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For robotic harvesting of sweet-pepper fruits in greenhouses a sensor system is required to detect and localize the fruits on the plants. Due to the complex structure of the plant, most fruits are (partially) occluded when an image is taken from one viewpoint only. In this research the effect of multiple camera positions and viewing angles on fruit visibility and detectability was investigated. A recording device was built which allowed to place the camera under different azimuth and zenith angles and to move the camera horizontally along the crop row. Fourteen camera positions were chosen and the fruit visibility in the recorded images was manually determined for each position. For images taken from one position only with the criterion of maximum 50% occlusion per fruit, the fruit detectability (FD) was in no case higher than 69%. The best single positions were the front views and looking with a zenith angle of 60° upwards. The FD increased when a combination was made of multiple viewpoint positions. With a combination of five favourite positions the maximum FD was 90%.

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract that significantly impacts the health-related quality of life (HR-QOL). A decreased HR-QOL has been demonstrated in patients with active disease compared with patients in remission. In this cross-sectional study, we examined the role of depression and disease activity as independent factors in predicting patient's HR-QOL., Methods: Hundred and five patients with either Crohn's disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC) were enrolled. Disease activity was evaluated using Crohn's Disease Activity Index or Seo's Activity Index. Depressive symptoms were evaluated using Beck's Depression Inventory-II and Beck's Depression Inventory for Primary Care (BDI-PC). HR-QOL was evaluated using the Short Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire. Simple and multiple regressions were performed on quality of life score with demographic and clinical variables as predictors., Results: The prevalence of depression in our study population is 25%. In patients with both CD and UC, depression is the most significant predictor to a poor HR-QOL (in CD, P = 8.22 × 10; in UC, P = 2.02 × 10). HR-QOL is weakly affected by disease activity (in CD, P = 0.110; in UC, P = 0.00492). In CD, biological use displays positive effect on HR-QOL (P = 0.00780). In total, the proportion of variance explained by all predictors is 61% for CD and 53% for UC, whereas the depression alone explains 44% and 36%., Conclusions: Our study demonstrates the importance of depression toward the quality of life in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. The diagnosis of depression should be actively sought out and treated in outpatient inflammatory bowel disease practices.

Objective: Borderline nuclear change, high-grade dyskaryosis not excluded (B/HG) is a subcategory of the borderline category recommended by the British Society for Clinical Cytology as warranting direct referral to colposcopy. This subcategory is equivalent to the Bethesda category of atypical squamous cells, cannot exclude high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (ASC-H). The purpose of this study was to determine the validity and accuracy of using B/HG to identify potential cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) grade 2 or worse (CIN2+)., Methods: Data were collected from the hospital pathology database for borderline, B/HG and high-grade cytology (moderate dyskaryosis and above), and their respective histological and colposcopic outcomes. SPSS was used for data analysis., Results: Of the 84,799 total cytology samples screened between July 2006 and December 2009, 5225 (6.1%) were reported as borderline, 309 (0.4%) as B/HG and 1222 (1.4%) as high-grade cytology. Thus, B/HG comprised 5.9% of the overall borderline category, in keeping with national guidelines (<10%). CIN2+ was confirmed in 86.6% of high-grade, 40.8% of B/HG and 3.0% of borderline cytology. Of 309 women reported with B/HG cytology, 239 had colposcopy. Colposcopic appearances showed a positive predictive value (PPV) of 71.8% for detecting CIN2+ and a negative predictive value of 60.7%., Conclusions: The B/HG category was associated with a significantly higher incidence of CIN2+ compared with borderline cytology as a whole. This refining performance justifies its existence. Colposcopic appearances had a high PPV for detecting CIN2+. Therefore, colposcopy is recommended in patients with B/HG cytology and treatment should be offered if high-grade colposcopic changes are seen., (© 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.)

