Leaching of mercury-containing cement monoliths aged for one year.

A directive from the Swedish Government states that waste containing more than 1% of mercury shall be permanently deposited. The stabilization of mercury by conversion to a sparingly soluble compound like the sulphide is crucial to ensure long-term immobilization in a permanent storage. Immobilization by the solidification/stabilization (S/S) method and possible formation of HgS from mercury oxide or elemental mercury by reaction with a sulphur source (S or FeS) is investigated by a modified version of the NEN 7345 Dutch tank-leaching test. The diffusion of mercury during 11 months from 1-year-old mercury containing monoliths of Portland and slag cement is demonstrated. In a geologic repository under conditions representative of deep granitic bedrock (bicarbonate buffered to pH 8.6), a favourable monolith combination is slag cement with addition of the iron sulphide troilite. The apparent diffusion coefficient of mercury is estimated.

[Time to limit the use of antibiotics in rosacea!] / Dags att minska användningen av antibiotika vid rosacea - Isotretinoin bör övervägas vid frekventa recidiv ­ lokalbehandling fortfarande förstahandsterapi.

Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory disease with facial erythema and papulopustules. It is common in middle-aged/elderly persons and often affects self-perception and social well-being. It is generally classified into four subtypes. Improved understanding of pathophysiology has resulted in novel treatment approaches, but routine management in health care usually follows old trails. Most patients are managed in primary care. Greater attention to the reduced skin barrier, avoidance of exacerbating factors, better topicals and encouragement to topical maintenance treatment should reduce the use of oral tetracyclines. Low-dose isotretinoin is reserved for treatment-resistant patients, but relapses are frequent unlike its use in acne. In order to reduce antibiotic use, we propose that patients should be referred to a dermatologist for optimization of therapy including consideration of isotretinoin following tetracycline treatment of a maximum of 4-6 months.

Diffusion tests of mercury through concrete, bentonite-enhanced sand and sand.

The transport by diffusion of Hg(II) and Hg(0) through a barrier of concrete or bentonite-enhanced sand was examined under aerobic conditions. Sand was used as a reference system parallel to the two systems. Speciation of mercury was performed with a purge and trap method, where dissolved Hg(0) was purged with nitrogen gas from the sample, through a trap for volatile oxidized mercury species and finally trapped in an oxidative solution. The apparent diffusion coefficient (from Fick's second law of diffusion) for oxidized mercury was 1 x 10(-14)m(2)/s in Standard Portland concrete and 4 x 10(-13)m(2)/s in quartz sand. The diffusion of Hg(0) seemed to be faster than for Hg(II), Hg(0) was however oxidized to Hg(II) under aerobic conditions, and after 45 months only 1-10% of the total mercury concentration was Hg(0).

Formation of cinnabar--estimation of favourable conditions in a proposed Swedish repository.

A deep repository for permanent storage of mercury will be designed and built in Sweden. The preferred chemical state for mercury in such a repository would be the sulphide HgS (cinnabar), which is a highly insoluble and the dominating natural mercury mineral. The possible formation of HgS from HgO or Hg(0) by reaction with a sulphur source (S, FeS or FeS(2)) is discussed from thermodynamic considerations, and pe-pH-diagrams are constructed by using the computer code MEDUSA to illustrate under which conditions HgS would dominate. Calculations of the speciation (PHREEQE) under varying conditions (S/Hg-ratios, presence of chloride) are given. Long-term laboratory experiments are performed, where the formation of HgS from the basic components is demonstrated (after mixing under various conditions and storage at room temperature for up to 3 years). The feasibility of HgS-formation with time in a geologic repository under conditions representative of deep granitic bedrock (calcium-bicarbonate buffered to pH 7-8.5) is discussed, as well as effects of alkaline conditions (concrete environment, pH 10.5-12.5). Formation of soluble polysulphides is not expected as long as the S/Hg mole ratio is within 1-1.3 and pH is below 10.5-11. Concrete should be used with caution. Suitable ballast materials could be introduced that would reduce porewater-pH that otherwise would be above 12.

