Walleye Sander vitreus (Mitchill) are relatively resistant to experimental infection with VHSV IVb and extant walleye strains vary in susceptibility

Compared to fathead minnow, walleye demonstrate low susceptibility to experimental infection with VHSV IVb, regardless of route of exposure or water temperature at time of infection. In triplicate and duplicate groups, walleye were intraperitoneally (i.p.) injected (10² -10⁸  pfu/fish) or waterborne-exposed (w; 1.4 × 10⁷  pfu mL^-1 ) with VHSV IVb. High cumulative mortality (64-100%) and severe gross lesions associated with VHSV IVb infection were evident only in fish i.p. injected with 10⁸  pfu at 12 °C. These fish had multifocal necrosis of several tissues including the gill and heart. There was no difference in mortality between walleye infected (w or i.p.) at 12 °C (spring stocking) compared with a declining temperature profile from 18 to 12 °C (fall stocking). There were significant differences (P < 0.05) in mortality between four extant walleye strains following i.p. infection, indicating that the choice of walleye strain for stocking might be an important consideration. Viral antigen was found in both i.p. and w-exposed walleye using immunohistochemistry, mostly within the gill and skin of w-exposed fish and most prominently in dermal fibrocytes. VHSV IVb was detected in multiple tissues from 6 to 21 days post-infection using reverse transcriptase quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR).

Phase manipulation and the harmonic components of ringing forces on a surface-piercing column

A general phase-based harmonic separation method for the hydrodynamic loading on a fixed structure in water waves of moderate steepness is proposed. An existing method demonstrated in the experimental study described by Zang et al. (Zang et al. 2010 In Proc. Third Int. Conf. on Appl. of Phys. Modelling to Port and Coastal Protection. pp. 1–7.) achieves the separation of a total diffraction force into odd and even harmonics by controlling the phase of incident focused waves. Underlying this method is the assumption that the hydrodynamic force in focused waves possesses a Stokes-like structure. Under the same assumption, it is shown here how the harmonic separation method can be generalized, so that the first four sum harmonics can be separated by phase control and linear combinations of the resultant time-histories. The effectiveness of the method is demonstrated by comparisons of the Fourier transforms of the combined time-histories containing the harmonics of interest. The local wave elevations around the focus time are also visualized for the first three harmonics in order to reveal the local dynamics driving components within the wave force time-history.

Cardiorespiratory and thermoregulatory response of working in fire-fighter protective clothing in a temperate environment

The cardiorespiratory and thermal responses of two intensities of treadmill exercise were compared for brief periods (12 min) in fire ensemble (FE) but without self contained breathing apparatus, and sports ensemble (SE), in a temperature environment. A further experiment explored the responses of subjects exercising in FE over a prolonged period (60 min). Eighteen male fire-fighters wearing either FE or SE walked on a level treadmill for 6 min at 5 km x h(-1) increasing to 7 km x h(-1) for 6 min. Following a recovery interval of 1 h, the exercise protocol was repeated in the second ensemble; the order of ensemble was balanced. Heart rate (HR), rectal temperature (Tre), VO2 max and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were monitored continuously under both ensembles. At 7 km x h(-1), VO2 was significantly higher (p<0.05) in FE (36.1 and 39.9 ml x kg(-1) x min(-1)) than in SE and represented 74% VO2 max. There were no changes Tre. In experiment 2, following a rest interval of at least 36 h, eight subjects in FE walked on the treadmill at 6 km x h (gradient 10%) for 60 min also in temperate conditions, where HR, Tre and RPE were recorded at 10-min intervals. During the 60-min exercise in FE, HR reached 161 beats x min(-1) and Tre increased to 38.3 degrees C. Despite considerable subject discomfort, Tre remained below dangerous levels (38.4 degrees C). When RPE were compared with a physiological strain index (PSI) calculated from Tre and HR data over 60 min, there was no significant difference (p<0.05) with a correlation coefficient (r) of 0.98. The results suggest that RPE and PSI are closely related when exercise is sufficiently prolonged or intense to elevate Tre and HR in fire-fighters wearing FE in temperate conditions. If further investigation confirms this relationship for hot humid conditions in which fire-fighters operate, then with training, it may provide individuals with a valid measure of dangerous levels of perceived heat strain.