Some forms of estrogen are associated with breast cancer risk as well as with mammographic density (MD), a strong marker of breast cancer risk. Whether phytoestrogen intake affects breast density, however, remains unclear. We evaluated the association between serum levels of phytoestrogens and MD in postmenopausal women. We enrolled 269 women, ages 55-70 yr, who received a screening mammogram and had no history of postmenopausal hormone use. Subjects completed a survey on diet and factors related to MD and provided a blood sample for analysis of 3 phytoestrogens: genistein, daidzein, and coumestrol. We examined whether mean percent MD was related to serum level of phytoestrogens, adjusting for age and body mass index. Genistein and daidzein levels correlated with self-reported soy consumption. Mean percent MD did not differ across women with different phytoestrogen levels. For example, women with nondetectable genistein levels had mean density of 11.0% [95% confidence intervals (CI) = 9.9-12.4], compared to 10.5% (95% CI = 8.0-13.7) and 11.2% (95% CI = 8.7-14.6) for < and ≥ median detectable levels, respectively. In a population with relatively low soy intake, serum phytoestrogens were not associated with mammographic density. Additional studies are needed to determine effects of higher levels, particularly given patterns of increasing phytoestrogen intake.

Norway spruce O-acetyl-galactoglucomannans (GGM) are water-soluble hemicelluloses that have potential to be produced in large scale as a side product of the mechanical pulping industry or by hot-water extraction of wood. Chemical modification is often needed to tailor such water-soluble polysaccharides into industrially valuable compounds. In this work, treatment of GGM with butyric and benzoic anhydride in pyridine/dimethylformamide rendered GGM derivatives, which were hydrophobic and partially soluble in organic solvents. The degree of substitution can be adjusted by varying the quantity of the reagent and reaction temperature. The dn/dc value for the benzoyl ester of GGM was determined in 0.05 M LiBr DMSO in order to obtain accurate molar mass analysis with SEC-MALLS-RI. Novel substances with adjusted hydrophobicity can thus be prepared on one step synthesis from natural hemicelluloses, which then showed a slight increase in the molar mass upon esterification., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The threatened Okaloosa darter (Etheostoma okaloosae) is found almost exclusively on the Eglin Air Force Base in the Choctawhatchee Bay watershed of Florida. Portions of this limited habitat are threatened with soil erosion, altered hydrology, and impaired water quality. In the present study, general water quality parameters (i.e., dissolved oxygen, specific conductance, pH, temperature, relative turbidity, and primary productivity) were characterized in East Turkey Creek, which is a body of water potentially impacted by treated wastewater sprayfields, and Long Creek, an adjacent reference stream that does not border the sprayfields. Water quality was assessed during a 30-day exposure using passive samplers for both non-polar and polar effluent parameters. Because the Okaloosa darter was listed as endangered at the time of sampling we chose a closely related species from the same creeks, the sailfin shiner (Pteronotropis hypseleotris) in which to measure metal body burdens. Additionally, fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) were used for microarray analysis on gonad and liver tissues after 48 h exposures to water collected from the two creeks and brought into the laboratory. Waters from all sites, including reference sites, affected the expression of genes related to various biological processes including transcription and translation, cell cycle control, metabolism, and signaling pathways, suggesting that the sum of anthropogenic compounds in the site waters may cause a generalized stress response in both liver and testis, an effect that could be related to the generally low populations of the Okaloosa darter. Furthermore, effects of site waters on fish gene expression may be related to the impact of human activities other than the wastewater sprayfields, as nearby areas are closed to the public for military testing, training, and administrative activities and due to ordnance contamination., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Three Co(II)-malonate complexes, namely, (C(5)H(7)N(2))(4)[Co(C(3)H(2)O(4))(2)(H(2)O)(2)](NO(3))(2) (1), (C(5)H(7)N(2))(4)[Co(C(3)H(2)O(4))(2)(H(2)O)(2)](ClO(4))(2) (2), and (C(5)H(7)N(2))(4)[Co(C(3)H(2)O(4))(2)(H(2)O)(2)](PF(6))(2) (3) [C(5)H(7)N(2) = protonated 2-aminopyridine, C(3)H(4)O(4) = malonic acid, NO(3)(-) = nitrate, ClO(4)(-) = perchlorate, PF(6)(-) = hexafluorophosphate], have been synthesized from purely aqueous media, and their crystal structures have been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. A thorough analysis of Hirshfeld surfaces and fingerprint plots facilitates a comparison of intermolecular interactions in 1-3, which are crucial in building supramolecular architectures. When these complexes are structurally compared with their previously reported analogous Ni(II) or Mg(II) compounds, a very interesting feature regarding the role of counteranions has emerged. This phenomenon can be best described as anion-induced formation of extended supramolecular networks of the type lone pair-π/π-π/π-anion-π/π-lone pair and lone pair-π/π-π/π-anion involving various weak forces like lone pair-π, π-π, and anion-π interactions. The strength of these π contacts has been estimated using DFT calculations (M06/6-31+G*), and the formation energy of the supramolecular networks has been also evaluated. The influence of the anion (NO(3)(-), ClO(4)(-), and PF(6)(-)) on the total interaction energy of the assembly is also studied., (© 2012 American Chemical Society)

