Organochlorine pesticide residues in bed sediments of the San Joaquin River and its tributary streams, California

USGS Publications Warehouse

Gilliom, R.J.; Clifton, D.G.

1987-01-01

The distribution and concentrations of organochlorine pesticide residues in bed sediments were assessed from samples collected at 24 sites in the San Joaquin River and its tributaries in the San Joaquin Valley, California. Sampling was designed to collect the finest grained bed sediments present in the vicinity of each site. One or more of the 14 pesticides analyzed were detected at every site. Pesticides detected at one or more sites were chlordane, DDD, DDE, DDT, dieldrin, endosulfan, mirex, and toxaphene. Pesticides not detected were endrin, heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide, lindane, methoxychlor, and perthane. The most frequently detected pesticides were DDD (83% of sites), DDE (all sites), DDT (33% of sites), and dieldrin (58% of sites). Maximum concentrations of these pesticides, which were correlated with each other and with the amount of organic carbon in the sample, were DDD, 260 micrograms/kg; DDE, 430 micrograms/kg; DDT, 420 micrograms/kg; and dieldrin, 8.9 micrograms/kg. Six small tributary streams that drain agricultural areas west of the San Joaquin River had the highest concentrations. Water concentrations and loads were estimated for each pesticide from its concentration in bed sediments, the concentration of suspended sediment, and streamflow. Estimated loadings of DDD, DDE, DDT, and dieldrin from tributaries to the San Joaquin River indicate that most of the loading to the river at the time of the study was probably from the westside tributaries. Estimated water concentrations exceeded the aquatic life criterion for the sum of DDD, DDE, and DDt of 0.001 microgram/L at nine of the 24 sites sampled. Five of the nine sites are westside tributaries and one is the San Joaquin River near Vernalis. (Author 's abstract)

Radiation Characterization of Commercial GaN Devices

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Harris, Richard D.; Scheick, Leif Z.; Hoffman, James P.; Thrivikraman, Tushar; Jenabi, Masud; Gim, Yonggyu; Miyahira, Tetsuo

2011-01-01

Radiative feedback from primordial protostars and final mass of the first star Commercially available devices fabricated from GaN are beginning to appear from a number of different suppliers. Based on previous materials and prototype device studies, it is expected that these commercial devices will be quite tolerant to the types of radiation encountered in space. This expectation needs to be verified and the study described herein was undertaken for that purpose. All of the parts discussed in this report are readily available commercially. The parts chosen for study are all targeted for RF applications. Three different studies were performed: 1) a preliminary DDD/TID test of a variety of part types was performed by irradiating with 50 MeV protons, 2) a detailed DDD/TID study of one particular part type was performed by irradiating with 50 MeV protons, and 3) a SEB/SEGR test was performed on a variety of part types by irradiating with heavy ions. No significant degradation was observed in the tests performed in this study.

Long-term follow-up of DDD and VDD pacing: a prospective non-randomized single-centre comparison of patients with symptomatic atrioventricular block.

PubMed

Marchandise, Sébastien; Scavée, Christophe; le Polain de Waroux, Jean-Benoit; de Meester, Christophe; Vanoverschelde, Jean-Louis; Debbas, Nadia

2012-04-01

This prospective non-randomized single-centre registry compared clinical outcome, pacing parameters, and long-term survival in patients receiving VDD or DDD pacemaker (PMs) for symptomatic atrioventricular (AV) block. Single-lead VDD (n= 166) and DDD (n= 254) PMs were implanted in 420 successive patients with isolated AV block between January 2001 and December 2009. At the end of the follow-up period [median 25 (1-141) months], there was no difference in the incidence of atrial fibrillation [11.2% in the VDD group; 11.4% in the DDD group (P= 0.95)], myocardial infarction [31.1% in the VDD group; 25.2% in the DDD group (P= 0.20)], or dilated cardiomyopathy [9.9% in the VDD group; 8.9% in the DDD group (P= 0.74)]. At last follow-up, 65.9% of the VDD PMs and 89.3% of the DDD PMs were still programmed in their original mode with good atrial sensing. Due to permanent atrial fibrillation, 7.9% patients out of the VDD group had been switched to VVIR mode and 8.7% patients out of the DDD group to VVIR or DDIR mode. The P-wave amplitude was poor (sensed P-wave <0.5 mV) in 19.1% of the VDD PM and 1.6% of the DDD PM (P< 0.001) and 7.1% of the VDD patients and 0.4% of the DDD patients had been switched to VVIR pacing mode due to P-wave undersensing and AV dissociation (P= 0.003). Symptomatic atrial undersensing requiring upgrading was similar in both groups. The overall survival, adjusted for age, was not significantly different in the VDD and the DDD group (log rank: 0.26). Moreover, Cox survival analysis excluded the pacing mode as a significant predictor of mortality [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.79, confidence interval (CI) (0.46-1.35), P= 0.39]. Comparing VDD and DDD pacing, a significantly larger number of VDD-paced patients developed poor atrial signal detection without clinical impact. However, atrial under sensing did not influence the incidence of atrial fibrillation, myocardial infarction, dilated cardiomyopathy, or mortality.

Water-quality assessment of part of the Upper Mississippi River Basin, Minnesota and Wisconsin: Organochlorine compounds in streambed sediments and fish tissues, 1995-97

USGS Publications Warehouse

McNellis, R.P.; Fallon, J.D.; Lee, K.E.

2001-01-01

Streambed sediments and fish tissues were collected in part of the Upper Mississippi River Basin to assess the presence and distribution of organochlorine compounds (OCs) including PCBs. A total of 13 OCs were detected among 14 of 27 streambed sediment sampling locations. In fish tissues analyzed, 9 OCs were detected among 17 of 24 sites sampled. Eight OCs were detected in both fish and streambed sediment samples, they were: cis-chlordane, o,p'-DDD; p,p'-DDD; p,p'-DDE; p,p'-DDT; hexachlorobenzene; transnonachlor; and PCBs. The most frequently detected OCs were: p,p'-DDE; and p,p'-DDD in streambed sediment and p,p'-DDE and PCBs in fish tissues. No OCs were detected in streambed sediment at agricultural sites; however, the agricultural sites had 17 detections of OCs in fish tissue. Urban streams had concentrations of total DDT and metabolites in streambed sediment that exceed guidelines for classification of sites with high probabilities of adverse effects to aquatic organisms. Total DDT was the only OC within an urban land use that exceeded guidelines for piscivorous wildlife.

Determination of chlorinated insecticides in bottom sediment using an electron-capture gas chromatography screening method, Austin, Texas, 1991 and 1992

USGS Publications Warehouse

Brock, Robert D.; Murtagh, Lucinda K.

1994-01-01

Twenty-two bottom-sediment samples were collected from Town Lake in Austin, Texas, in 1991 and 1992 and analyzed for chlorinated insecticides by a reconnaissance-quality, electron-capture gas chromatography screening method developed by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Four different chlorinated insecticides (aldrin, chlordane, dieldrin, and p,p'-DDT) and two degradation products of p,p'-DDT (p,p'-DDD and p,p'-DDE) were detected in these samples. The most significant insecticides detected were chlordane, which was detected in 20 of the 22 samples at concentrations that ranged from 26 to 140 micrograms per kilogram, and p,p'-DDT, which was detected in all 22 samples at concen- trations that ranged from 5 to 40 micrograms per kilogram. Degradation products of p,p'-DDT were detected in all 22 samples. Concentrations of p,p'-DDD ranged from not detected to 117 micrograms per kilogram and for p,p'-DDE from 9 to 97 micrograms per kilogram. Of the 22 samples collected, 15 also were analyzed by the standard USGS laboratory analytical method for chlorinated insecticides to determine the comparability of the two methods. Correlation coefficients were calculated for chlordane (0.8662), p,p'-DDT (0.6393), p,p'-DDD (0.9401), p,p'-DDE (0.8595), and dieldrin (0.3819). A paired sign test at the 95 percent confidence level showed no significant difference between the screening method and laboratory analytical method for all detected insecticides except aldrin. P-values were calculated from the data for chlordane (l.0000), p,p'-DDT (0.1796), p,p'-DDD (l,0000), p,p'-DDE (0.1796), and dieldrin (0.2891).

Quantitative trait loci that control body weight in DDD/Sgn and C57BL/6J inbred mice.

PubMed

Suto, Jun-Ichi; Kojima, Misaki

2017-02-01

Inbred DDD/Sgn mice are heavier than inbred C57BL/6J mice. In the present study, we performed quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping for body weight using R/qtl in reciprocal F 2 male populations between the two strains. We identified four significant QTL on Chrs 1, 2, 5, and 17 (proximal region). The DDD/Sgn allele was associated with increased body weight at QTL on Chrs 1 and 5, and the DDD/Sgn allele was associated with decreased body weight at QTL on Chrs 2 and 17. A multiple regression analysis indicated that the detected QTL explain 30.94 % of the body weight variation. Because DDD/Sgn male mice have extremely high levels of circulating testosterone relative to other inbred mouse strains, we performed QTL mapping for plasma testosterone level to examine the effect of testosterone levels on body weight. We identified one suggestive QTL on Chr 5, which overlapped with body weight QTL. The DDD/Sgn allele was associated with increased testosterone level. Thus, we confirmed that there was a genetic basis for the changes in body weight and testosterone levels in male mice. These findings provide insights into the genetic mechanism by which body weight is controlled in male mice.

Recent increase in detection of alprazolam in Victorian heroin-related deaths.

PubMed

Rintoul, Angela C; Dobbin, Malcolm D H; Nielsen, Suzanne; Degenhardt, Louisa; Drummer, Olaf H

2013-03-04

To examine the rate of detection of alprazolam among cases of heroin-related death (HRD) in Victoria, including the relationship between alprazolam supply and HRDs. Population-based study of community alprazolam supply in Victoria and HRDs reported to the Victorian coroner from January 1990 to December 2010. Number of prescriptions for alprazolam supplied; defined daily dose (DDD) per 1000 population per 04 of alprazolam; number of cases of HRD in which alprazolam was detected through postmortem toxicological testing. Alprazolam supply increased by 1426%, from 0.42 DDD/1000/04 in 1990, to 6.41 in 2010. For every 1 unit increase in DDD/1000/04, the proportion of cases of HRD in which alprazolam was detected increased at an incidence rate ratio of 2.4 (95% CI, 2.1-2.8; P < 0.001). Alprazolam was detected among increasing proportions of HRDs, from 5.3% in 2005 to a peak of 35.3% in 2009. The increase in detection of alprazolam among cases of HRD, particularly since 2005, and the disproportionate increase in prescribing of the high-dose 2 mg formulation compared with other formulations suggest a need to examine alprazolam prescribing and to identify inappropriate prescribing and the circumstances of diversion from licit to illicit use.

An ethical assessment model for digital disease detection technologies.

PubMed

Denecke, Kerstin

2017-09-20

Digital epidemiology, also referred to as digital disease detection (DDD), successfully provided methods and strategies for using information technology to support infectious disease monitoring and surveillance or understand attitudes and concerns about infectious diseases. However, Internet-based research and social media usage in epidemiology and healthcare pose new technical, functional and formal challenges. The focus of this paper is on the ethical issues to be considered when integrating digital epidemiology with existing practices. Taking existing ethical guidelines and the results from the EU project M-Eco and SORMAS as starting point, we develop an ethical assessment model aiming at providing support in identifying relevant ethical concerns in future DDD projects. The assessment model has four dimensions: user, application area, data source and methodology. The model supports in becoming aware, identifying and describing the ethical dimensions of DDD technology or use case and in identifying the ethical issues on the technology use from different perspectives. It can be applied in an interdisciplinary meeting to collect different viewpoints on a DDD system even before the implementation starts and aims at triggering discussions and finding solutions for risks that might not be acceptable even in the development phase. From the answers, ethical issues concerning confidence, privacy, data and patient security or justice may be judged and weighted.

DDT Analysis of Wetland Sediments in Upper Escambia Bay, Florida

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hopko, M. N.; Wright, J.; Liebens, J.; Vaughan, P.

2017-12-01

Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) was a commonly used pesticide from World War II through the 1960's. DDT is generally used to control mosquito populations and as an agricultural insecticide. The pesticide and its degradation products (DDD and DDE) can bioaccumulate within ecosystems having negative implications for animal and human health. Consequently, DDT usage was banned in the United States in 1973. In a contaminant study performed in Escambia Bay, Florida, in 2009, DDT was present in 25% of study sites, most of which were located in the upper bay wetlands. Concentrations were well above the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's (FDEP) Probable Effect Level (PEL) and ratios of DDT and its metabolites indicated a recent introduction to the system. A follow-up study performed in 2016 found no DDT, but did show DDE at several sites. The current study repeated sampling in May 2017 at sites from the 2009 and 2016 studies. Sediment samples were collected in triplicate using a ponar sampler and DDT, DDD and DDE were extracted using EPA methods 3540c and 3620c. Extracts were analyzed using a gas chromatograph with electron capture detection (GC-ECD) as per EPA method 8081c. Sediment was also analyzed for organic carbon and particle size using an elemental NC analyzer and a laser diffraction particle sizer. Results show the presence of breakdown products DDE and DDD at multiple sites, but no detectable levels of DDT at any site. Sampling sites with high levels of DDT contamination in 2009 show only breakdown products in both 2016 and 2017. Particle size has little influence on DDD or DDE concentrations but OC is a controlling factor as indicated for contaminated sites by Pearson correlations between OC and DDE and DDD of 0.82 and 0.92, respectively. The presence of only DDD and/or DDE in the 2016 and 2017 studies indicates that the parent, DDT, has not been re-introduced into the watershed since 2009 but is degrading in the environment.

Two multidimensional chromatographic methods for enantiomeric analysis of o,p'-DDT and o,p'-DDD in contaminated soil and air in a malaria area of South Africa.

PubMed

Naudé, Yvette; Rohwer, Egmont R

2012-06-12

In rural parts of South Africa the organochlorine insecticide DDT (1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane) is still used for malaria vector control where traditional dwellings are sprayed on the inside with small quantities of technical DDT. Since o,p'-DDT may show enantioselective oestrogenicity and biodegradability, it is important to analyse enantiomers of o,p'-DDT and its chiral degradation product, o,p'-DDD, for both health and environmental-forensic considerations. Generally, chiral analysis is performed using heart-cut multidimensional gas chromatography (MDGC) and, more recently, comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC×GC). We developed an off-line gas chromatographic fraction collection (heart-cut) procedure for the selective capturing of the appropriate isomers from a first apolar column, followed by reinjection and separation on a second chiral column. Only the o,p'-isomers of DDT and DDD fractions from the first dimension complex chromatogram (achiral apolar GC column separation) were selectively collected onto a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) multichannel open tubular silicone rubber trap by simply placing the latter device on the flame tip of an inactivated flame ionisation detector (FID). The multichannel trap containing the o,p'-heart-cuts was then thermally desorbed into a GC with time-of-flight mass spectrometry detection (GC-TOFMS) for second dimension enantioselective separation on a chiral column (β-cyclodextrin-based). By selectively capturing only the o,p'-isomers from the complex sample chromatogram, (1)D separation of ultra-trace level enantiomers could be achieved on the second chiral column without matrix interference. Here, we present solventless concentration techniques for extraction of DDT from contaminated soil and air, and report enantiomeric fraction (EF) values of o,p'-DDT and o,p'-DDD obtained by a new multidimensional approach for heart-cut gas chromatographic fraction collection for off-line second dimension enantiomeric separation by (1)D GC-TOFMS of selected isomers. This multidimensional method is compared to the complementary technique of comprehensive GC×GC-TOFMS using the same enantioselective column, this time as the first dimension of separation. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Detection and quantification of beef and pork materials in meat products by duplex droplet digital PCR.

PubMed

Cai, Yicun; He, Yuping; Lv, Rong; Chen, Hongchao; Wang, Qiang; Pan, Liangwen

2017-01-01

Meat products often consist of meat from multiple animal species, and inaccurate food product adulteration and mislabeling can negatively affect consumers. Therefore, a cost-effective and reliable method for identification and quantification of animal species in meat products is required. In this study, we developed a duplex droplet digital PCR (dddPCR) detection and quantification system to simultaneously identify and quantify the source of meat in samples containing a mixture of beef (Bos taurus) and pork (Sus scrofa) in a single digital PCR reaction tube. Mixed meat samples of known composition were used to test the accuracy and applicability of this method. The limit of detection (LOD) and the limit of quantification (LOQ) of this detection and quantification system were also identified. We conclude that our dddPCR detection and quantification system is suitable for quality control and routine analyses of meat products.

Safety and efficiency of ventricular pacing prevention with an AAI-DDD changeover mode in patients with sinus node disease or atrioventricular block: impact on battery longevity—a sub-study of the ANSWER trial

PubMed Central

Stockburger, Martin; Defaye, Pascal; Boveda, Serge; Stancak, Branislav; Lazarus, Arnaud; Sipötz, Johann; Nardi, Stefano; Rolando, Mara; Moreno, Javier

2016-01-01

Abstract Aims This ANSWER (EvaluAtioN of the SafeR mode in patients With a dual chambER pacemaker indication) sub-study assesses safety and effectiveness of SafeR™ and the impact of ventricular pacing (VP) prevention on anticipated device longevity and replacement rate. Methods and results Patients implanted for atrioventricular block (AVB, n = 310) or sinus node dysfunction (SND, n = 336) were randomly assigned to SafeR (n = 314) or DDD (n = 318) and followed for 36 months. Safety, median VP, estimated device longevity (mean difference, 95% confidence interval [CI]), and anticipated replacement rates were analysed by pacing mode and implant indication. No difference in mortality, syncope, or mode intolerance was observed between randomization groups regardless of the indication. Ventricular pacing on SafeR vs. DDD was 11.5 vs. 93.6% in the overall population (P < 0.001), 89.2 vs. 83.8% in permanent AVB (P = 0.944), 53.5 vs. 98.2% in intermittent AVB (P < 0.001), and 2.2 vs. 84.7% in SND (P < 0.001). Anticipated median device longevity increased on SafeR by 14 [Q1 10; Q3 17] months [10; 17] (P < 0.001) in the overall population, 9 months [−5; 22] (P = 0.193) in permanent AVB, 14 months [8; 19] (P < 0.001) in intermittent AVB, and 14 months [9; 19] (P < 0.001) in SND. In intermittent AVB and SND, prolonged estimated battery longevity translated into the prevention of one anticipated replacement in at least 23% of patients. Conclusion SafeR was effective in reducing VP in intermittent AVB and in SND. No effect was observed in permanent AVB. No safety issue was observed. Ventricular pacing reduction by SafeR translated into relevant estimated prolongation of device longevity and anticipated reduction of required replacements. PMID:26612882

[Relation between defined daily doses (DDD) and prescribed daily doses: a 3-month analysis of outpatient data from a statutory health insurance company].

PubMed

Grimmsmann, T; Himmel, W

2010-07-01

Defined daily doses (DDD) are used to analyse drug utilisation. For frequently prescribed drug groups, we studied to what extent the DDD correspond to the average prescribed daily doses (PDD). We analysed all drugs prescribed for more than three months to insured of a large health insurance fund in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, one federal state in Germany. PDD for plain ACE inhibitors, selective beta-antagonists and some antidiabetics (sulfonylurea compounds) were calculated and compared with their DDD. During the study period, about 38 500 patients received continuous prescriptions of each ACE inhibitors or selective beta-antagonists, and about 9 000 of sulfonylurea compounds. PDD differed from DDD in varying degrees. For ACE inhibitors, PDD ranged between 1.5 DDD (for captopril) and 3.5 (for ramipril). The PDD for beta antagonists were on average 0.9 DDD, similar for bisoprolol (0.8 DDD) and metoprolol (0.9 DDD). As for oral antidiabetics, doctors prescribed 1.0 DDD glibenclamid per day and patient and 2.0 DDD glimepirid. Depending on differences between DDD and PDD, real daily costs for drug therapy differed from the theoretical costs per DDD, for example in the case of ramipril they were 0.24 euros compared to 0.07 euros. The PDD were much higher than the DDD for several frequently prescribed drugs. Consequently, the daily drug costs exceeded the drug costs based on DDD. Evaluations of drug costs on the basis for DDD require careful interpretation. Moreover, the number of DDD alone is not a valid measurement for the appropriateness of drug therapy and can only give a rough estimate of the number of patients treated, at least for the drug groups in this study. Copyright Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart . New York

40 CFR Table 1 to Subpart Ddd of... - Applicability of General Provisions (40 CFR Part 63, Subpart A) to Subpart DDD of Part 63

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... (40 CFR Part 63, Subpart A) to Subpart DDD of Part 63 1 Table 1 to Subpart DDD of Part 63 Protection... Hazardous Air Pollutants for Mineral Wool Production Pt. 63, Subpt. DDD, Table 1 Table 1 to Subpart DDD of Part 63—Applicability of General Provisions (40 CFR Part 63, Subpart A) to Subpart DDD of Part 63...

40 CFR Table 1 to Subpart Ddd of... - Applicability of General Provisions (40 CFR Part 63, Subpart A) to Subpart DDD of Part 63

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... (40 CFR Part 63, Subpart A) to Subpart DDD of Part 63 1 Table 1 to Subpart DDD of Part 63 Protection... Hazardous Air Pollutants for Mineral Wool Production Pt. 63, Subpt. DDD, Table 1 Table 1 to Subpart DDD of Part 63—Applicability of General Provisions (40 CFR Part 63, Subpart A) to Subpart DDD of Part 63...

Further characterization of diabetes mellitus and body weight loss in males of the congenic mouse strain DDD.Cg-A(y.).

PubMed

Suto, Jun-ichi; Satou, Kunio

2015-02-01

The A(y) allele at the agouti locus causes obesity and promotes linear growth in mice. However, body weight gain stops between 16 and 17 weeks after birth, and then, body weight decreases gradually in DDD.Cg-A(y) male mice. Body weight loss is a consequence of diabetes mellitus, which is genetically controlled mainly by a quantitative trait locus (QTL) on chromosome 4. This study aimed to further characterize diabetes mellitus and body weight loss in DDD.Cg-A(y) males. The number of β-cells was markedly reduced, and plasma insulin levels were very low in the DDD.Cg-A(y) males. Using a backcross progeny of DDD × (B6 × DDD.Cg-A(y)) F1-A(y), we identified one significant QTL for plasma insulin levels on distal chromosome 4, which was coincidental with QTL for hyperglycemia and lower body weight. The DDD allele was associated with decreased plasma insulin levels. When the DDD.Cg-A(y) males were housed under three different housing conditions [group housing (4 or 5 DDD.Cg-A(y) and DDD males), individual housing (single DDD.Cg-A(y) male) and single male housing with females (single DDD.Cg-A(y) male with DDD.Cg-A(y) or DDD females)], diabetes mellitus and body weight loss were most severely expressed in individually housed mice. Thus, the severity of diabetes and body weight loss in the DDD.Cg-A(y) males was strongly influenced by the housing conditions. These results demonstrate that both genetic and nongenetic environmental factors are involved in the development of diabetes mellitus and body weight loss in the DDD.Cg-A(y) males.

Further characterization of diabetes mellitus and body weight loss in males of the congenic mouse strain DDD.Cg-Ay

PubMed Central

SUTO, Jun-ichi; SATOU, Kunio

2014-01-01

The Ay allele at the agouti locus causes obesity and promotes linear growth in mice. However, body weight gain stops between 16 and 17 weeks after birth, and then, body weight decreases gradually in DDD.Cg-Ay male mice. Body weight loss is a consequence of diabetes mellitus, which is genetically controlled mainly by a quantitative trait locus (QTL) on chromosome 4. This study aimed to further characterize diabetes mellitus and body weight loss in DDD.Cg-Ay males. The number of β-cells was markedly reduced, and plasma insulin levels were very low in the DDD.Cg-Ay males. Using a backcross progeny of DDD × (B6 × DDD.Cg-Ay) F1-Ay, we identified one significant QTL for plasma insulin levels on distal chromosome 4, which was coincidental with QTL for hyperglycemia and lower body weight. The DDD allele was associated with decreased plasma insulin levels. When the DDD.Cg-Ay males were housed under three different housing conditions [group housing (4 or 5 DDD.Cg-Ay and DDD males), individual housing (single DDD.Cg-Ay male) and single male housing with females (single DDD.Cg-Ay male with DDD.Cg-Ay or DDD females)], diabetes mellitus and body weight loss were most severely expressed in individually housed mice. Thus, the severity of diabetes and body weight loss in the DDD.Cg-Ay males was strongly influenced by the housing conditions. These results demonstrate that both genetic and nongenetic environmental factors are involved in the development of diabetes mellitus and body weight loss in the DDD.Cg-Ay males. PMID:25373882

Pesticide concentrations in snail kite eggs and nestlings in Florida

USGS Publications Warehouse

Sykes, P.W.

1985-01-01

From 1970-1977, unhatched snail kite eggs and young that were found dead at nests in Florida were analyzed by gas chromatography for residues of organochlorine pollutants. The 1970 and 1974 material showed measurable amounts of p,p'-DDE, p,p'-DDD, p,p'-DDT, and dieldrin. Dieldrin and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) residues were less than 0.1 ppm in the eggs and were detected in only one sample of muscle tissue at 0.11 ppm. Concentrations in ppm wet weight of p,p'-DDE, p,p' DDD, p,p'-DDT, dieldrin, and PCB for two samples of muscle and three of brain tissue (all 1977 material) were not detected at the limit of quantification (0.05 ppm).

Differential effect of DDT, DDE, and DDD on COX-2 expression in the human trophoblast derived HTR-8/SVneo cells.

PubMed

Dominguez-Lopez, Pablo; Diaz-Cueto, Laura; Olivares, Aleida; Ulloa-Aguirre, Alfredo; Arechavaleta-Velasco, Fabian

2012-11-01

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis-(chlorophenyl)ethane (DDT), 1,1-bis-(chlorophenyl)-2,2-dichloroethene (DDE), and 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(chlorophenyl)ethane (DDD) isomers on COX-2 expression in a human trophoblast-derived cell line. Cultured HTR-8/SVneo trophoblast cells were exposed to DDT isomers and its metabolites for 24 h, and COX-2 mRNA and protein expression were assessed by RT-PCR, Western blotting, and ELISA. Prostaglandin E₂ production was also measured by ELISA. Both COX-2 mRNA and protein were detected under control (unexposed) conditions in the HTR-8/SVneo cell line. COX-2 protein expression and prostaglandin E₂ production but not COX-2 mRNA levels increased only after DDE and DDD isomers exposure. It is concluded that DDE and DDD exposure induce the expression of COX-2 protein, leading to increased prostaglandin E2 production. Interestingly, the regulation of COX-2 by these organochlorines pesticides appears to be at the translational level. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Chiral effects in adrenocorticolytic action of o,p'-DDD (mitotane) in human adrenal cells.

PubMed

Asp, V; Cantillana, T; Bergman, A; Brandt, I

2010-03-01

Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare malignant disease with poor prognosis. The main pharmacological choice, o,p'-DDD (mitotane), produces severe adverse effects. Since o,p'-DDD is a chiral molecule and stereoisomers frequently possess different pharmacokinetic and/or pharmacodynamic properties, we isolated the two o,p'-DDD enantiomers, (R)-(+)-o,p'-DDD and (S)-(-)-o,p'-DDD, and determined their absolute structures. The effects of each enantiomer on cell viability and on cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) secretion in the human adrenocortical cell line H295R were assessed. We also assayed the o,p'-DDD racemate and the m,p'- and p,p'-isomers. The results show small but statistically significant differences in activity of the o,p'-DDD enantiomers for all parameters tested. The three DDD isomers were equally potent in decreasing cell viability, but p,p'-DDD affected hormone secretion slightly less than the o,p'- and m,p'-isomers. The small chiral differences in direct effects on target cells alone do not warrant single enantiomer administration, but might reach importance in conjunction with possible stereochemical effects on pharmacokinetic processes in vivo.

Structural and Molecular Basis for the Novel Catalytic Mechanism and Evolution of DddP, an Abundant Peptidase-Like Bacterial Dimethylsulfoniopropionate Lyase: A New Enzyme from an Old Fold

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Y. Z.; Wang, P.; Chen, X. L.; Li, C. Y.; Gao, X.; Zhu, D.; Xie, B. B.; Qin, Q. L.; Zhang, X. Y.; Su, H. N.; Zhou, B. C.; Xun, L.

2015-12-01

The microbial cleavage of dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) generates volatile dimethyl sulfide (DMS) and is an important step in global sulfur and carbon cycles. DddP is a DMSP lyase in marine bacteria and the deduced dddP gene product is abundant in marine metagenomic data sets. However, DddP belongs to the M24 peptidase family according to sequence alignment. Peptidases hydrolyze C-N bonds but DddP is deduced to cleave C-S bonds. Mechanisms responsible for this striking functional shift are currently unknown. We determined the structures of DMSP lyase RlDddP (the DddP from Ruegeria lacuscaerulensis ITI_1157) bound to inhibitory 2-(N-morpholino) ethanesulfonic acid or PO43- and of two mutants of RlDddP bound to acrylate. Based on structural, mutational and biochemical analyses, we characterized a new ion-shift catalytic mechanism of RlDddP for DMSP cleavage. Further, we suggested the structural mechanism leading to the loss of peptidase activity and the subsequent development of DMSP lyase activity in DddP. This study sheds light on the catalytic mechanism and the divergent evolution of DddP, leading to a better understanding of marine bacterial DMSP catabolism and global DMS production.

Enantioselective induction of cytotoxicity by o,p'-DDD in PC12 cells: implications of chirality in risk assessment of POPs metabolites.

PubMed

Wang, Cui; Li, Zhuoyu; Zhang, Quan; Zhao, Meirong; Liu, Weiping

2013-04-16

The increased release of chiral persistent organic pollutants (POPs) into the environment has resulted in more attention to the role of enantioselectivity in the fate and ecotoxicological effects of these compounds. Although the enantioselectivity of chiral POPs has been considered in previous studies, little effort has been expended to discern the enantiospecific effects of chiral POPs metabolites, which may impede comprehensive risk assessments of these chemicals. In the present study, o,p'-DDD, the chiral metabolite of o,p'-DDT, was used as a model chiral metabolite. First, a preferential chiral separation at 100% ethanol was employed to obtain a pure enantiomer. The enantioselective cytotoxicity of o,p'-DDD in rat cells (PC12) was evaluated by detecting activation of the cellular apoptosis and oxidative stress systems and microarray analysis. We have documented for the first time that R-(+)-o,p'-DDD increases apoptosis by selectively disturbing the oxidative system (enzymes and molecules) and regulating the transcription of Aven, Bid, Cideb and Tp53. By comparing the data from the present study to data derived from the parent compound, we concluded that the R-enantiomer is the more detrimental stereostructure for both o,p'-DDT and o,p'-DDD. This observed stereostructural effect is in line with the structure-activity relationship formulated at other structural levels. Biological activities of the chiral metabolites are likely to occur in the same absolute configuration between chiral POPs and their metabolites provided that they have the similar stereostructures.

Safety and efficiency of ventricular pacing prevention with an AAI-DDD changeover mode in patients with sinus node disease or atrioventricular block: impact on battery longevity-a sub-study of the ANSWER trial.

PubMed

Stockburger, Martin; Defaye, Pascal; Boveda, Serge; Stancak, Branislav; Lazarus, Arnaud; Sipötz, Johann; Nardi, Stefano; Rolando, Mara; Moreno, Javier

2016-05-01

This ANSWER (EvaluAtioN of the SafeR mode in patients With a dual chambER pacemaker indication) sub-study assesses safety and effectiveness of SafeR™ and the impact of ventricular pacing (VP) prevention on anticipated device longevity and replacement rate. Patients implanted for atrioventricular block (AVB, n = 310) or sinus node dysfunction (SND, n = 336) were randomly assigned to SafeR (n = 314) or DDD (n = 318) and followed for 36 months. Safety, median VP, estimated device longevity (mean difference, 95% confidence interval [CI]), and anticipated replacement rates were analysed by pacing mode and implant indication. No difference in mortality, syncope, or mode intolerance was observed between randomization groups regardless of the indication. Ventricular pacing on SafeR vs. DDD was 11.5 vs. 93.6% in the overall population (P < 0.001), 89.2 vs. 83.8% in permanent AVB (P = 0.944), 53.5 vs. 98.2% in intermittent AVB (P < 0.001), and 2.2 vs. 84.7% in SND (P < 0.001). Anticipated median device longevity increased on SafeR by 14 [Q1 10; Q3 17] months [10; 17] (P < 0.001) in the overall population, 9 months [-5; 22] (P = 0.193) in permanent AVB, 14 months [8; 19] (P < 0.001) in intermittent AVB, and 14 months [9; 19] (P < 0.001) in SND. In intermittent AVB and SND, prolonged estimated battery longevity translated into the prevention of one anticipated replacement in at least 23% of patients. SafeR was effective in reducing VP in intermittent AVB and in SND. No effect was observed in permanent AVB. No safety issue was observed. Ventricular pacing reduction by SafeR translated into relevant estimated prolongation of device longevity and anticipated reduction of required replacements. Published on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology. All rights reserved. © The Author 2015. For permissions please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Parallel Performance of Linear Solvers and Preconditioners

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-01-01

are produced by a discrete dislocation dynamics ( DDD ) simulation and change with each timestep of the DDD simulation as the dislocation structure...evolves. However, the coefficient—or stiffness matrix— remains constant during the DDD simulation and some expensive matrix factorizations only occur once...discrete dislocation dynamics ( DDD ) simulations. This can be achieved by coupling a DDD simulator for bulk material (Arsenlis et al., 2007) to a

Genetic background (DDD/Sgn versus C57BL/6J) strongly influences postnatal growth of male mice carrying the A(y) allele at the agouti locus: identification of quantitative trait loci associated with diabetes and body weight loss.

