of 43 examined droplets. Since these concentrations were unexpectedly high, we performed growth experiments with the three sulfate-reducing type strains Desulfovibrio vulgaris, Desulfobacter curvatus, and Desulfococcus multivorans, and tested the effects of 2.5, 8, or 10 mM formate on sulfate reduction. Experiments demonstrated that 8 or 10 mM formate slowed down the growth rate of D. vulgaris and D. curvatus and the sulfate reduction rate of D. curvatus and D. multivorans. Increasing formate concentrations delayed the onsets of growth and sulfate reduction of D. multivorans, which were even inhibited completely while formate was added constantly. Contrary to previous studies, D. multivorans was the only organism capable of formate consumption. Our study suggests that formate accumulates in the natural environment of the water droplets dispersed in oil and that such levels are very likely inhibiting sulfate-reducing microorganisms.

The role of thiocyanate in the etiology of goiter in an industrial metropolitan area.

OBJECTIVE: Thiocyanate (SCN-) has concentration dependent antithyroid properties and a role in the etiology of goiter has been suggested in several studies. In 1991 an epidemiological survey conducted in the region of Halle/Leipzig (Saxony), an area with significant air pollution, suggested an inverse relationship between urinary iodine (I-)/SCN- excretion and goiter prevalence. 10 years later, we reinvestigated the same industrial area to clarify if the situation has changed after the elimination of most industrial waste products and moreover, if SCN- excretion levels alone or in combination with air pollution or smoking as a SCN- source are critical for thyroid function. DESIGN AND METHODS: We investigated a cohort of 708 probands for I-, SCN- and creatinine excretion in spot urine samples and determined the prevalence of goiter and thyroid nodules by high resolution ultrasonography. RESULTS: Probands with goiter (n = 79, 11%) had significantly higher urinary SCN- excretions than probands without (3.9 +/- 2.8 vs 3.1 +/- 3.4 mg SCN-/g creatinine) and significantly lower urinary I-/SCN- ratios than patients without thyroid disorders (41 +/- 38 vs 61 +/- 71 microg I-/mg SCN-/l). Mean urinary I- excretions were not different between probands with or without goiter. Smokers showed significantly elevated urinary SCN-/creatinine ratios in comparison to non-smokers (4.3 +/- 4.3 vs 2.4 +/- 2.1 mg SCN-/g creatinine). ANOVA revealed a prediction of thyroid volume through age (P < 0.001), gender (P < 0.001), body weight (P < 0.05) and smoking (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In our investigation, age, gender and smoking (raising SCN- levels by CN- inhalation) were predictive for thyroid volume and the urinary I-/SCN- ratios were able to detect probands with an increased risk of developing goiter in contrast to urinary I- excretion levels alone. These data suggest, that in an era and area of decreased cyanide pollution, SCN- may remain a cofactor in the multifactorial aetiology of goiter.

Marine monitoring: Its shortcomings and mismatch with the EU Water Framework Directive's objectives.

The main goal of the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) is to achieve good ecological status across European surface waters by 2015 and as such, it offers the opportunity and thus the challenge to improve the protection of our coastal systems. It is the main example for Europe's increasing desire to conserve aquatic ecosystems. Ironically, since c. 1975 the increasing adoption of EU directives has been accompanied by a decreasing interest of, for example, the Dutch government to assess the quality of its coastal and marine ecosystems. The surveillance and monitoring started in NL in 1971 has declined since the 1980s resulting in a 35% reduction of sampling stations. Given this and interruptions the remaining data series is considered to be insufficient for purposes other than trend analysis and compliance. The Dutch marine managers have apparently chosen a minimal (cost-effective) approach despite the WFD implicitly requiring the incorporation of the system's 'ecological complexity' in indices used to evaluate the ecological status of highly variable systems such as transitional and coastal waters. These indices should include both the community structure and system functioning and to make this really cost-effective a new monitoring strategy is required with a tailor-made programme. Since the adoption of the WFD in 2000 and the launching of the European Marine Strategy in 2002 (and the recently proposed Marine Framework Directive) we suggest reviewing national monitoring programmes in order to integrate water quality monitoring and biological monitoring and change from 'station oriented monitoring' to 'basin or system oriented monitoring' in combination with specific 'cause-effect' studies for highly dynamic coastal systems. Progress will be made if the collected information is integrated and aggregated in valuable tools such as structure- and functioning-oriented computer simulation models and Decision Support Systems. The development of ecological indices integrating community structure and system functioning, such as in Ecological Network Analysis, are proposed to meet a cost-effective approach at the national level and full assessment of the ecosystem status at the EU level. The WFD offers the opportunity to re-consider and re-invest in environmental research and monitoring. Using examples from the Netherlands and, to a lesser extent, the United Kingdom, the present paper therefore reviews marine monitoring and marine environmental research in combination and in the light of such major policy initiatives such as the WFD.

Iodine nutrition, nodular thyroid disease, and urinary iodine excretion in a German university study population.