Objective: In centres in which intra-operative frozen section (FS) analysis is not performed, 'apparent' early-stage ovarian cancer diagnosed after surgery on paraffin section may require further restaging laparotomy or adjuvant chemotherapy. Previous studies on FS analysis have reported high sensitivity, specificity and overall accuracy. The objective of this article is to present the largest published dataset on the accuracy of FS analysis over an 11-year period from a single institution., Design: Diagnostic test accuracy., Setting: Northern Gynaecological Oncology Centre and Department of Cellular Pathology, Gateshead, UK., Population: 1439 intra-operative FS analyses performed between January 2000 and December 2010 for suspected ovarian cancer., Methods: Prospectively collected data on FS analysis were compared with gold standard paraffin section., Main Outcome Measures: Sensitivity, specificity, likelihood ratios and post-test probability., Results: The overall sensitivity and specificity of FS analysis were 91.2% and 98.6%, respectively. Positive and negative likelihood ratios were 64.7% and 0.09%, respectively. The pre-test probability of an ovarian tumour being borderline or malignant was 45.8%. When FS analysis was reported to be positive, the post-test probability increased to 98% (confidence interval, 97-99%). Conversely, when FS analysis was reported to be negative, the post-test probability decreased to 7% (confidence interval, 6-9%). The majority of false test results were either borderline tumours or of mucinous differentiation., Conclusions: Intra-operative FS analysis has excellent diagnostic test accuracy and assists gynaecological oncologists to perform the appropriate surgery in 95% of cases, thereby preventing the morbidity of surgical staging in benign cases and the morbidity of restaging procedures or chemotherapy in early-stage malignant tumours., (© 2011 The Authors BJOG An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology © 2011 RCOG.)

An interview guide was created for qualitative evaluation of the impact of Practice-based Evidence in Nutrition (PEN) on dietetic practice, and its success as a medium for knowledge translation and transfer (KTT). The Delphi technique was used to bring together a diverse group of experts (n=7) with extensive knowledge in KTT and evidence-based practice (EBP); these experts developed the interview guide content. The technique is an effective means of gathering expert input to inform evaluation tool development, particularly in the absence of accepted evaluation guidelines or pre-existing evaluation tools. Although challenges exist with the Delphi technique, it is an adaptable method that can be modified to meet a variety of needs. During this project, the technique was modified to meet specific needs, including participants' partial anonymity and starting material to reduce the number of required rounds. The resulting interview guide contained open-ended questions focused on respondents' understanding of EBP and PEN, use of PEN by dietitians in other disciplines, perceptions of the quality/usefulness of PEN, and barriers to and facilitators of PEN use.

Diverticular disease is one of the most prevalent gastrointestinal conditions to afflict Western populations. Although the majority of patients with diverticulosis remain asymptomatic, about one third will develop symptoms at some point in their lives. Symptomatic diverticular disease can range from chronic mild gastrointestinal distress to acute bouts of diverticulitis complicated by abscess or frank colonic perforation. The mainstay of treatment of symptomatic diverticular disease has long been bowel rest, antibiotics, and pain control, reserving surgery for those with complicated disease. This review discusses the epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and management of the spectrum of diverticular disease, including recent advances in the treatment of chronic diverticular disease.

