bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cr and Hg toxicity assessed in situ using the structural and functional characteristics of algal communities
Authors: Singh A. K. , Rai L. C. 
Published: October 2006

AbstractThe toxicity of mercury and chromium on algal community structure have been assessed using in situ N2ase activity, pigment diversity, autotrophic index, and 14C uptake of algae. The location was in the river Ganga and controlled ecosystem pollution experiment enclosures were used. Maximum inhibition of algal number was observed at 0.8 μg Hg mL−1 followed by 8.0 μg Cr mL−1. Unicellular forms, except for Anorthoneis excentrica, were very sensitive to test metals used. The decline in algal number was concentration dependent and metal specific at generic and species levels. Complete elimination of three and six species was observed respectively at 8.0 μg Cr mL−1 and 0.8 μg Hg mL−1 after 12 days' exposure. Likewise, a concentration‐dependent and metal‐specific increase in autotrophic index and pigment diversity of phytoplankton was recorded for Hg and Cr. Inhibition of 14C uptake of phytoplankton in Ganga water was almost equal (79%) at 0.8 μg Hg mL−1 and 8.0 μg Cr mL−1 (78%). Although complete inhibition of in situ N2ase was observed at 0.8 μg Hg mL−1, it was only 80% with 8.0 μg Cr mL−1. Our study suggests that heavy metals inhibit both structural and functional variables of phytoplankton in field microcosms. Hence this technique seems to hold potential for the biomonitoring of heavy metal toxicity in the field.
Evaluating three simple methods to assess the microbial quality of drinking water in Indonesia
Authors: Kromoredjo P. , Fujioka R. S. 
Published: October 2006

AbstractThree simple microbial tests [H2S paper strip, lauryl tryptose broth + 4‐methyl‐umbelliferyl‐β‐d‐glucoronide (LTB + MUG), Colilert] were used to assess the microbial quality of water in the distribution system of Banjarmasin, the capital city of South Kalimantan Province (Borneo), Indonesia. Martapura River, the source of the drinking water, is contaminated with total coliform, Escherichia coli, and hydrogen sulfide producing bacteria. However, this water is treated and chlorinated to a residual of 1.0 mg/L before it is distributed to the city. No coliform or hydrogen sulfide producing bacteria were detected in the chlorinated water leaving the treatment plant. A total of 46 water samples were obtained from public taps at three subdistricts in the city located 2–8 km from the water treatment plant. Residual chlorine levels ranging from 0.0 to 0.8 mg/L were detected in the 46 drinking water samples. Of these, 47.8% was positive by the H2S test and the Colilert test. The LTB + MUG test was positive in 45.7% of these 46 water samples. Virtually all (96–100%) of the coliform positive samples contained E. coli. The H2S test appears to be a reliable, inexpensive, and especially suitable to assess the microbiological quality of drinking water in Indonesia.
Toxicity screening of phenol using microtox
Authors: Ghosh S. K. , Doctor P. B. 
Published: October 2006

AbstractThe EC50 values of phenol (50% decrease in light output) have been determined by using the MicrotoxTM system and Photobacterium phosphorium as the sensor organism. Effects of various physical and chemical factors like pH, temperature, time, aging, etc., have been worked out. The EC50 values of phenol (mg/L) at 15°C have been found to be 23.28, 25.61, and 26.01 for 5‐, 15‐, and 30‐min incubation periods, respectively. It is also suggested that factors like pH, aging of bacteria, salt concentration, etc., should be indicated when stating EC50 values to facilitate comparison with results obtained by other workers.
A bloom of Prymnesium parvum Carter in a small coastal inlet in Dragsfjärd, southwestern Finland
Authors: Lindholm Tore , Virtanen Teija 
Published: October 2006

AbstractA bloom of Prymnesium parvum Carter and fish mortality occurred in June 1990 in a coastal inlet in Dragsfjärd, southwestern Finland. The highest concentrations of P. parvum exceeded 50,000 cells/mL. Chemical analyses done in early July during the decline of the bloom showed total phosphorus values of 30–36, total nitrogen values of 710–810, and chlorophyll a concentrations below 10μg/L. The levels were about 50% lower in the archipelago outside the inlet where low numbers of P. parvum occurred. Flagella of living P. parvum cells showed an autofluorescence, which may be of diagnostic value.
Interaction effect, food effect, and bioaccumulation of cadmium and chromium for the system daphnia magna‐chlorella ellipsoidea
Authors: Kungolos Athanassios , Aoyama Isao 
Published: October 2006