Uterine papillary serous carcinoma: evaluation of long-term survival in surgically staged patients

OBJECTIVE

Earlier studies have demonstrated that the uterine papillary serous carcinoma (UPSC) variant of endometrial carcinoma has a high recurrence rate, even when disease is apparently confined to the uterus. The current study evaluated survival in patients with surgically staged UPSC.

METHODS

Patients with UPSC were identified from surgical pathology files and charts were retrospectively reviewed. Only patients who had undergone a TAH-BSO, lymph node dissection, and peritoneal cytology were included.

RESULTS

The FIGO stages of the 36 patients were 12 Stage I (4 IA, 4 IB, 4 IC), 2 Stage IIB, 13 Stage III (5 IIIA, 8 IIIC), and 9 Stage IV. Of the 14 Stage I/II patients, 6 did not receive adjuvant therapy, 5 received whole pelvic radiation (WPXRT), and 3 received whole abdominal radiation therapy (WART); after a median follow-up interval of 50 months only 2 (14%) of these Stage I/II patients have developed a recurrence. Both of the recurrences were in Stage IC patients who received radiation; 1 recurred in the radiation field. Of the 5 Stage IIIA patients, 3 patients declined therapy and 2 were treated with WART; 3 patients, including the 2 who received radiation therapy, are alive without disease. Of the 8 Stage IIIC patients, 2 declined postoperative therapy, 2 received WART, and 4 received WPXRT with an extended field to include paraaortic nodes. Four of the 6 Stage IIIC patients treated with curative intent are without evidence of disease and 1 died of unrelated causes after a median follow-up interval of 48 months. Both of the Stage IIIC patients who declined treatment recurred. Of the 9 patients with Stage IV disease, 8 have died of disease.

CONCLUSION

Women with UPSC have a good prognosis when surgical staging confirms that disease is confined to the uterus (Stage I/II). Surgical findings can also be used to tailor adjuvant radiation treatments. Further study is required to define the optimal treatment for women with metastatic UPSC.

Intradermal proximal field block: an innovative anesthetic technique for levonorgestrel implant removal

BACKGROUND

Levonorgestrel implant removal is a common office procedure. These procedures can be difficult and uncomfortable for the woman. Many removal techniques use only small amounts of lidocaine to diminish tissue distortion and to allow palpation of the implants. We report an alternative technique that can maximize the anesthesia during removal procedures.

TECHNIQUE

Using the "ice saline" technique, lidocaine is infiltrated proximal to the implant tips, creating a field block of the superficial medial antebrachial cutaneous nerves and anesthetizing the operative site without injecting lidocaine around the implants.

EXPERIENCE

We began using this technique 3 years ago and have used it for more than 50 removals. There have been no complications, and the block appears to reduce the pain reported.

CONCLUSION

The proximal intradermal field block is an alternative anesthetic technique for levonorgestrel implant removal.

The influence of sunscreen type on photoprotection

Twenty-five volunteers took part in this study whose aims were to determine whether there was any difference between the applied amounts of a chemical and physical sunscreen of the same sun protection factor (SPF); whether the SPF of a chemical sunscreen influenced the quantity applied; and whether individuals who burnt easily in sunlight tended to apply more sunscreen than those who tolerated sun exposure. We found that most subjects choose to apply about two-thirds the quantity of physical compared with chemical sunscreen. This reduction in amount applied is likely to lead, in practice, to the physical sunscreen providing a SPF of about one-half of that achieved with the chemical sunscreen. In sunscreens in which the only variation was the concentration of the active organic chemical absorbers (and hence SPF), there was no difference in the amount of sunscreen applied and so the protection afforded can be assumed to increase in line with the SPF. While there was no statistically significant difference between the amounts applied by subjects of different skin types, there was a tendency for subjects with the lower skin types to apply more sunscreen than those who burnt less easily.