Violerythrin, a blue-colored carotenoid, has been investigated by X-ray crystallography and steady-state and ultrafast time-resolved absorption spectroscopy. The X-ray crystal structure of violerythrin shows that the molecule is nearly planar with the terminal rings positioned in the s-trans conformation. The steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopic data of violerythrin do not differ significantly from those of other carbonyl carotenoids with long (N > 10) pi-electron conjugated chains. This indicates that while the four carbonyl groups in violerythrin are critical for generating the bathochromic shift that leads to the blue color of the molecule, no dramatic changes attributable to a charge-transfer state known to affect the excited-state properties of carotenoids with short polyene chains occur. This may be due to the symmetric distribution of the carbonyl groups, which would preclude such an effect. The structural requirements for a blue, neutral, carotenoid are a planar, symmetric, cross-conjugated chromophore, containing at least 30 pi-electrons, a central polyene chain with 9 or 10 conjugated carbon-carbon double bonds connected at each end by an s-trans or trans bond to two identical, cyclic end groups, each possessing a conjugated keto group further cross-conjugated to another keto group, or a double bond in a quinoid type structure.

The composition of Scots pine bark, its degradation, and the production of hydrolytic and ligninolytic enzymes were evaluated during 90 days of incubation with Phanerochaete velutina and Stropharia rugosoannulata. The aim was to evaluate if pine bark can be a suitable fungal substrate for bioremediation applications. The original pine bark contained 45% lignin, 25% cellulose, and 15% hemicellulose. Resin acids were the most predominant lipophilic extractives, followed by sitosterol and unsaturated fatty acids, such as linoleic and oleic acids. Both fungi degraded all main components of bark, specially cellulose (79% loss by P. velutina). During cultivation on pine bark, fungi also degraded sitosterol, produced malic acid, and oxidated unsaturated fatty acids. The most predominant enzymes produced by both fungi were cellulase and manganese peroxidase. The results indicate that Scots pine bark supports enzyme production and provides nutrients to fungi, thus pine bark may be suitable fungal substrate for bioremediation., (Copyright 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Crop irrigation uses more than 70% of the world's water, and thus, improving irrigation efficiency is decisive to sustain the food demand from a fast-growing world population. This objective may be accomplished by cultivating more water-efficient crop species and/or through the application of efficient irrigation systems, which includes the implementation of a suitable method for precise scheduling. At the farm level, irrigation is generally scheduled based on the grower's experience or on the determination of soil water balance (weather-based method). An alternative approach entails the measurement of soil water status. Expensive and sophisticated root zone sensors (RZS), such as neutron probes, are available for the use of soil and plant scientists, while cheap and practical devices are needed for irrigation management in commercial crops. The paper illustrates the main features of RZS' (for both soil moisture and salinity) marketed for the irrigation industry and discusses how such sensors may be integrated in a wireless network for computer-controlled irrigation and used for innovative irrigation strategies, such as deficit or dual-water irrigation. The paper also consider the main results of recent or current research works conducted by the authors in Tuscany (Italy) on the irrigation management of container-grown ornamental plants, which is an important agricultural sector in Italy.

Water-soluble O-acetyl galactoglucomannan (GGM) is a softwood-derived polysaccharide, which can be extracted on an industrial scale from wood or mechanical pulping waters and now is available in kilogram scale for research and development of value-added products. To develop applications of GGM, information is needed on its stability in acidic conditions. The kinetics of acid hydrolysis of GGM was studied at temperatures up to 90 degrees C in the pH range of 1-3. Molar mass and molar mass distribution were determined using size exclusion chromatography with multiangle laser light scattering and refractive index detection. The molar mass of GGM decreased considerably with treatment time at temperatures above 70 degrees C and pH below 2. The molar mass distribution broadened with hydrolysis time. A first-order kinetic model was found to match the acid hydrolysis. The reaction rate constants at various pH values and temperatures were calculated on the basis of the first-order kinetic model. Furthermore, the activation energy, E, was obtained from the Arrhenius plot. The activation energy E was 150 kJ mol (-1) for acid hydrolysis of spruce GGM. The apparent rate constant during acid hydrolysis increased by a factor of 10 with a decrease in pH by 1 unit, regardless of temperature. In addition, gas chromatography and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry were applied to study the released GGM monomers and oligomers.

