Intra-population variability of ocean acidification impacts on the physiology of Baltic blue mussels (Mytilus edulis): integrating tissue and organism response

Increased maintenance costs at cellular, and consequently organism level, are thought to be involved in shaping the sensitivity of marine calcifiers to ocean acidification (OA). Yet, knowledge of the capacity of marine calcifiers to undergo metabolic adaptation is sparse. In Kiel Fjord, blue mussels thrive despite periodically high seawater PCO₂, making this population interesting for studying metabolic adaptation under OA. Consequently, we conducted a multi-generation experiment and compared physiological responses of F1 mussels from 'tolerant' and 'sensitive' families exposed to OA for 1 year. Family classifications were based on larval survival; tolerant families settled at all PCO₂ levels (700, 1120, 2400 µatm) while sensitive families did not settle at the highest PCO₂ (≥99.8% mortality). We found similar filtration rates between family types at the control and intermediate PCO₂ level. However, at 2400 µatm, filtration and metabolic scope of gill tissue decreased in tolerant families, indicating functional limitations at the tissue level. Routine metabolic rates (RMR) and summed tissue respiration (gill and outer mantle tissue) of tolerant families were increased at intermediate PCO₂, indicating elevated cellular homeostatic costs in various tissues. By contrast, OA did not affect tissue and routine metabolism of sensitive families. However, tolerant mussels were characterised by lower RMR at control PCO₂ than sensitive families, which had variable RMR. This might provide the energetic scope to cover increased energetic demands under OA, highlighting the importance of analysing intra-population variability. The mechanisms shaping such difference in RMR and scope, and thus species' adaptation potential, remain to be identified.

Extra-adrenal pheochromocytoma in the organ of Zuckerkandl: diagnosis and treatment strategies

Pheochromocytoma (PHEO) and paraganglioma (PGL) are rare catecholamine-secreting neuroendocrine tumors arising from chromaffin tissue and can occur within the adrenal medulla (PHEO) or extra-adrenal sites (PGL). The most common site for PGL is the organ of Zuckerkandl, extra-adrenal chromaffin tissue near the origin of the inferior mesenteric artery.We here present 2 patients with extra-adrenal PGL in the organ of Zuckerkandl, located by iodine-123-metaiodobenzylguanadine ( (123)I-MIBG) scintigraphy and thereafter treated surgically or with iodine-131-metaiodobenzylguanadine ( (131)I-MIBG). First, in a 15-year-old boy with clinical suspicion of PHEO, the diagnosis was established by biochemical evaluation and confirmed by further imaging studies, including CT and (123)I-MIBG, as PGL in the Zuckerkandl organ. The tumor was completely resected by laparotomy. Second, in a 70-year-old woman presenting with progressive hypertension and palpitations, MR and (123)I-MIBG revealed a singular tumor lesion with abnormal (123)I-MIBG uptake in the Zuckerkandl organ. Due to severe general vascular disease, surgery was not performed and instead the patient underwent (131)I-MIBG therapy. The patient showed a good symptomatic response with improvement of symptoms and no relevant side-effects of therapy.

Comparison of a-Si1-xCx:H Layers Based on Methane, Di-, Tri- and Tetrasilylmethane as Feedstocks

Using standard rf glow discharge deposition, we compare the properties of a-Si1-xCx:H films prepared with different carbon sources, namely methane and di-, tri- and tetrasilylme-thane (DSM, TSM and TetraSM). The optical bandgap EG was varied between 1.8 eV and 2.4 eV. All oua-Si1-xCx:H films exhibit low Urbach energies (EQ < 60 meV for EG< 2.0 eV) and low defect absorption, both determined by PDS. Using the silylmetha-nes as feedstocks, we do not find significant differences relative to our methane-based material. Independently of the carbon source material, the energy gap dependences of the film properties (photoconductivity, activation energy of the dark conductivity, Urbach energy and subbandgap defect absorption) show a distinct change around EG = 2.1 eV, which is interpreted as a consequence of structural changes with increasing carbon content.

["Ultrasound tonsillectomy" in comparison with conventional tonsillectomy]

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

The postoperative convalescence after tonsillectomy is difficult because of a high rate of secondary hemorrhages and severe pain. The Ultracision Harmonic Scalpel cuts in the longitudinal direction and coagulates simultaneously by means of a 55.500 Hz vibrating blade. A randomized prospective simple blind study was conceived to compare the advantages and disadvantages of the "Ultrasound Tonsillectomy" with the conventional method.

PATIENTS

Between 8/1999 and 3/2000 25 tonsillectomies were performed with the Ultracision (TEuc-group) and 25 with conventional methods (TEkonv-group). The age of the patients was between 18 and 65 years.

RESULTS

The median intraoperative blood loss in the TEuc-group was significantly lower than the TEkonv-group (19.0 g/176.0 g), the pain symptoms were comparatively less. On the other hand postoperative blood losses of the TEuc-group were clearly higher (7/25 vs. 3/25), wounds healed more slowly, the development of the wound covering and the swelling of the uvula were significantly larger.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on the results of the study the ultrasound technique is not superior to the conventional tonsillectomy.

Separation of human pancreatic carboxypeptidase A isoenzymes by high performance liquid chromatography

Human pancreatic carboxypeptidase A, which was isolated from a pool of necrobiotic pancreae, crystallized spontaneously and appeared homogenous in sodium dodecylsulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography of the dissolved crystals, however, revealed the presence of two distinct isoenzymes, which were shown by aminoterminal sequence analysis to be only 61% homologous in their 31 amino terminal amino acids. On the other hand, amino terminal sequences of the isoenzymes were found to be 79% and 87% homologous with CAP1 and CPA2 of the rat, respectively. Thus, the presence of two distinct pancreatic carboxypeptidase A isoenzymes could be clearly demonstrated for the first time in human tissue.

[Inpatient, day clinic and ambulatory care of children and adolescents with chronic kidney disease]

Based on personal experience in caring for about 2,500 children with various kidney disorders, the role of individual factors such as age, diagnosis, and origin of patients for the type of medical care is discussed. Most patients can be cared for in an outpatient or day-clinic setting. Major interventions such as renal biopsy requiring hospital admission are exceptions. For a successful therapy a constant flow of information between medical practitioners or non specialised hospital services and the pediatric nephrology centre is needed. Daytime care in a clinical setting today is feasible in a number of situations, e.g. for performing renal function tests and for introducing parents into certain diagnostic or therapeutic procedures such as measurement of blood pressure, manual bladder expression and dietary manipulations. Training for home dialysis as well as centre dialysis are preferably performed under outpatient conditions. The recent introduction of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis for outpatients has allowed to reduce the number of patients requiring hospital dialysis which is more expensive.

[Special hormone-determined constitutional types in women from the anthropological viewpoint]

The question is examined, whether in females hormonal determined constitution types are present which would require a different dosage of the estrogen respectively gestagen portion in the compound of ovulation inhibitors. Various aspects of constitution biology as well as of hormone physiology connected with this question are discussed in detail. Provided that a coherence between the hormonal balance and the constitutional type would be present, ovulation inhibitors could be dosed for the estrogen respectively gestagen portion. However, until now such a coherence could not be proved convincingly.