AbstractIn this study Chlorella ellipsoidea was used as food for Daphnia magna in order to investigate the food effect on the toxicity. The effect was found to vary depending on the toxicant used, on the concentration of the toxicant in the water, and on the duration of the exposure. We conducted acute mortality tests with a duration of 1–4 days. Cadmium and chromium were used as toxicants. The toxicity increase due to the presence of food was more prominent for Cr than for Cd.We also investigated the interaction effect of the two heavy metals on Daphnia in the absence of food. That effect was found to be either additive or antagonistic depending on the concentrations used. There were more cases of addition than antagonism.Finally we checked the toxicant content in the body of Daphnia after two days of exposure. It was found that the increased bioaccumulation lead to the death of the animals. The bioaccumulation experiments gave us data to support assumptions concerning the food effect and the interaction effect. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Cyst‐based toxicity tests. VII. Evaluation of the 1‐h enzymatic inhibition test (fluotox) with Artemia nauplii
Authors: Espiritu E. Q. , Janssen C. R. , Persoone G. 
Published: October 2006

AbstractThe newly developed 1‐h enzymatic inhibition bioassay (Fluotox) was applied to toxicity testing with the larvae of the brine shrimp Artemia. The method consists of visual observation of in vivo inhibition of an enzymatic process using a fluorigenic enzyme substrate. The 1‐h Fluotox test and the conventional 24‐ and 48‐h LC50 toxicity tests were conducted in parallel on 8 different organic and inorganic chemicals. A good correlation was found between the 1‐h EC50 and the 24‐ and 48‐h LC50 data with r2 s of 0.94 and 0.93 for each respective regression. Addition of the enzyme substrate did not influence the toxicity of the chemicals in the 24‐ and 48‐h tests. The repeatability of the Fluotox test compares favorably with that of the conventional 24‐h acute test; coefficients of variation (CV) ranged from 8 to 34% and from 1 to 39%, respectively.Investigations on the applicability of the Fluotox procedure for testing in brackish waters revealed that lowering the salinity from 35 to 15 ppt did not affect the fluorescence and mortality responses in the controls.The same decrease in salinity had no significant influence on the 1‐h EC50s except for NaLS and acetic acid. The ratio between the 1‐h EC50s at 35 and 15 ppt varied from 0.46 to 2.18 depending on the chemical.However, the same decrease in salinity significantly influenced (p < 0.05) the 24‐h LC50s (except NaPCP) and the 48‐h LC50 (except formaldehyde). In general, the ratio of the LC50 values obtained at 35 and 15 ppt varied from 0.30 to 2.21 and from 0.48 to 2.53 for the 24‐ and 48‐h exposures, respectively.In view of several inherent advantages such as rapidity, experimental simplicity, low cost of performance, and the use of dry cysts as biological starting material (which eliminates the maintenance of live stock culture) the 1‐h Artemia Fluotox test offers promising potential for numerous ecotoxicological applications. © by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Species distribution and temperature relations of coliform populations from uninhabited watershed areas
Authors: Niemelä Seppo I. , Niemi R. Maarit 
Published: October 2006

AbstractFifty‐seven water samples in all were collected in a northern (latitude 69° N) and in a southern (latitude 61° N) region from waters in the “natural state.” Coliform populations were studied by collecting random isolates of typical sheen colonies from Endo LES 35° C cultivations. The maximum growth temperatures of 607 strains were measured. Identification of 372 isolates was attempted by using the API 20EC and 20E systems. Eleven species were found—seven of them common to both regions. Twenty‐nine percent of the strains could not be identified. The most frequent species was Serratia fonticola (26% of all strains tested), the second was Hafnia alvei (14%), and the third Enterobacter cloacae (13%; only encountered in the north). The strains able to grow at or above 44. 5°C were identified as Escherichia coli. In the southern region, environmental coliforms (S. fonticola and H. alvei) so completely outnumbered E. coli that it was met only once among the 438 total coliform isolates, whereas 23% of the isolates from the northern region were E. coli. Typical pipeline/biofilm coliform types were not found, with the exception of numerous E. cloacae strains in the most remote lake samples collected and one Klebsiella oxytoca in a brook. The fecal coliforms (all of them E. coli) were concluded to be of recent animal origin. The standard fecal coliform analysis was estimated to function extremely well in the pristine waters of our subarctic climate. The total coliform analysis has no indicator value under these circumstances.
Bioconcentration, chemical fate, and environmental effects testing under section 4 of the Toxic Substances Control Act
Authors: Walker John D. 
Published: October 2006