The bovine parvovirus (BPV) hemagglutinates human erythrocytes by binding to glycophorin A (GPA). The purpose of this study was to determine which carbohydrate on GPA binds BPV. Treatment of GPA with alpha2,3,-6,-8 neuraminidase eliminated binding of BPV to GPA. Beta-elimination of O-linked sialic acids on GPA eliminated binding, while removal of N-linked carbohydrates using the N-glycosidase PNGase F failed to eliminate binding. Treatment of GPA with a neuraminidase which specifically cleaved alpha2,3 glycosidic bonds eliminated BPV binding and, following this treatment, virus binding to GPA was restored by reconstitution of alpha2,3-linked neuraminic acids. These results indicated the O-linked alpha2,3 neuraminic acids of GPA bind BPV.

In Rosa canina (2n = 5x = 35), the pollen and ovular parents contribute, respectively, seven and 28 chromosomes to the zygote. At meiosis I, 14 chromosomes form seven bivalents and 21 chromosomes remain as univalents. Fluorescent in situ hybridization to mitotic and pollen mother cells (PMC) of R. canina showed that 10 chromosomes (two per genome) carry ribosomal DNA (rDNA) loci. Five chromosomes carry terminal 18S-5.8S-26S rDNA loci; three of these also carry paracentric 5S rDNA loci and were designated as marker chromosomes 1. Five chromosomes carry only 5S rDNA loci and three of these were designated as marker chromosomes 2. The remaining four of the 10 chromosomes with rDNA loci were individually identifiable by the type and relative sizes of their rDNA loci and were numbered separately. At PMC meiosis, two marker chromosomes 1 and two marker chromosomes 2 formed bivalents, whereas the others were unpaired. In a gynogenetic haploid of R. canina (n = 4x = 28), obtained after pollination with gamma-irradiated pollen, chromosomes at meiosis I in PMC remained predominantly unpaired. The data indicate only one pair of truly homologous genomes in R. canina. The 21 unpaired chromosomes probably remain as univalents through multiple generations and do not recombine. The long-term evolutionary consequence for the univalents is likely to be genetic degradation through accumulated mutational change as in the mammalian Y chromosome and chromosomes of asexual species. But there is no indication that univalents carry degenerate 5S rDNA families. This may point to a recent evolution of the R. canina meiotic system.

The objective of this study was to assess the removal efficiencies of secondary wastewater treatment processes for compounds causing endocrine disrupting activity. The study used bioassays and chemical measurements, such as gas chromatography with mass spectrometry and enzyme immunosorbent assays. A total of seven full-scale water reclamation facilities using different unit operations and two pilot-scale membrane bioreactors were examined. Findings of this study imply that estrogenic disrupting activity in primary effluent is mainly caused by two steroidal hormones (17beta-estradiol and estriol) and, to a lesser extent, by synthetic chemicals, such as bisphenol A, 4-nonylphenol, and 4-tert-octylphenol. During secondary treatment, steroidal hormones were removed to a higher degree than nonylphenol and bisphenol A. The total estrogenic activity was removed by an average of 96%. The remaining concentrations of targeted steroids in secondary effluents, except for estriol, still had the potential to elicit a positive response in the human breast cell cancer assay. For the majority of facilities, the remaining activity was likely attributed to residual concentrations of two steroidal hormones (17beta-estradiol and estriol).