PubMed

Suto, Jun-ichi; Satou, Kunio

2013-05-04

Mice carrying the A(y) allele at the agouti locus become obese and are heavier than their non-A(y) littermates. However, this does not hold true for the genetic background of the DDD mouse strain. At 22 weeks of age, DDD.Cg-A(y) females are heavier than DDD females, whereas DDD.Cg-A(y) males are lighter than DDD males. This study aimed to determine the possible cause and identify the genes responsible for the lower body weight of DDD.Cg-A(y) males. Growth curves of DDD.Cg-A(y) mice were analyzed and compared with those of B6.Cg-A(y) mice from 5 to 25 weeks. In DDD.Cg-A(y) males, body weight gain stopped between 16 and 17 weeks and the body weight gradually decreased; thus, the lower body weight was a consequence of body weight loss. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping was performed in backcrossed (BC) males of DDD × (B6 × DDD.Cg-A(y)) F(1)-A(y) mice. For the body weight at 25 weeks, significant QTLs were identified on chromosomes 1 and 4. The DDD allele was associated with a lower body weight at both loci. In particular, the QTL on chromosome 4 interacted with the A(y) allele. Furthermore, suggestive QTLs for plasma glucose and high molecular weight adiponectin levels were coincidentally mapped to chromosome 4. The DDD allele was associated with increased glucose and decreased adiponectin levels. When the body weight at 25 weeks and plasma glucose levels were considered as dependent and independent variables, respectively, BC A(y) males were classified into two groups according to statistical analysis using the partition method. Mice of one group had significantly higher glucose and lower adiponectin levels than those of the other group and exhibited body weight loss as observed with DDD-A(y) males. The lower body weight of DDD.Cg-A(y) male mice was a consequence of body weight loss. Diabetes mellitus has been suggested to be a possible contributory factor causing body weight loss. The QTL on distal chromosome 4 contained the major responsible genes. This QTL interacted with the Ay allele, implying the reason why body weight loss occurs in DDD.Cg-Ay but not in DDD males.

The organochlorine o,p'-DDD disrupts the adrenal steroidogenic signaling pathway in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).

PubMed

Lacroix, Martin; Hontela, Alice

2003-08-01

The mechanisms of action of o,p'-DDD on adrenal steroidogenesis were investigated in vitro in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Acute exposures to o,p'-DDD inhibited ACTH-stimulated cortisol secretion while cell viability decreased significantly only at the highest concentration tested (200 microM o,p'-DDD). Stimulation of cortisol secretion with a cAMP analogue (dibutyryl-cAMP) was inhibited at a higher concentration than that needed to inhibit ACTH-stimulated cortisol synthesis in cells exposed to o,p'-DDD. Forskolin-stimulated cortisol secretion and cAMP production, and NaF-stimulated cAMP production were inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner by o,p'-DDD. In contrast, basal cortisol secretion was stimulated while basal cAMP production was unaffected by o,p'-DDD. Pregnenolone-stimulated cortisol secretion was enhanced by o,p'-DDD at a physiologically relevant pregnenolone concentration, while o,p'-DDD inhibited cortisol secretion when a pharmacological concentration of pregnenolone was used. Our results suggest that the cAMP generation step is a target in o,p'-DDD-mediated disruption of ACTH-stimulated adrenal steroidogenesis in rainbow trout but that other downstream targets such as steroidogenic enzymes responsible for cortisol synthesis might also be affected.

Genetic background (DDD/Sgn versus C57BL/6J) strongly influences postnatal growth of male mice carrying the Ay allele at the agouti locus: identification of quantitative trait loci associated with diabetes and body weight loss

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background Mice carrying the Ay allele at the agouti locus become obese and are heavier than their non-Ay littermates. However, this does not hold true for the genetic background of the DDD mouse strain. At 22 weeks of age, DDD.Cg-Ay females are heavier than DDD females, whereas DDD.Cg-Ay males are lighter than DDD males. This study aimed to determine the possible cause and identify the genes responsible for the lower body weight of DDD.Cg-Ay males. Results Growth curves of DDD.Cg-Ay mice were analyzed and compared with those of B6.Cg-Ay mice from 5 to 25 weeks. In DDD.Cg-Ay males, body weight gain stopped between 16 and 17 weeks and the body weight gradually decreased; thus, the lower body weight was a consequence of body weight loss. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping was performed in backcrossed (BC) males of DDD × (B6 × DDD.Cg-Ay) F1-Ay mice. For the body weight at 25 weeks, significant QTLs were identified on chromosomes 1 and 4. The DDD allele was associated with a lower body weight at both loci. In particular, the QTL on chromosome 4 interacted with the Ay allele. Furthermore, suggestive QTLs for plasma glucose and high molecular weight adiponectin levels were coincidentally mapped to chromosome 4. The DDD allele was associated with increased glucose and decreased adiponectin levels. When the body weight at 25 weeks and plasma glucose levels were considered as dependent and independent variables, respectively, BC Ay males were classified into two groups according to statistical analysis using the partition method. Mice of one group had significantly higher glucose and lower adiponectin levels than those of the other group and exhibited body weight loss as observed with DDD-Ay males. Conclusions The lower body weight of DDD.Cg-Ay male mice was a consequence of body weight loss. Diabetes mellitus has been suggested to be a possible contributory factor causing body weight loss. The QTL on distal chromosome 4 contained the major responsible genes. This QTL interacted with the Ay allele, implying the reason why body weight loss occurs in DDD.Cg-Ay but not in DDD males. PMID:23641944

Quantitative trait loci that control plasma lipid levels in an F2 intercross between C57BL/6J and DDD.Cg-A(y) inbred mouse strains.

PubMed

Suto, Jun-ichi

2012-04-01

The objectives of this study were to characterize plasma lipid phenotypes and dissect the genetic basis of plasma lipid levels in an obese DDD.Cg-A(y) mouse strain. Plasma triglyceride (TG) levels were significantly higher in the DDD.Cg-A(y) strain than in the B6.Cg-A(y) strain. In contrast, plasma total-cholesterol (CHO) levels did not substantially differ between the two strains. As a rule, the A(y) allele significantly increased TG levels, but did not increase CHO levels. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) analyses for plasma TG and CHO levels were performed in two types of F(2) female mice [F(2)A(y) (F(2) mice carrying the A(y) allele) and F(2) non- A(y) mice (F(2) mice without the A(y) allele)] produced by crossing C57BL/6J females and DDD.Cg-A(y) males. Single QTL scan identified one significant QTL for TG levels on chromosome 1, and two significant QTLs for CHO levels on chromosomes 1 and 8. When the marker nearest to the QTL on chromosome 1 was used as covariates, four additional significant QTLs for CHO levels were identified on chromosomes 5, 6, and 17 (two loci). In contrast, consideration of the agouti locus genotype as covariates did not detect additional QTLs. DDD.Cg-A(y) showed a low CHO level, although it had Apoa2(b), which was a CHO-increasing allele at the Apoa2 locus. This may have been partly due to the presence of multiple QTLs, which were associated with decreased CHO levels, on chromosome 8.

Molecularly Defined Nanostructures Based on a Novel AAA-DDD Triple Hydrogen-Bonding Motif.

PubMed

Papmeyer, Marcus; Vuilleumier, Clément A; Pavan, Giovanni M; Zhurov, Konstantin O; Severin, Kay

2016-01-26

A facile and flexible method for the synthesis of a new AAA-DDD triple hydrogen-bonding motif is described. Polytopic supramolecular building blocks with precisely oriented AAA and DDD groups are thus accessible in few steps. These building blocks were used for the assembly of large macrocycles featuring four AAA-DDD interactions and a macrobicyclic complex with a total of six AAA-DDD interactions. © 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Timeliness in the notification of spotted fever in Brazil: Evaluating compulsory reporting strategies and digital disease detection.

PubMed

de Oliveira, Stefan Vilges; Angerami, Rodrigo Nogueira

2018-05-03

Spotted fever caused by rickettsial species, the most important tick-borne disease. In Brazil, is nationwide communicable compulsory disease to the Ministry of Health. Since 2007, all suspected cases of spotted fever have been integrated into the Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN). In this descriptive study we evaluate the timeliness (expressed in number of days between time of clinical suspicion and reporting) of the compulsory notification of spotted fever cases in SINAN and the strategy for digital disease detection (DDD). It was analysed the information from the SINAN and from the digital detection strategy used by ProMED-Português. Results show that detection by the SINAN system was more efficient than Promed-Português, reporting 20.5 days earlier 90.4% of evaluated suspected cases. The surveillance strategy based on the mandatory case reporting using SINAN has proven to be more timely, but DDD can be considered as a complementary strategy providing a more disseminate epidemiological information to wide range readership globally. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

DDD-028: a potent potential non-opioid, non-cannabinoid analgesic for neuropathic and inflammatory pain.

PubMed

Rajagopalan, Parthasarathi; Tracey, Heather; Chen, Zhoumou; Bandyopadhyaya, Acintya; Veeraraghavan, Sridhar; Rajagopalan, Desikan R; Salvemini, Daniela; McPhee, Ian; Viswanadha, Srikant; Rajagopalan, Raghavan

2014-07-15

DDD-028 (4), a novel pentacyclic pyridoindolobenzazepine derivative was evaluated in vitro for receptor binding affinity and in vivo for analgesic activity using rodent models of neuropathic and inflammatory pain. DDD-028 does not bind to opioid, cannabinoid, dopamine, or histamine receptors. DDD-028 is very active even at the low oral dose of 1-5 mg/kg in both neuropathic, (spinal nerve ligation and chronic constriction injury) and inflammatory (Complete Freund's Adjuvant Induced) models of pain. DDD-028 appears to be about 6-fold more potent than pregabalin and indomethacin. Visual observation of all the animals used in these studies indicated that DDD-028 is well tolerated without any sedation. Thus, DDD-028 seems to be a promising candidate for the treatment of neuropathic and inflammatory pain without the possible side effects or abuse potential associated with opioid or cannabinoid activities. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Occurrence of fungicides and other pesticides in surface water, groundwater, and sediment from three targeted-use areas in the United States, 2009

USGS Publications Warehouse

Orlando, James L.; Smalling, Kelly L.; Reilly, Timothy J.; Boehlke, Adam; Meyer, Michael T.; Kuivila, Kathryn

2013-01-01

Surface-water, groundwater, and suspended- and bedsediment samples were collected in three targeted-use areas in the United States where potatoes were grown during 2009 and analyzed for an extensive suite of fungicides and other pesticides by gas chromatograph/mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. Fungicides were detected in all environmental matrices sampled during the study. The most frequently detected fungicides were azoxystrobin, boscalid, chlorothalonil, and pyraclostrobin. Other pesticides that were detected frequently included amino phosphonic acid (AMPA), atrazine, metolaclor, and the organochlorine insecticide p,p’-DDT and its degradates p,p’-DDD and p,p’-DDE. A greater number of pesticides were detected in surface water relative to the other environmental matrices sampled, and at least one pesticide was detected in 62 of the 63 surfacewater samples. The greatest numbers of pesticides and the maximum observed concentrations for most pesticides were measured in surface-water samples from Idaho. In eight surface- water samples (six from Idaho and two from Wisconsin), concentrations of bifenthrin, metolachlor, or malathion exceeded U.S. Environmental Protection Agency freshwater aquatic-life benchmarks for chronic toxicity to invertebrates. Thirteen pesticides, including seven fungicides, were detected in groundwater samples. Shallow groundwater samples collected beneath recently harvested potato fields contained more pesticides and had higher concentrations of pesticides than samples collected from other groundwater sources sampled during the study. Generally, pesticide concentrations were lower in groundwater samples than in surfacewater or sediment samples, with the exception of the fungicide boscalid, which was found to have its highest concentration in a shallow groundwater sample collected in Wisconsin. Thirteen pesticides, including four fungicides, were detected in suspended-sediment samples. The most frequently detected compounds were the fungicides boscalid, pyraclostrobin, and zoxamide, and the degradates p,p’-DDD and p,p’-DDE. Twenty pesticides, including six fungicides, were detected in bed-sediment samples. The most frequently detected compounds were pyraclostrobin, p,p’-DDT, p,p’-DDD, and p,p’-DDE.

Interindividual differences in o,p'-DDD enantiomer kinetics examined in Göttingen minipigs.

PubMed

Cantillana, T; Lindström, V; Eriksson, L; Brandt, I; Bergman, A

2009-06-01

Five minipigs were given a single oral dose of a racemic mixture of o,p'-DDD (30 mg kg(-1)b.w., EF=0.49). Blood plasma and subcutaneous adipose tissue were collected for analysis, at different time-points over 180 d. At the end of the experiment also liver, kidney and brain tissue were collected. Low concentrations of o,p'-DDD still remained after 180 d in plasma (mean 0.5+/-0.3 ng g(-1)f.w.) and in adipose tissue (mean 40+/-40 ng g(-1)f.w.). The mean concentrations in liver and kidney were 500+/-300 pg g(-1)f.w. and 90+/-50 pg g(-1)f.w., respectively. The enantiomers of o,p'-DDD were isolated by HPLC and the absolute configuration of the enantiomers were determined by X-ray crystallography and polarimetry as R-(+)-o,p'-DDD and S-(-)-o,p'-DDD. The enantiomer fractions (EFs) of o,p'-DDD were determined in plasma, adipose tissue and kidney using GC/ECD equipped with a chiral column. The EFs of o,p'-DDD in the individual minipigs showed large variability, ranging from 0.2 to 0.6 after 24h in plasma and from 0.2 to 0.7 after 90 d in adipose tissue. Hence in two of the minipigs, the S-(-)-o,p'-DDD enantiomer was dominating while the other enantiomer, R-(+)-o,p'-DDD was dominating in three minipigs. We propose that a yet not identified factor related to polymorphism, regulating the metabolism and/or elimination of the enantiomeric o,p'-DDD, is responsible for the differences in enantiomeric retention of the compound in the minipigs.

Effects of closed-loop stimulation vs. DDD pacing on haemodynamic variations and occurrence of syncope induced by head-up tilt test in older patients with refractory cardioinhibitory vasovagal syncope: the Tilt test-Induced REsponse in Closed-loop Stimulation multicentre, prospective, single blind, randomized study.

PubMed

Palmisano, Pietro; Dell'Era, Gabriele; Russo, Vincenzo; Zaccaria, Maria; Mangia, Rolando; Bortnik, Miriam; De Vecchi, Federica; Giubertoni, Ailia; Patti, Fabiana; Magnani, Andrea; Nigro, Gerardo; Rago, Anna; Occhetta, Eraldo; Accogli, Michele

2018-05-01

Closed-loop stimulation (CLS) seemed promising in preventing the recurrence of vasovagal syncope (VVS) in patients with a cardioinhibitory response to head-up tilt test (HUTT) compared with conventional pacing. We hypothesized that the better results of this algorithm are due to its quick reaction in high-rate pacing delivered in the early phase of vasovagal reflex, which increase the cardiac output and the blood pressure preventing loss of consciousness. This prospective, randomized, single-blind, multicentre study was designed as an intra-patient comparison and enrolled 30 patients (age 62.2 ± 13.5 years, males 60.0%) with cardioinhibitory VVS, carrying a dual-chamber pacemaker incorporating CLS algorithm. Two HUTTs were performed one week apart: one during DDD-CLS 60-130/min pacing and the other during DDD 60/min pacing; patients were randomly and blindly assigned to two groups: in one the first HUTT was performed in DDD-CLS (n = 15), in the other in DDD (n = 15). Occurrence of syncope and haemodynamic variations induced by HUTT was recorded during the tests. Compared with DDD, DDD-CLS significantly reduced the occurrence of syncope induced by HUTT (30.0% vs. 76.7%; P < 0.001). In the patients who had syncope in both DDD and DDD-CLS mode, DDD-CLS significantly delayed the onset of syncope during HUTT (from 20.8 ± 3.9 to 24.8 ± 0.9 min; P = 0.032). The maximum fall in systolic blood pressure recorded during HUTT was significantly lower in DDD-CLS compared with DDD (43.2 ± 30.3 vs. 65.1 ± 25.8 mmHg; P = 0.004). In patients with cardioinhibitory VVS, CLS reduces the occurrence of syncope induced by HUTT, compared with DDD pacing. When CLS is not able to abort the vasovagal reflex, it seems to delay the onset of syncope.

Nutrients, suspended sediment, and pesticides in waters of the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, 1970-90

USGS Publications Warehouse

Tornes, L.H.; Brigham, M.E.

1994-01-01

A relatively large fraction of stream samples had detectable quantities of 2,4-D, a- and y-HCH, and atrazine. These samples covered time spans of as much as 15 years and were from sites downstream from large drainage basins; however, concentrations were well below US EPA MCLs. One county-level study showed higher 2,4-D concentrations at upstream sites than at the outlet from a small basin. This indicates that downstream sites may fail to show impaired water-quality and the fate of pesticides used in the basin. Following the 1972 ban on DDT, concentrations of DDT in fish samples from the Red River of the North quickly decreased. Fish concentrations of DDE and DDD decreased more slowly. Low levels of DDE and DDD were detected in fish 14 years after the DDT ban.

Allelic Variants of Complement Genes Associated with Dense Deposit Disease

PubMed Central

Abrera-Abeleda, Maria Asuncion; Nishimura, Carla; Frees, Kathy; Jones, Michael; Maga, Tara; Katz, Louis M.; Zhang, Yuzhou

2011-01-01

The alternative pathway of the complement cascade plays a role in the pathogenesis of dense deposit disease (DDD). Deficiency of complement factor H and mutations in CFH associate with the development of DDD, but it is unknown whether allelic variants in other complement genes also associate with this disease. We studied patients with DDD and identified previously unreported sequence alterations in several genes in addition to allelic variants and haplotypes common to patients with DDD. We found that the likelihood of developing DDD increases with the presence of two or more risk alleles in CFH and C3. To determine the functional consequence of this finding, we measured the activity of the alternative pathway in serum samples from phenotypically normal controls genotyped for variants in CFH and C3. Alternative pathway activity was higher in the presence of variants associated with DDD. Taken together, these data confirm that DDD is a complex genetic disease and may provide targets for the development of disease-specific therapies. PMID:21784901

An AAA-DDD triply hydrogen-bonded complex easily accessible for supramolecular polymers.

PubMed

Han, Yi-Fei; Chen, Wen-Qiang; Wang, Hong-Bo; Yuan, Ying-Xue; Wu, Na-Na; Song, Xiang-Zhi; Yang, Lan

2014-12-15

For a complementary hydrogen-bonded complex, when every hydrogen-bond acceptor is on one side and every hydrogen-bond donor is on the other, all secondary interactions are attractive and the complex is highly stable. AAA-DDD (A=acceptor, D=donor) is considered to be the most stable among triply hydrogen-bonded sequences. The easily synthesized and further derivatized AAA-DDD system is very desirable for hydrogen-bonded functional materials. In this case, AAA and DDD, starting from 4-methoxybenzaldehyde, were synthesized with the Hantzsch pyridine synthesis and Friedländer annulation reaction. The association constant determined by fluorescence titration in chloroform at room temperature is 2.09×10(7)  M(-1) . The AAA and DDD components are not coplanar, but form a V shape in the solid state. Supramolecular polymers based on AAA-DDD triply hydrogen bonded have also been developed. This work may make AAA-DDD triply hydrogen-bonded sequences easily accessible for stimuli-responsive materials. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

[Levels of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane internal exposure levels in pregnant women of Xiamen and influencing factors].

PubMed

Yu, X S; He, J; Chen, J H; Lai, Z B; Su, Y H; Shi, M M; Huang, Z X; Cheng, Q J; Ke, X Y; Zhao, B H

2016-11-06

Objective: To investigate the level of and factors influencing internal exposure to dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) in pregnant women. Methods: In all, 1 064 pregnant women were recruited in a hospital of Xiamen. Participants were asked to complete a questionnaire to obtain data on sociodemographic characteristics and lifestyle. Peripheral venous blood and cord blood samples were collected. Of the 1 064 pregnant women, 600 were enrolled in this study after completing the questionnaire and providing peripheral venous blood and cord blood. Among those women, 150 were selected randomly using a systematic sampling method. A gas chromatography coupled electron capture detector was used to determine the concentration of six DDT homologues: p,p'-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (p,p'-DDT), o,p'-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (o,p'-DDT), p,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane (p,p'-DDD), o,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane (o,p'-DDD), p,p'-dichlorodiphenylethylene (p,p'-DDE), and o,p'-dichlorodiphenylethylene (o,p'-DDE) . Pregnant women were divided into two groups according to DDT concentration: a low concentration group (detection value≤ P 50 ) and a high concentration group (detection value> P 50 ). multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the association between the DDT levels and potential influencing factors which investigated in the questionnaire. Results: The detection rates of p,p'-DDT, o,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDD, o,p'-DDD, p,p'-DDE and o,p'-DDE in the peripheral venous blood samples from the 150 pregnant women were 83.3% (125), 29.3% (44), 58.0% (87), 24.0% (36), 82.0% (123), and 34.7% (52), respectively. The median concentrations were 1.56, 0.03, 0.07, 0.03, 0.93 and 0.03 μg/ml, respectively. The detection rates of p,p'-DDT, o,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDD, o,p'-DDD, p,p'-DDE and o,p'-DDE in the cord blood samples were 69.3% (104), 10.7% (16), 29.3% (44), 20.7% (31), 81.3% (122) and 45.3% (68), and the median concentrations were 0.41, 0.03, 0.03, 0.03, 0.42 and 0.03 μg/ml, respectively. The concentration ranges in the low and high DDT concentration groups which contained 75 respondents respectively were 0-3.69 and 3.74-82.09 μg/ml, respectively. In the single-factor analysis, the number (percentage) of those who consumed seafood " rarely" , "less than twice a week" , and " twice a week or more" was 15 (20.3%), 22 (29.7%), and 37 (50.0%), respectively, in the low concentration group, and 4(5.3%), 20(26.7% ), and 51(68.0% ) in the high concentration group (χ 2 =8.69, P= 0.013). The results of the multivariate logistic regression analysis indicate that pregnant women who consume seafood less than twice a week, twice a week or more have higher peripheral blood DDT concentrations compared with those who rarely consume seafood. The OR (95% CI ) values were 1.14 (1.08-1.21), 2.11 (1.55-2.85), respectively. Conclusion: The exposure level of pregnant women to DDTs in the Xiamen area is higher than that of women in other regions. High seafood intake is a risk factor for internal exposure to DDTs.

Maritime Operations in Disconnected, Intermittent, and Low-Bandwidth Environments

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-06-01

of a Dynamic Distributed Database ( DDD ) is a core element enabling the distributed operation of networks and applications, as described in this...document. The DDD is a database containing all the relevant information required to reconfigure the applications, routing, and other network services...optimize application configuration. Figure 5 gives a snapshot of entries in the DDD . In current testing, the DDD is replicated using Domino

Surgical and Functional Outcomes After Multilevel Cervical Fusion for Degenerative Disc Disease Compared With Fusion for Radiculopathy: A Study of Workers' Compensation Population.

PubMed

Faour, Mhamad; Anderson, Joshua T; Haas, Arnold R; Percy, Rick; Woods, Stephen T; Ahn, Uri M; Ahn, Nicholas U

2017-05-01

Retrospective cohort comparative study. To evaluate presurgical and surgical factors that affect return to work (RTW) status after multilevel cervical fusion, and to compare outcomes after multilevel cervical fusion for degenerative disc disease (DDD) versus radiculopathy. Cervical fusion provides more than 90% of symptomatic relief for radiculopathy and myelopathy. However, cervical fusion for DDD without radiculopathy is considered controversial. In addition, multilevel fusion is associated with poorer surgical outcomes with increased levels fused. Data of cervical comorbidities was collected from Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation for subjects with work-related injuries. The study population included subjects who underwent multilevel cervical fusion. Patients with radiculopathy or DDD were identified. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify factors that affect RTW status. Surgical and functional outcomes were compared between groups. Stable RTW status within 3 years after multilevel cervical fusion was negatively affected by: fusion for DDD, age > 55 years, preoperative opioid use, initial psychological evaluation before surgery, injury-to-surgery > 2 years and instrumentation.DDD group had lower rate of achieving stable RTW status (P= 0.0001) and RTW within 1 year of surgery (P= 0.0003) compared with radiculopathy group. DDD patients were less likely to have a stable RTW status [odds ratio, OR = 0.63 (0.50-0.79)] or RTW within 1 year after surgery [OR = 0.65 (0.52-0.82)].DDD group had higher rate of opioid use (P= 0.001), and higher rate of disability after surgery (P= 0.002). Multiple detriments affect stable RTW status after multilevel cervical fusion including DDD. DDD without radiculopathy was associated with lower RTW rates, less likelihood to return to work, higher disability, and higher opioid use after surgery. Multilevel cervical fusion for DDD may be counterproductive. Future studies should investigate further treatment options of DDD, and optimize patient selection criteria for surgical intervention. 3.

Biochemical, Kinetic, and Spectroscopic Characterization of Ruegeria pomeroyi DddW—A Mononuclear Iron-Dependent DMSP Lyase

PubMed Central

Brummett, Adam E.; Schnicker, Nicholas J.; Crider, Alexander; Todd, Jonathan D.; Dey, Mishtu

2015-01-01

The osmolyte dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) is a key nutrient in marine environments and its catabolism by bacteria through enzymes known as DMSP lyases generates dimethylsulfide (DMS), a gas of importance in climate regulation, the sulfur cycle, and signaling to higher organisms. Despite the environmental significance of DMSP lyases, little is known about how they function at the mechanistic level. In this study we biochemically characterize DddW, a DMSP lyase from the model roseobacter Ruegeria pomeroyi DSS-3. DddW is a 16.9 kDa enzyme that contains a C-terminal cupin domain and liberates acrylate, a proton, and DMS from the DMSP substrate. Our studies show that as-purified DddW is a metalloenzyme, like the DddQ and DddP DMSP lyases, but contains an iron cofactor. The metal cofactor is essential for DddW DMSP lyase activity since addition of the metal chelator EDTA abolishes its enzymatic activity, as do substitution mutations of key metal-binding residues in the cupin motif (His81, His83, Glu87, and His121). Measurements of metal binding affinity and catalytic activity indicate that Fe(II) is most likely the preferred catalytic metal ion with a nanomolar binding affinity. Stoichiometry studies suggest DddW requires one Fe(II) per monomer. Electronic absorption and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) studies show an interaction between NO and Fe(II)-DddW, with NO binding to the EPR silent Fe(II) site giving rise to an EPR active species (g = 4.29, 3.95, 2.00). The change in the rhombicity of the EPR signal is observed in the presence of DMSP, indicating that substrate binds to the iron site without displacing bound NO. This work provides insight into the mechanism of DMSP cleavage catalyzed by DddW. PMID:25993446

Correlation between prescribed daily dose, seizure freedom and defined daily dose in antiepileptic drug treatment.

PubMed

Horváth, László; Fekete, Klára; Márton, Sándor; Fekete, István

2017-04-01

Background Although defined daily doses (DDD) for antiepileptic drugs (AED) have been assigned only in combination therapy, based on the literature, most patients take them in monotherapy. Furthermore, discrepancies between DDD and prescribed daily dose (PDD) were observed. Objective First, to determine PDDs of AEDs and to reveal PDD/DDD ratio among seizure free versus not seizure free patients in everyday clinical practice. Second, to test the applicability of 75% cut-off of DDD to achieve seizure freedom. Furthermore, to find out what factors might influence PDD. Setting Outpatient data files at a Hungarian university hospital were studied. Methods A retrospective, 20-year cross-sectional database was compiled from 1282 epileptic outpatients' files. Main outcome measure Seizure freedom and PDD were used as outcome measures. Results The mean DDD% of all prescribed AEDs increased steadily from monotherapy, through bitherapy towards polytherapy (p < 0.0001). Most seizure free patients took AEDs in doses in the range of ≤75% of DDDs in monotherapy and bitherapy. Older AEDs (carbamazepine and valproate) were given in a significantly higher mean dose in bitherapy in the seizure free group. Among the newer types, only levetiracetam and lamotrigine had a significantly higher DDD% in mono-, bi-, and polytherapy. Confirmed by logistic regression analysis, gender, age, type of epilepsy, and number of AEDs had a significant impact on the value of 75% DDD. Conclusion No significant unfavourable impact of the lower ratio of PDD/DDD on the outcome of achieving seizure freedom has been confirmed. As a measure of seizure freedom, 75% of DDD may be used, although individual therapy must be emphasised. Precisely quantified DDD would provide a more accurate calculation of other derived values.

DDD versus VVIR versus VVI mode in patients with indication to dual-chamber stimulation: a prospective, randomized, controlled, single-blind study.

PubMed

Moro, Eugenio; Caprioglio, Francesco; Berton, Giuseppe; Marcon, Carlo; Riva, Umberto; Corbucci, Giorgio; Delise, Pietro

2005-09-01

The aim of this study was to compare VVI, VVIR and DDD modes in patients with indication to dual-chamber stimulation, depending on left ventricular function. Two groups of patients were implanted with a DDD pacemaker: Group I with ejection fraction > 40% and Group II with ejection fraction < 40%. Patients with a history of atrial arrhythmia or retrograde conduction were excluded. At follow-up (1 month each) quality of life (QoL), patient preference and echo parameters were collected. At hospital discharge all patients were programmed in DDD for 1 month and then randomized to VVI or VVIR mode. At the end of the period in VVI or VVIR mode each patient underwent a control period in DDD and then was programmed in VVIR or VVI mode. Seventeen patients out of 23 preferred DDD mode and 6 did not perceive any subjective difference among DDD, VVI and VVIR modes (4/9 in Group I and 2/14 in Group II, p = 0.0017). QoL was significantly different between the two groups and at each follow-up showed the best values in DDD. The correlation between QoL and Tei index was 0.62 in Group I (p < 0.001) and 0.35 in Group II (p = 0.001). Neither ejection fraction nor fractional shortening showed any significant difference during the three phases of the study. Most patients preferred the DDD mode. The Tei index showed a good correlation with QoL and both QoL and Tei index significantly improved with DDD mode as compared to VVI and VVIR.

Quantitative trait loci that control body weight and obesity in an F2 intercross between C57BL/6J and DDD.Cg-Ay mice.

PubMed

Suto, Jun-ichi

2011-07-01

I have developed a congenic mouse strain for the A(y) allele at the agouti locus in an inbred DDD/Sgn strain, DDD.Cg-A(y). DDD.Cg-A(y) females are extremely obese and significantly heavier than B6.Cg-A(y) females. The objectives of this study were to determine the genetic basis of obesity in DDD.Cg-A(y) mice, and to determine whether or not their high body weight was due to the presence of DDD background-specific modifiers. I performed quantitative trait locus (QTL) analyses for body weight and body mass index in two types of F(2) mice [F2 A(y) (F(2) mice carrying the A(y) allele) and F(2) non-A(y) (F2 mice without the A(y) allele)] produced by crossing C57BL/6J females and DDD.Cg-A(y) males. The results of the QTL analysis of F(2) A(y) mice were very similar to those obtained for F(2) non-A(y) mice. It was unlikely that the high body weight of DDD.Cg-A(y) mice was due to the presence of specific modifiers. When both F(2) datasets were merged and analyzed, four significant body weight QTLs were identified on chromosomes 6, 9, and 17 (2 loci) and four significant obesity QTLs were identified on chromosomes 1, 6, 9, and 17. Although the presence of DDD background-specific modifiers was not confirmed, a multifactorial basis of obesity in DDD.Cg-A(y) females was thus revealed.

Impact of pacemaker mode in patients with atrioventricular conduction disturbance after trans-catheter aortic valve implantation.

PubMed

Takahashi, Masao; Badenco, Nicolas; Monteau, Jacques; Gandjbakhch, Estelle; Extramiana, Fabrice; Urena, Marina; Karam, Nicole; Marijon, Eloi; Algalarrondo, Vincent; Teiger, Emmanuel; Lellouche, Nicolas

2018-03-14

This study aimed to assess the impact of pacemaker mode programming on clinical outcomes in patients with high-degree atrioventricular conduction disturbance (AVCD) after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Although high-degree AVCD after TAVI can receive pacemaker, recovery of the AVCD is often observed. Specific pacemaker algorithms (AAI-DDD mode switch) are available which favor spontaneous atrioventricular conduction. Of 1,621 consecutive multi-center TAVI patients, 269 (16.4%) received pacemaker. We retrospectively included 91 patients with persistent high-degree AVCD at hospital discharge. Pacemaker dependency was defined as absence, inadequate intrinsic ventricular rhythm, or ventricular pacing time > 95% on pacemaker interrogation during follow-up. Comparison of heart failure hospitalization and death between conventional DDD (cDDD) and other modes was examined (AAI-DDD and VVI). During a mean follow-up duration of 13 months, the pacemaker dependency rate was 52.8%. Patients with cDDD mode (N = 36: 40.0%) had significantly more pacemaker dependency. Multivariate analysis showed that cDDD mode was independently associated with pacemaker dependency (odds ratio = 3.63, P = 0.03). Moreover, cDDD patients had a significant higher incidence of heart failure hospitalization (Hospitalization: cDDD vs. others = 45.4% vs. 18.2%, P = 0.03) and had a higher incidence of mortality (Death: cDDD vs. the others = 27.0% vs. 4.4%, P = 0.06). Up to half of patients implanted for high-degree AVCD after TAVI had conduction recovery. Patients with cDDD programming at hospital discharge had more pacemaker dependency and a worse cardiac prognosis. Thus, pacemaker mode should be systematically set to promote spontaneous atrioventricular conduction in patients with pacemaker implantation after TAVI. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Comparative Study of Electrical Stimulation of the Heart with VDD and DDD Pacemakers as to the Evolution to Atrial Fibrillation

PubMed Central

de Campos, Nelson Leonardo Kerdahi Leite; de Andrade, Rubens Ramos; Fellicio, Marcello Laneza; Martins, Antônio Sergio; Garzesi, André Monti; Garcia, Leonardo Rufino; Takeda, Tassya Bueno

2017-01-01

Introduction The pacemaker implantation VDD is considered simpler, faster, less expensive and causes fewer complications compared to DDD. However, the VDD pacemaker has not been widely used in many centers, perhaps for fear of dysfunction of the sinus node and the reduction of atrial sensitivity by the pacemaker during follow-up after implantation. Objective To compare patients with DDD and VDD pacemakers regarding the evolution of chronic atrial fibrillation (AF) and length of stay outside this postoperative arrhythmia. Methods It was included 158 patients with dual chamber pacemakers, 48 DDD and 110 VDD. Follow-up period: between January 1, 1999 and December 31, 2015. The mean follow-up of patients with DDD was 5.35 years and the VDD, 4.74 years. The percentage of each group (DDD and VDD) which evolved to AF during follow-up was assessed. Also, it was made an actuarial study with the respective curves indicating the time free from AF for each group. Patients were classified according to the diagnosis that led to pacemaker implantation and the degree of heart failure. Results The percentage of patients who developed AF was higher in DDD group (10.42%) than in VDD group (6.36%), but without statistical significance. Patients with DDD and VDD remained free of AF for similar period. Conclusion Considering the results, the VDD pacemaker continues to be a good option to the DDD for routine use in cases properly indicated. PMID:29211212

Comparative Study of Electrical Stimulation of the Heart with VDD and DDD Pacemakers as to the Evolution to Atrial Fibrillation.

