Quantitative analysis of over 20 years of golf course monitoring studies

The purpose of the present study was to comprehensively evaluate available golf course water quality data and assess the extent of impacts, as determined by comparisons with toxicologic and ecologic reference points. Most water quality monitoring studies for pesticides have focused on agriculture and often the legacy chemicals. There has been increased focus on turf pesticides since the early 1990s, due to the intense public scrutiny proposed golf courses receive during the local permitting process, as well as pesticide registration evaluations by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). Results from permit-driven studies are frequently not published and knowledge about them is usually not widespread. Forty-four studies involving 80 courses from a 20-year period passed our quality control and other review criteria. A total of 38,827 data entries (where one analysis for one substance in one sample equals a data entry) from pesticide, pesticide metabolite, total phosphorus, and nitrate analyses of surface water and groundwater were evaluated. Analytes included 161 turf-related pesticides and pesticide metabolites. Widespread and/or repeated water quality impacts by golf courses had not occurred at the sites studied, although concerns are raised herein about phosphorus. Individual pesticide database entries that exceed toxicity reference points for groundwater and surface water are 0.15 and 0.56%, respectively. These percentages would be higher if they could be expressed in terms of samples collected rather than chemicals analyzed. The maximum contaminant level ([MCL]; 10 mg/L) for nitrate-nitrogen was exceeded in 16/1,683 (0.95%) of the groundwater samples. There were 1,236 exceedances of the total phosphorus ecoregional criteria in five ecoregions for 1,429 (86.5%) data entries. (This comparison is conservative because many of the results in the database are derived from storm flow events.) Thus, phosphorus appears to present the greatest water quality problem in these studies. Pesticides detected in wells had longer soil metabolism half-lives (49 d) compared with those not detected (22 d), although the means were not significantly different.

University-based peer health education in China: the Shantou experience

OBJECTIVE

University-based peer health education is a recent development in China. The authors evaluated a newly implemented program in the Guangdong province.

PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS

In September 2006, the authors conducted a cross-sectional study using self-administered questionnaires on 30 peer educators and 247 students.

RESULTS

All peer educators and the majority of student respondents positively evaluated the program. Although students preferred to seek health information online, approximately one-quarter of the student respondents would contact peer educators. Third-year students were more than twice as likely (29.1%) to contact peer educators than were fourth-year students (13.1%). The peer educators perceived diet, physical activity, safer sex, and mental health as the most relevant student health topics. Peer educators cited acquiring factual information and medical skills, rather than personal development, as the most important things learned from the program.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite some promising results, Western-based peer education models may require cultural adaptation for greater effectiveness in China.

Anti-RNP neonatal lupus in a female newborn

We describe a case of neonatal lupus erythematosus in a term female infant who presented at birth with mild, scattered facial erythema and ice-pick lesions at lateral and superior borders of her face. These lesions then progressed to an erythematous raccoon-like mask following exposure to the sun. Initial blood work performed at four-months-old showed speckled anti-nuclear antibody titers of 1:320, with negative anti-Ro/SSA and La/SSB negative and a positive anti-RNP. The infant had no evidence of cardiac, haematological or hepatobilary involvement initially or throughout her course of evaluation. The patient’s mother was asymptomatic throughout the investigation of the infant but through blood work and evolvement of symptoms, she was diagnosed with mixed connective tissue disease.

A computational method for simultaneous LQ optimal control design via piecewise constant output feedback

The paper is concerned with simultaneous linear-quadratic (LQ) optimal control design for a set of LTI systems via piecewise constant output feedback. First, the discrete-time simultaneous LQ optimal control design problem is reduced to solving a set of coupled matrix inequalities and an iterative LMI algorithm is presented to compute the feedback gain. Then, simultaneous stabilization and simultaneous LQ optimal control design of a set of LTI continuous-time systems are considered via periodic piecewise constant feedback gain. It is shown that the design of a periodic piecewise constant feedback gain simultaneously minimizing a set of given continuous-time performance indexes can be reduced to that of a constant feedback gain minimizing a set of equivalent discrete-time performance indexes. Explicit formulas for computing the equivalent discrete-time systems and performance indexes are derived. Examples are used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.