Effluent toxicity is regularly assessed with Ceriodaphnia dubia short-term chronic and Vibrio fischeri toxicity tests. Condition factor and hemotocrit of fish have recently been used to assess fish health following exposure to xenoestrogens in complex municipal effluents. To assess the ability of a treatment wetland to reduce or remove toxicity of a municipal effluent, we compared C. dubia and V. fischeri bioassays to Pimephales promelas responses in situ. Final whole effluent was diverted to a constructed wetland and effluent samples were taken daily from four sites, at incremental distances from the inflow, for a 3-week study. Overlapping 7-day C. dubia tests and V. fischeri assays were conducted with samples from each wetland site concurrent with a 3-week fish exposure. C. dubia survival and fecundity were significantly (< 0.0001) reduced at the inflow, but steadily improved with distance from the inflow. Fish condition and hematocrit were lower (alpha < 0.05) at wetland sites closer to the inflow than other wetland sites and laboratory controls. However, effluent toxicity was not detected by V. fischeri bioassays. Our findings indicate that 7-day C. dubia bioassays were most sensitive to effluent toxicity and suggest that other bioassays should be used concurrent with V. fischeri assays for municipal effluent toxicity testing.

Objectives: To assess the feasibility of a one-stop colposcopy clinic for the management of women with low-grade smear abnormalities. Secondly, to determine whether the approach of immediate information of biopsy results combined with treatment if indicated helps to reduce patient anxiety and improve overall patient satisfaction with the colposcopy process., Design: Prospective study following the introduction of a "one-stop" process for the management of women with low grade smear abnormalities., Subjects: First 118 women managed in a "one-stop" clinic during an 8-month period., Methods: Assessment of patient anxiety via self-completed questionnaires and comparison of anxiety scores with a control group managed via a standard clinic., Results: The median waiting time for results in the one-stop clinic was 120 min (range: 100-165). All women in both groups felt anxious at the time of the clinic visit. However, after 1 week the majority of patients managed via the one-stop process felt slight anxiety only (P=0.0001) as opposed to those patients in the control group who remained anxious (P=NS). In addition, all women said they would prefer the one-stop approach for further smear abnormalities if a further colposcopic examination was warranted., Conclusion: A one-stop colposcopy clinic is feasible for the management of women with low-grade smear abnormalities. In addition, it delivers a quality service, optimises patient management, reduces anxiety and is the patient's choice.

The toxicity and estrogenicity of a final treated municipal effluent was examined while flowing through a constructed wetland in north-central Texas, USA. Fish data were collected, and a baseline wetland characterization was performed to assess wetland treatment potential for these effluent properties. Vitellogenin (VTG), gonadosomatic index (GSI), hepatosomatic index (HSI), and secondary sexual characteristics were biomarkers used in fish models to assess aqueous estrogenicity. Biological indicators used to assess overall fish health included hematocrit and condition factor. Estrogenic nature of final sewage treatment works effluent was screened, concurrent with a three-week fish exposure, via gas chromatography/mass spectrometry for target estrogenic compounds, including 17beta-estradiol, ethynylestradiol, bisphenol A, nonylphenolic compounds, phthalates, and DDT. The VTG in Pimephales promelas was measured after exposure at four sites in a treatment wetland and was significantly elevated (p < 0.0001) in fish exposed at the inflow site. The GSIs were significantly less (alpha = 0.001) at the inflow site. At wetland sites closest to the inflow, secondary sexual characteristics, tubercle numbers, and fatpad thickness were less (alpha = 0.0001) than in laboratory controls. The HSIs and density of male breeding stripes were not significantly different from those of laboratory controls. However, elevated HSIs were found at the inflow site. Hematocrit and condition factors were both less (alpha = 0.001) in effluent-exposed fish at wetland sites closer to the inflow than in control fish or fish further downstream.