PubMed

Campos, Nelson Leonardo Kerdahi Leite de; Andrade, Rubens Ramos de; Fellicio, Marcello Laneza; Martins, Antônio Sergio; Garzesi, André Monti; Garcia, Leonardo Rufino; Takeda, Tassya Bueno

2017-01-01

The pacemaker implantation VDD is considered simpler, faster, less expensive and causes fewer complications compared to DDD. However, the VDD pacemaker has not been widely used in many centers, perhaps for fear of dysfunction of the sinus node and the reduction of atrial sensitivity by the pacemaker during follow-up after implantation. To compare patients with DDD and VDD pacemakers regarding the evolution of chronic atrial fibrillation (AF) and length of stay outside this postoperative arrhythmia. It was included 158 patients with dual chamber pacemakers, 48 DDD and 110 VDD. Follow-up period: between January 1, 1999 and December 31, 2015. The mean follow-up of patients with DDD was 5.35 years and the VDD, 4.74 years. The percentage of each group (DDD and VDD) which evolved to AF during follow-up was assessed. Also, it was made an actuarial study with the respective curves indicating the time free from AF for each group. Patients were classified according to the diagnosis that led to pacemaker implantation and the degree of heart failure. The percentage of patients who developed AF was higher in DDD group (10.42%) than in VDD group (6.36%), but without statistical significance. Patients with DDD and VDD remained free of AF for similar period. Considering the results, the VDD pacemaker continues to be a good option to the DDD for routine use in cases properly indicated.

Black Carbon Facilitated Dechlorination of DDT and its Metabolites by Sulfide.

PubMed

Ding, Kai; Xu, Wenqing

2016-12-06

1,1-trichloro-2,2-di(4-chlorophenyl)ethane (DDT) and its metabolites 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)ethane (DDD) and 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)ethylene (DDE), are often detected in soils and sediments containing high concentrations of black carbon. Sulfide (∼5 mM) from biological sulfate reduction often coexists with black carbon and serves as both a strong reductant and a nucleophile for the abiotic transformation of contaminants. In this study, we found that the abiotic transformation of DDT, DDD, and DDE (collectively referred to as DDX) require both sulfide and black carbon. 89.3 ± 1.8% of DDT, 63.2 ± 1.9% of DDD, and 50.9 ± 1.6% of DDE were degraded by sulfide (5 mM) in the presence of graphite powder (21 g/L) after 28 days at pH 7. Chloride was a product of DDX degradation. To better understand the reaction pathways, electrochemical cells and batch reactor experiments with sulfide-pretreated graphite powder were used to differentiate the involvement of black carbon materials in DDX transformation by sulfide. Our results suggest that DDT and DDD are transformed by surface intermediates formed from the reaction between sulfide and black carbon, while DDE degradation involves reductive dechlorination. This research lays the groundwork for developing an alternative in situ remediation technique for rapidly decontaminating soils and sediments to lower toxic products under environmentally relevant conditions.

Intradiscal thermal annuloplasty for the treatment of lumbar discogenic pain in patients with multilevel degenerative disc disease.

PubMed

Kapural, Leonardo; Mekhail, Nagy; Korunda, Zdenko; Basali, Ayman

2004-08-01

Symptomatic degenerative disc disease (DDD) may lead to significant deterioration of quality of life and increased disability. Intradiscal thermal annuloplasty (IDTA) is a minimally invasive treatment for painful DDD. We hypothesized that there may be an improvement in pain scores and the pain disability index (PDI) of patients who have multilevel DDD after IDTA. Patients 24-66 yr old, male and female with multilevel DDD (MDDD) and matched 1 or 2 level DDD (1,2-DDD) patients were enrolled in the study. Visual analog pain scale (VAS) score and PDI were observed for 12 mo. The 1,2-DDD patient group had a 2.5 +/- 2.4 VAS score at 12 mo after annuloplasty compared to 7.7 +/- 2 before the procedure. The MDDD VAS score was 4.9 +/- 2.9 at 12 mo compared to 7.4 +/- 1.8 before the procedure. Similar improvements in PDI were found. The pain relief and PDI were significantly better in patients with 1,2-DDD than in the MDDD group (P = 0.0037 and P = 0.041, respectively). We concluded that IDTA is an effective treatment of discogenic pain and that the number of discs affected by degeneration is an important determinant of the procedure outcome.

Organochlorine insecticide residues are found in surface, irrigated water samples from several districts in Bangladesh.

PubMed

Chowdhury, Alamgir Zaman; Islam, Mohammad Nazrul; Moniruzzaman, Mohammed; Gan, Siew Hua; Alam, Md Khorshed

2013-02-01

The purpose of this study was to investigate the occurrence and distribution of organochlorines such as aldrin, dieldrin, dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE), dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane (DDD), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), endrin, lindane and heptachlor insecticide residues in irrigated surface water samples collected from 22 districts in Bangladesh. The concentrations of the pesticides were determined using gas chromatography mass spectrophotometry. Water samples from five locations (Feni, Nawabganj, Putia, Burichang and Chatak) were contaminated with DDT; the highest DDT concentration detected was 8.29 μg/L, and its metabolite, DDE, was detected at 4.06 μg/L. Water samples from four other locations (Natore, Sikderpara, Chatak and Rajoir) were contaminated with heptachlor residues, and the highest level detected was 5.24 μg/L, which is the above the maximum contaminant level recommended by the World Health Organisation. A water sample collected from Chatak, Sunamganj, was contaminated with both DDT and heptachlor pesticide residues. None of the water samples were contaminated with aldrin, DDD, dieldrin, endrin or lindane. It is concluded that continuous, long-term monitoring and essential steps to limit the use of the pesticides in Bangladesh are needed.

[Measurement of antimicrobial consumption using DDD per 100 bed-days versus DDD per 100 discharges after the implementation of an antimicrobial stewardship program].

PubMed

Collado, Roberto; Losa, Juan Emilio; Álvaro, Elena Alba; Toro, Piedad; Moreno, Leonor; Pérez, Montserrat

2015-12-01

Monitoring antimicrobial consumption in hospitals is a necessary measure. The indicators commonly employed do not clearly reflect the antibiotic selection pressure. The objective of this study is to evaluate two different methods that analyze antimicrobial consumption based on DDD, per stay and per discharge, before and after the implementation an antimicrobial stewardship program. Comparative pre-post study of antimicrobial consumption with the implementation of an antimicrobial stewardship program using DDD per 100 bed-days and DDD per 100 discharges as indicators. Hospital bed days remained stable and discharges increased slightly along the period of study Antibiotic consumption in DDD per 100 bed-days decreased by 2.5% versus 3.8% when expressed as DDD per 100 discharges. Antifungal consumption decreased by more than 50%. When average hospital stay decreases, reductions in the consumption of antimicrobials with an antimicrobial stewardship program system occur at the expense of reducing the number of patients receiving treatment, while increases occur due to longer durations of treatment.

Flood forecasting with DDD-application of a parsimonious hydrological model in operational flood forecasting in Norway

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Skaugen, Thomas; Haddeland, Ingjerd

2014-05-01

A new parameter-parsimonious rainfall-runoff model, DDD (Distance Distribution Dynamics) has been run operationally at the Norwegian Flood Forecasting Service for approximately a year. DDD has been calibrated for, altogether, 104 catchments throughout Norway, and provide runoff forecasts 8 days ahead on a daily temporal resolution driven by precipitation and temperature from the meteorological forecast models AROME (48 hrs) and EC (192 hrs). The current version of DDD differs from the standard model used for flood forecasting in Norway, the HBV model, in its description of the subsurface and runoff dynamics. In DDD, the capacity of the subsurface water reservoir M, is the only parameter to be calibrated whereas the runoff dynamics is completely parameterised from observed characteristics derived from GIS and runoff recession analysis. Water is conveyed through the soils to the river network by waves with celerities determined by the level of saturation in the catchment. The distributions of distances between points in the catchment to the nearest river reach and of the river network give, together with the celerities, distributions of travel times, and, consequently unit hydrographs. DDD has 6 parameters less to calibrate in the runoff module than the HBV model. Experiences using DDD show that especially the timing of flood peaks has improved considerably and in a comparison between DDD and HBV, when assessing timeseries of 64 years for 75 catchments, DDD had a higher hit rate and a lower false alarm rate than HBV. For flood peaks higher than the mean annual flood the median hit rate is 0.45 and 0.41 for the DDD and HBV models respectively. Corresponding number for the false alarm rate is 0.62 and 0.75 For floods over the five year return interval, the median hit rate is 0.29 and 0.28 for the DDD and HBV models, respectively with false alarm rates equal to 0.67 and 0.80. During 2014 the Norwegian flood forecasting service will run DDD operationally at a 3h temporal resolution. Running DDD at a 3h resolution will give a better prediction of flood peaks in small catchments, where the averaging over 24 hrs will lead to a underestimation of high events, and we can better describe the progress floods in larger catchments. Also, at a 3h temporal resolution we make better use of the meteorological forecasts that for long have been provided at a very detailed temporal resolution.

Ambulatory Holter monitoring in asymptomatic patients with DDD pacemakers - do we need ACC/AHA Guidelines revision?

PubMed

Chudzik, Michal; Klimczak, Artur; Wranicz, Jerzy Krzysztof

2013-10-31

We sought to determine the usefulness of ambulatory 24-hour Holter monitoring in detecting asymptomatic pacemaker (PM) malfunction episodes in patients with dual-chamber pacemakers whose pacing and sensing parameters were proper, as seen in routine post-implantation follow-ups. Ambulatory 24-hour Holter recordings (HM) were performed in 100 patients with DDD pacemakers 1 day after the implantation. Only asymptomatic patients with proper pacing and sensing parameters (assessed on PM telemetry on the first day post-implantation) were enrolled in the study. The following parameters were assessed: failure to pace, failure to sense (both oversensing and undersensing episodes) as well as the percentage of all PM disturbances. Despite proper sensing and pacing parameters, HM revealed PM disturbances in 23 patients out of 100 (23%). Atrial undersensing episodes were found in 12 patients (p < 0.005) with totally 963 episodes and failure to capture in 1 patient (1%). T wave oversensing was the most common ventricular channel disorder (1316 episodes in 9 patients, p < 0.0005). Malfunction episodes occurred sporadically, leading to pauses of up to 1.6 s or temporary bradycardia, which were, nevertheless, not accompanied by clinical symptoms. No ventricular pacing disturbances were found. Asymptomatic pacemaker dysfunction may be observed in nearly 25% of patients with proper DDD parameters after implantation. Thus, ambulatory HM during the early post-implantation period may be a useful tool to detect the need to reprogram PM parameters.

[Resistance of uropathogenic strains of Escherichia coli in pregnant women and other women in generative ages in comparison with antibiotics consumption in Zagreb].

PubMed

Culig, Josip; Mlinarić-Dzepina, Ana; Leppée, Marcel; Vranes, Jasmina

2010-02-01

To compare resistance of uropathogenic strains of Escherichia coli (UPEC) to antibiotics in women in generative ages and pregnant women during two year period (2004 and 2008) in Zagreb, and comparison of resistance and the consumption of antibiotics. The standard disk-diffusion method was used for sensitivity testing to 16 different antibiotics. Data on antibiotic utilization were used to calculate the number of defined daily doses (DDD) and DDD per 1000 inhabitants using Anatomical-Therapeutic-Chemical/DDD methodology. Data on antibiotic consumption during pregnancy were collected using a questionnaire filled in by 893 women after delivery. During 2004 resistance of UPEC to antimicrobial drugs was not different in pregnant and in non-pregnant women, with the exception of amoxicillin and nitrofurantoin, with statistically higher resistance in pregnant women (p < 0.01). Four years later the statistically higher resistance to norfloxacin was observed in non-pregnant women (p < 0.01). Comparing the resistance in 2004 and 2008, in the both groups of women a statistically significant decrease of resistance to cefalexin and nitrofurantoin was detected (p < 0.01). Outpatient utilization of antimicrobial drugs in Zagreb increased significantly, from 32 to 39 DDD/1000 inhabitants per day. The most used antibiotic was co-amoxiclav, and its utilization increased from 9.6 to 12.2 DDD/1000/day. Amoxicillin and co-amoxiclav were used during pregnancy by 9.6% interviewed women. The observed significant decrease of resistance to cefalexin makes that antibiotic the drug of choice for treatment of urinary tract infections in women in generative ages, and together with coamoxiclav can be administered in pregnancy. Constant monitoring of urinary tract pathogens resistance to antimicrobial agents ensures the effectiveness of empirical therapy, whose versatile use is limited due the potentially harmful effects of antimicrobial drugs on fetus.

The Role of Twinning Deformation on the Hardening Response of Polycrystalline Magnesium from Discrete Dislocation Dynamics Simulations

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-01-01

polycrystalline magnesium (Mg) was studied using three-dimensional discrete dislocation dynamics ( DDD ). A systematic interaction model between dislocations...and f1012g tension twin boundaries (TBs) was proposed and introduced into the DDD framework. In addition, a nominal grain boundary (GB) model based...dynamics ( DDD ). A systematic interaction model between dislocations and f10 12g tension twin boundaries (TBs) was proposed and introduced into the DDD

[Antibiotic consumption in active French soldiers in 2007].

PubMed

Desjeux, G; Balaire, C; Thevenin-Garron, V

2009-07-01

Analysis of antibiotic consumption among active duty soldiers can contribute to the development of actions designed to avoid unsuitable population exposure to antibiotics. This survey was conducted among active soldiers to establish a reference year for refund data on antibiotic prescriptions by gender and age. Another aim was to use the refund data among soldiers to learn more about the pattern of antibiotic prescriptions by general practitioners. A standardized dose of antibiotics prescribed by general practitioners in 2007 for the active duty military population in France was determined from an analysis of the Health fund database. The defined daily dose (DDD), as well as the DDD/1000 contributors to the national healthcare insurance fund, was then used as a technical unit of measurement. For the military population under study, the DDD was 15.76 per 1000 people. It was higher for women than for men (25.1 DDD for 1000 women vs 14.2 DDD for 1000 men). The DDD increased regularly with age: from 11.4 DDD for 1000 people aged less than 20 to 19.3 DDD for 1000 people aged over 50. Military physicians accounted for only 4% of the prescribing practitioners. Careful analysis of antibiotic consumption together with closer cooperation between the military healthcare center and the National healthcare fund will enable the development of a prevention policy concerning health and better control of infectious risk.

Treatment practices and quantification of antimicrobial drug usage in conventional and organic dairy farms in Wisconsin.

PubMed

Pol, M; Ruegg, P L

2007-01-01

The objective of this study was to develop a method to quantify antimicrobial drug usage and treatment practices on conventional and organic dairy farms that had been recruited to represent a broad spectrum of potential exposure to antimicrobial drugs. Data on disease prevalence and treatment practices of organic (n = 20) and conventional (n = 20) farms were obtained during a farm visit using a survey instrument. A standardized estimate of antimicrobial drug usage was developed using a defined daily dose (DDD) of selected compounds. Density of antimicrobial drug usage was expressed as the number of DDD per adult cow per year. Differences in prevalence and management of selected diseases between conventional and organic farms were identified. The overall estimated prevalence of selected diseases was greater for conventional farms compared with organic farms. Organic farmers reported use of a variety of nonantimicrobial compounds for treatment and prevention of disease. Conventional farmers reported that penicillin was the compound most commonly used for dry cow therapy and cephapirin was most commonly used for treatment of clinical mastitis. On conventional farms, the estimated overall exposure to antimicrobial drugs was 5.43 DDD per cow per year composed of 3.58 and 1.85 DDD of intramammary and parenteral antimicrobial drugs, respectively. Of total intramammary antimicrobial drug usage, treatment of clinical mastitis contributed 2.02 DDD compared with 1.56 DDD attributed to the use of dry cow therapy. Of total parenteral treatments, the distribution of exposure was 0.52 (dry cow therapy), 1.43 (clinical mastitis treatment), 0.39 (treatment of foot disease), 0.14 (treatment of respiratory disease), and 0.32 (treatment of metritis) DDD. For treatments of foot infections (0.33 DDD), respiratory infections (0.07 DDD), and metritis (0.19 DDD), the mean density of ceftiofur usage was significantly greater compared with other compounds.

Isolation of Brazilian marine fungi capable of growing on DDD pesticide.

PubMed

Ortega, Scarlet Nere; Nitschke, Marcia; Mouad, Ana Maria; Landgraf, Maria Diva; Rezende, Maria Olímpia Oliveira; Seleghim, Mirna Helena Regali; Sette, Lara Durães; Porto, André Luiz Meleiro

2011-02-01

The fungi Aspergillus sydowii Ce15, Aspergillus sydowii Ce19, Aspergillus sydowii Gc12, Bionectria sp. Ce5, Penicillium miczynskii Gc5, Penicillium raistrickii Ce16 and Trichoderma sp. Gc1, isolated from marine sponges Geodia corticostylifera and Chelonaplysylla erecta, were evaluated for their ability to grow in the presence of DDD pesticide. Increasing concentrations of DDD pesticide, i.e., 5.0 mg (1.56 × 10⁻¹² mmol), 10.0 mg (3.12 × 10⁻²) mmol) and 15.0 mg (4.68 × 10⁻² mmol) in solid and liquid culture media were tested. The fungi Trichoderma sp. Gc1 and Penicillium miczynskii Gc5 were able to grow in the presence of up to 15.0 mg of DDD, suggesting their potential for biodegradation. A 100% degradation of DDD was attained in liquid culture medium when Trichoderma sp. Gc1 was previously cultivated for 5 days and supplemented with 5.0 mg of DDD in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. However, the quantitative analysis showed that DDD was accumulated on mycelium and biodegradation level reached a maximum value of 58% after 14 days.

Alignment of cryo-EM movies of individual particles by optimization of image translations.

PubMed

Rubinstein, John L; Brubaker, Marcus A

2015-11-01

Direct detector device (DDD) cameras have revolutionized single particle electron cryomicroscopy (cryo-EM). In addition to an improved camera detective quantum efficiency, acquisition of DDD movies allows for correction of movement of the specimen, due to both instabilities in the microscope specimen stage and electron beam-induced movement. Unlike specimen stage drift, beam-induced movement is not always homogeneous within an image. Local correlation in the trajectories of nearby particles suggests that beam-induced motion is due to deformation of the ice layer. Algorithms have already been described that can correct movement for large regions of frames and for >1 MDa protein particles. Another algorithm allows individual <1 MDa protein particle trajectories to be estimated, but requires rolling averages to be calculated from frames and fits linear trajectories for particles. Here we describe an algorithm that allows for individual <1 MDa particle images to be aligned without frame averaging or linear trajectories. The algorithm maximizes the overall correlation of the shifted frames with the sum of the shifted frames. The optimum in this single objective function is found efficiently by making use of analytically calculated derivatives of the function. To smooth estimates of particle trajectories, rapid changes in particle positions between frames are penalized in the objective function and weighted averaging of nearby trajectories ensures local correlation in trajectories. This individual particle motion correction, in combination with weighting of Fourier components to account for increasing radiation damage in later frames, can be used to improve 3-D maps from single particle cryo-EM. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Organochlorines and mercury in osprey eggs from the eastern United States

USGS Publications Warehouse

Audet, D.J.; Scott, D.S.; Wiemeyer, Stanley N.

1992-01-01

Organochlorine and mercury concentrations were determined in Osprey eggs collected from Maryland, Virginia, and Massachusetts during 1986-87. DDE concentrations were significantly different among locations. Median DDE concentrations did not decline significantly in eggs from Glenn L. Martin National Wildlife Refuge, Maryland, between 1973 and 1986. The median DDE residue for eggs from Martin Refuge in 1986 surpassed the value associated with 10% eggshell thinning, but was below the value associated with production of 1.0 young per active nest, a level assumed to represent a stable population. DDD, DDT, dieldrin, PCB, and mercury residues in all eggs appeared insignificant with regard to potential effects on shell thickness or reproduction. DDE and PCB residues were lower in eggs collected in 1986-87 than in those collected in the 1970s for each area. DDD, DDT, and dieldrin were not detected in Martin Refuge eggs in 1986, representing a significant reduction since 1973. DDD, DDT, and dieldrin levels in Massachusetts and Virginia eggs in 1986-87 were similar to those in eggs from the 1970s for each state. Mercury residues in eggs from Martin Refuge may be increasing and although not significant in this study, may warrant future monitoring.

Re-use of explanted DDD pacemakers as VDD- clinical utility and cost effectiveness.

PubMed

Namboodiri, K K N; Sharma, Y P; Bali, H K; Grover, A

2004-01-01

Re-use of DDD pulse generators explanted from patients died of unrelated causes is associated with an additional cost of two transvenous leads if implanted as DDD itself, and high rate of infection according to some studies. We studied the clinical and economical aspects of reutilization of explanted DDD pacemakers programmed to VDD mode. Out of 28 patients who received VDD pacemaker during the period, October 2000- September 2001 in the Department of Cardiology, PGIMER, Chandigarh, 5 poor patients were implanted with explanted DDD pulse generators programmed to VDD mode. Each implantation was planned and carried out according to a standard protocol. The age ranged from 45 to 75 (mean-61) years. The indications for pacing were complete heart block (4) and second degree AV block (1). The clinical profile, costs and complications, if any were noted and followed up at regular intervals. The results were compared with patients who received new DDD pulse generators during this period. The additional cost for the atrial lead was not required in these patients. None of these patients had any local site infection. Compared to the two-lead system, the single lead system provided more rapid implantation and minimized complications associated with placement of an atrial lead. The explanted DDD pacemaker can be safely reused as VDD mode with same efficacy in selected patient population. This is associated with lower cost and complications compared to reimplantation as DDD itself.

40 CFR 129.101 - DDT, DDD and DDE.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 22 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false DDT, DDD and DDE. 129.101 Section 129.101 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) WATER PROGRAMS TOXIC POLLUTANT EFFLUENT STANDARDS Toxic Pollutant Effluent Standards and Prohibitions § 129.101 DDT, DDD and DDE...

Lumbar Facet Joint Motion in Patients with Degenerative Disc Disease at Affected and Adjacent Levels

PubMed Central

Li, Weishi; Wang, Shaobai; Xia, Qun; Passias, Peter; Kozanek, Michal; Wood, Kirkham; Li, Guoan

2013-01-01

Study Design Controlled laboratory study. Objective To evaluate the effect of lumbar degenerative disc diseases (DDDs) on motion of the facet joints during functional weight-bearing activities. Summary of Background Data It has been suggested that DDD adversely affects the biomechanical behavior of the facet joints. Altered facet joint motion, in turn, has been thought to associate with various types of lumbar spine pathology including facet degeneration, neural impingement, and DDD progression. However, to date, no data have been reported on the motion patterns of the lumbar facet joint in DDD patients. Methods Ten symptomatic patients of DDD at L4–S1 were studied. Each participant underwent magnetic resonance images to obtain three-dimensional models of the lumbar vertebrae (L2–S1) and dual fluoroscopic imaging during three characteristic trunk motions: left-right torsion, left-right bending, and flexion-extension. In vivo positions of the vertebrae were reproduced by matching the three-dimensional models of the vertebrae to their outlines on the fluoroscopic images. The kinematics of the facet joints and the ranges of motion (ROMs) were compared with a group of healthy participants reported in a previous study. Results In facet joints of the DDD patients, there was no predominant axis of rotation and no difference in ROMs was found between the different levels. During left-right torsion, the ROMs were similar between the DDD patients and the healthy participants. During left-right bending, the rotation around mediolateral axis at L4–L5, in the DDD patients, was significantly larger than that of the healthy participants. During flexion-extension, the rotations around anterioposterior axis at L4–L5 and around craniocaudal axis at the adjacent level (L3–L4), in the DDD patients, were also significantly larger, whereas the rotation around mediolateral axis at both L2–L3 and L3–L4 levels in the DDD patients were significantly smaller than those of the healthy participants. Conclusion DDD alters the ROMs of the facet joints. The rotations can increase significantly not only at the DDD levels but also at their adjacent levels when compared to those of the healthy participants. The increase in rotations did not occur around the primary rotation axis of the torso motion but around the coupled axes. This hypermobility in coupled rotations might imply a biomechanical mechanism related to DDD. PMID:21270686

Reductive dechlorination of DDT to DDD by yeast

USGS Publications Warehouse

Kallman, Burton J.; Andrews, Austin K.

1963-01-01

Labeled DDD [ 1,1-dichlor-o-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)-ethane] was formed from C14-labeled DDT in the presence of yeast. The formation of DDD from DDE [1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis (p-chlorophenyl)-ethylene] was not observed, indicating that a reductive dechlorination of DDT occurs.

Translating Benzodiazepine Utilization Data into Meaningful Population Exposure: Integration of Two Metrics for Improved Reporting.

PubMed

Brandt, Jaden; Alkabanni, Wajd; Alessi-Severini, Silvia; Leong, Christine

2018-04-04

Drug utilization research on benzodiazepines remains important for measuring trends in consumption within and across borders over time for the sake of monitoring prescribing patterns and identifying potential population safety concerns. The defined daily dose (DDD) system by the World Health Organization (WHO) remains the internationally accepted standard for measuring drug consumption; however, beyond consumption, DDD-based results are difficult to interpret when individual agents are compared with one another or are pooled into a total class-based estimate. The diazepam milligram equivalent (DME) system provides approximate conversions between benzodiazepines and Z-drugs (i.e. zopiclone, zolpidem, zaleplon) based on their pharmacologic potency. Despite this, conversion of total dispensed benzodiazepine quantities into DME values retains diazepam milligrams as the total unit of measurement, which is also impractical for population-level interpretation. In this paper, we propose the use of an integrated DME-DDD metric to obviate the limitations encountered when the component metrics are used in isolation. Through a case example, we demonstrate significant change in results between the DDD and DME-DDD method. Unlike the DDD method, the integrated DME-DDD metric offers estimation of population pharmacologic exposure, and enables superior interpretation of drug utilization results, especially for drug class summary reporting.

The Structure of RdDddP from Roseobacter denitrificans Reveals That DMSP Lyases in the DddP-Family Are Metalloenzymes

PubMed Central

Hehemann, Jan-Hendrik; Law, Adrienne; Redecke, Lars; Boraston, Alisdair B.

2014-01-01

Marine microbes degrade dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP), which is produced in large quantities by marine algae and plants, with DMSP lyases into acrylate and the gas dimethyl sulfide (DMS). Approximately 10% of the DMS vents from the sea into the atmosphere and this emission returns sulfur, which arrives in the sea through rivers and runoff, back to terrestrial systems via clouds and rain. Despite their key role in this sulfur cycle DMSP lyases are poorly understood at the molecular level. Here we report the first X-ray crystal structure of the putative DMSP lyase RdDddP from Roseobacter denitrificans, which belongs to the abundant DddP family. This structure, determined to 2.15 Å resolution, shows that RdDddP is a homodimeric metalloprotein with a binuclear center of two metal ions located 2.7 Å apart in the active site of the enzyme. Consistent with the crystallographic data, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and total reflection X-ray fluorescence (TRXF) revealed the bound metal species to be primarily iron. A 3D structure guided analysis of environmental DddP lyase sequences elucidated the critical residues for metal binding are invariant, suggesting all proteins in the DddP family are metalloenzymes. PMID:25054772

Trends in the Outpatient Utilization of Antipsychotic Drugs in the City of Zagreb in the Ten-Year Period as a Tool to Assess Drug Prescribing Rationality.

PubMed

Polić-Vižintin, Marina; Tripković, Ingrid; Štimac, Danijela; Šostar, Zvonimir; Orban, Mirjana

2016-12-01

The aim was to determine distribution and trends in the outpatient utilization of antipsychotics to evaluate the rationality of antipsychotic drug prescribing during the ten year period. The epidemiological method of descriptive and analytical observation was used. Data on drug utilization from Zagreb Municipal Pharmacy were used to calculate the number of defined daily doses (DDD) and DDD per 1000 inhabitants per day (DDD/TID) using the World Health Organization Anatomical-Therapeutic-Chemical methodology. The ratio of typical versus atypical antipsychotics served as an indicator on assessing the rationality of the utilization. Data on the use of anticholinergics in the treatment of neuroleptic side effects were also included. Outpatient utilization of antipsychotics showed a declining pattern from 14.17 in 2001 to 8.42 DDD/TID in 2010. The utilization of atypical antipsychotics increased by 60% (from 3.68 to 5.89 DDD/TID), while the utilization of typical antipsychotics decreased by 76% (from 10.49 to 2.53 DDD/TID). The drugs showing the largest increase were olanzapine (from 1.21 to 2.78 DDD/TID) and quetiapine (from 0 to 0.68 DDD/TID). The typical/atypical antipsychotic ratio changed from 1:0.4 in 2001 to 1:2.3 in 2010. A 2.3-fold decrease was recorded in the utilization of anticholinergics (from 2.05 to 0.91 DDD/TID). Total consumption of neuroleptics significantly decreased. A decrease was also recorded in the utilization of anticholinergics. Study results pointed to two favorable features, i.e. low use of typical antipsychotics and the ratio of typical and atypical antipsychotics. Implementation of the new clinical guidelines for nervous system disorders and updating of the list of reimbursable drugs with the addition of new ones contributed to the observed improvement in the prescribing patterns during the study period. Using the WHO ATC/DDD methodology and rationality indicators in the assessment of trends in the outpatient utilization of psychopharmaceuticals over a ten-year period proved efficient in the evaluation of prescribing rationality.

Historical trends of organic pollutants in sediment cores from Hong Kong.

PubMed

Wei, S; Wang, Y; Lam, James C W; Zheng, Gene J; So, M K; Yueng, Leo W Y; Horii, Y; Chen, L Q; Yu, Hongxia; Yamashita, N; Lam, Paul K S

2008-01-01

Recent studies have indicated the occurrence of a wide range of trace organic contaminants, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in the Hong Kong environment. These contaminants are potentially harmful to ecological systems, particularly in coastal areas. In this study, two sediment cores (4m) were collected from southern waters of Hong Kong in 2004 to study the historical trends, distribution patterns, and potential sources of trace organic contaminants. DDTs (p,p'-DDT, o,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDD, o,p'-DDD and p,p'-DDE), hexachlorohexanes (HCHs) (alpha and gamma), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), and PCBs were detected in the samples, whereas other target compounds were all below detection limits. Many OCPs have not been produced or used for many years due to toxicological or environmental concerns and PCB use is prohibited in Hong Kong. However, some compounds were still detectable in recent years, and were found to be widely distributed in the environment, likely because of pollutant inputs from the highly industrialized Pearl River Delta region. These results provide important information on current and historical contamination in Hong Kong, and help to reconstruct the pollution history of these trace organic pollutants in Hong Kong coastal waters.

Elucidating Turnover Pathways of Bioactive Small Molecules by Isotopomer Analysis: The Persistent Organic Pollutant DDT

PubMed Central

Ehlers, Ina; Betson, Tatiana R.; Vetter, Walter; Schleucher, Jürgen

2014-01-01

The persistent organic pollutant DDT (1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)ethane) is still indispensable in the fight against malaria, although DDT and related compounds pose toxicological hazards. Technical DDT contains the dichloro congener DDD (1-chloro-4-[2,2-dichloro-1-(4-chlorophenyl)ethyl]benzene) as by-product, but DDD is also formed by reductive degradation of DDT in the environment. To differentiate between DDD formation pathways, we applied deuterium NMR spectroscopy to measure intramolecular deuterium distributions (2H isotopomer abundances) of DDT and DDD. DDD formed in the technical DDT synthesis was strongly deuterium-enriched at one intramolecular position, which we traced back to 2H/1H fractionation of a chlorination step in the technical synthesis. In contrast, DDD formed by reductive degradation was strongly depleted at the same position, which was due to the incorporation of 2H-depleted hydride equivalents during reductive degradation. Thus, intramolecular isotope distributions give mechanistic information on reaction pathways, and explain a puzzling difference in the whole-molecule 2H/1H ratio between DDT and DDD. In general, our results highlight that intramolecular isotope distributions are essential to interpret whole-molecule isotope ratios. Intramolecular isotope information allows distinguishing pathways of DDD formation, which is important to identify polluters or to assess DDT turnover in the environment. Because intramolecular isotope data directly reflect isotope fractionation of individual chemical reactions, they are broadly applicable to elucidate transformation pathways of small bioactive molecules in chemistry, physiology and environmental science. PMID:25350380

Right atrial pacing impairs cardiac function during resynchronization therapy: acute effects of DDD pacing compared to VDD pacing.