AbstractAs of December 31, 1988, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had published 49 Federal Register (FR) notices acknowledging, proposing, or requiring development of bioconcentration, chemical fate, or environmental effects testing data under Section 4 of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). These FR notices included 5 Decisions Not to Test (DNTs) that acknowledged industry testing, 19 Notices of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRs) that proposed testing by industry, 9 Notices of Final Rulemaking (NFRs), and 2 Consent Orders (COs) that required industry testing as well as 7 proposed and 7 final Negotiated Testing Agreements (NTAs). Two bioconcentration, 12 chemical fate, and 28 environmental effects tests were submitted to the EPA by industry as a result of issuing DNTs. Industry completed 3 bioconcentration, 86 chemical fate, and 151 environmental effects tests after publication of NTAs. Two bioconcentration, 11 chemical fate, and 14 environmental effects tests were completed as a result of publishing NFRs; 1 chemical fate and 5 environmental effects tests were completed under a CO. As of December 31, 1988, a total of 7 bioconcentration, 110 chemical fate, and 234 environmental effects tests had been completed under TSCA Section 4.
A continuous‐flow method for measuring effects of chemicals on soil nitrification
Authors: Rhodes Albert N. , Hendricks Charles W. 
Published: October 2006

AbstractBecause the productivity of terrestrial ecosystems is directly related to microbial nutrient cycling, understanding the effects of chemical contaminants on soil microbial processes is important. This study examined the effects of two model chemicals—Roundup (glyphosate) and N‐Serve (nitrapyrin)—on nitrifying organisms in static, perfusion, and continuous‐flow culture systems. Experimental concentrations were approximately 1, 10, and 100 × the spot application rate. Both N‐Serve and Roundup were shown to inhibit nitrification in the treated soils. Roundup significantly reduced nitrification at 6.8 and 68 mg g−1 dry soil. N‐Serve (nitrapyrin) completely inhibited nitrification at levels greater than 42 μ g−1 dry soil in all cultural methods.In comparative studies with static batch and perfusion culture techniques, the continuous‐flow system proved to be both reliable and useful in the culture of nitrifying bacteria. This method provides an alternative to traditional culture techniques in measuring chemical effects on microbial geochemical cycles and provides a new method for use in toxicity testing.
Mutational spectrum of classical galactosaemia in Spain and Portugal
Authors: Gort L. , Boleda M. D. , Tyfield L. , Vilarinho L. , Rivera I. , Cardoso M. L. , Santos‐Leite M. , Girós M. , Briones P. 
Published: October 2006

SummaryClassical galactosaemia is an autosomal recessive inherited metabolic disorder due to deficient galactose‐1‐phosphate uridyltransferase (GALT). Over 180 different base changes and disease‐causing mutations have been reported in the GALT gene. Mutation p.Q188R was found to be the most common molecular defect among caucasian classical galactosaemia patients. We have characterized the spectrum of GALT mutations in a group of 51 Spanish families and 32 Portuguese families with this disease. p.Q188R is also the most prevalent mutation in the Spanish and Portuguese population, accounting for 50% and 57.8% of galactosaemic alleles, respectively. An additional 15 mutations were also identified in Spanish patients, four of which were novel: p.D28H, p.S181A, c.658dupG and c.377+53_1059+87del. In the Portuguese population, 11 different mutations were found, three of which were novel: p.R33H, p.P185S, and p.S192G. The differences observed between the genotypes identified in Portuguese and Spanish galactosaemic populations are notable. Only mutations p.Q188R, p.R148Q and c.820+13g>a were identified in both populations. In spite of the geographical proximity of Spain and Portugal, it seems that they have received genetic influences from different populations. The repeated migrations that occurred in the Iberian Peninsula throughout centuries may explain such variability.
Copying clinic letters to patients: a survey of patient attitudes
Authors: Liapi A , Robb P J , Akthar A 
Published: October 2006