The parent generation of the viviparous blenny, Zoarces viviparus L., were exposed to phytosterols (a) from oogenesis to parturition and (b) from breeding to parturition. The experiments were performed under laboratory conditions in a test unit supplied with continuous renewal of brackish water. After parturition the offspring were further reared either in clean or in phytosterol-contaminated brackish water. The objective was to study the significance of preexposure of the parent on the effects of phytosterols on the offspring in comparison with effects occurring directly on previously unexposed offspring. The phytosterol concentrations used were (a) 0, 10, 20, and 30 microg/L and (b) 0, 10, and 20 microg/L. Offspring exposed in (a) was further reared in clean water and in (b) offspring from parents exposed to 10 microg/L was either exposed further in the same concentration or left in clean water. Offspring from parents exposed to 20 microg/L was further exposed in the same concentration. Finally one group from unexposed parents was exposed to 10 microg/L after birth. The offspring was studied for 6 months after birth. The results showed that blenny offspring are affected by phytosterols at exposure through the parental generation. The results imply that phyto- sterols affect embryological development of the larvae before hatching as well as the levels of circulating hormones of the parent fish. The larvae contained higher levels of phytosterols as did controls and the bile of exposed female fish contained lower levels of phytosterols implying a link between the higher levels in larvae and lower excretion of the females. The growth of the larvae at 10 microg/L was stimulated regardless of whether the larvae were further exposed, indicating that newborn larvae carried within the female are sensitive to exposure to phytosterols., (Copyright 2001 Academic Press.)

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of sodium nitroprusside (SNP), 2,2'-(hydroxynitrosohydrazino)bis-ethanamine (DETA/NO) and 3-morpholinosydnonimine (SIN-1), NO donors which yield different NO reactive species (NO+, NO* and peroxynitrite, respectively), as well as exogenous peroxynitrite, on gall bladder contractility. Under resting tone conditions, SNP induced a dose-dependent contraction with a maximal effect (10.3 +/- 0.7 mN, S.E.M.) at 1 mM. Consistent with these findings, SNP caused a concentration-dependent depolarization of gall bladder smooth muscle. The excitatory effects of SNP were dependent on extracellular calcium entry through L-type Ca2+ channels. Furthermore, the contraction and depolarization were sensitive to tyrosine kinase blockade, and an associated increase in tyrosine phosphorylation was detected in Western blot studies. DETA/NO induced dose-dependent relaxing effects. These relaxations were sensitive to the guanylyl cyclase inhibitor 1H-[1,2,4]oxidiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxaline-1-one (ODQ, 2 microM) but they were not altered by treatment with the potassium channel blockers tetraethylammoniun (TEA, 5 mM) and 4-aminopyridine (4-AP, 5 mM). When tested in a reducing environment (created by 2.5 mM 1,4-dithiothreitol, DTT), SNP caused a relaxation of gall bladder muscle strips. Similarly, the SNP-induced contraction was converted to a relaxation, and associated hyperpolarization, when DTT was added during the steady state of an SNP-induced response. SIN-1 (0.1 mM), which has been shown to release peroxynitrite, induced relaxing effects that were enhanced by superoxide dismutase (SOD, 50 U ml(-1)). The relaxations induced by either SIN-1 alone or SIN-1 in the presence of SOD were strengthened by catalase (1000 U ml(-1)) and abolished by ODQ pretreatment. However, exogenous peroxynitrite induced a concentration-dependent contraction, which was dependent on activation of leukotriene (LT) metabolism and extracellular calcium. The peroxynitrite-induced contraction was abolished in the presence of the peroxynitrite scavenger melatonin. These results suggest that SIN-1 behaves as an NO* rather than a peroxynitrite source. We conclude that, depending on the redox state, NO has opposing effects on the motility of the gall bladder, being a relaxing agent when in NO * form and a contracting agent when in NO+ or peroxynitrite redox species form. Knowledge of the contrasting effects of the different redox forms of NO can clarify our understanding of the effects of NO donors on gall bladder and other smooth muscle cell types.