PubMed

Bernheim, Alain; Ammann, Peter; Sticherling, Christian; Burger, Peter; Schaer, Beat; Brunner-La Rocca, Hans Peter; Eckstein, Jens; Kiencke, Stephanie; Kaiser, Christoph; Linka, Andre; Buser, Peter; Pfisterer, Matthias; Osswald, Stefan

2005-05-03

We aimed to compare the hemodynamic effects of right-atrial-paced (DDD) and right-atrial-sensed (VDD) biventricular paced rhythm on cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). Cardiac resynchronization therapy improves hemodynamics in patients with severe heart failure and left ventricular (LV) dyssynchrony. However, the impact of active right atrial pacing on resynchronization therapy is unknown. Seventeen CRT patients were studied 10 months (range: 1 to 46 months) after implantation. At baseline, the programmed atrioventricular delay was optimized by timing LV contraction properly at the end of atrial contraction. In both modes the acute hemodynamic effects were assessed by multiple Doppler echocardiographic parameters. Compared to DDD pacing, VDD pacing resulted in much better improvement of intraventricular dyssynchrony assessed by the septal-to-posterior wall motion delay (VDD 106 +/- 83 ms vs. DDD 145 +/- 95 ms; p = 0.001), whereas the interventricular mechanical delay (difference between onset of pulmonary and aortic outflow) did not differ (VDD 20 +/- 21 ms vs. DDD 18 +/- 17 ms; p = NS). Furthermore, VDD pacing significantly prolonged the rate-corrected LV filling period (VDD 458 +/- 123 ms vs. DDD 371 +/- 94 ms; p = 0.0001) and improved the myocardial performance index (VDD 0.60 +/- 0.18 vs. DDD 0.71 +/- 0.23; p < 0.01). Our findings suggest that avoidance of right atrial pacing results in a higher degree of LV resynchronization, in a substantial prolongation of the LV filling period, and in an improved myocardial performance. Thus, the VDD mode seems to be superior to the DDD mode in CRT patients.

[Quality prescription indicators in defined daily doses. Are we getting it right?].

PubMed

Caamaño-Isorna, Francisco; Alvarez-Gil, Rosa

2008-01-01

Quality prescription indicators of use potential level (UPLI) are defined as the proportion that represents consumption of specific active principles as opposed to the total consumption of the anatomical therapeutic category. The UPLIs that have gradually been defined in Spain employ the defined daily dose (DDD) as the unit of measurement. Although the DDD is not necessarily the same as the therapeutic equivalent dose (TED), some authors have argued that the DDD is a standard unit of measurement and is therefore valid. However, this view may not be correct, given that the relationships between the TED and the DDD differ, depending on the drug, even within the same anatomical therapeutic category. Therefore, the use of DDDs in UPLI s may lead to prescription of a medicine being encouraged or discouraged depending on its TED/DDD ratio.

A field assessment of long-term laboratory sediment toxicity tests with the amphipod Hyalella azteca

USGS Publications Warehouse

Ingersoll, Christopher G.; Wang, Ning; Hayward, Jeannie M. R.; Jones, John R.; Jones, Susan B.; Ireland, D. Scott

2005-01-01

Response of the amphipod Hyalella azteca exposed to contaminated sediments for 10 to 42 d in laboratory toxicity tests was compared to responses observed in controlled three-month invertebrate colonization exposures conducted in a pond. Sediments evaluated included a sediment spiked with dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane (DDD) or dilutions of a field sediment collected from the Grand Calumet River (GCR) in Indiana (USA) (contaminated with organic compounds and metals). Consistent effects were observed at the highest exposure concentrations (400 ??g DDD/goc [DDD concentrations normalized to grams of organic carbon (goc) in sedimentl or 4% GCR sediment) on survival, length, and reproduction of amphipods in the laboratory and on abundance of invertebrates colonizing sediments in the field. Effect concentrations for DDD observed for 10-d length and 42-d reproduction of amphipods (e.g., chronic value [ChV] of 66 ??g DDD/goc and 25% inhibition concentration [IC25] of 68 ??g DDD/goc for reproduction) were similar to the lowest effect concentrations for DDD measured on invertebrates colonizing sediment the field. Effect concentrations for GCR sediment on 28-d survival and length and 42-d reproduction and length of amphipods (i.e., ChVs of 0.20-0.66% GCR sediment) provided more conservative effect concentrations compared to 10-d survival or length of amphipods in the laboratory or the response of invertebrates colonizing sediment in the field (e.g., ChVs of 2.2% GCR sediment). Results of this study indicate that use of chronic laboratory toxicity tests with H. azteca and benthic colonization studies should be used to provide conservative estimates of impacts on benthic communities exposed to contaminated sediments. Bioaccumulation of DDD by oligochaetes colonizing the DDD-spiked sediment was similar to results of laboratory sediment tests previously conducted with the oligochaete Lumbriculus variegates, confirming that laboratory exposures can be used to estimate bioaccumulation by oligochaetes exposed in the field. ?? 2005 SETAC.

Developmentally Disabled Persons in Family Settings: Report No. 2.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cox, Wendy M.; Wilson, Wendell L.

The second in a series of three reports, this document presents findings of clients of Washington's Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD), ages 22-29, who were living with their families at age 18 but now live elsewhere (group B). Findings are based on telephone interviews with families of 224 DDD clients and analysis of DDD records. The…

Developmentally Disabled Persons in Family Settings: Report No. 3.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cox, Wendy M.; Wilson, Wendell L.

The final part of a three part study of developmentally disabled persons in Washington State, this document focuses on clients of the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD), ages 19 through 26, who appeared to be eligible for DDD services but were not enrolled with the DDD (group C). Telephone interviews were conducted with parents of 55…

DDD(R)-pacing, but not AAI(R)-pacing induces left ventricular desynchronization in patients with sick sinus syndrome: tissue-Doppler and 3D echocardiographic evaluation in a randomized controlled comparison.

PubMed

Albertsen, Andi Eie; Nielsen, Jens Cosedis; Poulsen, Steen Hvitfeldt; Mortensen, Peter Thomas; Pedersen, Anders Kirstein; Hansen, Peter Steen; Jensen, Henrik Kjaerulf; Egeblad, Henrik

2008-02-01

Increasing evidence from randomized trials and experimental studies indicates that right ventricular (RV) pacing may induce congestive heart failure. We studied regional left ventricular (LV) dyssynchrony and global LV function in 50 consecutive patients with sick sinus syndrome (SSS) randomized to either atrial pacing [AAI(R)] or dual chamber RV-pacing [DDD(R)]. Fifty consecutive patients were randomized to AAI(R) or DDD(R)-pacing. Tissue-Doppler imaging was used to quantify LV dyssynchrony in terms of number of segments with delayed longitudinal contraction (DLC). Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was measured using three-dimensional echocardiography. Dyssynchrony was more pronounced in the DDD(R)-group than in the AAI(R)-group at the 12 months follow-up (P < 0.05). This reflected a significant increase of dyssynchrony in the DDD(R)-group from baseline to the 12 months follow-up (1.3 +/- 1 to 2.1 +/- 1 segments displaying DLC per patient), P < 0.05. No change was observed in the AAI(R)-group (1.6 +/- 2 to 1.3 +/- 2 segments displaying DLC per patient, NS). No difference in LVEF, NYHA or NT-proBNP was observed between AAI(R)- and DDD(R)-mode after 12 months of pacing although LVEF decreased significantly in the DDD(R)-group from baseline (63.1 +/- 8%) to the 12 months follow-up (59.3 +/- 8%, P < 0.05), while LVEF remained unchanged in the AAI(R)-group (61.5 +/- 11% at baseline vs. 62.3 +/- 7% after 12 months, NS. In patients with SSS, DDD(R)-pacing but not AAI(R)-pacing induces significant LV desynchronization and reduction of LVEF.

Long-term outcome in patients receiving permanent pacemaker implantation for atrioventricular block: Comparison of VDD and DDD pacing.

PubMed

Liao, Jo-Nan; Chao, Tze-Fan; Tuan, Ta-Chuan; Kong, Chi-Woon; Chen, Shih-Ann

2016-08-01

A permanent pacemaker (PPM) with dual chamber pacing (DDD) offers atrioventricular synchronization for patients with atrioventricular block (AVB). Single lead atrial synchronous ventricular pacing mode (VDD) is an alternative, but there are concerns about its efficacy and risk of atrial undersensing. Whether VDD can be a good alternative in patients with AVB remains unknown. The aim of the present study was to compare the long-term risk of mortality of VDD with DDD pacing.A total of 207 patients undergoing PPM implantations for AVB with VDD mode were enrolled from 2000 to 2013. Another 828 age- and sex-matched patients undergoing DDD implantations during the same period of time were selected as the control group in a 1 to 4 ratio. The study endpoint was mortality.A total of 1035 patients (64.3% male) were followed up for 46.5 ± 43.2 months. The mean ages were 75.0 years for VDD, and 74.9 years for DDD. The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed no significant difference in long-term survival between the VDD and DDD groups (log-rank P = 0.313). After adjustment for baseline characteristics, the VDD and DDD groups had a similar long-term prognosis with an adjusted hazard ratio of 0.875 (P = 0.445). Further analyses for the risk of cardiovascular and noncardiovascular deaths also showed no significant differences between the 2 groups.The long-term prognosis of VDD mode is comparable to that of DDD mode. Single lead VDD can be considered as an alternative choice in patients with AVB without sinus nodal dysfunction.

Upgrading from VVI to DDD pacing Mode during elective replacement of pulse generator: a comparative clinical-functional analysis.

PubMed

Teno, Luiz Antonio Castilho; Costa, Roberto; Martinelli Filho, Martino; Castilho, Fabian Cecchi Teno; Ruiz, Ivan

2007-02-01

Evaluate the clinical and functional behavior of the ventricular and atrioventricular stimulation modes in the elective replacement of pulse generator in patients with chagasic cardiopathy and atrioventricular block. Twenty-seven patients under ventricular and atrioventricular stimulation were comparatively evaluated at the beginning of the study, and alternately in ventricular and atrioventricular modes in two 90-day phases, with regard to: the clinical behavior evaluated according to quality of life and functional class, and the functional behavior evaluated by transthoracic echocardiography and the six-minute walk test. The statistical analysis was performed with patients at baseline, and under ventricular and atrioventricular modes, using the chi-square test and the repeated measures analysis of variance, and taking into consideration a 0.05 level of significance. The mean quality-of-life scores were: functional capacity (VVI 71.3+/-18.2 , DDD 69.3+/-20.4); overall health status (VVI 68.1+/-21.8, DDD 69.4+/-19.4) and vitality (VVI 64.8+/-24.6 , DDD 67.6+/-25.5); on echocardiography: LVEF (VVI 52.5+/-12.8 , DDD 51.8+/-14.9), LVDD (VVI 53.0+/-7.7 , DDD 42.4+/-7.8), LA (VVI 38.6+/-5.4 DDD 38.5+/-5.1), and in the six-minute walk test: distance walked (VVI 463.4+/-84.7, DDD 462.6+/-63.4). There were four cases of complications, three of them associated with the change in stimulation mode. This study showed no differences between the two stimulation modes in the clinical behavior assessed by quality of life and functional class, and in the functional behavior, evaluated according to the ecochardiographic findings and the six-minute walk test.

Formal development of a clock synchronization circuit

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Miner, Paul S.

1995-01-01

This talk presents the latest stage in formal development of a fault-tolerant clock synchronization circuit. The development spans from a high level specification of the required properties to a circuit realizing the core function of the system. An abstract description of an algorithm has been verified to satisfy the high-level properties using the mechanical verification system EHDM. This abstract description is recast as a behavioral specification input to the Digital Design Derivation system (DDD) developed at Indiana University. DDD provides a formal design algebra for developing correct digital hardware. Using DDD as the principle design environment, a core circuit implementing the clock synchronization algorithm was developed. The design process consisted of standard DDD transformations augmented with an ad hoc refinement justified using the Prototype Verification System (PVS) from SRI International. Subsequent to the above development, Wilfredo Torres-Pomales discovered an area-efficient realization of the same function. Establishing correctness of this optimization requires reasoning in arithmetic, so a general verification is outside the domain of both DDD transformations and model-checking techniques. DDD represents digital hardware by systems of mutually recursive stream equations. A collection of PVS theories was developed to aid in reasoning about DDD-style streams. These theories include a combinator for defining streams that satisfy stream equations, and a means for proving stream equivalence by exhibiting a stream bisimulation. DDD was used to isolate the sub-system involved in Torres-Pomales' optimization. The equivalence between the original design and the optimized verified was verified in PVS by exhibiting a suitable bisimulation. The verification depended upon type constraints on the input streams and made extensive use of the PVS type system. The dependent types in PVS provided a useful mechanism for defining an appropriate bisimulation.

Reducing Prescriptions of Long-Acting Benzodiazepine Drugs in Denmark: A Descriptive Analysis of Nationwide Prescriptions during a 10-Year Period.

PubMed

Eriksen, Sophie Isabel; Bjerrum, Lars

2015-06-01

Prolonged consumption of benzodiazepine drugs (BZD) and benzodiazepine receptor agonists (zolpidem, zaleplon, zopiclone; altogether Z drugs) is related to potential physiological and psychological dependence along with other adverse effects. This study aimed to analyse the prescribing of long-acting BZD (half-life >10 hr), compared to short-acting BZD in Denmark during a 10-year period. Descriptive analysis of total sales data from the Danish Register of Medicinal Product Statistics, to individuals in the primary healthcare sector, of all BZD and Z drugs in the period of 2003-2013. Prescription data derive from all community and hospital pharmacies in Denmark. The prescribing of long-acting BZD was reduced from 25.8 defined daily doses (DDD)/1000 inhabitants/day in 2003 to 8.8 DDD/1000 inhabitants/day in 2013, a relative reduction of 66%. The prescribing of short-acting BZD was reduced from 26.1 DDD/1000 inhabitants/day in 2003 to 16.4 DDD/1000 inhabitants/day in 2013, a relative reduction of 37%. Prescription data in this study did not include information about indications for initiating treatments. In addition, due to compliance problems, some of the prescribed drugs may not have been consumed according to the prescription. The observed reduction in BZD use was correlated to the introduction of new national guidelines on prescription of addictive drugs, but this study was not designed to detect a causal relationship. The prescribing of long-acting BZD decreased considerably more than the prescribing of short-acting BZD in the 10-year period. © 2014 Nordic Association for the Publication of BCPT (former Nordic Pharmacological Society).

Dechlorination of DDT, DDD and DDE in soil (slurry) phase using magnesium/palladium system.

PubMed

Gautam, Sumit Kumar; Suresh, Sumathi

2006-12-01

Mg0/Pd4+ was able to dechlorinate >99% of extractable DDT (initial concentration of 10 mg DDT kg(-1) of soil) and >90% of extractable DDT (initial concentration of 50 mg DDT kg(-1) of soil) in soil slurry. Mg0/Pd4+ was also found to be effective in dechlorinating of 50 mg kg(-1) DDD and DDE, in soil aged for varying time periods. GC-MS analyses revealed the formation of 1,1-diphenylethane as an end product from DDT, DDE and DDD. To the best of our knowledge this is the first report describing the application Mg0/Pd4+ system for remediation of DDT, DDD and DDE contaminated soil. We conclude that reductive dechlorination reaction catalyzed by Mg0/Pd4+ may be a promising system to remediate soil contaminated with DDT and its dechlorinated products such as DDD and DDE.

Assessment of DDT and Metabolites in Soil and Sediment of Potentially Contaminated Areas of Belém, Amazon Region, Brazil.

PubMed

Rodrigues, Andreia Oliveira; de Souza, Larissa Costa; da Silva Rocha, Cássia Christina; da Costa, Amilton Cesar Gomes; de Alcântara Mendes, Rosivaldo

2017-07-01

The aim of this study was to evaluate the distribution of DDT and metabolites in surface soils and soil profiles from two areas containing deposits of obsolete pesticides in Belém, Amazon Region, Brazil. DDT and metabolites were extracted by microwave assisted extraction and analyzed by gas chromatography with electron capture detection. Concentrations of total DDT in surface soil samples ranged from 64.22 mg kg -1 in area 1 (A1) to 447.84 mg kg -1 in area 2 (A2). Lower levels were found in soil profiles than at the surface (6.21-21.17 mg kg -1 in A1 and 36.13-113.66 mg kg -1 in A2). pp'-DDT, pp'-DDE and pp'-DDD were detected in sediments at levels of 2.01, 0.96 and 0.35 mg kg -1 , respectively. The ratio (DDE + DDD)/ΣDDT was low indicating the recent introduction of DDT to the environment in the two study areas, through the volatilization and atmospheric deposition of the obsolete pesticides.

Documentation Driven Development for Complex Real-Time Systems

DTIC Science & Technology

2004-12-01

This paper presents a novel approach for development of complex real - time systems , called the documentation-driven development (DDD) approach. This... time systems . DDD will also support automated software generation based on a computational model and some relevant techniques. DDD includes two main...stakeholders to be easily involved in development processes and, therefore, significantly improve the agility of software development for complex real

Mathematical and Computational Aspects of Multiscale Materials Modeling, Mathematics-Numerical analysis, Section II.A.a.3.4, Conference and symposia organization II.A.2.a

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-02-04

dislocation dynamics models ( DDD ), continuum representations). Coupling of these models is difficult. Coupling of atomistics and DDD models has been...explored to some extent, but the coupling between DDD and continuum models of the evolution of large populations of dislocations is essentially unexplored

--No Title--

Science.gov Websites

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Does football cause an increase in degenerative disease of the lumbar spine?

PubMed

Gerbino, Peter G; d'Hemecourt, Pierre A

2002-02-01

Degenerative disease of the lumbar spine is exceedingly common. Whether any specific activity increases the likelihood of developing degenerative disc disease (DDD) or facet degeneration (FD) has enormous implications. Within the field of occupational medicine there are specific activities, occupations, and morphologic characteristics that have been related to low back pain. Several specific risk factors have been conclusively linked to low back pain, and in particular DDD and FD. Within the sport of American football, there has long been the feeling that many athletes have or will develop low back pain, DDD, and FD. Proving that certain risk factors present in football will predictably lead to an increase in LBP, DDD, and FD is more difficult. At this time, it can be said that football players, in general, increase their risk of developing low back pain, DDD, and FD as their years of involvement with their sport increase. Because specific spine injuries like fracture, disc herniation, and spondylolysis are more frequent in football players, the resulting DDD and FD are greater than that of the general population. The weightlifting and violent hyperextension that are part of American football are independent risk factors for degenerative spine disease.

Use of and barriers to access to opioid analgesics: a worldwide, regional, and national study.

PubMed

Berterame, Stefano; Erthal, Juliana; Thomas, Johny; Fellner, Sarah; Vosse, Benjamin; Clare, Philip; Hao, Wei; Johnson, David T; Mohar, Alejandro; Pavadia, Jagjit; Samak, Ahmed Kamal Eldin; Sipp, Werner; Sumyai, Viroj; Suryawati, Sri; Toufiq, Jallal; Yans, Raymond; Mattick, Richard P

2016-04-16

Despite opioid analgesics being essential for pain relief, use has been inadequate in many countries. We aim to provide up-to-date worldwide, regional, and national data for changes in opioid analgesic use, and to analyse the relation of impediments to use of these medicines. We calculated defined daily doses for statistical purposes (S-DDD) per million inhabitants per day of opioid analgesics worldwide and for regions and countries from 2001 to 2013, and we used generalised estimating equation analysis to assess longitudinal change in use. We compared use data against the prevalence of some health disorders needing opioid use. We surveyed 214 countries or territories about impediments to availability of these medicines, and used regression analyses to establish the strength of associations between impediments and use. The S-DDD of opioid analgesic use more than doubled worldwide between 2001-03 and 2011-13, from 1417 S-DDD (95% CI -732 to 3565; totalling about 3.01 billion defined daily doses per annum) to 3027 S-DDD (-1162 to 7215; totalling about 7.35 billion defined daily doses per annum). Substantial increases occurred in North America (16,046 S-DDD [95% CI 4032-28,061] to 31,453 S-DDD [8121-54,785]), western and central Europe (3079 S-DDD [1274-4883] to 9320 S-DDD [3969-14,672]), and Oceania (2275 S-DDD [763-3787] to 9136 S-DDD [2508-15,765]). Countries in other regions have shown no substantial increase in use. Impediments to use included an absence of training and awareness in medical professionals, fear of dependence, restricted financial resources, issues in sourcing, cultural attitudes, fear of diversion, international trade controls, and onerous regulation. Higher number of impediments reported was significantly associated with lower use (unadjusted incidence rate ratio 0.39 [95% CI 0.29-0.52]; p<0.0001), but not when adjusted for gross domestic product and human development index (0.91 [0.73-1.14]; p=0.4271). Use of opioid analgesics has increased, but remains low in Africa, Asia, Central America, the Caribbean, South America, and eastern and southeastern Europe. Identified impediments to use urgently need to be addressed by governments and international agencies. International Narcotics Control Board, UN. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A comparison of three methods of setting prescribing budgets, using data derived from defined daily dose analyses of historic patterns of use.

PubMed Central

Maxwell, M; Howie, J G; Pryde, C J

1998-01-01

BACKGROUND: Prescribing matters (particularly budget setting and research into prescribing variation between doctors) have been handicapped by the absence of credible measures of the volume of drugs prescribed. AIM: To use the defined daily dose (DDD) method to study variation in the volume and cost of drugs prescribed across the seven main British National Formulary (BNF) chapters with a view to comparing different methods of setting prescribing budgets. METHOD: Study of one year of prescribing statistics from all 129 general practices in Lothian, covering 808,059 patients: analyses of prescribing statistics for 1995 to define volume and cost/volume of prescribing for one year for 10 groups of practices defined by the age and deprivation status of their patients, for seven BNF chapters; creation of prescribing budgets for 1996 for each individual practice based on the use of target volume and cost statistics; comparison of 1996 DDD-based budgets with those set using the conventional historical approach; and comparison of DDD-based budgets with budgets set using a capitation-based formula derived from local cost/patient information. RESULTS: The volume of drugs prescribed was affected by the age structure of the practices in BNF Chapters 1 (gastrointestinal), 2 (cardiovascular), and 6 (endocrine), and by deprivation structure for BNF Chapters 3 (respiratory) and 4 (central nervous system). Costs per DDD in the major BNF chapters were largely independent of age, deprivation structure, or fundholding status. Capitation and DDD-based budgets were similar to each other, but both differed substantially from historic budgets. One practice in seven gained or lost more than 100,000 Pounds per annum using DDD or capitation budgets compared with historic budgets. The DDD-based budget, but not the capitation-based budget, can be used to set volume-specific prescribing targets. CONCLUSIONS: DDD-based and capitation-based prescribing budgets can be set using a simple explanatory model and generalizable methods. In this study, both differed substantially from historic budgets. DDD budgets could be created to accommodate new prescribing strategies and raised or lowered to reflect local intentions to alter overall prescribing volume or cost targets. We recommend that future work on setting budgets and researching prescribing variations should be based on DDD statistics. PMID:10024703

Impact of the introduction of mandatory generic substitution in South Africa: private sector sales of generic and originator medicines for chronic diseases.

PubMed

Gray, Andrew Lofts; Santa-Ana-Tellez, Yared; J Wirtz, Veronika

2016-12-01

To assess the impact of mandatory offer of generic substitution, introduced in South Africa in May 2003, on private sector sales of generic and originator medicines for chronic diseases. Private sector sales data (June 2001 to May 2005) were obtained from IMS Health for proton pump inhibitors (PPIs; ATC code A02BC), HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins; C10AA), dihydropyridine calcium antagonists (C08CA), angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-I; C09AA) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs; N06AB). Monthly sales were expressed as defined daily doses per 1000 insured population per month (DDD/TIM). Interrupted time-series models were used to estimate the changes in slope and level of medicines use after the policy change. ARIMA models were used to correct for autocorrelation and stationarity. Only the SSRIs saw a significant rise in level of generic utilisation (0.2 DDD/TIM; P < 0.001) and a fall in originator usage (-0.1 DDD/TIM; P < 0.001) after the policy change. Utilisation of generic PPIs fell (level 0.06 DDD/TIM, P = 0.048; slope 0.01 DDD/TIM, P = 0.043), but utilisation of originator products also grew (level 0.05 DDD/TIM, P < 0.001; slope 0.003, P = 0.001). Generic calcium antagonists and ACE-I showed an increase in slope (0.01 DDD/TIM, P = 0.016; 0.02 DDD/TIM, P < 0.001), while the originators showed a decrease in slope (-0.003 DDD/TIM, P = 0.046; -0.01 DDD/TIM, P < 0.001). There were insufficient data on generic statin use before the policy change to allow for analysis. The mandatory offer of generic substitution appeared to have had a quantifiable effect on utilisation patterns in the 2 years after May 2003. Managed care interventions that were already in place before the intervention may have blunted the extent of the changes seen in this period. Generic policies are an important enabling provision for cost-containment efforts. However, decisions taken outside of official policy may anticipate or differ from that policy, with important consequences. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Long-term follow-up of DDD pacing mode.

PubMed

Ulman, Mateusz; Dębski, Maciej; Ząbek, Andrzej; Haberka, Kazimierz; Lelakowski, Jacek; Małecka, Barbara

2014-01-01

The aim of this study was to determine the long-term survival of DDD pacing and identify the main reasons for its loss. The study group consisted of 496 patients in whom a DDD pacing system was implanted between October 1984 and March 2002 and who were followed up until July 2010. The follow-up period was 152.1 ± 35.5 months. The patients' mean age at the time of implantation was 59.5 ± 12.5 years, and 53.5% were male; 58% had sick sinus syndrome (SSS), 26% had atrioventricular block (AVB), 15% had both of these indications simultaneously, and 1% had other indications. The incidence of lead malfunction, progression to chronic atrial fibrillation (AF), and the rate of infective complications was analysed. During the follow-up, 369 patients remained in DDD mode stimulation. DDD mode survival rate at one, five, ten and 15 years was, respectively, 96%, 86%, 77% and 72%. The most common reason for reprogramming out of DDD mode was the development of permanent AF in 65 (13.1%) patients. The occurrence of chronic AF was associated with a prior history of paroxysmal AF (p = 0.0001), SSS (p = 0.0215), and older age at time of implantation (p = 0.0068) compared to patients who remained in sinus rhythm. Lead malfunction caused loss of DDD mode pacing in 56 (11.3%) patients. Atrial leads were damaged in 37 patients, ventricular in 12 patients, and both leads in seven patients. The subclavian vein puncture was correlated with the mechanical damage of the atrial lead (p = 0.02935) compared to cephalic vein access. At the moment of complication, the patients with a dysfunctional lead were significantly younger than those who progressed to chronic AF(p = 0.0019). Infective complications which caused temporary loss of DDD pacing were observed in six patients: five had pocket infection and one had lead-dependent infective endocarditis. 1. Effective DDD pacing from the originally implanted system was noted in a high percentage (72%) of patients in long-term observation (15 years). 2. Progression to permanent AF is the most common reason for loss of DDD pacing;a history of paroxysmal AF and old age are the risk factors. 3. Subclavian vein puncture is associated with a higher rate of atrial lead damage.

Seventeen-Year Nationwide Trends in Antihypertensive Drug Use in Denmark.

PubMed

Sundbøll, Jens; Adelborg, Kasper; Mansfield, Kathryn E; Tomlinson, Laurie A; Schmidt, Morten

2017-12-15

Recent trends in use of antihypertensive drugs are unknown. From Danish nationwide prescription data, we obtained information on primary care use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers, beta blockers, diuretics, aldosterone receptor antagonists, and calcium channel blockers. During 1999 to 2015, the use of antihypertensive drugs per 1,000 inhabitants/day increased from 184 to 379 defined daily doses (DDD), corresponding to a rise in the prevalence proportion of users from ≈20% to ≈35%. From 1999 to 2015, a notable increase was observed for angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (from 29 to 105 DDD per 1,000 inhabitants/day ≈260%) and angiotensin II receptor blockers (from 13 to 73 DDD per 1,000 inhabitants/day ≈520%). For diuretics the use remained stable, with a slight decrease (from 89 to 81 DDD per 1,000 inhabitants/day ≈-10%). The use of aldosterone receptor antagonists increased until 2007 and remained unchanged at around 3.5 DDD per 1,000 inhabitants/day thereafter (average change ≈65%). The use of beta blockers doubled during the study period (from 17 to 34 DDD per 1,000 inhabitants/day ≈100%), entirely driven by increasing use of metoprolol. Similar trends were observed for calcium channel blockers (from 34 to 82 DDD per 1,000 inhabitants/day ≈140%), where amlodipine drove the overall increase. In conclusion, antihypertensive drug use has increased remarkably during the past 2 decades. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Defined daily doses (DDD) do not accurately reflect opioid doses used in contemporary chronic pain treatment.

PubMed

Nielsen, Suzanne; Gisev, Natasa; Bruno, Raimondo; Hall, Wayne; Cohen, Milton; Larance, Briony; Campbell, Gabrielle; Shanahan, Marian; Blyth, Fiona; Lintzeris, Nicholas; Pearson, Sallie; Mattick, Richard; Degenhardt, Louisa

2017-05-01

To assess how well the defined daily dose (DDD) metric reflects opioid utilisation among chronic non-cancer pain patients. Descriptive, cross-sectional study, utilising a 7-day medication diary. Community-based treatment settings, Australia. A sample of 1101 people prescribed opioids for chronic non-cancer pain. Opioid dose data was collected via a self-completed 7-day medication diary capturing names, strengths and doses of each medication taken in the past week. Median daily dose was calculated for each opioid. Comparisons were made to the World Health Organization's (WHO) DDD metric. WHO DDDs ranged from 0.6 to 7.1 times the median opioid doses used by the sample. For transdermal fentanyl and oral hydromorphone, the median dose was comparable with the DDD. The DDD for methadone was 0.6 times lower than the median doses used by this sample of chronic pain patients. In contrast, the DDD for oxycodone and transdermal buprenorphine, the most commonly used strong opioids for chronic pain in Australia, was two to seven times higher than actual doses used. For many opioids, there are key differences between the actual doses used in clinical practice and the WHO's DDDs. The interpretation of opioid utilisation studies using population-level DDDs may be limited, and a recalibration of the DDD for many opioids or the reporting of opioid utilisation in oral morphine equivalent doses is recommended. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Improvement, Verification, and Refinement of Spatially-Explicit Exposure Models in Risk Assessment - FishRand Spatially-Explicit Bioaccumulation Model Demonstration

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-08-01

21  Figure 4. Data-based proportion of DDD , DDE and DDT in total DDx in fish and sediment by... DDD dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane DDE dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene DDT dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane DoD Department of Defense ERM... DDD ) at the other site. The spatially-explicit model consistently predicts tissue concentrations that closely match both the average and the

Arthroplasty for cervical spondylotic myelopathy: similar results to patients with only radiculopathy at 3 years' follow-up.

PubMed

Fay, Li-Yu; Huang, Wen-Cheng; Wu, Jau-Ching; Chang, Hsuan-Kan; Tsai, Tzu-Yun; Ko, Chin-Chu; Tu, Tsung-Hsi; Wu, Ching-Lan; Cheng, Henrich

2014-09-01

Cervical arthroplasty has been accepted as a viable option for surgical management of cervical spondylosis or degenerative disc disease (DDD). The best candidates for cervical arthroplasty are young patients who have radiculopathy caused by herniated disc with competent facet joints. However, it remains uncertain whether arthroplasty is equally effective for patients who have cervical myelopathy caused by DDD. The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes of arthroplasty for patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) and patients with radiculopathy without CSM. A total of 151 consecutive cases involving patients with CSM or radiculopathy caused by DDD and who underwent one- or two-level cervical arthroplasty were included in this study. Clinical outcome evaluations and radiographic studies were reviewed. Clinical outcome measurements included the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) of neck and arm pain, Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scores, and the Neck Disability Index (NDI) in every patient. For patients with CSM, Nurick scores were recorded for evaluation of cervical myelopathy. Radiographic studies included lateral dynamic radiographs and CT for detection of the formation of heterotopic ossification . Of the 151 consecutive patients with cervical DDD, 125 (82.8%; 72 patients in the myelopathy group and 53 in the radiculopathy group) had at least 24 months of clinical and radiographic follow-up. The mean duration of follow-up in these patients was 36.4 months (range 24-56 months). There was no difference in sex distribution between the 2 groups. However, the mean age of the patients in the myelopathy group was approximately 6 years greater than that of the radiculopathy group (53.1 vs 47.2 years, p < 0.001). The mean operation time, mean estimated blood loss, and the percentage of patients prescribed perioperative analgesic agents were similar in both groups (p = 0.754, 0.652, and 0.113, respectively). There were significant improvements in VAS neck and arm pain, JOA scores, and NDI in both groups. Nurick scores in the myelopathy group also improved significantly after surgery. In radiographic evaluations, 92.5% of patients in the radiculopathy group and 95.8% of those in the radiculopathy group retained spinal motion (no significant difference). Evaluation of CT scans showed heterotopic ossification in 34 patients (47.2%) in the myelopathy group and 25 patients (47.1%) in the radiculopathy group (p = 0.995). At a mean of over 3 years postoperatively, no secondary surgery was reported in either group. The severity of myelopathy improves after cervical arthroplasty in patients with CSM caused by DDD. At 3-year follow-up, the clinical and radiographic outcomes of cervical arthroplasty in DDD patients with CSM are similar to those patients who have only cervical radiculopathy. Therefore, cervical arthroplasty is a viable option for patients with CSM caused by DDD who require anterior surgery. However, comparison with the standard surgical treatment of anterior cervical discectomy and fusion is necessary to corroborate the outcomes of arthroplasty for CSM.

