Tritium and radiocarbon levels in the Rhône river delta and along the French Mediterranean coastline

The Rhône is characterised by a heavy concentration of nuclear-based industries including nuclear power stations and nuclear sites housing civilian and military facilities. Here, we report the results of a four-year survey (2010-2013) of tritium and radiocarbon levels in a variety of matrices within the Rhône delta and along the French Mediterranean coastline. The aim of the study is to create a spatial reference framework of environmental levels of these two radionuclides, which are the most prevalent in radioactive effluents from nuclear power stations. Although both tritium and radiocarbon levels in the samples analysed are very low and can only be detected using ultra-sensitive analytical techniques, they clearly show the influence of the tritium and radiocarbon discharges carried by the Rhône plume along the Mediterranean coast. The tritium content of suspended matter and sediments of the Rhône is a special case, which shows elevated tritium values not seen in other French rivers with similar nuclear facilities. The north-south spatial distribution of this tritium anomaly shows that these trace values are at their highest in the upper Rhône, close to the Swiss border and upstream of Creys Malville, the northernmost nuclear power station on the Rhône. This points to a legacy of past tritium releases by the watchmaking industry. A dedicated study would be needed to clearly identify the source and the exact nature of this contamination.

Evaluation of mean echogenicity of tendons and ligaments of the metacarpal region in neonatal foals: A preliminary study

The aims of this research were to evaluate mean echogenicity (ME) of the deep and superficial digital flexor tendons (DDFT and SDFT), the interosseous muscle (IM), and the accessory ligament of the deep digital flexor tendon (ALDDFT) of the metacarpal region in neonatal foals, and determine the effect of sex, side and body weight on this quantitative ultrasonographic evaluation. Thirteen orthopedically sound neonatal foals were examined. Four areas of study (1A, 1B, 2A, 2B) were identified. Transverse scans of the DDFT, SDFT, IM and ALDDFT were obtained, recorded, and analyzed. The most echogenic structures were the ALDDFT and DDFT, while the SDFT was significantly less echogenic than all other structures (P<0.05). No influence of sex, forelimb, or body weight was observed. The echogenicity of the tenodesmic structures of foals partially overlapped that reported in the metacarpal region in adult horses, except for IM.

[Effectiveness of a new cervicometer in evaluating the risk of preterm delivery]

AIM

The ultrasound measurement of the cervix is the gold standard for assessing the risk of preterm delivery. We compared the accuracy of this technique with measurements obtained by the cervicometer Cervilenz®. The purpose was to show that this device can be used as a screening tool, low cost, in the diagnosis of preterm labor.

METHODS

Fifty patients were included in the study at gestational age between 21+0 and 26 +0 or weeks. The study was blinded between the two performers utilizing the cervicometer and the transvaginal ultrasound.

RESULTS

The study showed 100% concordance and a correlation between the two techniques of 0.94.

CONCLUSION

The cervicometer proved to be a reliable and easy to use device to detect a normal or short cervix, with contained healthcare costs.

Effects of mesenchymal stem cells isolated from amniotic fluid and platelet-rich plasma gel on severe decubitus ulcers in a septic neonatal foal

This paper documents the treatment of severe decubitus ulcers with amniotic fluid mesenchymal stem cells and platelets rich plasma (PRP) gel in a septic neonatal foal. The colt needed 25 days of hospitalization: during this period ulcers were treated for 15 days with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) plus PRP, PRP gel alone, or aloe gel. Healing was faster using MSCs+PRP, and at 7 months an ulcer treated with aloe gel was still not completely healed.

Autocorrelation of the polarization-dependent loss in fiber routes

We study the spectral properties of polarization-dependent loss (PDL) in fiber routes with multiple spans and amplifiers. In these systems, PDL stems from a small number of lumped WDM components interconnected by PDL-free fibers, a configuration that is poorly described by the popular model of distributed PDL. We derive transparent and practical analytical expressions for the autocorrelation functions of the PDL vector and of the square PDL magnitude and show that they are strongly affected by the order of the individual PDL elements.

Guiding principles in choosing a therapeutic table for DCI hyperbaric therapy

Hyperbaric therapy is the basis of treatment for pervasive development disorders. For this reason, the choice of the right therapeutic table for each case is critical. Above all, the delay in recompression time with respect to the first symptoms and to the severity of the case must be considered. In our experience, the use of low-pressure oxygen tables resolves almost all cases if recompression takes place within a short time. When recompression is possible almost immediately, the mechanical effect of reduction on bubble volume due to pressure is of remarkable importance. In these cases, high-pressure tables can be considered. These tables can also be used in severe spinal-cord decompression sickness. The preferred breathing mixture is still disputed. Heliox seems to be favored because it causes fewer problems during the recompression of divers, and above all, because nitrox can cause narcosis and contributes nitrogen. Saturation treatment should be avoided or at least used only in special cases. In cases of arterial gas embolism cerebral injury, it is recommended to start with an initial 6 ATA recompression only if the time between symptom onset and the beginning of recompression is less than a few hours.