Histamine is an inflammatory mediator present in mast cells, which are abundant in the wall of the gallbladder. We examined the electrical properties of gallbladder smooth muscle and nerve associated with histamine-induced changes in gallbladder tone. Recordings were made from gallbladder smooth muscle and neurons, and responses to histamine and receptor subtype-specific compounds were tested. Histamine application to intact smooth muscle produced a concentration-dependent membrane depolarization and increased excitability. In the presence of the H(2) antagonist ranitidine, the response to histamine was potentiated. Activation of H(2) receptors caused membrane hyperpolarization and elimination of spontaneous action potentials. The H(2) response was attenuated by the ATP-sensitive K(+) (K(ATP)) channel blocker glibenclamide in intact and isolated smooth muscle. Histamine had no effect on the resting membrane potential or excitability of gallbladder neurons. Furthermore, neither histamine nor the H(3) agonist R-alpha-methylhistamine altered the amplitude of the fast excitatory postsynaptic potential in gallbladder ganglia. The mast cell degranulator compound 48/80 caused a smooth muscle depolarization that was inhibited by the H(1) antagonist mepyramine, indicating that histamine released from mast cells can activate gallbladder smooth muscle. In conclusion, histamine released from mast cells can act on gallbladder smooth muscle, but not in ganglia. The depolarization and associated contraction of gallbladder smooth muscle represent the net effect of activation of both H(1) (excitatory) and H(2) (inhibitory) receptors, with the H(2) receptor-mediated response involving the activation of K(ATP) channels.

Maturing lake trout (Salmo trutta lacustris) of both sexes were exposed to 10 and 20 microg/liter phytosterols, mainly ss-sitosterol, for 4.5 months prior to spawning. Eggs from preexposed females were artificially fertilized with milt from preexposed males in clean water, whereupon the eggs were incubated in clean water until hatching. Yolk sac fry were followed until swim-up, and mortality as well as deformities was recorded. The physiological status of the parent fish was documented, as was the occurrence of phytosterols in bile liquid and gonads. In addition, eggs from preexposed females were fertilized with milt from unexposed males to evaluate the existence of possible sex-linked differences. The results indicate a markedly increased dose-dependent egg mortality, smaller egg size, and lower mean weight of the the yolk sac stage larvae. There was a higher prevalence of deformed or otherwise diseased larvae, especially at the higher dose, but also in the groups where unexposed males were used for fertilization, indicating a female-linked effect mechanism. A causal link between effects on eggs and brood was obtained through a dose-dependent increase in phytosterols in the roe. Several physiological parameters (higher plasma estradiol, higher 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase activity) implied slower maturation of the exposed female fish, whereas indications of accelerated maturation were obtained for the male fish from the same groups. The results indicate that naturally occurring wood-derived compounds in pulp mill effluents may be responsible for reproductive impacts previously observed in fish both in the laboratory and in the receiving waters of pulp mill effluents. The results also suggest that more attention should be paid to process streams emanating from the unbleached part of the mill., (Copyright 1999 Academic Press.)

Effects of effluents from mechanical pulp production on brown trout were studied for 8 weeks at environmentally relevant concentrations. The exposure took place in laboratory-based pools upstream and downstream of the effluent discharge point of an integrated newsprint mill using ground wood/thermomechanical pulp. The mill had no secondary treatment of the wastewater. The pools were supplied with water pumped directly from the river. To determine the relevance of this approach, wild fish were also caught at the respective sites upstream and downstream from the mill. Sublethal effects were assessed using physiological and biochemical parameters including liver histology, hematology, serum biochemistry, and hepatic enzyme assays. Exposure was verified by analyzing water samples, fish bile, and tissues for resin acid concentrations. The downstream experimental fish and captured feral fish displayed responses and changes in physiological parameters similar to those previously observed in laboratory experiments with untreated effluents. The most obvious effects were liver damage and growth inhibition.

The effect of 2 doses of a combination analgesic preparation (each dose containing 65 mg dextropropoxyphene hydrochloride and 650 mg paracetamol) upon plasma salicylate concentration after a single dose of soluble aspirin (1.2 g) or enteric-coated aspirin (1.2 g) was examined in 6 normal volunteers and compared with the effect of placebo. The dextropropoxyphene/paracetamol caused no reduction in the plasma salicylate level after absorption of soluble aspirin compared with placebo and, although a reduction in plasma salicylate was seen after enteric-coated aspirin in a single subject, this may reflect erratic absorption rather than a drug interaction.