Patterns of lumbar disc degeneration are different in degenerative disc disease and disc prolapse magnetic resonance imaging analysis of 224 patients.

PubMed

Kanna, Rishi M; Shetty, Ajoy Prasad; Rajasekaran, S

2014-02-01

Existing research on lumbar disc degeneration has remained inconclusive regarding its etiology, pathogenesis, symptomatology, prevention, and management. Degenerative disc disease (DDD) and disc prolapse (DP) are common diseases affecting the lumbar discs. Although they manifest clinically differently, existing studies on disc degeneration have included patients with both these features, leading to wide variations in observations. The possible relationship or disaffect between DDD and DP is not fully evaluated. To analyze the patterns of lumbar disc degeneration in patients with chronic back pain and DDD and those with acute DP. Prospective, magnetic resonance imaging-based radiological study. Two groups of patients (aged 20-50 years) were prospectively studied. Group 1 included patients requiring a single level microdiscectomy for acute DP. Group 2 included patients with chronic low back pain and DDD. Discs were assessed by magnetic resonance imaging through Pfirmann grading, Schmorl nodes, Modic changes, and the total end-plate damage score for all the five lumbar discs. Group 1 (DP) had 91 patients and group 2 (DDD) had 133 patients. DP and DDD patients differed significantly in the number, extent, and severity of degeneration. DDD patients had a significantly higher number of degenerated discs than DP patients (p<.000). The incidence of multilevel and pan-lumbar degeneration was also significantly higher in DDD group. The pattern of degeneration also differed in both the groups. DDD patients had predominant upper lumbar involvement, whereas DP patients had mainly lower lumbar degeneration. Modic changes were more common in DP patients, especially at the prolapsed level. Modic changes were present in 37% of prolapsed levels compared with 9.9% of normal discs (p<.00). The total end-plate damage score had a positive correlation with disc degeneration in both the groups. Further the mean total end-plate damage score at prolapsed level was also significantly higher. The results suggest that patients with disc prolapse, and those with back pain with DDD are clinically and radiologically different groups of patients with varying patterns, severity, and extent of disc degeneration. This is the first study in literature to compare and identify significant differences in these two commonly encountered patient groups. In patients with single-level DP, the majority of the other discs are nondegenerate, the lower lumbar spine is predominantly involved and the end-plate damage is higher. Patients with back pain and DDD have larger number of degenerate discs, early multilevel degeneration, and predominant upper lumbar degeneration. The knowledge that these two groups of patients are different clinically and radiologically is critical for our improved understanding of the disease and for future studies on disc degeneration and disc prolapse. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

A FFT-based formulation for efficient mechanical fields computation in isotropic and anisotropic periodic discrete dislocation dynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bertin, N.; Upadhyay, M. V.; Pradalier, C.; Capolungo, L.

2015-09-01

In this paper, we propose a novel full-field approach based on the fast Fourier transform (FFT) technique to compute mechanical fields in periodic discrete dislocation dynamics (DDD) simulations for anisotropic materials: the DDD-FFT approach. By coupling the FFT-based approach to the discrete continuous model, the present approach benefits from the high computational efficiency of the FFT algorithm, while allowing for a discrete representation of dislocation lines. It is demonstrated that the computational time associated with the new DDD-FFT approach is significantly lower than that of current DDD approaches when large number of dislocation segments are involved for isotropic and anisotropic elasticity, respectively. Furthermore, for fine Fourier grids, the treatment of anisotropic elasticity comes at a similar computational cost to that of isotropic simulation. Thus, the proposed approach paves the way towards achieving scale transition from DDD to mesoscale plasticity, especially due to the method’s ability to incorporate inhomogeneous elasticity.

Organochlorine Pesticides (OCPs) in raft mussels coming from Galician rías.

PubMed

Carro, Nieves; García, Isabel; Ignacio, María; Mouteira, Ana

2017-09-01

This survey gives an overview of the range of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) α and γ-HCH (lindane), HCB, pp´-DDE, pp´-DDD, op´-DDT, pp´-DDT, aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, isodrin and trans-nonachlor in raft mussels cultivated in several polygons of the Galician Rías (Ares-Betanzos, Muros-Noia, Arousa, Pontevedra and Vigo) during the period 1998-2014. A significant number of OCPs were detected, but the levels found were generally low, mainly in the recent samplings (2010-2014). The levels of ∑DDs (sum of DDTs and its metabolites, pp´-DDE and pp´-DDD) ranged between 0.22 ng/g dry weight (dw) in samples from the Ría of Pontevedra and 46.4 ng/g dw in mussels from the Ría of Arousa. Both aldrin and endrin were not detected or were below the analytical limits of detection. With regard to other pesticides, dieldrin is the major compound, followed by γ-HCH, isodrin, α-HCH and transnonachlor. Significant ANOVA regressions indicated variations in levels of some OCPs with the biological parameters (lipid, condition index and shell length). Univariate and multivariate analysis of OCP levels revealed no significant differences between Rías. Temporal trends showed an important decline of OCPs in the studied samples during the period 1998-2014.

Discrete Dislocation Dynamics Simulations of Twin Size-Effects in Magnesium

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-01-01

deformation induced softening. Over the past two decades, discrete dislocation dynamics ( DDD ) has been one of the most efficient methods to capture...14] and intermittent behavior [15] of the FCC and BCC materials. More recently, DDD simulations of Mg investigated a number of important effects...plays an important and sometimes dominant role in the mechanical behavior of both single crystals and polycrystals. As a result, such DDD simulations

A clinical comparison between a new dual-chamber pacing mode-AAIsafeR and DDD mode.

PubMed

Xue-Jun, Ren; Zhihong, Han; Ye, Wang; Huifeng, Du; Jinrong, Zhang; Fang, Chen; Jihong, Guo

2010-02-01

The aim of this study was to compare the cross-follow-up results in DDD or AAISafeR mode and to describe the safety and effectiveness of this pacing mode. The Symphony 2450/2550 cardiac pacemakers were implanted in 30 patients with sick sinus syndrome between February 2006 and September 2006. They were randomized to the DDD mode or AAISafeR mode for 3 months and then crossed over to the alternate pacing modality for an additional 3 months. No AAISafeR-related adverse event was observed. All documented episodes of paroxysmal atrial ventricular block caused the immediate switch of the pacing mode from AAI to DDD. The cumulative percent ventricular pacing was significantly reduced in the AAISafeR mode compared with the DDD mode (0.9% [0%-3%] versus 51.3% [2%-91%] P = 0.001; 2.94% [0%-18%] versus 41.18% [0%-65%] P = 0.0001). After 3 months in DDD mode, left atrial diameter, left ventricular enddiastolic diameter, and left ventricular end-systolic diameter increased significantly and left ventricular ejection fraction decreased. However, no obvious changes appeared in 3 months of AAISafeR mode. Switches to DDD occurred during follow-up in 21 patients due to different-degree atrial ventricular block. The AAISafeR mode substantially reduces the amount of unnecessary right ventricular pacing in the bradycardia population and effectively prevents the deleterious effects on cardiac performance. An international randomized study will further ascertain the efficacy of this new pacing mode specifically in the prevention of heart failure hospitalization and atrial fibrillation.

DDD versus VVIR pacing in patients, ages 70 and over, with complete heart block.

PubMed

Ouali, Sana; Neffeti, Elyes; Ghoul, Karima; Hammas, Sami; Kacem, Slim; Gribaa, Rim; Remedi, Fahmi; Boughzela, Essia

2010-05-01

Dual-chamber pacing is believed to have an advantage over single-chamber ventricular pacing. The aim of the study was to determine whether elderly patients with implanted pacemaker for complete atrioventricular block gain significant benefit from dual-chamber (DDD) compared with single-chamber ventricular demand (VVIR). The study was designed as a double-blind randomized two-period crossover study-each pacing mode was maintained for 3 months. Thirty patients (eight men, mean age 76.5 +/- 4.3 years) with implanted PM were submitted to a standard protocol, which included an interview, functional class assessment, quality of life (QoL) questionnaires, 6-minute walk test, and transthoracic echocardiographic examinations. QoL was measured by the SF-36. All these parameters were obtained on DDD mode pacing and VVIR mode pacing. Paired data were compared. QoL was significantly different between the two groups and showed the best values in DDD. Overall, no patient preferred VVIR mode, 18 preferred DDD mode, and 12 expressed no preference. No differences in mean walking distances were observed between patients with single-chamber and dual-chamber pacing. VVI pacing elicited marked decrease in left ventricle ejection fraction and significant enlargement of the left atrium. DDD pacing resulted in significant increase of the peak systolic velocities in lateral mitral annulus and septal mitral annulus. Early diastolic velocities on both sides of mitral annulus did not change. In active elderly patients with complete heart block, DDD pacing is associated with improved quality of life and systolic ventricular function compared with VVI pacing.

Long-Term Outcome of Single-Chamber Atrial Pacing Compared with Dual-Chamber Pacing in Patients with Sinus-Node Dysfunction and Intact Atrioventricular Node Conduction

PubMed Central

Kim, Won Ho; Joung, Boyoung; Shim, Jaemin; Park, Jong Sung; Hwang, Eui-Seock; Pak, Hui-Nam; Kim, Sungsoon

2010-01-01

Purpose The optimal pacing mode with either single chamber atrial pacemaker (AAI or AAIR) or dual chamber pacemaker (DDD or DDDR) is still not clear in sinus-node dysfunction (SND) and intact atrioventricular (AV) conduction. Materials and Methods Patients who were implanted with permanent pacemaker using AAI(R) (n = 73) or DDD(R) (n = 113) were compared. Results The baseline characteristics were comparable between the two groups, with a mean follow-up duration of 69 months. The incidence of death did not show statistical difference. However, the incidence of hospitalization for congestive heart failure (CHF) was significantly lower in the AAI(R) group (0%) than the DDD(R) group (8.8%, p = 0.03). Also, atrial fibrillation (AF) was found in 2.8% in the AAI(R) group, which was statistically different from 15.2% of patients in the DDD(R) group (p = 0.01). Four patients (5.5%) with AAI(R) developed AV block, and subsequently switched to DDD(R) pacing. The risk of AF was lower in the patients implanted with AAI(R) than those with DDD(R) [hazard ratio (HR), 0.84; 95% confidence interval, 0.72 to 0.97, p = 0.02]. Conclusion In patients with SND and intact AV conduction, AAI(R) pacing can achieve a better clinical outcome in terms of occurrence of CHF and AF than DDD(R) pacing. These findings support AAI(R) pacing as the preferred pacing mode in patients with SND and intact AV conduction. PMID:20879047

A novel Death Defying Domain in Met entraps the active site of Caspase-3 and blocks apoptosis in hepatocytes

PubMed Central

Ma, Jihong; Zou, Chunbin; Guo, Lida; Seneviratne, Danushka S.; Tan, Xinping; Kwon, Yong-Kook; An, Jiyan; Bowser, Robert; DeFrances, Marie C.; Zarnegar, Reza

2013-01-01

Met, the transmembrane tyrosine kinase receptor for hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is known to function as a potent anti-apoptotic mediator in normal and neoplastic cells. Herein we report that intracellular cytoplasmic tail of Met has evolved to harbor a tandem pair of Caspase-3 cleavage sites, which bait, trap and disable the active site of Caspase-3, thereby blocking the execution of apoptosis. We call this Caspase-3 cleavage motif the ‘Death Defying Domain’ (DDD). This site consists of the following sequence: DNAD-DEVD-T (where the hyphens denote caspase cleavage sites). Through functional and mechanistic studies, we show that upon DDD cleavage by Caspase-3, the resulting DEVD-T peptide acts as a competitive inhibitor and entraps the active site of Caspase-3 akin to DEVD-CHO, which is a potent, synthetic inhibitor of Caspase-3 activity. By gain and loss-of-function studies using restoration of DDD expression in DDD deficient hepatocytic cells, we found that both Caspase-3 sites in DDD are necessary for inhibition of Caspase-3 and promotion of cell survival. Employing mutagenesis studies, we show that DDD could operate independently of Met’s enzymatic activity as determined by using kinase-dead human Met mutant constructs. Studies of both human liver cancer tissues and cell lines uncovered that DDD cleavage and entrapment of Caspase-3 by DDD occur in vivo, further proving that this site has physiological and pathophysiological relevance. Conclusion Our findings show that Met can directly inhibit Caspase-3 via a novel mechanism and promote hepato-cyte survival. Results presented here will further our understanding of the mechanisms that control not only normal tissue homeostasis but also abnormal tissue growth such as cancer and degenerative diseases in which apoptotic caspases are at play. PMID:24122846

Efficacy of Management for Rational Use of Antibiotics in Surgical Departments at a Multi-Disciplinary Hospital: Results of a 7-year Pharmacoepidemiological Research.

PubMed

Korableva, A A; Yudina, E V; Ziganshina, L E

Irrational medicine use including excessive use and abuse of antibiotics remains a crucial problem for the healthcare systems. In this regard, studies examining approaches to improving the clinical use of medicines are highly important. to assess the efficacy rate of management for the rational use of antibiotics in surgical departments of a multi-disciplinary hospital. The intervention complex combined the research, educational, and methodological activities: local protocols for perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis (PABP) for various surgical departments were developed; local PABP protocols were discussed with the physicians of specialized surgical departments; official order on implementation of PABP was issued; the list of drug prescriptions for registration of the first pre-operative antibiotic dose was changed; audit and feedback processes were introduced as well as consultations of a clinical pharmacologist were implemented. We assessed the efficacy rate of the interventions basing on the changes in consumption of antibiotics (both quantitatively and qualitatively) at surgical departments of a hospital using ATC/DDD methodology. Comparison of the studied outcomes was performed before and after the intervention implementation and between the departments (vascular and abdominal surgery). The consumption of antibacterial agents (ATCJ01) was measured as a number of defined daily doses (DDD) per 100 bed-days (DDD/100 bed-days, indicator recommended by the World Health Organization, WHO) and DDD per 100 treated patients (DDD/100 treated patients). From 2006 to 2012, a decrease in antibacterial consumption in surgical departments by 188 DDD/100 treated patients was observed. We obtained the opposite results when using an indicator of DDD/100 bed-days (increase by 2.5 DDD/100 bed-days) which could be explained by the dependence on indices of overall hospital work and its changes during the examined period. Observed changes in antibacterial consumption varied in different surgical departments. The most pronounced positive changes were noted in the department of vascular surgery: decrease in total antibacterial consumption by 298 DDD/100 treated patients, decrease in the use of cephalosporins of the III generation from 141 to 38 DDD/100 treated patients. These positive changes were accompanied by the same (low) level of consumption/use of reserve antibiotics. In the department of abdominal surgery, there was no decrease in total antibiotic consumption, as well as in consumption of broad-spectrum cephalosporins of the III generation and fluoroquinolones, and we observed an increase in the use of reserve antibiotics (carbapenems) during the study period. Positive changes in antibiotic consumption were associated with the positive attitude of the manager/head of the department towards interventions: we observed the most pronounced decrease in antibiotic consumption straight after the publication of the administrative order on perioperative antibacterial prophylaxis. The combination of scientific, educational, and methodological interventions is effective for improving antibiotic application. The study results provide the rationale for analyzing the drug consumption using the DDD/100 treated patients measure in addition to the WHO-recommended indicator of DDD/100 bed-days which depends on overall hospital performance.

Examination of factors dominating the sediment-water diffusion flux of DDT-related compounds measured by passive sampling in an urbanized estuarine bay.

PubMed

Feng, Yan; Wu, Chen-Chou; Bao, Lian-Jun; Shi, Lei; Song, Lin; Zeng, Eddy Y

2016-12-01

The fate of hydrophobic organic compounds in aquatic environment are largely determined by their exchange at sediment-water interface, which is highly dynamic and subject to rapidly evolving environmental conditions. In turn, environmental conditions may be governed by both physicochemical parameters and anthropogenic events. To examine the importance of various impact factors, passive sampling devices were deployed at the seafloor of Hailing Bay, an urbanized estuarine bay in Guangdong Province of South China to measure the sediment-water diffusion fluxes of several metabolites of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), p,p'-DDE, p,p'-DDD and o,p'-DDD. The physicochemical properties of water (temperature, pH, salinity and dissolved oxygen) and surface sediment (sediment organic matter, physical composition, pH, water content, colony forming unit and catalase activity) were also measured. The results showed that the diffusion fluxes of o,p'-DDD, p,p'-DDD and p,p'-DDE at sites A1 and A2 near a fishing boat maintenance facility ranged from 0.42 to 4.73 ng m -2 d -1 (from sediment to overlying water), whereas those at offshore sites varied between -0.03 and -3.02 ng m -2 d -1 (from overlying water to sediment), implicating A1 and A2 as the sources of the target compounds. The distribution patterns of the diffusion fluxes of the target compounds were different from those of water and sediment parameters (water temperature, salinity, sediment texture, pH, colony forming unit and catalase activity) at six sampling sites. This finding suggested that none of these parameters were critical in dictating the sediment-water diffusion fluxes. Besides, decreases in the contents of kerogen and black carbon by 6.7% and 11% would enhance the diffusion fluxes of the target compounds by 11-14% and 12-23%, respectively, at site A1, indicating that kerogen and black carbon were the key factors in mediating the sediment-water diffusion fluxes of DDT-related compounds in field environments. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Pharmacokinetics of the adrenocorticolytic compounds 3-methylsulphonyl-DDE and o,p'-DDD (mitotane) in Minipigs.

PubMed

Hermansson, Veronica; Cantillana, Tatiana; Hovander, Lotta; Bergman, Ake; Ljungvall, Karl; Magnusson, Ulf; Törneke, Karolina; Brandt, Ingvar

2008-02-01

The pharmacokinetics of the adrenocorticolytic drug candidate 3-Methylsulphonyl-DDE (3-MeSO2-DDE) and the anticancer drug o,p'-DDD (mitotane) were studied in Göttingen minipigs. The animals were given 3-MeSO2-DDE or o,p'-DDD as single oral doses (30 mg/kg). Concentrations in plasma and subcutaneous fat were measured by gas chromatography at different time points during 180 days. Maximal plasma concentrations appeared within 24 h for both compounds, but were about 2 times higher for 3-MeSO2DDE. o,p'-DDD plasma concentrations declined rapidly to low levels during 4 days. 3-MeSO2-DDE also decreased rapidly, but remained at high concentrations throughout the study. In fat, 3-MeSO2-DDE reached about 25-fold higher levels than o,p'-DDD at 30 days, and both substances were eliminated slowly from this tissue. 3-MeSO2-DDE liver concentrations were about 18-fold higher than those in plasma at 180 days. In contrast, o,p'-DDD liver and plasma levels were about equal at 180 days. o,p'-DDD had roughly 45 times larger CL/F than 3-MeSO2-DDE, confirming that the elimination of this compound was more rapid. Both compounds were characterised by their localisation and retention in fat tissue, and the individual size of the fat stores clearly determined the plasma concentrations. It is concluded that although 3-MeSO2-DDE is an interesting candidate for therapeutic use due to its potential characteristics to specifically target adrenocortical tumour cells the slow elimination of the compound might make it challenging to design appropriate dosage regimes.

Long-term outcome in patients receiving permanent pacemaker implantation for atrioventricular block

PubMed Central

Liao, Jo-Nan; Chao, Tze-Fan; Tuan, Ta-Chuan; Kong, Chi-Woon; Chen, Shih-Ann

2016-01-01

Abstract A permanent pacemaker (PPM) with dual chamber pacing (DDD) offers atrioventricular synchronization for patients with atrioventricular block (AVB). Single lead atrial synchronous ventricular pacing mode (VDD) is an alternative, but there are concerns about its efficacy and risk of atrial undersensing. Whether VDD can be a good alternative in patients with AVB remains unknown. The aim of the present study was to compare the long-term risk of mortality of VDD with DDD pacing. A total of 207 patients undergoing PPM implantations for AVB with VDD mode were enrolled from 2000 to 2013. Another 828 age- and sex-matched patients undergoing DDD implantations during the same period of time were selected as the control group in a 1 to 4 ratio. The study endpoint was mortality. A total of 1035 patients (64.3% male) were followed up for 46.5 ± 43.2 months. The mean ages were 75.0 years for VDD, and 74.9 years for DDD. The Kaplan–Meier survival analysis showed no significant difference in long-term survival between the VDD and DDD groups (log-rank P = 0.313). After adjustment for baseline characteristics, the VDD and DDD groups had a similar long-term prognosis with an adjusted hazard ratio of 0.875 (P = 0.445). Further analyses for the risk of cardiovascular and noncardiovascular deaths also showed no significant differences between the 2 groups. The long-term prognosis of VDD mode is comparable to that of DDD mode. Single lead VDD can be considered as an alternative choice in patients with AVB without sinus nodal dysfunction. PMID:27583889

Biventricular pacing preserves left ventricular performance in patients with high-grade atrio-ventricular block: a randomized comparison with DDD(R) pacing in 50 consecutive patients.

PubMed

Albertsen, Andi E; Nielsen, Jens C; Poulsen, Steen H; Mortensen, Peter T; Pedersen, Anders K; Hansen, Peter S; Jensen, Henrik K; Egeblad, Henrik

2008-03-01

We aimed to investigate whether biventricular (BiV) pacing minimizes left ventricular (LV) dyssynchrony and preserves LV ejection fraction (LVEF) as compared with standard dual-chamber DDD(R) pacing in consecutive patients with high-grade atrio-ventricular (AV) block. Fifty patients were randomized to DDD(R) pacing or BiV pacing. LVEF was measured using three-dimensional echocardiography. Tissue-Doppler imaging was used to quantify LV dyssynchrony in terms of number of segments with delayed longitudinal contraction (DLC). LVEF was not different between groups after 12 months (P = 0.18). In the DDD(R) group LVEF decreased significantly from 59.7(57.4-61.4)% at baseline to 57.2(52.1-60.6)% at 12 months of follow-up (P = 0.03), whereas LVEF remained unchanged in the BiV group [58.9(47.1-61.7)% at baseline vs. 60.1(55.2-63.3)% after 12 months (P = 0.15)]. Dyssynchrony was more prominent in the DDD(R) group than in the BiV group at baseline (2.2 +/- 2.2 vs. 1.4 +/- 1.3 segments with DLC per patient, P = 0.10); and at 12 month follow-up (1.8 +/- 1.9 vs. 0.8 +/- 0.9 segments with DLC per patient, P = 0.02). NT-proBNP was unchanged in the DDD(R) group during follow-up (122 +/- 178 pmol/L vs. 91 +/- 166 pmol/L, NS) but decreased significantly in the BiV-group (from 198 +/- 505 pmol/L to 86 +/- 95 pmol/L after 12 months, P = 0.02). BiV pacing minimizes LV dyssynchrony, preserves LV function, and reduces NT-proBNP in contrast to DDD(R) pacing in patients with high-grade AV block.

Bioavailability to grains of rice of aged and fresh DDD and DDE in soils.

PubMed

Yao, Fenxia; Yu, Guifen; Bian, Yongrong; Yang, Xinglun; Wang, Fang; Jiang, Xin

2007-05-01

DDT had been widely used around the world before 1980s and is still under production and use for non-agricultural purposes in China. Because of their special physicochemical properties, p,p'-DDT and its main metabolites, p,p'-DDD and p,p'-DDE, accumulated and persisted in the environment, presenting potential menace on biota. A green-house study was conducted to determine the bioavailability of p,p'-DDD and p,p'-DDE to grains of rice and the influences of traditional Chinese farming practices on their bioaccumulation. Paddy rice and dry rice were grown in submerged paddy soils and non-submerged upland soils, respectively. Two types of soil, Hydragric Anthrosols (An) and Hydragric Acrisols (Ac), were employed. Bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) of DDE ranged from 0.67 for rice grown in non-submerged An to 0.84 in submerged An in the control group, whilst BAFs were all below 0.04 in experimental groups. BAFs of DDD varied from 1.39 for submerged An to 2.26 for submerged Ac in original soils. In contrast, BAFs were between 0.05 for non-submerged Ac and 0.08 for submerged An in DDD-contaminated soils. Flooding seemed to have two contradictory effects on the DDE/DDD accumulation by rice: on one hand, it made the pollutants more mobile and bioavailable; while on the other hand, it enhanced the degradation and binding of POPs. Adding rice straw to the soils protected DDE from being taken up yet promoted DDD accumulation by rice. Furthermore, the distinct inorganic component of the soils might also play an important role in the environmental activities of POPs.

Patterns of antibacterials use in intensive care units.

PubMed

Santos, Edilson Floriano Dos; Lauria-Pires, Liana

2010-06-01

To know and compare the patterns of antimicrobials use in intensive care units (ICUs) based on the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical/Defined Daily Dose (ATC/DDD) system. a prospective cohort study was conducted in three medical-surgical intensive care units, two of them in public hospitals and one in a private hospital. Simple random, independent samples of patients admitted from 10/2004 to 09/2005 to the selected intensive care units were used. The antibiotics use was assessed using the ATC/DDD system. The amount of antibacterials used in each intensive care unit, in grams, was transformed in daily defined dose (DDD). The number of DDDs was divided by the number of patient-days, multiplied by one thousand, to obtain the average density of consumption (DC) per thousand patient-days (DDD1000). 1,728 patients-days and 2,918.6 DDDs were examined in the three intensive care units, corresponding to an average density of consumption of 1,689.0 DDD1000. The median number of DDDs of antibiotics use in the public hospitals’ intensive care units was significantly higher (p=0.002) versus the private hospital’s intensive care unit. The consumption of antibiotics in the private hospital’s intensive care unit (DC=2,191.7 DDD1000) was significantly higher (p<0.001) versus the intensive care units of public hospitals (1,499.5 DDD1000). The most used antibiotics groups in the three intensive care units were 3rd generation cephalosporins, penicillins/betalactamases inhibitors, carbapenems and fluorquinolones. The pattern of antibiotics use in the three examined intensive care units was not uniform. The private hospital’s intensive care unit used a significantly larger amount versus the public hospitals’ intensive care units. Nevertheless, the most used antibiotics groups were similar in the three intensive care units.

Comparison of DDD versus VVIR pacing modes in elderly patients with atrioventricular block.

PubMed

Kılıçaslan, Barış; Vatansever Ağca, Fahriye; Kılıçaslan, Esin Evren; Kınay, Ozan; Tigen, Kürşat; Cakır, Cayan; Nazlı, Cem; Ergene, Oktay

2012-06-01

Dual-chamber pacing is believed to have an advantage over single-chamber ventricular pacing. The aim of this study was to determine whether elderly patients who have implanted pacemakers for complete atrioventricular block gain significant benefits from dual-chamber (DDD) pacemakers compared with single chamber ventricular (VVIR) pacemakers. This study was designed as a randomized, two-period crossover study-each pacing mode was maintained for 1 month. Thirty patients (16 men, mean age 68.87 ± 6.89 years) with implanted DDD pacemakers were submitted to a standard protocol, which included an interview, pacemaker syndrome assessment, health related quality of life (HRQoL) questionnaires assessed by an SF-36 test, 6-minute walk test (6MWT), and transthoracic echocardiographic examinations. All of these parameters were obtained on both DDD and VVIR mode pacing. Paired data were compared. HRQoL scores were similar, and 6MWT results did not differ between the two groups. VVIR pacing elicited significant enlargement of the left atrium and impaired left ventricular diastolic functions as compared with DDD pacing. Two patients reported subclinical pacemaker syndrome, but this was not statistically significant. Our study revealed that in active elderly patients with complete heart block, DDD pacing and VVIR pacing yielded similar improvements in QoL and exercise performance. However, after a short follow-up period, we noted that VVIR pacing caused significant left atrial enlargement and impaired left ventricular diastolic functions.

Targeted drug discovery and development, from molecular signaling to the global market: an educational program at New York University, 5-year metrics

PubMed Central

Lee, Gloria; Plaksin, Joseph; Ramasamy, Ravichandran; Gold-von Simson, Gabrielle

2018-01-01

Drug discovery and development (DDD) is a collaborative, dynamic process of great interest to researchers, but an area where there is a lack of formal training. The Drug Development Educational Program (DDEP) at New York University was created in 2012 to stimulate an improved, multidisciplinary DDD workforce by educating early stage scientists as well as a variety of other like-minded students. The first course of the program emphasizes post-compounding aspects of DDD; the second course focuses on molecular signaling pathways. In five years, 196 students (candidates for PhD, MD, Master’s degree, and post-doctoral MD/PhD) from different schools (Medicine, Biomedical Sciences, Dentistry, Engineering, Business, and Education) completed the course(s). Pre/post surveys demonstrate knowledge gain across all course topics. 26 students were granted career development awards (73% women, 23% underrepresented minorities). Some graduates of their respective degree-granting/post-doctoral programs embarked on DDD related careers. This program serves as a framework for other academic institutions to develop compatible programs designed to train a more informed DDD workforce. PMID:29657854

Advances in Discrete Dislocation Dynamics Modeling of Size-Affected Plasticity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

El-Awady, Jaafar A.; Fan, Haidong; Hussein, Ahmed M.

In dislocation-mediated plasticity of crystalline materials, discrete dislocation dynamics (DDD) methods have been widely used to predict the plastic deformation in a number of technologically important problems. These simulations have led to significant improvement in the understanding of the different mechanism that controls the mechanical properties of crystalline materials, which can greatly accelerate the future development of materials with superior properties. This chapter provides an overview of different practical applications of both two-dimensional and three-dimensional DDD simulations in the field of size-affected dislocation-mediated plasticity. The chapter is divided into two major tracks. First, DDD simulations focusing on aspects of modeling size-dependent plasticity in single crystals in uniaxial micro-compression/tension, microtorsion, microbending, and nanoindentation are discussed. Special attention is directed towards the role of cross-slip and dislocation nucleation on the overall response. Second, DDD simulations focusing on the role of interfaces, including grain and twin boundaries, on dislocation-mediated plasticity are discussed. Finally, a number of challenges that are withholding DDD simulations from reaching their full potential are discussed.

Complete dechlorination of DDE/DDD using magnesium/palladium system.

PubMed

Gautam, Sumit Kumar; Suresh, Sumathi

2007-04-01

Kinetic studies on the dechlorination of 1,1-dichloro-2,2 bis (4,-chlorophenyl) ethane (DDD) and 1,1,dichloro-2,2 bis (4,-chlorophenyl) ethylene (DDE) in 0.05% biosurfactant revealed that the reaction follows second-order kinetics. The rate of reaction was dependent on the presence of acid, initial concentrations of the target compound, and zerovalent magnesium/tetravalent palladium. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses of DDE dechlorination revealed the formation of a completely dechlorinated hydrocarbon skeleton, with diphenylethane as the end product, thereby implying the removal of all four chlorine atoms of DDE. In the case of DDD, we identified two partially dechlorinated intermediates [namely, 1,1-dichloro-2, 2 bis (phenyl) ethane and 1, chloro-2, 2 bis (phenyl) ethane] and diphenylethane as the end product. On the basis of products formed from DDD dehalogenation, we propose the removal of aryl chlorine atoms as a first step. Our investigation reveals that biosurfactant may be an attractive solubilizing agent for DDT and its residues. The magnesium/palladium system is a promising option because of its high reactivity and ability to achieve complete dechlorination of DDE and DDD.

DDE and DDD residues correlated with mortality of experimental birds

USGS Publications Warehouse

Stickel, William H.; Stickel, Lucille F.; Coon, Francis B.; Deichmann, William B.; Peñalver, Rafael A.; Radomski, Jack L.

1970-01-01

Nearly everywhere in nature are found DDE and DDD, which are metabolites of DDT, and they often become concentrated through food chains. DDD is also a commercial insecticide. large amounts of both are frequently found in birds, but the significance of these amounts has puzzled many owrkers. Studies at Clear Lake, California1 gave some data on DDD danger levels, but less is known of DDE, the member of the DDT group that is most frequent and most abundant in nature. Although DDE is toxic, relatively alrge residues are found in apparently healthy animals. As one step in untanglig the problem, it seemed important to determine the residue levels that indicate danger to life. earlier work with DDR and dieldrin has shown the value of this approach.2-5, 1 2

Microstructurally Based Cross-slip Mechanisms and Their Effects on Dislocation Microstructure Evolution in fcc Crystals

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-01-01

still necessary. One such model that could bridge this gap is discrete dis- location dynamics ( DDD ) simulations, in which both the time- and length-scale...limitations from atomic simulations are greatly reduced. Over the past two decades, two-dimen- sional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) DDD methods have...dislocation ensem- bles according to physics-based rules [27–34]. The physics that can be incorporated in DDD simulations can range http://dx.doi.org

Impact of Over-the-Counter Restrictions on Antibiotic Consumption in Brazil and Mexico

PubMed Central

Santa-Ana-Tellez, Yared; Mantel-Teeuwisse, Aukje K.; Dreser, Anahi; Leufkens, Hubert G. M.; Wirtz, Veronika J.

