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The aim of this note is to discuss the relevance of the interaction/integration of monitoring of contaminants for the protection of the marine environment and for human health safety (descriptors 8 and 9, respectively) within the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). The identification of possible relations between contaminant levels in sediments and tissues of fish and other seafood, as well as the association of those levels to pollution sources, are major challenges for marine researchers. The Spanish initial assessment in the North-East Atlantic marine region was used as an example to show some gaps and loopholes when dealing with the relationship between descriptors 8 and 9. The main problem to deal with is that monitoring programmes intended for the assessment of marine environmental quality and for human health safety usually apply different approaches and methodologies, and even different tissues are analysed in some species (mainly fish). It is therefore recommended to make a profound revision of current sampling strategies, procedures and methodologies, including the selection of target species and tissues and to improve the traceability of samples of fish and other seafood for human consumption. On the other hand, despite the scope of descriptor 9 which is limited to commercially relevant species, this fact should not be an obstacle in the application of the 'ecosystem approach' within the MSFD. In order to appropriately solve these shortcomings, an information exchange system between authorities dealing with descriptors 8 and 9 should be strongly encouraged for the next steps of the MSFD's implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CA125, a tumor marker normally used to follow the clinical course of ovarian cancer, also may have a role in lymphoma. All available series were analyzed using the standard reference value 35 U/ml, but age and sex may influence serum CA125 (sCA125) levels. We aim to study the prognostic value of serum CA125 (sCA125) levels in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), considering the influence of age and sex on sCA125 levels. We investigated the relationship between sCA125 and clinical outcome after treatment in 42 patients with DLBCL, comparing both the standard (35 U/ml) and a new age and sex adjusted (sex/age-adjusted) reference value proposed by our group. We found that patients with elevated sCA125 levels had significantly more adverse prognostic factors at diagnosis, lower CR rates, higher relapse rates and worse survival. In the low-risk IPI categories, the presence of elevated sCA125 defined a particularly high-risk subgroup with poorer 3-year PFS when compared with patients with normal sCA125 levels. The use of a sex/age-adjusted reference value for sCA125 may increase the sensitivity to identify those patients with elevated sCA125 levels truly related to DLBCL activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Individual parent polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were identified and quantified in samples of recent sediments at 32 stations in the Ria de Vigo (NW Spain) and its adjacent shelf by high-performance liquid chromatography and a fluorescence detector. This area suffers the pressure of nearly 500,000 inhabitants and includes a number of important marine organisms. The total concentration for the sum of the 13 PAHs quantified were in the range 28–3203 ng/g. The highest concentrations were found near the city of Vigo, where marinas and dockyards as well as highways with a high traffic flow are established. Low PAH concentrations were determined in the outermost part of the estuary, far from the anthropogenic influence. PAH isomers concentration ratios were assessed, indicating that the main source of these compounds in the whole area is pyrolysis. When compared with the EACs, threshold effect level, and probable effect level values, only the samples from the inner part of the ría can occasionally present adverse biological effects due to the PAH concentrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A randomised study using 40 New Zealand White male rabbits was performed to compare the effects of three antithrombotic drugs on eight clinical haemostatic function tests. The animals were divided into four treatment groups. The treatment groups were saline (control), unfractioned heparin (UFH), low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH), and recombinant hirudin (r-hirudin). Blood samples were collected 2 and 12 h after administration of the drugs. The following tests were performed: bleeding time (BT), platelet count, prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), thrombin time (TT), fibrinogen concentration (Fg), antithrombin III (ATIII), and antifactor Xa activity (antiXa activity). Effects attributable to drug treatment for each analyte were determined by comparison with the control group. At 2 h after medication, in the UFH treated group, TT was moderately prolonged ( p<0.05) and antiXa activity was significantly higher ( p<0.05) than the respective values of the control group. In the LMWH-treated group the antiXa activity was significantly higher ( p<0.01) than that of the control group. In the r-hirudin-treated group, the APTT and TT were significantly prolonged (APTT, p<0.01; the TT samples did not clot) when compared to the control group. However, 12 h after administration, no significant differences ( p>0.05) between groups were observed for any of the studied analytes. It might be concluded that the antiXa assay has the potential of being a sensitive screen for heparin therapy and that the absence of changes in the bleeding time, antithrombin III, and antiXa assays —with a markedly prolonged thrombin time - indicates that, in vivo, r-hirudin acts as a specific inhibitor of thrombin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the effects of repeated capture on physiological, haematological and biochemical parameters of mouflon. Increase in body temperature, mature neutrophil count and lactate; Decline in red blood cells, hemoglobin, total lipid and zinc; Relation between the changes and stress.

Examines the suitability of the Sysmex F-800 hematological analyser for use with equine blood samples. Stability of the red blood count and hemoglobin concentration; Decrease in platelet count; Modifications needed to improve the system.

A semiautomatic electronic system for counting blood cells in veterinary haematology (Sysmex F-800) was evaluated. A total of 100 samples of canine blood were analysed. The results for leucocyte (WBC), erythrocyte (RBC), and platelet (PLT) counts, the haemoglobin concentration (Hb), and haematocrit value (Hct) obtained using the autoanalyser were compared with those obtained using a manual method as a reference. The results show very high levels of correlation for WBC (r = 0.96), Hb (r = 0.97) and Hct (r = 0,95) and high levels for RBC (r = 0.85) and PLT (r = 0.72). The precision is satisfactory in all the parameters studied with the exception of the platelet count (CV= 10.2 %) where it is unsatisfactory. Taking into consideration the margin of error associated with manual cell counting methods, we conclude that this haematological analyser is sufficiently accurate for work with blood samples from dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "An old woman with painful oral intake".