Cimetidine-theophylline interaction in patients with chronic obstructive airways disease

The effect of cimetidine on the elimination of theophylline was studied in six patients with chronic obstructive airways disease, who were receiving maintenance therapy with theophylline. The administration of cimetidine resulted in a decrease of 25% in the interdose clearance of theophylline, which led to an increase in "steady-state" theophylline levels in five of the patients. Prescribers should be aware of this potential interaction and reduce theophylline dosage where appropriate.

Oral contraceptive steroids impair the elimination of theophylline

The influence of OCS and sex differences on the disposition of theophylline has been studied in 12 healthy young men (29 +/- 4 years old), 13 healthy young women (29 +/- 12), and 10 healthy young women (24 +/- 3) receiving OCS for a period greater than 6 months. The elimination t1/2 was longer in women taking oral contraceptives (523 +/- 110 min) than in women not on oral contraceptives (386 +/- 157). Weight-normalized plasma clearance of theophylline was less in women taking oral contraceptive steroids (0.70 +/- 0.15 ml X min-1 X kg-1) than in women not on oral contraceptive steroids (0.98 +/- 0.32). Plasma binding and volume of distribution were not different between the two groups of women. Weight-normalized clearance, weight-normalized volume of distribution, plasma t1/2, and plasma binding were not different between men and women not taking OCS.

Acquisition and retrieval of information in amphetamine-treated hyperactive children

State-dependent learning and memory (retrieval) processes were examined in 15 amphetamine-treated hyperactive boys. While stimulant treatment enhanced the acquisition of information and its retrieval 24 hours later, there was no evidence of poorer retrieval of information learned in a state different from the retrieval state. Amphetamine appeared particularly to facilitate effortful cognitive processes. Subgroups of hyperactive children respond to amphetamine treatment in different ways, some showing changes in motor restlessness and others changes in cognition. The lack of dissociative effects when information is learned and recalled under different drug conditions suggests that what the stimulant-treated child learns can be effectively recovered after completion of treatment.

Cimetidine impairs the elimination of theophylline and antipyrine

In 7 healthy subjects theophylline and antipyrine elimination were determined before and during a course of oral cimetidine in a dose of 1 g/day. Plasma clearance of theophylline was reduced from 71.2 +/- 10.1 ml/min to 56.0 +/- 18.5 ml/min and the plasma clearance of antipyrine from 53.7 +/- 14.2 ml/min to 48.1 +/- 11.7 ml/min. Elimination half-life of theophylline was prolonged from 5.1 +/- 1.6 to 8.1 +/- 1.4 h. All these changes were statistically significant. Volume of distribution of theophylline (31.7 +/- 8.4 L before and 39.2 +/- 5.6 L during cimetidine administration) and plasma binding of theophylline (44.7 +/- 3.8% before and 44.3 +/- 3.1% during cimetidine administration) were not significantly different. Similarly, volume of distribution of antipyrine (45.8 +/- 14.0 vs. 47.6 +/- 17.9) was not significantly affected by cimetidine administration. We conclude that cimetidine impairs the elimination of theophylline and antipyrine in healthy subjects.

Decreased motor activity of hyperactive children on dextroamphetamine during active gym program

The motor activity of 10 hyperactive boys was measured during eight 1-hour active gym classes. Children received either dextroaomphetamine (0.5 mg/kg) or placebo elixir before each class, in a double-blind design. The program for each of the classes was participation in the active sports: hockey, basketball, and/or roller skating; the "task" throughout each hour was to play vigorously and continuously. The boys' mean hourly activity following amphetamine was slightly but significantly less than that following placebo. This finding is contradictory to the hypothesis that improved attention to an active task on stimulant would result in increased motor activity, and suggests the possibility of an independent direct effect of amphetamine on the motor system.