2013-01-01

Background In Latin American countries over-the-counter (OTC) dispensing of antibiotics is common. In 2010, both Mexico and Brazil implemented policies to enforce existing laws of restricting consumption of antibiotics only to patients presenting a prescription. The objective of the present study is therefore to evaluate the impact of OTC restrictions (2010) on antibiotics consumption in Brazil and Mexico. Methods and Findings Retail quarterly sales data in kilograms of oral and injectable antibiotics between January 2007 and June 2012 for Brazil and Mexico were obtained from IMS Health. The unit of analysis for antibiotics consumption was the defined daily dose per 1,000 inhabitants per day (DDD/TID) according to the WHO ATC classification system. Interrupted time series analysis was conducted using antihypertensives as reference group to account for changes occurring independently of the OTC restrictions directed at antibiotics. To reduce the effect of (a) seasonality and (b) autocorrelation, dummy variables and Prais-Winsten regression were used respectively. Between 2007 and 2012 total antibiotic usage increased in Brazil (from 5.7 to 8.5 DDD/TID, +49.3%) and decreased in Mexico (10.5 to 7.5 DDD/TID, −29.2%). Interrupted time series analysis showed a change in level of consumption of −1.35 DDD/TID (p<0.01) for Brazil and −1.17 DDD/TID (p<0.00) for Mexico. In Brazil the penicillins, sulfonamides and macrolides consumption had a decrease in level after the intervention of 0.64 DDD/TID (p = 0.02), 0.41 (p = 0.02) and 0.47 (p = 0.01) respectively. While in Mexico it was found that only penicillins and sulfonamides had significant changes in level of −0.86 DDD/TID (p<0.00) and −0.17 DDD/TID (p = 0.07). Conclusions Despite different overall usage patterns of antibiotics in Brazil and Mexico, the effect of the OTC restrictions on antibiotics usage was similar. In Brazil the trend of increased usage of antibiotics was tempered after the OTC restrictions; in Mexico the trend of decreased usage was boosted. PMID:24146761

The Asfora Bullet Cage System Shows Comparable Fusion Rate Success Versus Control Cage in Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion in a Randomized Clinical Trial.

PubMed

Morgan, Jeremy P; Miller, Ashley L; Thompson, Paul A; Asfora, Wilson T

2016-04-01

Low back pain and degeneration of the intervertebral disc are an integrated malady that affects millions of Americans. Cage devices used in association with posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) have been shown to be an effective approach in the treatment of a number of lower spine disorders attributed to degenerative disc disease (DDD). This study was undertaken as part of a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) study and compares the effectiveness of the Asfora Bullet Cage System (ABCS) to successfully fuse vertebra at one or two levels between L2 and S1 in patients with DDD to an FDA approved comparison device, the Medtronic-Sofamor Danek Inter Fix Threaded Fusion Device (MSDIFD). A total of 257 randomized participants were implanted with either the ABCS device (n = 132) or the MSDIFD device (n = 125) through an open posterior approach using autogenous local bone graft without the use of pedicle screws. Patients were evaluated prior to surgery and at the 24 month (24-M) visit for fusion status, deep tendon reflex status, sensory function, motor function, straight leg raise status, pain, disability, and device safety. Radiological evaluation and statistical analysis were performed by independent professionals. Evaluation of device success was performed at 24-M visit. From the original group of 257 patients, 59 were lost to follow-up. Primary measures of success at the 24-M visit involved pain and function, fusion, neurological status, and device-related adverse events measures. Pain and function improved in both (MSDIFD: 75.7 percent; ABCS: 82.6 percent). Fusion success with all radiographic points at 24-M visits was 79.4 percent MSDIFD and 88.2 percent ABCS. Neurological improvement was seen in both (MSDIFD: 77.0 percent; ABCS: 87.8 percent). One device-related grade 1 adverse event was reported in the MSDIFD group. Disc height preservation was equivalent for single level fusions (MSDIFD: 16.1 percent; ABCS: 20.0 percent) and second level fusions (MSDIFD: 10.7 percent; ABCS: 14.3 percent). General health and well-being improvement was the same (MSDIFD: 37.0 percent; ABCS: 40.0 percent). Subsequent fusion, up to 10 years, was equivalent (MSDIFD: 83.8 percent; ABCS: 91.2). Results for both devices were considered to be satisfactory, with a slight non-significant superiority for the ABCS. From the ABCS device FDA IDE sanctioned study and the review of the literature, we concluded that the Asfora Bullet Cage System is safe, effective and comparable to other interbody fusion devices which are used stand-alone or in conjunction with pedicle screws, rhBMP-2, or autogenous bone harvested from the iliac crest inserted through anterior, lateral or posterior approaches.

Zero-P: a new zero-profile cage-plate device for single and multilevel ACDF. A single institution series with four years maximum follow-up and review of the literature on zero-profile devices.

PubMed

Barbagallo, Giuseppe M V; Romano, Dario; Certo, Francesco; Milone, Pietro; Albanese, Vincenzo

2013-11-01

To analyze the prospectively collected data in a series of patients treated with single- or multilevel ACDF with a stand-alone, zero-profile device, focusing on clinico-radiological outcome, complications and technical hints, and to review the literature on such new devices. Eighty-five patients harboring symptomatic DDD underwent ACDF with the Zero-P cage-plate: 29 at 1-level and 56 at 2-4 levels (total 162 devices). In the multilevel group, 9 patients received a combination of Zero-P and stand-alone cages (hybrid implants). This study focuses on 32 patients with follow-up ranging from 20 to 48 months. NDI, SF-36 and arm pain VAS scores were registered preoperatively and at follow-up visits. Dysphagia was assessed using the Bazaz score. Imaging included X-rays, CT and MRI, also to assess the presence of vertebral body fractures in multilevel cases. Paired Student t test was used for statistical analysis. SF-36 and NDI showed a statistically significant improvement (p < 0.01) and mean arm pain VAS score decreased from 79 to 41. X-rays and CT demonstrated, respectively, a 94.5 % and a 92 % fusion rate. Three patients complained of moderate and two of mild transient dysphagia (15.5 %). No device-related complications occurred and no fractures, secondary to four screws insertion in one vertebral body (i.e., swiss cheese effect), were detected in multilevel cases. In patients with extensive anterior osteophytes only a "focal spondylectomy" was required. The Zero-P device is safe and efficient, even in multilevel cases. Dysphagia is minimal, extensive anterior osteophytectomy is unnecessary and technical hints may ease the surgical workflow. This is the largest series, with the longest follow-up, reported.

Dense Deposit Disease

PubMed Central

Smith, Richard J.H; Harris, Claire L.; Pickering, Matthew C.

2011-01-01

Dense deposit disease (DDD) is an orphan disease that primarily affects children and young adults without sexual predilection. Studies of its pathophysiology have shown conclusively that it is caused by fluid-phase dysregulation of the alternative pathway of complement, however the role played by genetics and autoantibodies like C3 nephritic factors must be more thoroughly defined if we are to make an impact in the clinical management of this disease. There are currently no mechanism-directed therapies to offer affected patients, half of whom progress to end stage renal failure disease within 10 years of diagnosis. Transplant recipients face the dim prospect of disease recurrence in their allografts, half of which ultimately fail. More detailed genetic and complement studies of DDD patients may make it possible to identify protective factors prognostic for naïve kidney and transplant survival, or conversely risk factors associated with progression to renal failure and allograft loss. The pathophysiology of DDD suggests that a number of different treatments warrant consideration. As advances are made in these areas, there will be a need to increase healthcare provider awareness of DDD by making resources available to clinicians to optimize care for DDD patients. PMID:21601923

DDT, DDD, and DDE in soil of Xiangfen County, China: Residues, sources, spatial distribution, and health risks.

PubMed

Ma, Jin; Pan, Li-Bo; Yang, Xiao-Yang; Liu, Xiao-Ling; Tao, Shi-Yang; Zhao, Long; Qin, Xiao-Peng; Sun, Zai-Jin; Hou, Hong; Zhou, Yong-Zhang

2016-11-01

We collected and analyzed 128 surface soil samples from Xiangfen County for dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane (DDD), and dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE). Total DDT concentrations (DDTs; sum of p,p'-DDD, p,p'-DDE, and p,p'-DDT) ranged from ND to 427.81 ng g(-1) (dry weight, dw), with a mean of 40.26 ng g(-1) (dw). Among the three compounds, p,p'-DDD was the most dominant. The DDTs in Xiangfen County soils mainly originated from historical DDT use, but there were also new inputs likely related to dicofol use. The DDTs in Xiangfen County soils were mainly degraded under anaerobic conditions, and direct degradation to DDD was the main degradation route. Regions with relatively high concentrations of DDTs were mainly located in North and South Xiangfen County. In these regions, many soil samples contained p,p'-DDT as the predominant pollutant, suggestive of extensive new inputs of DDT. A health risk assessment revealed that there are no serious long-term health impacts of exposure to DDTs in soil, for adults or children. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

40 CFR 52.29 - Visibility long-term strategies.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... listed where applicable in Subparts B through DDD of this part. The provisions of this section have been incorporated into the applicable implementation plan for various States, as provided in Subparts B through DDD...

40 CFR 52.29 - Visibility long-term strategies.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... listed where applicable in Subparts B through DDD of this part. The provisions of this section have been incorporated into the applicable implementation plan for various States, as provided in Subparts B through DDD...

Current-use pesticides and organochlorine compounds in precipitation and lake sediment from two high-elevation national parks in the Western United States

USGS Publications Warehouse

Mast, M.A.; Foreman, W.T.; Skaates, S.V.

2007-01-01

Current-use pesticides (CUPs) and banned organochlorine compounds (OCCs) were measured in precipitation (snowpack and rain) and lake sediments from two national parks in the Western United States to determine their occurrence and distribution in high-elevation environments. CUPs frequently detected in snow were endosulfan, dacthal, and chlorothalonil in concentrations ranging from 0.07 to 2.4 ng/L. Of the OCCs, chlordane, hexachlorobenzene, and two polychlorinated biphenyl congeners were detected in only one snow sample each. Pesticides most frequently detected in rain were atrazine, carbaryl, and dacthal in concentrations from 3.0 to 95 ng/L. Estimated annual deposition rates in one of the parks were 8.4 ??g/m2 for atrazine, 9.9 ??g/m2 for carbaryl, and 2.6 ??g/m2 for dacthal, of which >85% occurred during summer. p,p'-DDE and p,p'-DDD were the most frequently detected OCCs in surface sediments from lakes. However, concentrations were low (0.12 to 4.7 ??g/kg) and below levels at which harmful effects for benthic organisms are likely to be observed. DDD and DDE concentrations in an age-dated sediment core suggest that atmospheric deposition of DDT and its degradates, and possibly other banned OCCs, to high-elevation areas have been decreasing since the 1970s. Dacthal and endosulfan sulfate were present in low concentrations (0.11 to 1.2 ??g/kg) and were the only CUPs detected in surface sediments. Both pesticides were frequently detected in snow, confirming that some CUPs entering high-elevation aquatic environments through atmospheric deposition are accumulating in lake sediments and potentially in aquatic biota as well. ?? 2007 Springer Science+Business Media, Inc.

Rituximab fails where eculizumab restores renal function in C3nef-related DDD.

PubMed

Rousset-Rouvière, Caroline; Cailliez, Mathilde; Garaix, Florentine; Bruno, Daniele; Laurent, Daniel; Tsimaratos, Michel

2014-06-01

Dense deposit disease (DDD), a C3 glomerulopathy (C3G), is a rare disease with unfavorable progression towards end-stage kidney disease. The pathogenesis of DDD is due to cytotoxic effects related to acquired or genetic dysregulation of the complement alternative pathway, which is at times accompanied by the production of C3 nephritic factor (C3NeF), an auto-antibody directed against the alternative C3 convertase. Available treatments include plasma exchange, CD20-targeted antibodies, and a terminal complement blockade via the anti-C5 monoclonal antibody eculizumab. We report here the case of an 8-year-old child with C3NeF and refractory DDD who presented with a nephritic syndrome. She tested positive for C3NeF activity; C3 was undetectable. Genetic analyses of the alternative complement pathway were normal. Methylprednisolone pulses and mycophenolate mofetil treatment resulted in complete recovery of renal function and a reduction in proteinuria. Corticosteroids were tapered and then withdrawn. Four months after corticosteroid discontinuation, hematuria and proteinuria recurred, and a renal biopsy confirmed an active DDD with a majority of extracapillary crescents. Despite an increase in immunosuppressive drugs, including methylprednisolone pulses and rituximab therapy, the patient suffered acute renal failure within 3 weeks, requiring dialysis. Eculizumab treatment resulted in a quick and impressive response. Hematuria very quickly resolved, kidney function improved, and no further dialysis was required. The patient received bimonthly eculizumab injections of 600 mg, allowing for normalization of renal function and reduction of proteinuria to <0.5 g per day. Since then, she continues to receive eculizumab. Complement regulation pathway-targeted therapy may be a specific and useful treatment for rapidly progressing DDD prior to the development of glomerulosclerosis. Our data provide evidence supporting the pivotal role of complement alternative pathway abnormalities in C3G with DDD.

1. Historic American Buildings Survey Frank O. Branzetti, Photographer July ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

1. Historic American Buildings Survey Frank O. Branzetti, Photographer July 9, 1940 (ddd) 6- MILE STONE, at 540 HANCOCK ST., QUINCY - Milestones H, I, CCC, DDD & EEE, Various Quincy locations, Quincy, Norfolk County, MA

Residues of organochlorine pesticides in intertidal flat surface sediments from coastal zone of Jiangsu Province, China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Han, Xiumei; Zheng, Rong; Zhao, Jiale; Ma, Chao; Gao, Xiaojiang

2014-09-01

Sixteen surface sediment samples were collected and analysed to evaluate the residues of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) from intertidal flat in Jiangsu Province. Overall, 22 OCPs were detected with total concentrations of OCPs ranging widely from 0.96 to 12.14 ng/g (dry wt). Total hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) and total dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) levels varied from <0.01 to 0.67 ng/g and from 0.23 to 4.85 ng/g, respectively. DDTs were the predominant compounds. The dominance of β-HCH indicated a history of HCH pollution. According to the ratios of ( p, p'-DDD+ p, p'-DDE)/ p, p'-DDT and o,p'-DDT/ p, p'-DDT, new input of DDTs did not occur in most sites, and the main sources were historical usage of technical DDTs. OCPs such as dieldrin, endrin, p, p'-DDD, and p, p'-DDT exceeded the effects range low, showing adverse biological effects that would occasionally occur at some sites of the study area.

Performance-Based Seismic Retrofit of Soft-Story Woodframe Buildings Using Energy-Dissipation Systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tian, Jingjing

Low-rise woodframe buildings with disproportionately flexible ground stories represent a significant percentage of the building stock in seismically vulnerable communities in the Western United States. These structures have a readily identifiable structural weakness at the ground level due to an asymmetric distribution of large openings in the perimeter wall lines and to a lack of interior partition walls, resulting in a soft story condition that makes the structure highly susceptible to severe damage or collapse under design-level earthquakes. The conventional approach to retrofitting such structures is to increase the ground story stiffness. An alternate approach is to increase the energy dissipation capacity of the structure via the incorporation of supplemental energy dissipation devices (dampers), thereby relieving the energy dissipation demands on the framing system. Such a retrofit approach is consistent with a Performance-Based Seismic Retrofit (PBSR) philosophy through which multiple performance levels may be targeted. The effectiveness of such a retrofit is presented via examination of the seismic response of a full-scale four-story building that was tested on the outdoor shake table at NEES-UCSD and a full-scale three-story building that was tested using slow pseudo-dynamic hybrid testing at NEES-UB. In addition, a Direct Displacement Design (DDD) methodology was developed as an improvement over current DDD methods by considering torsion, with or without the implementation of damping devices, in an attempt to avoid the computational expense of nonlinear time-history analysis (NLTHA) and thus facilitating widespread application of PBSR in engineering practice.

[Surveillance of healthcare associated infections, bacterial resistance and antibiotic consumption in high-complexity hospitals in Colombia, 2011].

PubMed

Villalobos, Andrea Patricia; Barrero, Liliana Isabel; Rivera, Sandra Milena; Ovalle, María Victoria; Valera, Danik

2014-04-01

Preventing healthcare associated infections, especially for resistant microorganisms, is a priority. In Colombia, the surveillance of such events was started through a national pilot study. To describe the epidemiology of device-associated infections, bacterial resistance and antibiotic consumption patterns in institutions with intensive care units (ICU), 2011. Descriptive observational study in 10 health institutions from three Colombian provinces: Antioquia, Valle del Cauca, and Bogotá. Surveillance protocols were designed and implemented by trained health professionals in each hospital. A web tool was designed for data reporting and analysis. Infection rates, device-use percentages and antibiotics defined daily dose (DDD) were calculated. Bacterial resistance phenotypes and profiles were reported and analyzed using Whonet 5.6. The most common event was bloodstream infection (rate > 4.8/1000 catheter-days) followed by ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) and catheter-related urinary tract infection, showing a wide variability among institutions. A high consumption of meropenem in the ICU (DDD 22.5/100 beds-day) was observed, as well as a high carbapenem resistance (> 11.6%) and a high frequency of third generation cephalosporins resistance (> 25.6%) in Enterobacteriaceae in ICUs and hospitalization wards. The percentage of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was higher in hospitalization wards (34.3%). This is the first experience in measuring these events in Colombia. It is necessary to implement a national surveillance system aimed at guiding governmental and institutional actions oriented to infection prevention and control, to resistance management and to the promotion of antibiotics rational use, along with a follow-up and monitoring process.

Role of Automatic Wireless Remote Monitoring Immediately Following ICD Implant: The Lumos-T Reduces Routine Office Device Follow-Up Study (TRUST) Trial.

PubMed

Varma, Niraj; Epstein, Andrew E; Schweikert, Robert; Michalski, Justin; Love, Charles J

2016-03-01

The incidence of unscheduled encounters and problem occurrence between ICD implant and first in-person evaluation (IPE) recommended at 12 weeks is unknown. Automatic remote home monitoring (HM) may be useful in this potentially unstable period. ICD patients were randomized 2:1 to HM enabled post-implant (n = 908) or to conventional monitoring (CM; n = 431). Groups were compared between implant and prior to first scheduled IPE for IPE incidence, causes, and actionability (reprogramming, system revision, medication changes) and event detection time. HM and CM patients were similar (mean age 63 years, 72% male, LVEF 29%, primary prevention 73%, DDD 57%). In the post-implant interval assessed (HM 100 ± 21.3 days vs. CM 101 ± 20.8 days, P = 0.54), 85.4% (776/908) HM patients and 87.7% CM (378/431) patients had no cause for IPE (P = 0.31). When IPE occurred, actionability in HM (64/177 [36.2%]) was greater versus CM (15/62 [24.2%], P = 0.12). Actionable items were discovered sooner with HM (P = 0.025). Device reprogramming or lead revision was triggered following 53/177 (29.9%) IPEs in HM versus 9/62 (14.5%) in CM (P = 0.018). Arrhythmia detection was enhanced by HM: 276 atrial and ventricular episodes were detected in 135 follow-ups in contrast to CM (65 episodes at 17 IPEs). More silent arrhythmic episodes were discovered by HM (7.2% vs. 1.5% [P = 0.15]). Since 27/42 (64.3%) IPEs driven by HM alerts were actionable, event notification was a valuable method for problem detection. Importantly, HM did not increase incidence of non-actionable IPEs (P = 0.72). Activation of automatic remote monitoring should be encouraged soon post-ICD implant. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The generation and functional characterization of induced pluripotent stem cells from human intervertebral disc nucleus pulposus cells.

PubMed

Zhu, Yanxia; Liang, Yuhong; Zhu, Hongxia; Lian, Cuihong; Wang, Liang; Wang, Yiwei; Gu, Hongsheng; Zhou, Guangqian; Yu, Xiaoping

2017-06-27

Disc degenerative disease (DDD) is believed to originate in the nucleus pulposus (NP) region therefore, it is important to obtain a greater number of active NP cells for the study and therapy of DDD. Human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are a powerful tool for modeling the development of DDD in humans, and have the potential to be applied in regenerative medicine. NP cells were isolated from DDD patients following our improved method, and then the primary NP cells were reprogramed into iPSCs with Sendai virus vectors encoding 4 factors. Successful reprogramming of iPSCs was verified by the expression of surface markers and presence of teratoma. Differentiation of iPSCs into NP-like cells was performed in a culture plate or in hydrogel, whereby skin fibroblast derived-iPSCs were used as a control. Results demonstrated that iPSCs derived from NP cells displayed a normal karyotype, expressed pluripotency markers, and formed teratoma in nude mice. NP induction of iPSCs resulted in the expression of NP cell specific matrix proteins and related genes. Non-induced NP derived-iPSCs also showed some NP-like phenotype. Furthermore, NP-derived iPSCs differentiate much better in hydrogel than that in a culture plate. This is a novel method for the generation of iPSCs from NP cells of DDD patients, and we have successfully differentiated these iPSCs into NP-like cells in hydrogel. This method provides a novel treatment of DDD by using patient-specific NP cells in a relatively simple and straightforward manner.

Assessment of upper-limb capacity, performance, and developmental disregard in children with cerebral palsy: validity and reliability of the revised Video-Observation Aarts and Aarts module: Determine Developmental Disregard (VOAA-DDD-R).

PubMed

Houwink, Annemieke; Geerdink, Yvonne A; Steenbergen, Bert; Geurts, Alexander C H; Aarts, Pauline B M

2013-01-01

To investigate the validity and reliability of the revised Video-Observation Aarts and Aarts module: Determine Developmental Disregard (VOAA-DDD-R). Upper-limb capacity and performance were assessed in children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy (CP) by measuring overall duration of affected upper-limb use and the frequency of specific behaviours during a task in which bimanual activity was demanded ('stringing beads') and stimulated ('decorating a muffin'). Developmental disregard was defined as the difference in duration of affected upper-limb use between both tasks. Raters were two occupational and one physical therapist who received 3 hours of training. Construct validity was determined by comparing children with CP with typically developing children. Intrarater, interrater, and test-retest reliability were determined using the intraclass correlation coefficient. Standard errors of measurement and smallest detectable differences were also calculated. Twenty-five children with CP (15 females, 10 males; mean age 4 y 9 mo [SD 1 y 7 mo], range 2 y 9 mo-8 y; Manual Ability Classification System levels I-III) scored lower on capacity (p=0.052) and performance (p<0.001), and higher on developmental disregard (p<0.001) than 46 age- and sex-matched typically developing children (23 males; mean age 5 y 3 mo [SD 1 y 5 mo], range 2 y 6 mo-8 y). The intraclass correlation coefficients (0.79-1.00) indicated good reliability. Absolute agreement was high, standard errors of measurement ranged from 4.5 to 6.8%, and smallest detectable differences ranged from 12.5 to 19.0%. The VOAA-DDD-R can be reliably and validly used by occupational and physical therapists to assess upper-limb capacity, performance, and developmental disregard in children (2 y 6 mo-8 y) with CP. © The Authors. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology © 2012 Mac Keith Press.

Organochlorine residues and autopsy data from bald eagles 1966-68

USGS Publications Warehouse

Mulhern, B.M.; Reichel, W.L.; Locke, L.N.; Lamont, T.G.; Belisle, A.A.; Cromartie, E.; Bagley, George E.; Prouty, R.M.

1970-01-01

Sixty-nine bald eagles found moribund or dead in 25 States during 1966-68 were analyzed for pesticide residues. Residues of polychlorinated biphenyls and DDE were detected in all samples of eagle carcasses; residues of dieldrin were detected in 68 and residues of DDD in 64; DDT, heptachlor epoxide, and DCBP were detected less frequently. Eight specimens had levels of dieldrin in the brain within the lethal range, and another probably died of DDT poisoning. Autopsy revealed that illegal shooting was the most frequent cause of mortality of these eagles; electrocution, impact injuries, probable lead poisoning, and infectious avian diseases were other causes of mortality.

Residues of organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls and autopsy data for bald eagles, 1973-74

USGS Publications Warehouse

Prouty, R.M.; Reichel, W.L.; Locke, L.N.; Belisle, A.A.; Cromartie, E.; Kaiser, T.E.; Lamont, T.G.; Mulhern, B.M.; Swineford, D.M.

1977-01-01

Thirty-nine bald eagles found sick or dead in 13 States during 1969 and 1970 were analyzed for pesticide residues. Residues of DDE, dieldrin, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB's), and mercury were detected in all bald eagle carcasses; DDD residues were detected in 38; DDT, heptachlor epoxide, and dichlorobenzophenone (DCBP) were detected less frequently. Six eagles contained possible lethal levels of dieldrin in the brain, and one contained a lethal concentration of DDE (385 ppm) in the brain together with 235 ppm of PCB's. Autopsy revealed that 18 bald eagles were illegally shot; other causes of death were impact injuries, electrocution, emaciation, and infectious diseases.

Identification and quantification of pesticide residues in water samples of Dhamrai Upazila, Bangladesh

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hasanuzzaman, M.; Rahman, M. A.; Salam, M. A.

2017-10-01

Being agricultural country, different types of pesticides are widely used in Bangladesh to prevent the crop losses due to pest attack which are ultimately drain to the water bodies. The present study was conducted to identify and quantify the organochlorine (DDT, DDE and DDD), organophosphorus (malathion, diazinon and chloropyrifos) and carbamate (carbaryl) residues in water samples of different sources from Dhamrai upazila of Bangladesh using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) equipped with ultra violate (UV) detector. Thirty water samples from fish pond, cultivated land and tube-well were collected in winter season to analyze the pesticide residues. Among the organophosphorus pesticides, malathion was present in seven water samples ranging from 42.58 to 922.8 μg/L, whereas diazinon was detected in water sample-8 (WS-8) and the concentration was 31.5 μg/L. None of the tested water samples was found to be contaminated with chlorpyrifos, carbaryl or DDT and its metabolites (DDE and DDD). Except for a tube-well water sample, concentrations of the detected residues are above the acceptable limit for human body as assigned by different organizations. To avoid the possible health hazards, the indiscriminate application of pesticides should be restricted and various substitute products like bio-pesticide should be introduced in a broad scale as soon as possible.

45. AUXILIARY CHAMBER BETWEEN CHAMBER AND CONCRETE ENCLOSURE (LOCATION DDD), ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

45. AUXILIARY CHAMBER BETWEEN CHAMBER AND CONCRETE ENCLOSURE (LOCATION DDD), VIEW LOOKING EAST. LEAD ENCLOSED PIPING IS DRAIN FROM BOILER CHAMBER No. 1 - Shippingport Atomic Power Station, On Ohio River, 25 miles Northwest of Pittsburgh, Shippingport, Beaver County, PA

p,p\\'-Dichlorodiphenyl dichloroethane (DDD)

Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS)

p , p ' - Dichlorodiphenyl dichloroethane ( DDD ) ; CASRN 72 - 54 - 8 Human health assessment information on a chemical substance is included in the IRIS database only after a comprehensive review of toxicity data , as outlined in the IRIS assessment development process . Sections I ( Health Hazard

Determination of low-level agricultural residues in soft drinks and sports drinks by gas chromatography with mass-selective detection: single-laboratory validation.

PubMed

Paske, Nathan; Berry, Bryan; Schmitz, John; Sullivan, Darryl

2007-01-01

In this study, sponsored by PepsiCo Inc., a method was validated for measurement of 19 pesticide residues in soft drinks and sports drinks by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) with mass selective detection The pesticide residues determined in this validation were alpha-benzenehexachloride (BHC); beta-BHC; gamma-BHC; delta-BHC; methyl parathion; malathion; chlorpyrifos; aldrin; 2,4-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE); alpha-endosulfan; 4,4-DDE; 2,4-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane (DDD); dieldrin; ethion; 4,4-DDD; 2,4-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethylene (DDT); beta-endosulfan; 4,4-DDT; and endosulfan sulfate when spiked into a 200 mL matrix sample at 0.50 microg/L. The samples were diluted with acetonitrile and water, then liquid-liquid phase extracted into petroleum ether. The resulting extract was concentrated to near dryness and diluted with hexane:dichloromethane (50:50). The concentrated samples were purified by gel permeation chromatography. The resulting solution was concentrated and separated on a Florisil substrate. The eluent was concentrated to near dryness, reconstituted to produce a 200-fold concentration, and analyzed using a GC/MS instrument operated in the selective ion monitoring mode. The GC/MS instrument was equipped with a large volume injector capable of injecting 25 microL. External standards prepared in dichloromethane were used for quantification without the need for matrix-matched calibration because the extraction step minimized the matrix effects. The calibration curves for all agricultural residues had coefficients of determination (r2) of greater than or equal to 0.9900, with the exception of one value that was 0.988. Fortification spikes at 0.50 microg/L in 3 matrixes (7UP, Gatorade, and Diet Pepsi) over the course of 2 days (4 days for Gatorade), where n=8 each day, yielded average percent recoveries (and percent relative standard deviations) as follows (n=64): 95.6 (24.8) for alpha-BHC; 91.9 (23.6) for beta-BHC; 89.1 (21.3) for gamma-BHC; 91.7 (19.0) for delta-BHC; 96.2 (20.1) for methylparathion; 99.8 (26.5) for malathion; 120 (27.3) for chlorpyrifos; 103 (31.4) for aldrin; 111 (25.8) for 2,4-DDE; 116 (21.1) for alpha-endosulfan; 132 (34.6) for 4,4-DDE; 123 (34.4) for 2,4-DDD; 104 (20.8) for dieldrin; 141 (31.4) for ethion; 107 (24.5) for 4,4-DDD; 142 (29.2) for 2,4-DDT; 130 (35.9) for beta-endosulfan; 146 (25.3) for 4,4-DDT; and 91.5 (21.6) for endosulfansulfate.

Dense Deposit Disease in Korean Children: A Multicenter Clinicopathologic Study

PubMed Central

Park, Se Jin; Kim, Yong-Jin; Ha, Tae-Sun; Lim, Beom Jin; Jeong, Hyeon Joo; Park, Yong Hoon; Lee, Dae Yeol; Kim, Pyung Kil; Kim, Kyo Sun; Chung, Woo Yeong

2012-01-01

The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical, laboratory, and pathologic characteristics of dense deposit disease (DDD) in Korean children and to determine whether these characteristics differ between Korean and American children with DDD. In 2010, we sent a structured protocol about DDD to pediatric nephrologists throughout Korea. The data collected were compared with previously published data on 14 American children with DDD. Korean children had lower 24-hr urine protein excretion and higher serum albumin levels than American children. The light microscopic findings revealed that a higher percentage of Korean children had membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis patterns (Korean, 77.8%; American, 28.6%, P = 0.036), whereas a higher percentage of American children had crescents (Korean, 0%; American, 78.6%, P < 0.001). The findings from the electron microscopy revealed that Korean children were more likely to have segmental electron dense deposits in the lamina densa of the glomerular basement membrane (Korean, 100%; American, 28.6%, P = 0.002); mesangial deposit was more frequent in American children (Korean, 66.7%; American, 100%, P = 0.047). The histological findings revealed that Korean children with DDD were more likely to show membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis patterns than American children. The degree of proteinuria and hypoalbuminemia was milder in Korean children than American children. PMID:23091320

A Case of a Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy-Defibrillator Exhibiting a Lower and Alternately Variable Basic Rate.

PubMed

Iwazaki, Keigo; Kojima, Toshiya; Murasawa, Takahide; Yokota, Jun; Tanimoto, Hikaru; Matsuda, Jun; Fukuma, Nobuaki; Matsubara, Takumi; Shimizu, Yu; Oguri, Gaku; Hasumi, Eriko; Kubo, Hitoshi; Chang, Kyungho; Fujiu, Katsuhito; Komuro, Issei

2018-05-30

A cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator (CRT-D) (Medtronic Inc. Protecta XT) was implanted in a 67-year-old man who had cardiac sarcoidosis with extremely low cardiac function. He had ventricular tachycardia which was controlled by catheter ablation, medication and pacing. The programmed mode was DDI, lower rate was 90 beats/minute, paced AV delay was 150 ms, and the noncompetitive atrial pacing (NCAP) function was programmed as 300 ms.After his admission for pneumonia and heart failure, we changed his DDI mode to a DDD mode because he had atrial tachycardia, which led to inadequate bi-ventricular pacing. After a while, there were cycle lengths which were longer than his device setting and alternately varied. We were able to avoid this phenomenon with AV delay of 120 ms and NCAP of 200 ms.NCAP is an algorithm which creates a gap above a certain period after the detection of an atrial signal during the postventricular atrial refractory period of the pacemaker. This is to prevent atrial tachycardia and repetitive non-reentrant ventriculoatrial (VA) synchrony in the presence of retrograde VA conduction. But in this case, NCAP algorithm induced much lower rate than the programmed basic lower rate. This situation produced some arrhythmias and exacerbated symptoms of heart failure. This had to be paid attention to, especially when the device was programmed at high basic heart rate.

Undisturbed dust as a metric of long-term indoor insecticide exposure: Residential DDT contamination from indoor residual spraying and its association with serum levels in the VHEMBE cohort.

PubMed

Gaspar, Fraser W; Chevrier, Jonathan; Bornman, Riana; Crause, Madelein; Obida, Muvhulawa; Barr, Dana Boyd; Bradman, Asa; Bouwman, Henk; Eskenazi, Brenda

2015-12-01

Although approximately 123 million people may be exposed to high levels of insecticides through the use of indoor residual spraying (IRS) for malaria control, few studies exist on indoor insecticide contamination due to IRS and its relationship with human exposure. In the present study, we developed a sampling method to collect undisturbed dust from 50 homes in Limpopo, South Africa, a region where dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) has been used in IRS programs to prevent malaria for ~70years. We quantified DDT and its degradation products, dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE), and dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane (DDD) in dust samples to determine dust loading levels and compared these levels to paired serum concentrations of p,p'-DDT and p,p'-DDE in women residents. p,p'-DDT and p,p'-DDE had the highest detection frequencies in both dust (58% and 34% detection, respectively) and serum samples (98% and 100% detection, respectively). Significantly higher detection frequencies for o,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDE, and p,p'-DDD were observed in dust samples collected in buildings that had been previously sprayed for malaria control. We also observed a significant, positive association between dust loading and serum concentrations of p,p'-DDT and p,p'-DDE (Spearman's rho=0.68 and 0.54, respectively). Despite the low detection frequency in dust, our results indicate that undisturbed dust may be a good metric to quantify long-term home exposure to DDT-related compounds and that contamination of the home environment may be an important determinant/source of DDT and DDE exposure. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

40 CFR 63.1316 - PET and polystyrene affected sources-emissions control provisions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... appropriate, and are not required to comply with the requirements specified in 40 CFR part 60, subpart DDD... requirements specified in 40 CFR part 60, subpart DDD. Compliance can be based on either organic HAP or TOC. (1...