Polymorphisms in chemokine receptor genes and susceptibility to Kawasaki disease

Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute vasculitis occurring in young children. Its aetiology is unknown, but an infectious agent is assumed. Increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines have been reported in KD. Genetic variation in these genes and the receptors for these genes could influence the regulation of cytokines and chemokines. In a case-control study of 170 Dutch Caucasian KD patients and 300 healthy Dutch Caucasian controls, common genetic variants in chemokine receptor genes CCR3, CCR2, CCR5, CX3CR1, CXCR1 and CXCR2 were analysed. Of the eight studied single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the CCR3-CCR2-CCR5 gene cluster, four showed a significant association with susceptibility to KD. Moreover the CCR5-Delta32 was observed with an allele frequency of 10.7% in the control population compared to 6.5% in the KD patients (P = 0.04). Two haplotypes of the CCR3-CCR2-CCR5 gene-cluster appear to be at risk haplotypes for KD and one a protective haplotype. No association was observed with the studied SNPs in CX3CR1, CXCR1 and CXCR2. In conclusion, in a Dutch cohort of KD patients an association of KD occurrence with common genetic variants in the chemokine receptor gene-cluster CCR3-CCR2-CCR5 was observed.

Mathematical modeling of guided neurite extension in an engineered conduit with multiple concentration gradients of nerve growth factor (NGF)

Neurotrophic factors such as nerve growth factor (NGF) provide essential cues to navigate growing axon toward their targets. Concentration and concentration gradient of NGF are key parameters affecting the growth rate and direction of neurites and axons. However, the maximum distance for guided nerve growth under stimulation of a single concentration gradient is limited and is thus unfavorable in nerve regeneration. Since the sensitivity of PC12 cells to NGF signals is restorable even after brief removal of the factors, exposure to multiple concentration gradients of the factor can achieve longer distances and greater rates of guided growth. In this study, a mathematical model simulating nerve growth in a virtually constructed nerve conduit incorporating multiple NGF concentration gradients is established. Using a genetic algorithm, optimized initial profiles of NGF able to achieve 4.5 cm of guided growth with a significantly improved growth rate has been obtained. The model also predicts an inverse relationship between the diffusion coefficient of the factor and the neurite growth rate. This model provides a useful tool for evaluating various conduit designs before fabrication and evaluation.

Biology of Isl1+ cardiac progenitor cells in development and disease

The LIM-homeodomain transcription factor Islet-1 (Isl1) marks a cell population which makes a substantial contribution to the embryonic heart. Isl1 expression is downregulated as soon as the cells adopt a differentiated phenotype, suggesting that this transcription factor delineates a cardiogenic progenitor cell population. Taking advantage of this developmental lineage marker, we have identified in the postnatal heart a novel cardiac cell type, which is capable of self-renewal and readily differentiates into mature cardiomyocytes. Utilization of embryonic stem (ES) cells that harbour knock-ins of reporter genes into the endogenous Isl1 locus will enable us to isolate Isl1+ cardiac progenitors from mouse and human ES cell systems during in vitro cardiogenesis. These genetic cell-based systems should allow the direct identification of signalling pathways which guide formation, renewal and diversification of Isl1+ cardiogenic progenitors into distinct heart cell lineages, and would complement in vitro studies in the mouse embryo during cardiac development.

Comparative evaluation of laparoscopic versus open nephrectomy in children

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

To assess the benefits of laparoscopic nephrectomy in children as compared to open surgery and to ascertain whether or not the retroperitoneal technique offers any surgical advantage over the transperitoneal approach.

METHODS AND RESULTS

This study gathered retrospective data on a consecutive series of 51 paediatric patients comparing; operative time, length of hospital stay and analgesic requirement. Results show that when laparoscopic surgery is compared with the open technique it took 25 mins longer to perform, there was a shorter post operative stay by 2.5 days, and a 50% reduction in morphine use. Patients who had the retroperitoneal technique were discharged from hospital within one day.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared to previous studies, the findings in this study suggest that there are distinct benefits in laparoscopy for children. There is some evidence in favour of the retroperitoneal technique. Patients are in hospital for shorter periods and need less analgesia.

Vascular endothelial growth factor gene haplotypes in Kawasaki disease

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether common genetic variants in the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene are associated with Kawasaki disease (KD) and the subsequent development of coronary artery lesions.