Guidance from the Department of Health, published in 2000, stated that, ‘as a matter of right’, communications between clinicians would be copied to patients. In further guidance, the department indicated that, from April 2004, patients would receive copies of correspondence exchanged between healthcare professionals. There has been little research on this issue, and the few existing publications have come from the hospital psychiatric clinic setting.We examined the attitudes of 100 patients attending an ENT clinic as well as those of 100 parents of children attending a paediatric ENT clinic in a general hospital out-patient setting. At the end of consultations, patients or parents were invited to take part in the survey by completing a short questionnaire. Forty-three per cent of the adult patients and 44 per cent of the parents requested a copy of the clinic letter. These people were followed up by a telephone survey, three weeks after the copy of the clinic letter to the general practitioner was posted to the patient or parent. Eighty-one per cent of the patients and 77 per cent of the parents were successfully contacted for the follow-up telephone survey. Sixty per cent of the adults and 77 per cent of the parents reported that the copy of the clinic letter was helpful. There were no differences in responses between the adult patient and paediatric patient groups.In this study, less than half of both groups requested a copy of the ENT clinic letter to their general practitioner. To follow Department of Health guidance and copy the letter without patient consent is arguably contradictory to best practice and also to the concept of patient choice. There are significant financial implications in adopting the departmental guidance. We propose patients should be offered a copy of their clinic letter on request.
Electromyography of the cricoarytenoid unit during supracricoid laryngectomy with a cricohyoidoepiglottopexy procedure
Authors: Nakayama M , Hirose H , Okamoto M , Miyamoto S , Yokobori S , Takeda M , Seino Y , Kawashima E 
Published: October 2006

Two patients who received supracricoid laryngectomy with cricohyoidoepiglottopexy to treat laryngeal cancers, underwent intra-operative electromyography analysis. After the lesion was removed and the electrodes were inserted into the remaining intrinsic laryngeal muscles, the depth of anaesthesia was carefully reduced. Gentle tactile stimulations were applied to the pharynx to trigger the reflex movement of the remaining arytenoids. Recordings were made when reflex movement was achieved.Case one: Electromyography (EMG) of the remaining arytenoid demonstrated clear phase differences indicating reciprocal activities between the adductor group (lateral cricoarytenoid muscle, interarytenoid muscle) and the abductor muscle (posterior cricoarytenoid muscle). Case two: EMG of the remaining arytenoid demonstrated reciprocal activities between the interarytenoid muscle and the posterior cricoarytenoid muscle. Activity of the lateral cricoarytenoid muscle was not evident because the muscle was excised during removal of the paraglottic space. Mobility of the arytenoid was attributed to interaction between the interarytenoid muscle and posterior cricoarytenoid muscle. Reciprocal interaction between the interarytenoid muscle and posterior cricoarytenoid muscle alone is also capable of maintaining post-operative laryngeal functions after supracricoid laryngectomy with cricohyoidoepiglottopexy.
A reassessment of copper(II) binding in the full-length prion protein
Authors: Wells Mark A. , Jackson Graham S. , Jones Samantha , Hosszu Laszlo L. P. , Craven C. Jeremy , Clarke Anthony R. , Collinge John , Waltho Jonathan P. 
Published: October 2006

It has been shown previously that the unfolded N-terminal domain of the prion protein can bind up to six Cu2+ ions in vitro. This domain contains four tandem repeats of the octapeptide sequence PHGGGWGQ, which, alongside the two histidine residues at positions 96 and 111, contribute to its Cu2+ binding properties. At the maximum metal-ion occupancy each Cu2+ is co-ordinated by a single imidazole and deprotonated backbone amide groups. However two recent studies of peptides representing the octapeptide repeat region of the protein have shown, that at low Cu2+ availability, an alternative mode of co-ordination occurs where the metal ion is bound by multiple histidine imidazole groups. Both modes of binding are readily populated at pH 7.4, while mild acidification to pH 5.5 selects in favour of the low occupancy, multiple imidazole binding mode. We have used NMR to resolve how Cu2+ binds to the full-length prion protein under mildly acidic conditions where multiple histidine co-ordination is dominant. We show that at pH 5.5 the protein binds two Cu2+ ions, and that all six histidine residues of the unfolded N-terminal domain and the N-terminal amine act as ligands. These two sites are of sufficient affinity to be maintained in the presence of millimolar concentrations of competing exogenous histidine. A previously unknown interaction between the N-terminal domain and a site on the C-terminal domain becomes apparent when the protein is loaded with Cu2+. Furthermore, the data reveal that sub-stoichiometric quantities of Cu2+ will cause self-association of the prion protein in vitro, suggesting that Cu2+ may play a role in controlling oligomerization in vivo.
Isolation and characterization of recombinant Drosophila Copia aspartic proteinase
Authors: Athauda Senarath B. P. , Yoshioka Katsuji , Shiba Tadayoshi , Takahashi Kenji 
Published: October 2006