40 CFR 63.1316 - PET and polystyrene affected sources-emissions control provisions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... appropriate, and are not required to comply with the requirements specified in 40 CFR part 60, subpart DDD... requirements specified in 40 CFR part 60, subpart DDD. Compliance can be based on either organic HAP or TOC. (1...

A critique of the molecular target-based drug discovery paradigm based on principles of metabolic control: advantages of pathway-based discovery.

PubMed

Hellerstein, Marc K

2008-01-01

Contemporary drug discovery and development (DDD) is dominated by a molecular target-based paradigm. Molecular targets that are potentially important in disease are physically characterized; chemical entities that interact with these targets are identified by ex vivo high-throughput screening assays, and optimized lead compounds enter testing as drugs. Contrary to highly publicized claims, the ascendance of this approach has in fact resulted in the lowest rate of new drug approvals in a generation. The primary explanation for low rates of new drugs is attrition, or the failure of candidates identified by molecular target-based methods to advance successfully through the DDD process. In this essay, I advance the thesis that this failure was predictable, based on modern principles of metabolic control that have emerged and been applied most forcefully in the field of metabolic engineering. These principles, such as the robustness of flux distributions, address connectivity relationships in complex metabolic networks and make it unlikely a priori that modulating most molecular targets will have predictable, beneficial functional outcomes. These same principles also suggest, however, that unexpected therapeutic actions will be common for agents that have any effect (i.e., that complexity can be exploited therapeutically). A potential operational solution (pathway-based DDD), based on observability rather than predictability, is described, focusing on emergent properties of key metabolic pathways in vivo. Recent examples of pathway-based DDD are described. In summary, the molecular target-based DDD paradigm is built on a naïve and misleading model of biologic control and is not heuristically adequate for advancing the mission of modern therapeutics. New approaches that take account of and are built on principles described by metabolic engineers are needed for the next generation of DDD.

Reduction in unnecessary ventricular pacing fails to affect hard clinical outcomes in patients with preserved left ventricular function: a meta-analysis.

PubMed

Shurrab, Mohammed; Healey, Jeff S; Haj-Yahia, Saleem; Kaoutskaia, Anna; Boriani, Giuseppe; Carrizo, Aldo; Botto, Gianluca; Newman, David; Padeletti, Luigi; Connolly, Stuart J; Crystal, Eugene

2017-02-01

Several pacing modalities across multiple manufacturers have been introduced to minimize unnecessary right ventricular pacing. We conducted a meta-analysis to assess whether ventricular pacing reduction modalities (VPRM) influence hard clinical outcomes in comparison to standard dual-chamber pacing (DDD). An electronic search was performed using Cochrane Central Register, PubMed, Embase, and Scopus. Only randomized controlled trials (RCT) were included in this analysis. Outcomes of interest included: frequency of ventricular pacing (VP), incident persistent/permanent atrial fibrillation (PerAF), all-cause hospitalization and all-cause mortality. Odds ratios (OR) were reported for dichotomous variables. Seven RCTs involving 4119 adult patients were identified. Ventricular pacing reduction modalities were employed in 2069 patients: (MVP, Medtronic Inc.) in 1423 and (SafeR, Sorin CRM, Clamart) in 646 patients. Baseline demographics and clinical characteristics were similar between VPRM and DDD groups. The mean follow-up period was 2.5 ± 0.9 years. Ventricular pacing reduction modalities showed uniform reduction in VP in comparison to DDD groups among all individual studies. The incidence of PerAF was similar between both groups {8 vs. 10%, OR 0.84 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.57; 1.24], P = 0.38}. Ventricular pacing reduction modalities showed no significant differences in comparison to DDD for all-cause hospitalization or all-cause mortality [9 vs. 11%, OR 0.82 (95% CI 0.65; 1.03), P= 0.09; 6 vs. 6%, OR 0.97 (95% CI 0.74; 1.28), P = 0.84, respectively]. Novel VPRM measures effectively reduce VP in comparison to standard DDD. When actively programmed, VPRM did not improve clinical outcomes and were not superior to standard DDD programming in reducing incidence of PerAF, all-cause hospitalization, or all-cause mortality.

Differences in utilisation of gastroprotective drugs between 2001 and 2005 in Australia and Nova Scotia, Canada.

PubMed

Tett, Susan E; Sketris, Ingrid; Cooke, Charmaine; van Zanten, Sander Veldhuyzen; Barozzi, Nadia

2013-07-01

This study aimed to compare use of histamine H2 receptor antagonists (H2RAs) and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), 2001-2005, in the elderly and social security beneficiaries in Australia (AUS) and Nova Scotia, Canada (NS). Prescription dispensing data were collected for all subsidised H2RAs and PPIs. In AUS, dispensing data for concession beneficiaries were obtained from the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme database. In NS, data were sourced from the Pharmacare database. Relevant population data were used to convert to World Health Organisation Anatomic Therapeutic Chemical defined daily doses (2005) per 1000 beneficiaries per day (DDD/1000/day). Overall use of gastroprotective agents was similar and rising in NS and AUS (100-160 DDD/1000/day) over this 5-year time window. However, the proportion of this use accounted for by PPIs was far higher in AUS (over 85% by 2005) than in NS (23% rising to 35% over the 5 years). In AUS, PPI use rose from 50 to about 140 DDD/1000/day over the 5 years, whereas PPI use in NS rose slowly to less than 60 DDD/1000/day by 2005. H2RA use in NS was always high (over 100 DDD/1000/day), whereas in AUS, H2RA use fell from 54 to around 24 DDD/1000/day over this period. AUS had much higher use of PPIs than NS over 2001-2005. The proportion of PPIs in all gastroprotective agents rose in AUS to be nearly 90%. The differences in utilisation during this time window could lead to differences in health outcomes from either lower gastro-intestinal bleeding risk or higher long-term adverse effects of PPIs. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Molecular insight into bacterial cleavage of oceanic dimethylsulfoniopropionate into dimethyl sulfide

PubMed Central

Li, Chun-Yang; Wei, Tian-Di; Zhang, Sheng-Hui; Chen, Xiu-Lan; Gao, Xiang; Wang, Peng; Xie, Bin-Bin; Su, Hai-Nan; Qin, Qi-Long; Zhang, Xi-Ying; Yu, Juan; Zhang, Hong-Hai; Zhou, Bai-Cheng; Yang, Gui-Peng; Zhang, Yu-Zhong

2014-01-01

The microbial cleavage of dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) generates volatile DMS through the action of DMSP lyases and is important in the global sulfur and carbon cycles. When released into the atmosphere from the oceans, DMS is oxidized, forming cloud condensation nuclei that may influence weather and climate. Six different DMSP lyase genes are found in taxonomically diverse microorganisms, and dddQ is among the most abundant in marine metagenomes. Here, we examine the molecular mechanism of DMSP cleavage by the DMSP lyase, DddQ, from Ruegeria lacuscaerulensis ITI_1157. The structures of DddQ bound to an inhibitory molecule 2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid and of DddQ inactivated by a Tyr131Ala mutation and bound to DMSP were solved. DddQ adopts a β-barrel fold structure and contains a Zn2+ ion and six highly conserved hydrophilic residues (Tyr120, His123, His125, Glu129, Tyr131, and His163) in the active site. Mutational and biochemical analyses indicate that these hydrophilic residues are essential to catalysis. In particular, Tyr131 undergoes a conformational change during catalysis, acting as a base to initiate the β-elimination reaction in DMSP lysis. Moreover, structural analyses and molecular dynamics simulations indicate that two loops over the substrate-binding pocket of DddQ can alternate between “open” and “closed” states, serving as a gate for DMSP entry. We also propose a molecular mechanism for DMS production through DMSP cleavage. Our study provides important insight into the mechanism involved in the conversion of DMSP into DMS, which should lead to a better understanding of this globally important biogeochemical reaction. PMID:24395783

Measuring trends of outpatient antibiotic use in Europe: jointly modelling longitudinal data in defined daily doses and packages.

PubMed

Bruyndonckx, Robin; Hens, Niel; Aerts, Marc; Goossens, Herman; Molenberghs, Geert; Coenen, Samuel

2014-07-01

To complement analyses of the linear trend and seasonal fluctuation of European outpatient antibiotic use expressed in defined daily doses (DDD) by analyses of data in packages, to assess the agreement between both measures and to study changes in the number of DDD per package over time. Data on outpatient antibiotic use, aggregated at the level of the active substance (WHO version 2011) were collected from 2000 to 2007 for 31 countries and expressed in DDD and packages per 1000 inhabitants per day (DID and PID, respectively). Data expressed in DID and PID were analysed separately using non-linear mixed models while the agreement between these measurements was analysed through a joint non-linear mixed model. The change in DDD per package over time was studied with a linear mixed model. Total outpatient antibiotic and penicillin use in Europe and their seasonal fluctuation significantly increased in DID, but not in PID. The use of combinations of penicillins significantly increased in DID and in PID. Broad-spectrum penicillin use did not increase significantly in DID and decreased significantly in PID. For all but one subgroup, country-specific deviations moved in the same direction whether measured in DID or PID. The correlations are not perfect. The DDD per package increased significantly over time for all but one subgroup. Outpatient antibiotic use in Europe shows contrasting trends, depending on whether DID or PID is used as the measure. The increase of the DDD per package corroborates the recommendation to adopt PID to monitor outpatient antibiotic use in Europe. © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Prognosis of intervertebral disc loss from diagnosis of degenerative disc disease

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, S.; Lin, A.; Tay, K.; Romano, W.; Osman, Said

2015-03-01

Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) is one of the most common causes of low back pain, and is a major factor in limiting the quality of life of an individual usually as they enter older stages of life, the disc degeneration reduces the shock absorption available which in turn causes pain. Disc loss is one of the central processes in the pathogenesis of DDD. In this study, we investigated whether the image texture features quantified from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) could be appropriate markers for diagnosis of DDD and prognosis of inter-vertebral disc loss. The main objective is to use simple image based biomarkers to perform prognosis of spinal diseases using non-invasive procedures. Our results from 65 subjects proved the higher success rates of the combination marker compared to the individual markers and in the future, we will extend the study to other spine regions to allow prognosis and diagnosis of DDD for a wider region.

Residues of DDT in brains and bodies of birds that died on dosage and in survivors

USGS Publications Warehouse

Stickel, L.F.; Stickel, W.H.; Christensen, R.

1966-01-01

Residues of 1,1 ,l-trichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)-ethane (DDT) and 1,1 -dichloro-2.2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)-ethane (DDD) in brains of cowbirds (Molothrus ater) killed hy dietary dosage of DDT were similar in birds that died after various lengths of time on dosage and in birds that died of delayed effects after as much as 40 days on clean food, Residues of DDT and DDD, but not of 1,1 -dichloro-2.2-bis-(p-chlorophenyl)-ethylene (DDE), were much lower in survivors 112 days after dosage. The relative importance of DDT and DDD in brains could nlot he determined, but DDE appeared not to be critical. Residues in brains of cowbirds were similar to those reported for robins, sparrows, eagles, and white rats. Residues in livers and carcass remainders (with the possible exception of DDD in the liver) appeared unsuitable for diagnosing the cause of death.

AAA-DDD triple hydrogen bond complexes.

PubMed

Blight, Barry A; Camara-Campos, Amaya; Djurdjevic, Smilja; Kaller, Martin; Leigh, David A; McMillan, Fiona M; McNab, Hamish; Slawin, Alexandra M Z

2009-10-07

Experiment and theory both suggest that the AAA-DDD pattern of hydrogen bond acceptors (A) and donors (D) is the arrangement of three contiguous hydrogen bonding centers that results in the strongest association between two species. Murray and Zimmerman prepared the first example of such a system (complex 3*2) and determined the lower limit of its association constant (K(a)) in CDCl(3) to be 10(5) M(-1) by (1)H NMR spectroscopy (Murray, T. J. and Zimmerman, S. C. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1992, 114, 4010-4011). The first cationic AAA-DDD pair (3*4(+)) was described by Bell and Anslyn (Bell, D. A. and Anslyn, E. A. Tetrahedron 1995, 51, 7161-7172), with a K(a) > 5 x 10(5) M(-1) in CH(2)Cl(2) as determined by UV-vis spectroscopy. We were recently able to quantify the strength of a neutral AAA-DDD arrangement using a more chemically stable AAA-DDD system, 6*2, which has an association constant of 2 x 10(7) M(-1) in CH(2)Cl(2) (Djurdjevic, S., Leigh, D. A., McNab, H., Parsons, S., Teobaldi, G. and Zerbetto, F. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2007, 129, 476-477). Here we report on further AA(A) and DDD partners, together with the first precise measurement of the association constant of a cationic AAA-DDD species. Complex 6*10(+)[B(3,5-(CF(3))(2)C(6)H(3))(4)(-)] has a K(a) = 3 x 10(10) M(-1) at RT in CH(2)Cl(2), by far the most strongly bound triple hydrogen bonded system measured to date. The X-ray crystal structure of 6*10(+) with a BPh(4)(-) counteranion shows a planar array of three short (NH...N distances 1.95-2.15 A), parallel (but staggered rather than strictly linear; N-H...N angles 165.4-168.8 degrees), primary hydrogen bonds. These are apparently reinforced, as theory predicts, by close electrostatic interactions (NH-*-N distances 2.78-3.29 A) between each proton and the acceptor atoms of the adjacent primary hydrogen bonds.

Effects of adrenolytic mitotane on drug elimination pathways assessed in vitro.

PubMed

Theile, Dirk; Haefeli, Walter Emil; Weiss, Johanna

2015-08-01

Mitotane (1,1-dichloro-2-(o-chlorophenyl)-2-(p-chlorophenyl)ethane, o,p'-DDD) represents one of the most active drugs for the treatment of adrenocortical carcinoma. Its metabolites 1,1-(o,p'-dichlorodiphenyl) acetic acid (=o,p'-DDA) and 1,1-(o,p'-dichlorodiphenyl)-2,2 dichloroethene (=o,p'-DDE) partly contribute to its pharmacological effects. Because mitotane has a narrow therapeutic index and causes pharmacokinetic drug-drug interactions, knowledge about these compounds' effects on drug metabolizing and transporting proteins is crucial. Using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, our study confirmed the strong inducing effects of o,p'-DDD on mRNA expression of cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4, 30-fold) and demonstrated that other enzymes and transporters are also induced (e.g., CYP1A2, 8.4-fold; ABCG2 (encoding breast resistance cancer protein, BCRP), 4.2-fold; ABCB1 (encoding P-glycoprotein, P-gp) 3.4-fold). P-gp induction was confirmed at the protein level. o,p'-DDE revealed a similar induction profile, however, with less potency and o,p'-DDA had only minor effects. Reporter gene assays clearly confirmed o,p'-DDD to be a PXR activator and for the first time demonstrated that o,p'-DDE and o,p'-DDA also activate PXR albeit with lower potency. Using isolated, recombinant CYP enzymes, o,p'-DDD and o,p'-DDE were shown to strongly inhibit CYP2C19 (IC50 = 0.05 and 0.09 µM). o,p'-DDA exhibited only minor inhibitory effects. In addition, o,p'-DDD, o,p'-DDE, and o,p'-DDA are demonstrated to be neither substrates nor inhibitors of BCRP or P-gp function. In summary, o,p'-DDD and o,p'-DDE might be potential perpetrators in pharmacokinetic drug-drug interactions through induction of drug-metabolizing enzymes or drug transporters and by potent inhibition of CYP2C19. In tumors over-expressing BCRP or P-gp, o,p'-DDD and its metabolites should retain their efficacy due to a lack of substrate characteristics.

Price analysis of multiple sclerosis disease-modifying therapies marketed in the United States.

PubMed

Bin Sawad, Aseel; Seoane-Vazquez, Enrique; Rodriguez-Monguio, Rosa; Turkistani, Fatema

2016-11-01

This study assessed trends in the average wholesale price (AWP) at the market entry of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) approved by Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the period 1987-2014. DMT regulatory information was derived from the FDA website. The AWPs per unit at market entry data were derived from the Red Book (Truven Health Analytics Inc.). The AWP history for each DMT was collected from its date of approval to 31 December 2014. The FDA approved label defined daily dose (DDD) for adult patients was obtained from FDA approved labels. The AWP per DDD and the AWP/DDD per year of therapy were computed. Descriptive statistics, Wilcoxon tests, t-test, and multiple linear regression were performed. The statistical significance level was set at 0.05. The FDA approved 12 multiple sclerosis (MS) DMTs, including five new drug applications (NDAs) and seven biologic license applications (BLAs) as of 31 December 2014. The FDA granted orphan designation to five DMTs. There was one DMT approved by the FDA in the 1980s, three in the 1990s, three in 2000s, and five in the period 2010-2014. The market entry inflation-adjusted AWP per DDD was $10.23 for the first DMT (mitoxantrone hydrochloride) that was approved in the 1980s. The median market entry inflation-adjusted AWP per DDD was $12.41 (interquartile range [IQR] = 4.51) for DMTs approved in the 1990s, $71.26 (IQR = 58.35) in the 2000s, and $172.56 (IQR = 84.97) in the period 2010-2014. The median AWP per DDD was statistically significantly different (p = 0.011) for orphan (median = $41.82, IQR = 56.077) compared to non-orphan drugs (median = $171.32, IQR = 199.29). Year of market entry was positively associated with DMT prices at US market entry (p = 0.01). The AWP per DDD for DMTs at market entry increased substantially over time. The increase in DMTs prices exceeded the general consumer price index.

Who is Eligible for DDD Services? Report No. 5.24.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kohlenberg, Elizabeth; And Others

The effects of broadening the definition of eligibility for services from the Washington State Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) are analyzed. Five different definitions are discussed. The existing definition includes: (1) "statutory conditions," which includes persons who are mentally retarded or have difficulty carrying out…

Impact of pacing and high-pass filter settings on ventricular bipolar electrograms in implantable cardioverter defibrillator systems. - Implication of predictors for inappropriate therapy caused by oversensing of repolarization electrograms-.

PubMed

Maesato, Akira; Higa, Satoshi; Lin, Yenn-Jiang; Chinen, Ichiro; Ishigaki, Sugako; Yajima, Machiko; Masuzaki, Hiroaki; Chen, Shih-Ann

2011-01-01

Predictors of T wave oversensing with implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) systems remains to be clarified. Thirteen consecutive patients who underwent ICD implantations were included. The depolarization (R) and repolarization (T) of bipolar electrograms during baseline, AAI and DDD modes, and an isoproterenol (ISO) infusion were evaluated. The R wave amplitude during DDD was significantly lower as compared to that during the other conditions in all high-pass filter settings. In contrast, there was no significant difference in the T wave amplitude during the DDD as compared to the other conditions. With the DDD, there was a significantly higher incidence of a T/R ratio of greater than 0.25 as compared to that with the other conditions. T wave amplitude in Brugada syndrome was significantly higher than that in non-Brugada syndrome. The existence of Brugada syndrome and T/R ratio during the AAI with a high-pass filter setting of 10/20 Hz was an excellent predictor of T wave oversensing in the follow-up period. DDD had a significant impact on the R wave amplitude reduction and the T/R ratio during AAI can be predictors of T wave oversensing. These findings have important implications for inappropriate shocks due to T wave oversensing.

Coupled DDD-FEM modeling on the mechanical behavior of microlayered metallic multilayer film at elevated temperature

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Minsheng; Li, Zhenhuan

2015-12-01

To investigate the mechanical behavior of the microlayered metallic thin films (MMMFs) at elevated temperature, an enhanced discrete-continuous model (DCM), which couples rather than superposes the two-dimensional climb/glide-enabled discrete dislocation dynamics (2D-DDD) with the linearly elastic finite element method (FEM), is developed in this study. In the present coupling scheme, two especial treatments are made. One is to solve how the plastic strain captured by the DDD module is transferred properly to the FEM module as an eigen-strain; the other is to answer how the stress field computationally obtained by the FEM module is transferred accurately to the DDD module to drive those discrete dislocations moving correctly. With these two especial treatments, the interactions between adjacent dislocations and between dislocation pile-ups and inter-phase boundaries (IBs), which are crucial to the strengthening effect in MMMFs, are carefully taken into account. After verified by comparing the computationally predicted results with the theoretical solutions for a dislocation residing in a homogeneous material and nearby a bi-material interface, this 2D-DDD/FEM coupling scheme is used to model the tensile mechanical behaviors of MMMFs at elevated temperature. The strengthening mechanism of MMMFs and the layer thickness effect are studied in detail, with special attentions to the influence of dislocation climb on them.

Importance of the atrial channel for ventricular arrhythmia therapy in the dual chamber implantable cardioverter defibrillator.

PubMed

Dijkman, B; Wellens, H J

2000-12-01

Performance of dual chamber implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) systems has been judged based on functioning of the ventricular tachycardia:supraventricular tachycardia (VT:SVT) discrimination criteria and DDD pacing. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of dual chamber diagnostics to improve the electrical and antiarrhythmic therapy of ventricular arrhythmias. Information about atrial and ventricular rhythm in relation to ventricular arrhythmia occurrence and therapy was evaluated in 724 spontaneous arrhythmia episodes detected and treated by three types of dual chamber ICDs in 41 patients with structural heart disease. Device programming was based on clinically documented and induced ventricular arrhythmias. In ambulatory patients, sinus tachycardia preceded ventricular arrhythmias more often than in the hospital during exercise testing. The incidence of these VTs could be reduced by increasing the dose of a beta-blocking agent in only two patients. In five patients in whom sinus tachycardia developed after onset of hemodynamic stable VT, propranolol was more effective than Class III antiarrhythmics combined with another beta-blocking agent with regard to the incidence of VT and pace termination. In all but three cases, atrial arrhythmias were present for a longer time before the onset of ventricular arrhythmias. During atrial arrhythmias, fast ventricular rates before the onset of ventricular rate were observed more often than RR irregularities and short-long RR sequences. Dual chamber diagnostics allowed proper interpretation of detection and therapy outcome in patients with different types of ventricular arrhythmia. The advantages of the dual chamber ICD system go further than avoiding the shortcomings of the single chamber system. Information from the atrial chamber allows better device programming and individualization of drug therapy for ventricular arrhythmia.

Scale effects in crystal plasticity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Padubidri Janardhanachar, Guruprasad

The goal of this research work is to further the understanding of crystal plasticity, particularly at reduced structural and material length scales. Fundamental understanding of plasticity is central to various challenges facing design and manufacturing of materials for structural and electronic device applications. The development of microstructurally tailored advanced metallic materials with enhanced mechanical properties that can withstand extremes in stress, strain, and temperature, will aid in increasing the efficiency of power generating systems by allowing them to work at higher temperatures and pressures. High specific strength materials can lead to low fuel consumption in transport vehicles. Experiments have shown that enhanced mechanical properties can be obtained in materials by constraining their size, microstructure (e.g. grain size), or both for various applications. For the successful design of these materials, it is necessary to have a thorough understanding of the influence of different length scales and evolving microstructure on the overall behavior. In this study, distinction is made between the effect of structural and material length scale on the mechanical behavior of materials. A length scale associated with an underlying physical mechanism influencing the mechanical behavior can overlap with either structural length scales or material length scales. If it overlaps with structural length scales, then the material is said to be dimensionally constrained. On the other hand, if it overlaps with material length scales, for example grain size, then the material is said to be microstructurally constrained. The objectives of this research work are: (1) to investigate scale and size effects due to dimensional constraints; (2) to investigate size effects due to microstructural constraints; and (3) to develop a size dependent hardening model through coarse graining of dislocation dynamics. A discrete dislocation dynamics (DDD) framework where the scale of analysis is intermediate between a fully discretized (e.g. atomistic) and fully continuum is used for this study. This mesoscale tool allows to address all the stated objectives of this study within a single framework. Within this framework, the effect of structural and the material length scales are naturally accounted for in the simulations and need not be specified in an ad hoc manner, as in some continuum models. It holds the promise of connecting the evolution of the defect microstructure to the effective response of the crystal. Further, it provides useful information to develop physically motivated continuum models to model size effects in materials. The contributions of this study are: (a) provides a new interpretation of mechanical size effect due to only dimensional constraint using DDD; (b) a development of an experimentally validated DDD simulation methodology to model Cu micropillars; (c) a coarse graining technique using DDD to develop a phenomenological model to capture size effect on strain hardening; and (d) a development of a DDD framework for polycrystals to investigate grain size effect on yield strength and strain hardening.

Communication Strategy: Proper Structure Necessary but not Sufficient

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-12-01

Information, (1998), http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ bookshelf /br.fcgi?book=nap6200&part=a20006484ddd00073 (accessed November 12, 2010). “The multidimensional...Biotechnology Information (1998). http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ bookshelf /br.fcgi?book=nap6200&part=a20006484ddd000 73 (accessed November 12, 2010

Communication Strategy: Proper Structure Necessary But Not Sufficient

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-01-01

Information, (1998), http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ bookshelf /br.fcgi?book=nap6200&part=a20006484ddd00073 (accessed November 12, 2010). “The multidimensional...Biotechnology Information (1998). http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ bookshelf /br.fcgi?book=nap6200&part=a20006484ddd000 73 (accessed November 12, 2010

Issue Brief on Diversity

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Division on Developmental Disabilities, Council for Exceptional Children (NJ1), 2013

2013-01-01

During the past year, the Diversity Committee of the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) Board worked with the Board and the Issues Committee Chair to develop an issue brief addressing diversity, its impact on the membership and the wider community that is served by the work of DDD, resulting in recommendations that will influence policy…

Residues of organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, and mercury and autopsy data for bald eagles, 1969 and 1970

USGS Publications Warehouse

Belisle, Andre A.; Reichel, William L.; Locke, Louis N.; Lamont, Thair; Mulhern, Bernard M.; Prouty, Richard M.; DeWolf, Robert B.; Cromartie, Eugene

1972-01-01

Thirty-nine bald eagles found sick or dead in 13 States during 1969 and 1970 were analyzed for pesticide residues. Residues of DDE, dieldrin, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB's), and mercury were detected in all bald eagle carcasses; DDD residues were detected in 38; DDT, heptachlor epoxide, and dichlorobenzophenone (DCBP) were detected less frequently. Six eagles contained possible lethal levels of dieldrin in the brain, and one contained a lethal concentration of DDE (385 ppm) in the brain together with 235 ppm of PCB's. Autopsy revealed that 18 bald eagles were illegally shot; other causes of death were impact injuries, electrocution, emaciation, and infectious diseases.

Size dimorphism, molt status, and body mass variation of prairiefalcons nesting in the Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area

USGS Publications Warehouse

Steenhof, Karen; McKinley, J.O.

2006-01-01

Thirty-nine bald eagles found sick or dead in 13 States during 1969 and 1970 were analyzed for pesticide residues. Residues of DDE, dieldrin, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB's), and mercury were detected in all bald eagle carcasses; DDD residues were detected in 38; DDT, heptachlor epoxide, and dichlorobenzophenone (DCBP) were detected less frequently. Six eagles contained possible lethal levels of dieldrin in the brain, and one contained a lethal concentration of DDE (385 ppm) in the brain together with 235 ppm of PCB's. Autopsy revealed that 18 bald eagles were illegally shot; other causes of death were impact injuries, electrocution, emaciation, and infectious diseases.

Anterior Cervical Fusion with Stand-alone Trabecular Metal Cages to Treat Cervical Myelopathy Caused by Degenerative Disk Disease. Observations in 88 Cases with Minimum 12-month Follow-up.

PubMed

Mastronardi, Luciano; Roperto, Raffaelino; Cacciotti, Guglielmo; Calvosa, Francesco

2018-06-14

 Anterior cervical fusion (ACF) with autologous bone was reported > 50 years ago. The continuous development of materials with elastic properties close to that of the cortical bone improves induction of osteogenesis and simplifies the technique of interbody fusion. To determine the safety and efficiency of stand-alone trabecular metal (TM) (or porous tantalum) cages for ACF, we performed a retrospective analysis of 88 consecutive patients with one-level or two-level degenerative disk disease (DDD) causing cervical myelopathy treated by interbody fusion with stand-alone TM cages.  During a 65-month period, 88 consecutive patients had ACF at 105 levels between C3 and C7. All surgeries involved one- or two-segmental DDD producing mild or severe cervical spine myelopathy, in 31 patients (35.2%), associated with unilateral or bilateral radiculopathy. We implanted all disk spaces with unfilled TM trapezoidal cages (Zimmer Biomet Spine, Broomfield, Colorado, United States).  At a mean follow-up of 31 months (range: 12-65 months), 95.4% of patients had a good to excellent outcome, with subjective and objective improvement of myelopathy; the result was fair in two and poor in two other patients. Radicular pain and/or any deficits disappeared in 84 patients (95.4%) complaining of preoperative myeloradiculopathy. The fusion rate was 68.2% at 6 months and 100% at 1 year. Device fragmentation was never observed. In two cases, a second operation with removal of TM cages, corpectomy, expansion cages, and plating was necessary.  TM cages appear to be safe and efficient for ACF in DDD patients with myelopathy. To confirm our preliminary impressions, larger studies with long-term follow-up are necessary. Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

Atmospheric contamination by pesticides: Determination in the liquid, gaseous and particulate phases.

PubMed

Millet, M; Wortham, H; Sanusi, A; Mirabel, P

1997-01-01

Between 1991 and 1993, 18 fogwater samples, 31 rainwater samples and 17 atmosphere (gas and particles) samples were analysed for 13 pesticides (pp'DDT,pp'DDD,pp'DDE, aldrin, dieldrin, lindane, hexachlorobenzene, fenpropathrin, mecoprop, methyl-parathion, atrazine, isoproturon and aldicarb). The samples were collected in a rural area where some of the compounds are in use (experimental INRA farm, "Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique" in Colmar, Eastern France, 80,000 inhabitants). This paper briefly presents the analytical methodology used and, in detail, the contamination level of the different atmospheric phases. The contamination levels are roughly constant throughout the year in all the atmospheric phases and the most abundant pesticides are those commonly used on the experimental INRA farm and other surrounding farms. Nevertheless, some pesticides not used since the 1970s such as 1,1-Bis(4-chlorophenyl)-2,2,2-trichloroethane (pp'DDT) and 2,2-Bis(4-chlorophenyl)-1,1-dichloroethane (pp 'DDD) are also detected in the atmosphere of Colmar. A small increase in the pesticide concentrations in the atmosphere (gas and particles) was observed during treatments.

Absolute configuration determination through the unique intramolecular excitonic coupling in the circular dichroisms of o,p'-DDT and o,p'-DDD. A combined experimental and theoretical study.

PubMed

Tanaka, Hiroki; Inoue, Yoshihisa; Nakano, Takeshi; Mori, Tadashi

2017-04-12

Circular dichroisms (CDs) of the o,p'-isomers of 1,1,1-trichloro- and 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(chlorophenyl)ethanes (DDT and DDD) were investigated experimentally and theoretically. A series of strong Cotton effect peaks in a characteristic negative-negative-positive-negative, or its mirror-imaged, pattern were observed in the CD spectra of these persistent organic pollutants. The theoretical CD spectra at the SAC-CI/B95(d) and RI-CC2/def2-TZVPP levels well reproduced the experimental ones, enabling us to unambiguously assign the absolute configuration of (+)-DDT and (-)-DDD as S.

Organochlorine contaminants in white-faced ibis eggs in southern Texas

USGS Publications Warehouse

Custer, T.W.; Mitchell, C.A.

1989-01-01

White-faced ibis eggs collected from 2 colonies in southern Texas in 1985 had low mean concentrations of DDE. DDD, the only other organochlorine contaminant detected, was found in only 1 of 20 eggs. DDE concentrations in eggs were not significantly correlated with eggshell thickness. Mean DDE concentrations were significantly higher in eggs collected from nests where not all of the remaining eggs hatched than in eggs collected from nests where all the remaining eggs hatched.