We determined the influence of different nutritional factors on the urinary iodine excretion in an East German university population. First, we assessed iodine excretion in spot urine samples. Second, we measured iodine content in the university canteen meals, where approximately 20% of the probands had regular meals. Third, we used a special food questionnaire to assess for other sources of nutritional iodine intake, namely iodine tablets, fish consumption, etc. Fourth, we determined the actual prevalence of goiter and thyroid nodules in our probands by high-resolution ultrasonography. The mean urinary iodine excretion in our cohort was 109 +/- 81 microg/g level indicating a borderline adequate iodine intake (100-200). The frequency of thyroid nodules was 30% and the frequency of goiter 11%. Thyroid volumes greater than 18 mL and 25 mL were considered to be enlarged in adult women and men respectively. Urinary iodine excretion was not related to the presence of goiter or thyroid nodules. In addition urinary iodine excretion did not vary with regular consumption of canteen meals, which contained approximately 50% of the daily recommended iodine intake. In contrast probands with regular supplementary intake of iodine tablets had significantly higher values of urinary iodine excretion (169 +/- 130 microg/g) compared to participants without (103 +/- 87 microg/g). No other single nutritional factor (e.g., salt, milk, or bread) had a statistically significant impact on urinary iodine excretion or was able to raise the urinary iodine excretion above the level of marginal iodine deficiency. In summary, the nutritional iodine intake in a Saxonian study population was found to be close to the margin of iodine deficiency. This shows insufficient supplementation of iodine through iodized salt/industrialized food production.

Interobserver variation for ultrasound determination of thyroid nodule volumes.

Thyroid ultrasound is used in the routine clinical assessment and the follow-up of thyroid disorders. The follow- up of patients with thyroid nodules is mostly based on thyroid nodule volume determinations performed by different observers. However, for the judgment of treatment effects there is uncertainty about the interobserver variation of thyroid nodule volume measurements by ultrasound because there are no prospective blinded studies available comparing the interobserver variation in thyroid nodule volume measurement. The aim of our study was therefore to determine the variation of thyroid nodule volume determinations for different observers. We conducted a prospective blinded trial. Our study population consisted of 42 probands (8 men, 34 women) with an uniform distribution of thyroid nodule sizes (25 uninodular and 17 multinodular thyroid glands). We compared the results of 3 ultrasonographers with certified experience in thyroid ultrasound. The interobserver variation for the determination of thyroid nodule volume (n = 38) was 48.96% for the ellipsoid method and 48.64% for the planimetric method. The interobserver variation for determining thyroid volume (n = 40) was 23.69% for the ellipsoid method and 17.82% for the planimetric method. A regression analysis revealed that the probability for the identification of the same nodule in nodular thyroids by all sonographers is 90%, if the nodule is at least 15mm in greatest diameter. Future investigations should not describe changes in nodule volume less than 50% as therapy effects because only volume changes of at least 49% or more can be interpreted as nodule shrinkage or growth. Reporting of nodule volume modification 50% or more and lack of information for ultrasound procedures introduce a bias in studies evaluating the effects of nodule treatments. The clinical interpretation of a shrinking/growing thyroid nodule based on volume determinations by ultrasound is not well established because it is difficult to reproduce a two-dimensional image plane for follow-up studies.

[Molecular aetiology of nodular goitre -- consequences for therapy?]. / Die Knotenstruma. Die molekulare Entstehung -- Konsequenzen für die Therapie?

Up to 15 % of the adult German population display an enlarged thyroid gland and up to 30 % present thyroid nodules. Iodine deficiency is the most important factor in the etiology of nodular goiter. Insulin-like growth factor-I is overexpressed in thyroids in severely iodine deficient areas. There is evidence that iodolactones are mediators of thyroid hormone autoregulation. However familial and twin studies demonstrated a genetic component in the etiology of nodular goiter. Linkage analysis identified two chromosomal regions (MNG-1, Xp 22) in multinodular goiter. Other possible candidate genes or markers such as TG, TPO, NIS, PDS and TSH-R were not identified. Nodular goiter certainly comprises a number of genotypes. TSH receptor mutations result in activation of the cAMP cascade. Cells with a constitutively activated cAMP cascade have an increased growth advantage due to their TSH independent cAMP stimulation. Alimentary iodine supply should be the first choice in primary prevention of nodular thyroid disease in iodine deficient areas, because prevalence of nodular goiter is negative correlated with individual iodine status in epidemiological surveys. Surgical removal of nodular goiters should include nearly the hold thyroid tissue to avoid recurrent goiter.

[A hemodynamically active type II atrial septal defect in a 78-year-old patient. Indications for interventional catheter occlusion?]. / Hämodynamisch wirksamer Vorhof-Septum-Defekt Typ II bei einer 78-jährigen Patientin. Indikation zum Katheter-interventionellen Verschluss?

HISTORY AND ADMISSION FINDINGS: A 78-year-old woman presented with a first episode of syncope. She reported increasing fatigue and dyspnoea upon exertion over a period of 20 years and chest pain 2 months prior to admission. Auscultation revealed fixed doubling of the second heart sound. INVESTIGATIONS: Laboratory tests showed increased troponin I. Transaminases were moderately elevated. Chest X-ray showed an enlarged right heart and a dilated pulmonary artery (2 cm). Echocardiography discovered a large secundum atrial septal defect with a diameter of 3 cm but no right to left shunt (no Eisenmenger reaction). Cardiac catheterization revealed a stenosis of the right coronary artery and severe systolic pulmonary hypertension of 80 mmHg. DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT AND COURSE: A significant stenosis of the right coronary artery was successfully dilated. The ASD was closed by interventional implantation of a commercial closure device (Amplatzer). One month later, echocardiography indicated in an estimated systolic pulmonary pressure of 30 mmHg. The patient's condition improved considerably. CONCLUSION: This case is remarkable in that a very large ASD was asymptomatic up into old age and without the development of an Eisenmenger reaction. Also, large ASD can be by catheterization with the appropriate closure device. Fixed pulmonary hypertension is not obligatory. Non-invasive closure is a good alternative of surgery in elderly patients with risk factors.