GFAP mutations and polymorphisms in 13 unrelated Italian patients affected by Alexander disease

Alexander disease (AD), a rare neurodegenerative disorder of the central nervous system, is characterized by the accumulation of cytoplasmic protein aggregates (Rosenthal fibers) composed of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and small heat-shock proteins within astrocytes. To date, more than 40 different GFAP mutations have been reported in AD. The present study is aimed at the molecular diagnosis of Italian patients suspected to be affected by AD. By analyzing the GFAP gene of 13 unrelated patients (eight with infantile form, two with juvenile form and three with adult form), we found 11 different alleles, including four new ones. Among the novel mutations, three (p.R70Q, p.R73K, and p.R79P) were identified in exon 1 and p.L359P in exon 6. The sequence analysis also detected six different single nucleotide polymorphic variants, including two previously unreported ones, spread throughout non-coding regions (introns 2, 3, 5, 6, and 3'UTR) of the gene. All patients were heterozygous for the mutations, thus confirming their dominant effect.

Radiological consequences of the extreme flooding on the lower course of the Rhone valley (December 2003, south east France)

In early December 2003 unusual weather conditions led to major flooding of the lower Rhone valley. When it floods, the Rhone carries large masses of solid matter in suspension, which potentially includes associated artificial (anthropogenic) radioactive contaminants from soil drainage in the catchment area and from re-uptake of sedimentary matter that has been contaminated with low-level radioactive liquid effluents from almost twenty nuclear facilities situated along the Rhone valley. A sampling campaign was carried out to investigate the level and spread of both sediment mass and associated radioactive contamination across the flooded areas. An attempt was made to assess the radiological consequences of such an extreme event on contamination of the food chain. Our results show that almost 700,000 tons of sediment was transported onto the floodplain, of which 80% were coarse and fine sands. These materials transferred 6660 MBq of 137Cs, 93 MBq of (239+240)Pu, 13 MBq of 238Pu and 204 MBq of 60Co over a surface area of 60 km2. More than 90% of deposited sediments are concentrated in a 10 km2 area of agricultural soils, and we estimated that 18% were plowed into the soil. Nevertheless, the level of activity measured in the vegetable crops and milk was not significantly different from the level measured in similar samples from regions that were not affected by the December 2003 floods.

Relationship between gastric and gallbladder emptying and refilling in normal subjects and patients with H. pylori-positive and -negative idiopathic dyspepsia and correlation with symptoms

Gastric and gallbladder emptying and refilling was studied in 10 normal subjects and in 38 dyspeptic patients. H. pylori was determined in each dyspeptic on mucosal antral biopsy performed during endoscopy. Gastric and gallbladder emptying was evaluated by real-time ultrasonography. Normal subjects were evaluated after two solid-liquid meals of 340 kcal and 680 kcal. Dyspeptics were studied after the 340-kcal meal only. For each subject and patient, minimum gallbladder volume and percentage of gastric emptying at this point was determined. Gastric and gallbladder slope was also drawn, and the crossing point between the two slopes identified. In normal subjects with the 340-kcal and 680-kcal meal, minimum gallbladder volume occurred for a similar percentage of gastric emptying. The crossing point between the two slopes was computed at the same percentage of gastric and gallbladder refilling with both meals. With the 680-kcal meal, however, peak gallbladder contraction and the crossing point between the two slopes occurred significantly later than with the 340-kcal meal (P < 0.05). In dyspeptics with the 340-kcal meal, the parameters evaluated were similar to the ones computed in controls after the meal of 680-kcal, suggesting delayed gastric emptying and gallbladder refilling. The presence or absence of H. pylori and symptom score were not correlated with any of the parameters studied.

Evidence for an adenosine A2/Ra receptor on human basophils

5'-N-ethylcarboxamideadenosine (NECA) greater than 2-chloroadenosine greater than adenosine greater than (-)-N6-(R-phenyl-isopropyl)-adenosine greater than (+)-N6-(S-phenylisopropyl)-adenosine, in that order of potency, inhibited in vitro antigen-induced histamine release from human basophils in a dose-dependent fashion. Inhibition occurred only during the first stage of antigen-induced histamine release and the nucleosides failed to inhibit the release caused by the Ca2+ ionophore, A23187. 6-nitrobenzylthioinosine and dipyridamole, which inhibit adenosine uptake, and erythro-9-(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl)adenine, which blocks adenosine metabolism, did not impair the inhibition caused by NECA and adenosine. 8-phenyltheophylline and theophylline, two competitive antagonists of adenosine receptors, blocked the inhibition caused by NECA and adenosine. These data suggest that NECA and other adenosine analogs activate a specific cell surface adenosine receptor which possesses properties similar to those of an adenosine A2/Ra receptor.