Influence of childhood atopic dermatitis on future worklife.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to perform a population-based follow-up of people with childhood atopic dermatitis with respect to the possible influence on their worklife. METHODS: Medical records of the school health care services in Stockholm, Sweden, were reviewed for people born between 1960 and 1969. Altogether 600 persons with signs of atopic dermatitis ("cases") and 600 matched controls without eczema ("controls") were identified. Of these people, 405 cases and 378 controls answered a postal questionnaire focusing on choice of job, occupational exposure, past and present skin disease, and change of job due to eczema. RESULTS: The proportions of cases and controls in jobs with a high risk of hand eczema were similar, as was the exposure to water, detergents, chemicals, and hand washing. The self-reported cumulative prevalence of hand eczema was 42% for the cases and 13% for the controls (P<0.001). The 1-year prevalence was 24% for the cases and 9% for the controls (P<0.001). Among the cases, 9% reported a change of job due to eczema compared with 2% of the controls (P<0.001). The corresponding proportions of sick leave were 10% and 2% (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, a history of atopic dermatitis in childhood does not seem to influence the choice of job nor hazardous occupational skin exposure. It does, however, mean an increased risk for job changes, sick leave, and medical consultations, mainly due to the increased risk of hand eczema.

Genome-wide association analysis identifies loci for type 2 diabetes and triglyceride levels.

New strategies for prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2D) require improved insight into disease etiology. We analyzed 386,731 common single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 1464 patients with T2D and 1467 matched controls, each characterized for measures of glucose metabolism, lipids, obesity, and blood pressure. With collaborators (FUSION and WTCCC/UKT2D), we identified and confirmed three loci associated with T2D-in a noncoding region near CDKN2A and CDKN2B, in an intron of IGF2BP2, and an intron of CDKAL1-and replicated associations near HHEX and in SLC30A8 found by a recent whole-genome association study. We identified and confirmed association of a SNP in an intron of glucokinase regulatory protein (GCKR) with serum triglycerides. The discovery of associated variants in unsuspected genes and outside coding regions illustrates the ability of genome-wide association studies to provide potentially important clues to the pathogenesis of common diseases.

Pharmacodynamic effects of nitroimidazoles alone and in combination with clarithromycin on Helicobacter pylori.

Pharmacodynamic studies of Helicobacter pylori exposed to metronidazole and tinidazole alone and in combination with clarithromycin were performed by bioluminescence assay of intracellular ATP. The pharmacodynamic parameter control-related effective regrowth time (CERT) was used. CERT is defined as the time required for the resumption of logarithmic growth and a return of the level of growth to the preexposure inoculum in the test culture minus the corresponding time in the control culture. CERT measures the combined effects of the initial level of killing and postantibiotic effect. The incubation times and drug concentrations were chosen according to their half-lives and their clinically achievable concentrations. The study shows that the parameter CERT is useful for the testing of antibiotic combinations. The CERTs induced by clarithromycin, metronidazole, and tinidazole alone and in the combinations tested were concentration dependent, with no maximum response, indicating that the use of high doses may be preferable. The combinations with the highest concentrations induced synergistic effects and prevented regrowth. The use of tinidazole in combination with clarithromycin proved to give the longest CERTs, indicating that this is the most effective combination.

Different IgE reactivity profiles in birch pollen-sensitive patients from six European populations revealed by recombinant allergens: an imprint of local sensitization.

BACKGROUND: Sensitivity to birch pollen allergens is a common feature among European patients with seasonal pollen allergy. In this in vitro study, we examined the specific serum IgE binding profiles to individual birch pollen allergens in birch-sensitive patients from six European populations. METHODS: The study included 242 patients from Finland, Sweden, Austria, France, Switzerland and Italy. All suffered from seasonal rhinoconjunctivitis and/or asthma. Their sera were analyzed for specific IgE reactivity to individual birch pollen allergens (recombinant Bet v 1, Bet v 2 and Bet v 4) and natural birch pollen extract using Pharmacia CAP System and immunoblotting. RESULTS: Almost all Finnish, Swedish and Austrian sera contained IgE specific for Bet v 1 (>or=98%). Bet v 1-specific IgE antibodies were found in 90% of the French sera, and in 65 and 62% of the sera from Switzerland and Italy, respectively. Few Finnish (2%) and Swedish (12%) patients had IgE to Bet v 2, while Bet v 2 reactivity was more common in the other populations (20-43%). Reactivity to Bet v 4 was rare in all populations (5-11%) except for the Italian patients, in whom 3 of 11 sera were positive (27%). The immunoblot results supported the specific IgE profiles obtained with Pharmacia CAP System showing a broader IgE reactivity profile in patients from central and southern Europe as compared to northern Europe. CONCLUSION: Component-resolved allergy diagnosis with recombinant allergens reveals that the IgE reactivity profiles to individual birch pollen allergens vary between European populations. This observation may be explained by sensitization to different allergen sources and will have an impact on allergen-specific prevention and therapy strategies.