METHODS

Common genetic variants in the VEGF gene were analyzed in an association study in a Dutch cohort of 170 KD patients and 300 healthy Dutch Caucasian controls. Genotyping was done with 5'-nuclease TaqMan assays and 3'-hybridization-triggered fluorescence minor groove binder Eclipse assays.

RESULTS

An association with susceptibility to KD was observed with 2 of the 6 single-nucleotide polymorphisms analyzed in VEGF: -2594 A>C (rs699947) and the 236 bp 3' of STP C>T (rs3025039). Also for an 18-bp deletion in the promoter of VEGF a significant difference in the genotype and allele frequencies was observed between the KD patients and the controls. The haplotype CGCC (based on rs699947, rs2010963, rs25648, and rs3025039) was significantly associated with the development of KD (hap score 3.8; P = 0.0002). VEGF plasma levels were significantly higher in patients with the early phase of KD than in the healthy controls, and there was a trend toward higher VEGF plasma levels in KD patients with the -2594 CC and 236 bp 3' of STP CC genotypes.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that polymorphisms of the VEGF gene may play a role in the pathogenesis of KD.

Pilot study of VHL mutation analysis to predict response to interleukin-2 in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma

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Background: More than 300 different mutations have been described in von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) families and nearly 100 in sporadic RCC. In familial cases, there is an excess of mutations in exon 3 and exon 1, whereas mutations are evenly distributed in sporadic cases. Recent evidence suggests the importance of genotype/phenotype correlations with different VHL gene mutations contributing to a tumor’s unique biological behavior. We performed a pilot study to compare the incidence and type of VHL mutation in IL-2 complete responders (CR) and non-responders (NR). Methods: Genomic DNA was extracted from 20 frozen clear cell tumour samples (10 CR and 10 NR) using Qiamp DNA mini kits (Qiagen). Four amplimers covering the entire coding sequence and three exon/intron junctions of the VHL gene were synthesized by PCR. PCR products were subsequently purified and were sequenced using Big Dye Primer Cycle Sequencing kit (Perkin-Elmer Applied Biosystems) and an automated DNA sequencer (Perkin-Elmer Applied Biosystems). Point mutation detection was performed on DNA sequencing gels from colored peak chromatograms. Mutation bearing sequences were confirmed by a second round of PCR and sequencing. Results: In the CR patients, only 2 out of 10 samples (20%) had evidence of a VHL mutation. These VHL mutations included a false sense mutations in exon 2, comprised of a C to T transition at position 646 in the cDNA, creating a stop codon, and a frameshift mutation in exon 1 introducing in one allele an abnormal stop codon at the beginning of exon 3 potentially leading to a shorter protein product. In the 10 non-responder samples, there was also a 2 out of 10 (20%) incidence of VHL mutations. These mutations included a complex 12 nucleotide deletion in the third exon in the a domain of the protein, and a G deletion in the first exon introducing a premature stop codon. Conclusions: In this small pilot study of metastatic RCC patients, there were relatively few VHL gene mutations, and VHL mutations did not appear to correlate with response to IL-2 therapy. This study, however, does not assess inactivation of VHL genes due to hypermethylation. An expanded genetic profile to evaluate IL-2 responders versus non-responders using 500k SNP Chips is underway.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

An ultra-clean firn core from the Devon Island Ice Cap, Nunavut, Canada, retrieved using a titanium drill specially designed for trace element studies

An electromechanical drill with titanium barrels was used to recover a 63.7 m long firn core from Devon Island Ice Cap, Nunavut, Canada, representing 155 years of precipitation. The core was processed and analysed at the Geological Survey of Canada by following strict clean procedures for measurements of Pb and Cd at concentrations at or below the pg g(-1) level. This paper describes the effectiveness of the titanium drill with respect to contamination during ice core retrieval and evaluates sample-processing procedures in laboratories. The results demonstrate that: (1) ice cores retrieved with this titanium drill are of excellent quality with metal contamination one to four orders of magnitude less than those retrieved with conventional drills; (2) the core cleaning and sampling protocols used were effective, contamination-free, and adequate for analysis of the metals (Pb and Cd) at low pg g(-1) levels; and (3) results from 489 firn core samples analysed in this study are comparable with published data from other sites in the Arctic, Greenland and the Antarctic.