The wild type Copia Gag precursor protein of Drosophila melanogaster expressed in Escherichia coli was shown to be processed autocatalytically to generate two daughter proteins with molecular masses of 33 and 23 kDa on SDS/PAGE. The active-site motif of aspartic proteinases, Asp-Ser-Gly, was present in the 23 kDa protein corresponding to the C-terminal half of the precursor protein. The coding region of this daughter protein (152 residues) in the copia gag gene was expressed in E. coli to produce the recombinant enzyme protein as inclusion bodies, which was then purified and refolded to create the active enzyme. Using the peptide substrate His-Gly-Ile-Ala-Phe-Met-Val-Lys-Glu-Val-Asn (cleavage site: Phe–Met) designed on the basis of the sequence of the cleavage-site region of the precursor protein, the enzymatic properties of the proteinase were investigated. The optimum pH and temperature of the proteinase toward the synthetic peptide were 4.0 and 70 °C respectively. The proteolytic activity was increased with increasing NaCl concentration in the reaction mixture, the optimum concentration being 2 M. Pepstatin A strongly inhibited the enzyme, with a Ki value of 15 nM at pH 4.0. On the other hand, the active-site residue mutant, in which the putative catalytic aspartic acid residue was mutated to an alanine residue, had no activity. These results show that the Copia proteinase belongs to the family of aspartic proteinases including HIV proteinase. The B-chain of oxidized bovine insulin was hydrolysed at the Leu15−–Tyr16 bond fairly selectively. Thus the recombinant Copia proteinase partially resembles HIV proteinase, but is significantly different from it in certain aspects.
Long‐term prognosis in Crohn's disease: an epidemiological study of patients diagnosed more than 20 years ago in Cardiff
Authors: CANAVAN C. , ABRAMS K. R. , HAWTHORNE B. , MAYBERRY J. F. 
Published: October 2006

SummaryAimTo investigate the incidence of death in patients diagnosed with Crohn's disease in Cardiff over 20 years ago.MethodsThe Cardiff database of patients with Crohn's disease contains data on all patients diagnosed there since 1934. Patients (394) diagnosed before 1 January 1985 were traced and their mortality status on 31 December 2004 was established.ResultsThe overall standardized mortality ratio (SMR) was 1.29 (95% CI 1.12–1.45) and it has not significantly changed since the 1970s. SMR decreases with age, from 16.95 (95% CI 14.99–18.91) for patients aged 10–19 years (although only one death) to 0.92 (95% CI 0.65–1.19) in those over 75 years. Kaplan–Meier analysis of age at death shows that patients diagnosed aged 10–26 years have median age at death of 58 years, those aged 27–52 years of 66 years, those aged 53–58 years of 74 years, and those over 59 years of 79 years.ConclusionsIt shows a significantly raised SMR, not statistically changed since the 1970s and similar to other chronic conditions. Patients diagnosed younger have worse prognosis than those diagnosed later in life and a reduced life expectancy compared with the general population.
Percutaneous radiofrequency thermal ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: BALDAN A. , MARINO D. , DE GIORGIO M. , ANGONESE C. , CILLO U. , D'ALESSANDRO A. , MASOTTO A. , MASSANI M. , MAZZUCCO M. , MIOLA E. , NERI D. , PACCAGNELLA D. , PIVETTA G. , STELLATO A. , TOMMASI L. , TREMOLADA F. , TUFANO A. , ZANUS G. , FARINATI F. ,   ON BEHALF OF GENE – GRUPPO EPATOCARCINOMA NORD‐EST
Published: October 2006

SummaryBackgroundRadiofrequency thermal ablation is the first therapeutic option in percutaneous treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma but data on its long‐term efficacy and safety are not conclusive.AimThis study reports a prospective survey on radiofrequency thermal ablation in north‐east Italy.MethodsData were collected on 401 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (males 301, mean age: 68 years) treated by radiofrequency thermal ablation in 13 centres. Indication to treatment was: single nodule not eligible for surgery in 77% of patients, 2–3 nodes in 18% and multiple lesions in 5%. Mean size was 3 cm (1–8 cm). Treatment response was assessed at 1 month by spiral computerized tomography and then with ultrasound examination and new spiral computerized tomography.ResultsComplete response was obtained in 67% of patients and in 27% response was 75–99%. Complete response raised to 77% in lesions smaller than 3 cm. The morbidity rate was 34%; the mortality was 0.5%, seeding was observed in four patients. Ten patients presented an unexpected rapid disease progression.ConclusionThe above data show that by radiofrequency thermal ablation, complete response can be achieved only in about two‐third of the cases, clearly less than expected, and that, beyond seeding, unexpected progression can be observed.