Cross Slip of Dislocation Loops in GaN Under Shear

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-03-01

methodology 2.1 Discrete dislocation dynamic ( DDD ) simula- tions In this work, we employ a modified version of the ParaDiS code [15, 16]. First a...plane. 4 Conclusions The cross slip mechanisms of different dislocation loops have been studied via DDD simulations using the type <a> active

Complex organochlorine pesticide mixtures as determinant factor for breast cancer risk: a population-based case–control study in the Canary Islands (Spain)

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background All the relevant risk factors contributing to breast cancer etiology are not fully known. Exposure to organochlorine pesticides has been linked to an increased incidence of the disease, although not all data have been consistent. Most published studies evaluated the exposure to organochlorines individually, ignoring the potential effects exerted by the mixtures of chemicals. Methods This population-based study was designed to evaluate the profile of mixtures of organochlorines detected in 103 healthy women and 121 women diagnosed with breast cancer from Gran Canaria Island, and the relation between the exposure to these compounds and breast cancer risk. Results The most prevalent mixture of organochlorines among healthy women was the combination of lindane and endrin, and this mixture was not detected in any affected women. Breast cancer patients presented more frequently a combination of aldrin, dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) and dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane (DDD), and this mixture was not found in any healthy woman. After adjusting for covariables, the risk of breast cancer was moderately associated with DDD (OR = 1.008, confidence interval 95% 1.001-1.015, p = 0.024). Conclusions This study indicates that healthy women show a very different profile of organochlorine pesticide mixtures than breast cancer patients, suggesting that organochlorine pesticide mixtures could play a relevant role in breast cancer risk. PMID:22534004

Institutional profile: the national Swedish academic drug discovery & development platform at SciLifeLab

PubMed Central

Arvidsson, Per I; Sandberg, Kristian; Sakariassen, Kjell S

2017-01-01

The Science for Life Laboratory Drug Discovery and Development Platform (SciLifeLab DDD) was established in Stockholm and Uppsala, Sweden, in 2014. It is one of ten platforms of the Swedish national SciLifeLab which support projects run by Swedish academic researchers with large-scale technologies for molecular biosciences with a focus on health and environment. SciLifeLab was created by the coordinated effort of four universities in Stockholm and Uppsala: Stockholm University, Karolinska Institutet, KTH Royal Institute of Technology and Uppsala University, and has recently expanded to other Swedish university locations. The primary goal of the SciLifeLab DDD is to support selected academic discovery and development research projects with tools and resources to discover novel lead therapeutics, either molecules or human antibodies. Intellectual property developed with the help of SciLifeLab DDD is wholly owned by the academic research group. The bulk of SciLifeLab DDD's research and service activities are funded from the Swedish state, with only consumables paid by the academic research group through individual grants. PMID:28670468

Glomeruli of Dense Deposit Disease contain components of the alternative and terminal complement pathway

PubMed Central

Sethi, Sanjeev; Gamez, Jeffrey D.; Vrana, Julie A.; Theis, Jason D.; Bergen, H. Robert; Zipfel, Peter F.; Dogan, Ahmet; Smith, Richard J. H.

2009-01-01

Dense Deposit Disease (DDD), or membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis type II, is a rare renal disease characterized by dense deposits in the mesangium and along the glomerular basement membranes that can be seen by electron microscopy. Although these deposits contain complement factor C3, as determined by immunofluorescence microscopy, their precise composition remains unknown. To address this question, we used mass spectrometry to identify the proteins in laser microdissected glomeruli isolated from paraffin-embedded tissue of eight confirmed cases of DDD. Compared to glomeruli from five control patients, we found that all of the glomeruli from patients with DDD contain components of the alternative pathway and terminal complement complex. Factor C9 was uniformly present as well as the two fluid-phase regulators of terminal complement complex clusterin and vitronectin. In contrast, in nine patients with immune complex–mediated membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis, glomerular samples contained mainly immunoglobulins and complement factors C3 and C4. Our study shows that in addition to fluid-phase dysregulation of the alternative pathway, soluble components of the terminal complement complex contribute to glomerular lesions found in DDD. PMID:19177158

Opioid consumption before and after the establishment of a palliative medicine unit in an Egyptian cancer centre.

PubMed

Alsirafy, Samy A; Ibrahim, Noha Y; Abou-Elela, Enas N

2012-01-01

Opioid consumption before and after the establishment of a palliative medicine unit (PMU) in an Egyptian cancer centre was reviewed. A comparison of consumption during the year before the PMU was established to consumption during the third year after the PMU's establishment revealed that morphine consumption increased by 698 percent, fentanyl by 217 percent, and tramadol by 230 percent. Expressed in defined daily dose (DDD) and adjusted for 1,000 new cancer patients, consumption increased by 460 percent, from 4,678 DDD/1,000 new patients to 26,175 DDD/1,000 new patients. Expressed in grams of oral morphine equivalent (g OME), consumption increased by 644 percent, from 233 g OME/1,000 new patients to 1,731 g OME/1,000 new patients. The establishment of the PMU was associated with an increase in opioid consumption, especially morphine, which is an indicator of improvement in cancer pain control. The expression of opioid consumption in OME in addition to DDD may provide further information, especially when weak opioids are included in the analysis.

Institutional profile: the national Swedish academic drug discovery & development platform at SciLifeLab.

PubMed

Arvidsson, Per I; Sandberg, Kristian; Sakariassen, Kjell S

2017-06-01

The Science for Life Laboratory Drug Discovery and Development Platform (SciLifeLab DDD) was established in Stockholm and Uppsala, Sweden, in 2014. It is one of ten platforms of the Swedish national SciLifeLab which support projects run by Swedish academic researchers with large-scale technologies for molecular biosciences with a focus on health and environment. SciLifeLab was created by the coordinated effort of four universities in Stockholm and Uppsala: Stockholm University, Karolinska Institutet, KTH Royal Institute of Technology and Uppsala University, and has recently expanded to other Swedish university locations. The primary goal of the SciLifeLab DDD is to support selected academic discovery and development research projects with tools and resources to discover novel lead therapeutics, either molecules or human antibodies. Intellectual property developed with the help of SciLifeLab DDD is wholly owned by the academic research group. The bulk of SciLifeLab DDD's research and service activities are funded from the Swedish state, with only consumables paid by the academic research group through individual grants.

Organochlorine compounds and current-use pesticides in snow and lake sediment in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, and Glacier National Park, Montana, 2002-03

USGS Publications Warehouse

Mast, M. Alisa; Foreman, William T.; Skaates, Serena V.

2006-01-01

Organochlorine compounds and current-use pesticides were measured in snow and lake-sediment samples from Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado and Glacier National Park in Montana to determine their occurrence and distribution in high-elevation aquatic ecosystems. The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the National Park Service, collected snow samples at eight sites in Rocky Mountain National Park and at eight sites in Glacier National Park during spring of 2002 and 2003 just prior to the start of snowmelt. Surface sediments were collected from 11 lakes in Rocky Mountain National Park and 10 lakes in Glacier National Park during summer months of 2002 and 2003. Samples were analyzed for organochlorine compounds by gas chromatography with electron-capture detection and current-use pesticides by gas chromatography with electron-impact mass spectrometry. A subset of samples was reanalyzed using a third instrumental technique (gas chromatography with electron-capture negative ion mass spectrometry) to verify detected concentrations in the initial analysis and to investigate the presence of additional compounds. For the snow samples, the pesticides most frequently detected were endosulfan, dacthal, and chlorothalonil, all of which are chlorinated pesticides that currently are registered for use in North America. Concentrations of these pesticides in snow were very low, ranging from 0.07 to 2.36 nanograms per liter. Of the historical-use pesticides, hexachlorobenzene, dieldrin, and trans-nonachlor were detected in snow but only in one sample each. Annual deposition rates of dacthal, endosulfan, and chlorothalonil were estimated at 0.7 to 3.0 micrograms per square meter. These estimates are likely biased low because they do not account for pesticide deposition during summer months. For the lake-sediment samples, DDE (p,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichoroethene) and DDD (p,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichoroethane) were the most frequently detected organochlorine compounds. DDE and DDD are degradation products of DDT (p,p'-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane), which is a well-documented, persistent organochlorine insecticide that has been banned from use in the United States since 1972. Detected concentrations were very low, ranging from 0.12 to 4.7 micrograms per kilogram, and probably pose little threat to aquatic organisms in park lakes. DDD and DDE concentrations in a sediment core from Mills Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park indicate that atmospheric deposition of DDT and possibly other banned organochlorine compounds to high-elevation parks has been in decline since the 1970s. Commonly detected current-use pesticides in lake sediments included dacthal and endosulfan sulfate, which ranged in concentrations from 0.11 to 0.26 micrograms per kilogram for dacthal and 0.12 to 1.2 micrograms per kilogram for endosulfan sulfate. Both compounds were found in nearly all the snow samples, confirming that some current-use pesticides entering high-elevation aquatic ecosystems through atmospheric deposition are accumulating in lake sediments and potentially in aquatic biota.

Outpatient utilization of psychopharmaceuticals: comparison between the cities of Zagreb and Sarajevo (2006-2009).

PubMed

Catić, Tarik; Stimac, Danijela; Zivković, Krešimir; Zelić, Ana

2012-08-01

To determine the real outpatient utilization of psychiatric drugs in Zagreb (Croatia) and Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina) and to compare the outpatient utilization of psychiatric drugs between this two cities. Data on the outpatient utilization of psycholpetics and psychoanaleptics (N05 and N06) in both cities were received from pharmacies and collected during 2006-2009. Based on the data obtained, a number of DDD and DDD per 1000 inhabitants perday (DDD/1000/day) has been calculated. The data in Zagreb were received from all pharmacies in Zagreb, whereas only 50% of pharmacies in Sarajevo participated, thus an extrapolation of data for Sarajevo was required and accomplished. All drugs were classified according to the ATC system. Based on the data obtained, a number of DDD and DDD/1000/day was calculated for all N05 and N06 drugs. Overall utilization trend was similar between the cities Sarajevo and Zagreb and followed trends in other neighbouring countries. Total consumption of psycholeptics and psychoanaleptics in Sarajevo was 22.6% (on average) lower than in Zagreb, during the 4-year period. During the 2006-2009 period the total consumption of psychopharmaceuticals showed increasing trend with peak in 2008 with similar trend between Zagreb and Sarajevo. It is necessary to implement systematic approach to drug utilization monitoring in Sarajevo and Bosnia and Herzegovina in general in order to improve prescribing quality as it is done in Croatia.

Application of ATC/DDD methodology to evaluate perioperative antimicrobial prophylaxis.

PubMed

Akalin, Serife; Kutlu, Selda Sayin; Cirak, Bayram; Eskiçorapcı, Saadettin Yilmaz; Bagdatli, Dilek; Akkaya, Semih

2012-02-01

To evaluate quality of perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis (PAP) and to calculate the cost per procedure in a Turkish university hospital. A 352-bed teaching hospital in Denizli, Turkey. An prospective audit was performed between July and October 2010. All clean, clean-contaminated and contaminated elective surgical procedures in ten surgical wards were recorded. Antimicrobial use was calculated per procedure using the ATC-DDD system. The appropriateness of antibiotic use for each procedure was evaluated according to international guidelines on PAP. In addition, the cost per procedure was calculated. Overall, in 577 of the 625 (92.3%) of the studied procedures, PAP was used. PAP was indicated in 12.5% of the group where it was not used, and not indicated in 7.1% of the group where it was used. Unnecessarily prolonged antimicrobial prophylaxis was observed in 56.9% of the procedures, mean duration was 2.6 ± 2.7 days. The most frequently used antimicrobials were cefazolin (117.9 DDD/100-operation) and sulbactam/ampicillin (102.2 DDD/100-operation). The timing of the starting dose was appropriate in 545 procedures (94.5%). In the group that received PAP, only 80 (13.7%) of the procedures were found to be fully appropriate and correct. The density of antimicrobial use per operation was 2.8 DDD. The mean cost of the use of prophylactic antimicrobials 18.6 per procedure. The density of antimicrobial use in PAP was found to be very high in our hospital. Antibiotic overuse extended into the postoperative period.

Pesticides in the nation's rivers, 1975-1980, and implications for future monitoring

USGS Publications Warehouse

Gilliom, Robert J.; Alexander, Richard B.; Smith, Richard A.

1985-01-01

Water samples were taken four times per year and bed-sediment samples two times per year during 1975-80 at 160 to 180 stations on major rivers of the United States. Samples were analyzed for 18 insecticides and 4 herbicides, which together accounted for about one-third of the total amount of all pesticides applied to major crops during 1975-80. Fewer than 10 percent of almost 3,000 water samples and fewer than 20 percent of almost 1,000 bed-sediment samples contained reportable concentrations of any of the compounds. The patterns of detection result from a combination of widely variable detection capabilities, chemical properties, and use. Most detections in water samples were of relatively persistent yet soluble compounds: atrazine (4.8 percent of samples), diazinon (1.2), and lindane (1.1). Most detections in bed-sediment samples were of the hydrophobic and persistent insecticides: DDE (17 percent of samples), DDD (12), dieldrin (12), chlordane (9.9), and DDT (8.5). Only for atrazine in water, and for DDE, DDD, DDT, and chlordane in bed sediments, were geographic patterns of detection correlated (pH<0.10) with use on farms. Detections of organochlorine insecticides in both water and bed sediments appear to have erratically but gradually decreased during 1975-80. For the 1975-79 period, more stations had downtrends than had uptrends in bed-sediment levels of organochlorines. No clear trends were evident in concentrations of organophosphate insecticides or herbicides in either water or bed sediments. Findings suggest that future pesticide monitoring efforts must be responsive to changes in pesticides used and to geographic patterns of use. Different types of monitoring approaches are necesssary for chemicals having different chemical and physical properties. Before an effective dynamic monitoring effort can be designed, however, selected case studies are needed to characterize and refine sampling and analytical capabilities for different types of chemicals, river environments, and sample types.

Pitfalls associated with the therapeutic reference pricing practice of asthma medication

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background Therapeutic reference pricing (TRP) based on the WHO daily defined dose (DDD) is a method frequently employed for the cost-containment of pharmaceuticals. Our objective was to compare average drug use in the real world with DDD and to evaluate whether TRP based on DDD could result in cost savings on maintenance medication and the total direct health expenditures for asthma patients treated with Symbicort Turbuhaler (SYT) and Seretide Diskus (SED) in Hungary. Methods Real-world data were derived from the Hungarian National Health Insurance Fund database. Average doses and costs were compared between the high-dose and medium-dose SYT and SED groups. Multiple linear regressions were employed to adjust the data for differences in the gender and age distribution of patients. Results 27,779 patients with asthma were included in the analysis. Average drug use was lower than DDD in all groups, 1.38-1.95 inhalations in both SED groups, 1.28-1.97 and 1.74-2.49 inhalations in the medium and high-dose SYT groups, respectively. Although the cost of SED based on the DDD would be much lower than the cost of SYT in the medium-dose groups, no difference was found in the actual cost of the maintenance therapy. No significant differences were found between the groups in terms of total medical costs. Conclusions Cost-containment initiatives by payers may influence clinical decisions. TRP for inhalation asthma drugs raises special concern, because of differences in the therapeutic profile of pharmaceuticals and the lack of proven financial benefits after exclusion of the effect of generic price erosion. Our findings indicate that the presented TRP approach of asthma medications based on the daily therapeutic costs according to the WHO DDD does not result in reduced public healthcare spending in Hungary. Further analysis is required to show whether TRP generates additional expenditures by inducing switching costs and reducing patient compliance. Potential confounding factors may limit the generalisability of our conclusions. PMID:22818402

Pitfalls associated with the therapeutic reference pricing practice of asthma medication.

PubMed

Kalo, Zoltan; Abonyi-Toth, Zsolt; Bartfai, Zoltan; Voko, Zoltan

2012-07-20

Therapeutic reference pricing (TRP) based on the WHO daily defined dose (DDD) is a method frequently employed for the cost-containment of pharmaceuticals. Our objective was to compare average drug use in the real world with DDD and to evaluate whether TRP based on DDD could result in cost savings on maintenance medication and the total direct health expenditures for asthma patients treated with Symbicort Turbuhaler (SYT) and Seretide Diskus (SED) in Hungary. Real-world data were derived from the Hungarian National Health Insurance Fund database. Average doses and costs were compared between the high-dose and medium-dose SYT and SED groups. Multiple linear regressions were employed to adjust the data for differences in the gender and age distribution of patients. 27,779 patients with asthma were included in the analysis. Average drug use was lower than DDD in all groups, 1.38-1.95 inhalations in both SED groups, 1.28-1.97 and 1.74-2.49 inhalations in the medium and high-dose SYT groups, respectively. Although the cost of SED based on the DDD would be much lower than the cost of SYT in the medium-dose groups, no difference was found in the actual cost of the maintenance therapy. No significant differences were found between the groups in terms of total medical costs. Cost-containment initiatives by payers may influence clinical decisions. TRP for inhalation asthma drugs raises special concern, because of differences in the therapeutic profile of pharmaceuticals and the lack of proven financial benefits after exclusion of the effect of generic price erosion. Our findings indicate that the presented TRP approach of asthma medications based on the daily therapeutic costs according to the WHO DDD does not result in reduced public healthcare spending in Hungary. Further analysis is required to show whether TRP generates additional expenditures by inducing switching costs and reducing patient compliance. Potential confounding factors may limit the generalisability of our conclusions.

Long-term clinical effects of ventricular pacing reduction with a changeover mode to minimize ventricular pacing in a general pacemaker population

PubMed Central

Stockburger, Martin; Boveda, Serge; Moreno, Javier; Da Costa, Antoine; Hatala, Robert; Brachmann, Johannes; Butter, Christian; Garcia Seara, Javier; Rolando, Mara; Defaye, Pascal

2015-01-01

Aim Right ventricular pacing (VP) has been hypothesized to increase the risk in heart failure (HF) and atrial fibrillation (AF). The ANSWER study evaluated, whether an AAI-DDD changeover mode to minimize VP (SafeR) improves outcome compared with DDD in a general dual-chamber pacemaker population. Methods and results ANSWER was a randomized controlled multicentre trial assessing SafeR vs. standard DDD in sinus node disease (SND) or AV block (AVB) patients. After a 1-month run-in period, they were randomized (1 : 1) and followed for 3 years. Pre-specified co-primary end-points were VP and the composite of hospitalization for HF, AF, or cardioversion. Pre-specified secondary end-points were cardiac death or HF hospitalizations and cardiovascular hospitalizations. ANSWER enrolled 650 patients (52.0% SND, 48% AVB) at 43 European centres and randomized in SafeR (n = 314) or DDD (n = 318). The SafeR mode showed a significant decrease in VP compared with DDD (11.5 vs. 93.6%, P < 0.0001 at 3 years). Deaths and syncope did not differ between randomization arms. No significant difference between groups [HR = 0.78; 95% CI (0.48–1.25); P = 0.30] was found in the time to event of the co-primary composite of hospitalization for HF, AF, or cardioversion, nor in the individual components. SafeR showed a 51% risk reduction (RR) in experiencing cardiac death or HF hospitalization [HR = 0.49; 95% CI (0.27–0.90); P = 0.02] and 30% RR in experiencing cardiovascular hospitalizations [HR = 0.70; 95% CI (0.49–1.00); P = 0.05]. Conclusion SafeR safely and significantly reduced VP in a general pacemaker population though had no effect on hospitalization for HF, AF, or cardioversion, when compared with DDD. PMID:25179761

The Risk of TB in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Initiating Metformin vs Sulfonylurea Treatment.

PubMed

Pan, Sheng-Wei; Yen, Yung-Feng; Kou, Yu Ru; Chuang, Pei-Hung; Su, Vincent Yi-Fong; Feng, Jia-Yih; Chan, Yu-Jiun; Su, Wei-Juin

2017-12-16

Metformin and the sulfonylureas are common initial antidiabetic agents; the former has demonstrated anti-TB action in in vitro and animal studies. The comparative effect of metformin vs the sulfonylureas on TB risk in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remains unclear. In this retrospective cohort study, patients without chronic kidney disease who received a T2DM diagnosis during 2003 to 2013 were identified from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. Participants with ≥ 2 years of follow-up were reviewed and observed for TB until December 2013. Patients receiving metformin ≥ 60 cumulative defined daily dose (cDDD) and sulfonylureas < 15 cDDD in the initial 2 years were defined as metformin majors; it was the inverse for sulfonylurea majors. The two groups were matched 1:1 by propensity score and compared for TB risk by multivariate Cox regression analysis. Among 40,179 patients with T2DM, 263 acquired TB (0.65%) over a mean follow-up of 6.1 years. In multivariate analysis, the initial 2-year dosage of metformin, but not that of the sulfonylureas, was an independent predictor of TB (60-cDDD increase (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 0.931; 95% CI, 0.877-0.990) after adjustment by cofactors, including adapted diabetes complication severity index. Metformin majors had a significantly lower TB risk than that of sulfonylurea majors before and after matching (HR, 0.477; 95% CI, 0.268-0.850 and HR, 0.337; 95% CI, 0.169-0.673; matched pairs, n = 3,161). Compared with the reference group (initial 2-year metformin < 60 cDDD), metformin treatment showed a dose-dependent association with TB risk (60-219 cDDD; HR, 0.860; 95% CI, 0.637-1.161; 220-479 cDDD, HR, 0.706; 95% CI, 0.485-1.028; ≥ 480 cDDD, HR, 0.319; 95% CI, 0.118-0.863). Metformin use in the initial 2 years was associated with a decreased risk of TB, and metformin users had a reduced risk compared with their sulfonylurea comparators. Copyright © 2017 American College of Chest Physicians. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Antimicrobial consumption on Austrian dairy farms: an observational study of udder disease treatments based on veterinary medication records.

PubMed

Firth, Clair L; Käsbohrer, Annemarie; Schleicher, Corina; Fuchs, Klemens; Egger-Danner, Christa; Mayerhofer, Martin; Schobesberger, Hermann; Köfer, Josef; Obritzhauser, Walter

2017-01-01

Antimicrobial use in livestock production is an important contemporary issue, which is of public interest worldwide. Antimicrobials are not freely available to Austrian farmers and can only be administered to livestock by veterinarians, or by farmers who are trained members of the Animal Health Service. Since 2015, veterinarians have been required by law to report antimicrobials dispensed to farmers for use in food-producing animals. The study presented here went further than the statutory framework, and collected data on antimicrobials dispensed to farmers and those administered by veterinarians. Seventeen veterinary practices were enrolled in the study via convenience sampling. These veterinarians were asked to contact interested dairy farmers regarding participation in the study (respondent-driven sampling). Data were collected from veterinary practice software between 1st October 2015 and 30th September 2016. Electronic data (89.4%) were transferred via an online interface and paper records (10.6%) were entered by the authors. Antimicrobial treatments with respect to udder disease were analysed by number of defined daily doses per cow and year (nDDD vet /cow/year), based on the European Medicines Agency technical unit, Defined Daily Dose for animals (DDD vet ). Descriptive statistics and the Wilcoxon rank sum test were used to analyse the results. Antimicrobial use data from a total of 248 dairy farms were collected during the study, 232 of these farms treated cows with antibiotics; dry cow therapy was excluded from the current analysis. The mean number of DDD vet /cow/year for the antimicrobial treatment of all udder disease was 1.33 DDD vet /cow/year. Of these treatments, 0.73 DDD vet /cow/year were classed as highest priority critically important antimicrobials (HPCIAs), according to the World Health Organization (WHO) definition. The Wilcoxon rank sum test determined a statistically significant difference between the median number of DDD vet /cow/year for acute and chronic mastitis treatment ( W  = 10,734, p  < 0.001). The most commonly administered antimicrobial class for the treatment of acute mastitis was beta-lactams. Intramammary penicillin was used at a mean of 0.63 DDD vet /cow/year, followed by the third generation cephalosporin, cefoperazone, (a HPCIA) at 0.60 DDD vet /cow/year. Systemic antimicrobial treatments were used at a lower overall level than intramammary treatments for acute mastitis. This study demonstrated that Austrian dairy cows in the study population were treated with antimicrobial substances for udder diseases at a relatively low frequency, however, a substantial proportion of these treatments were with substances considered critically important for human health. While it is vital that sick cows are treated, reductions in the overall use of antimicrobials, and critically important substances in particular, are still possible.

Mutations in POGLUT1, Encoding Protein O-Glucosyltransferase 1, Cause Autosomal-Dominant Dowling-Degos Disease

PubMed Central

Basmanav, F. Buket; Oprisoreanu, Ana-Maria; Pasternack, Sandra M.; Thiele, Holger; Fritz, Günter; Wenzel, Jörg; Größer, Leopold; Wehner, Maria; Wolf, Sabrina; Fagerberg, Christina; Bygum, Anette; Altmüller, Janine; Rütten, Arno; Parmentier, Laurent; El Shabrawi-Caelen, Laila; Hafner, Christian; Nürnberg, Peter; Kruse, Roland; Schoch, Susanne; Hanneken, Sandra; Betz, Regina C.

2014-01-01

Dowling-Degos disease (DDD) is an autosomal-dominant genodermatosis characterized by progressive and disfiguring reticulate hyperpigmentation. We previously identified loss-of-function mutations in KRT5 but were only able to detect pathogenic mutations in fewer than half of our subjects. To identify additional causes of DDD, we performed exome sequencing in five unrelated affected individuals without mutations in KRT5. Data analysis identified three heterozygous mutations from these individuals, all within the same gene. These mutations, namely c.11G>A (p.Trp4∗), c.652C>T (p.Arg218∗), and c.798-2A>C, are within POGLUT1, which encodes protein O-glucosyltransferase 1. Further screening of unexplained cases for POGLUT1 identified six additional mutations, as well as two of the above described mutations. Immunohistochemistry of skin biopsies of affected individuals with POGLUT1 mutations showed significantly weaker POGLUT1 staining in comparison to healthy controls with strong localization of POGLUT1 in the upper parts of the epidermis. Immunoblot analysis revealed that translation of either wild-type (WT) POGLUT1 or of the protein carrying the p.Arg279Trp substitution led to the expected size of about 50 kDa, whereas the c.652C>T (p.Arg218∗) mutation led to translation of a truncated protein of about 30 kDa. Immunofluorescence analysis identified a colocalization of the WT protein with the endoplasmic reticulum and a notable aggregating pattern for the truncated protein. Recently, mutations in POFUT1, which encodes protein O-fucosyltransferase 1, were also reported to be responsible for DDD. Interestingly, both POGLUT1 and POFUT1 are essential regulators of Notch activity. Our results furthermore emphasize the important role of the Notch pathway in pigmentation and keratinocyte morphology. PMID:24387993

Current status and historical variations of DDT-related contaminants in the sediments of Lake Chaohu in China and their influencing factors.

PubMed

Kang, Lei; He, Qi-Shuang; He, Wei; Kong, Xiang-Zhen; Liu, Wen-Xiu; Wu, Wen-Jing; Li, Yi-Long; Lan, Xin-Yu; Xu, Fu-Liu

2016-12-01

The temporal-spatial distributions of DDT-related contaminants (DDXs), including DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane), DDE (dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene) and DDD (dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane), in the sediments of Lake Chaohu and their influencing factors were studied. p,p-DDE and p,p-DDD were found to be the two dominant components of DDXs in both surface and core sediments. The parent DDT compounds were still detectable in sediment cores after the late 1930s. Historical usage of technical DDT was identified as the primary source of DDXs in sediments, as indicated by DDT/(DDD + DDE) ratios of less than one. The residual levels of DDXs were higher in the surface and core sediments in the western lake area than in other lake areas, which might be due to the combined inflow effects of municipal sewage, industrial wastewater and agricultural runoff. The DDX residues in the sediment cores reached peak values in the late 1970s or early 1980s. There were significant positive relationships between DDX residues in sediment cores with annual DDT production and with fine particulate sizes (<4.5 μm). The relationship between the DDXs and TOC in sediment was complex, as indicated by the significant differences among the surface and core sediments. The algae-derived organic matter significantly influenced the amount of residue, composition and distribution of DDXs in the sediments. The DDD/DDE ratios responded well to the anaerobic conditions in the sediments that were caused by algal blooms after the late 1970s in the western lake area. This suggests that the algae-derived organic matter was an important factor and served as a biomarker of eutrophication and also affected the DDX residues and lifecycle in the lake ecosystem. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Ignition of Nanocomposite Thermites by Electric Spark and Shock Wave

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-04-30

Acknowledgments The research described here was based on work supported by the US Army Research Office under awards W911NG-13-0217 ( DDD ) and W911NF-12-1...0161 (ELD), and the US Defense Threat Reduc- tion Agency (DTRA) under award HDTRA1-12-1-0011 ( DDD ). William L. Shaw acknowledges support from the

Medication usage in Majuro, Marshall Islands.

PubMed

Harding, Andrew

2005-03-01

To conduct a drug utilisation study to determine the top 50 drugs by prescription count, top 50 drugs by cost to government and the top 30 drugs by consumption for Majuro Atoll, Marshall Islands for the year 2003. Data was collected from the Majuro Hospital computer dispensing system. All outpatient prescriptions dispensed in the year 2003 were included. The defined daily dose (DDD) methodology was employed. Drug consumption was presented as DDD/1000 population/day. The top 5 drugs by consumption in Majuro for 2003 were glibenclamide (glyburide), enalapril, ferrous sulphate, amoxycillin and ascorbic acid. Values for the DDD/1000 population/day were on average lower than many other countries. This is the first local study of medication usage in the Marshall Islands. It provided some useful baseline data.

Synthesis of C13- and N15-Labeled DNAN

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-07-24

Multiplicities are described as singlet (s), doublet (d), triplet (t), quartet (q), doublet of doublets (dd), doublet of doublet of doublets ( ddd ), multiplet...dd, 4.8Hz, 2.6Hz, 1H), 8.40 ( ddd , 8.8Hz, 2.6Hz, 1.8Hz, 1H), and 7.81 (d, 8.8Hz, 1H) ppm. 13C NMR (CDCl3): δ 147.8 (dd, 18Hz, 3Hz), 146.3 (dd, 17Hz...Dinitroanisole mp: 86-88 °C 1H NMR (CDCl3): δ 8.77 (m, 4.8Hz, 2.6Hz, 1H), 8.46 ( ddd , 9.2Hz, 2.6Hz, 1.8Hz, 1H), 7.23 (d, 9.2Hz, 1H), and 4.10 (s, 3H

The Effect of Reported Head Injury on Team Performance and Partner Evaluation

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-02-17

4 Measures……………………………………………………………………………… 5 DDD Task…….…………………………………………………………………. 5 Evaluation survey……………………………………………………………….. 5...6 The effects of injury condition on DDD performance and evaluation......................... 7 Discussion...tables 1. Overall team DDD score and evaluation subscales as a function of injury condition….. 7 2. Correlations among the measured variables

Presence and distribution of chlorinated organic compounds in streambed sediments, new jersey

USGS Publications Warehouse

Stackelberg, P.E.

1997-01-01

Concentrations of 18 hydrophobic chlorinated organic compounds in streambed sediments from 100 sites throughout New Jersey were examined to determine (1) which compounds were detected most frequently, (2) whether detection frequencies differed among selected drainage basins, and (3) whether concentrations differed significantly among selected drainage basins. Twelve drainage basins across New Jersey that contain a range of land-use patterns and population densities were selected to represent various types and degrees of development. To ensure an adequate number of samples for statistical comparison among drainage basins, the 12 selected basins were consolidated into seven drainage areas on the basis of similarities in land- use patterns and population densities. Additionally, data for three classes of chlorinated organic compounds in streambed sediments from 255 sites throughout New Jersey were examined to determine whether the presence of these compounds in streambed sediments is related to the type and degree of development within the drainage area of each sampling site. Chlorinated organic compounds detected most frequently within the seven representative drainage areas were DDT, DDE, DDD, chlordane, dieldrin, and PCBs. DDT, DDE, and DDD, which were the most widely distributed organic compounds, were detected in about 60 to 100 percent of the samples from all drainage areas hut one (where the detection rate for these compounds was about 20 to 40 percent). Chlordane and dieldrin were detected in about 80 to 100 percent of samples from highly urbanized and populated drainage areas; detection frequencies for these compounds tended to be smaller in less developed and populated areas. PCBs were detected in about 40 to 85 percent of samples from all drainage areas; detection frequencies were highest in the most heavily developed and populated areas. Analysis of variance on rank-transformed organic compound concentrations normalized to sediment organic carbon content was used to evaluate differences in concentrations among the seven representative drainage areas. Chlordane and PCBs were the chlorinated organic compounds with the most highly elevated concentrations in streambed sediments across the State. Median normalized COncentrations of all six of the most frequently detected chlorinated organic compounds were highest in the most heavily urbanized and populated drainage area and lowest in the less populated, predominantly agricultural or forested areas. Concentrations of DDT and DDE, however, did not differ significantly among most of the drainage areas. Concentrations of DDD, chlordane, dieldrin, and PCBs differed significantly among drainage areas. The highest median normalized concentrations were found in samples from the most heavily urbanized and populated areas, and the lowest were in samples from the least developed, most heavily forested area. Logistic regression was used to examine relations between the presence of hydrophobic chlorinated organic compounds in streambed sediments at specified concentrations and variables that characterize the type and degree of development within the drainage areas of 255 sites across New Jersey. The explanatory variables found most useful for predicting the presence of chlorinated organic compounds in streambed sediments include total population and amounts (in square kilometers) of various land-use categories. Logistic regression equations were developed to identify significant relations between population and amounts of specific land-use categories within drainage areas and the probability of detecting chlorinated organic contaminants in streambed sediments. These relations can be used to assist in the identification of geographic regions of primary concern for contamination of bed sediments by chlorinated organic compounds across the State.

Outpatient utilization of psychopharmaceuticals in the City of Zagreb 2001-2006.

PubMed

Stimac, Danijela; Culig, Josip

2009-03-01

A comprehensive insight into drug utilization as an economic and primarily a public health issue can only be acquired in the context of overall health state of the respective population. The objectives of the study were: 1) to determine the real outpatient utilization of psychopharmaceuticals in Zagreb, 2) to determine the psychopharmaceutical prescribing quality during the study period; and 3) to propose appropriate interventions in Zagreb on the basis of the results obtained. Data on drug utilization were obtained from all Zagreb pharmacies. The number of defined daily doses (DDD) and number of DDD per 1000 inhabitants per day (DDD/1000/day) were calculated from the number of particular drug packages. The Drug Utilization 90% (DU90%) method was used as a criterion of prescribing quality. Outpatient utilization of psychopharmaceuticals showed a declining pattern from 115.40 DDD/1000/day in 2001 to 93.15 DDD/1000/day in 2006. Anxiolytics accounted for the majority of this drug group utilization in the City of Zagreb, although the anxiolytic/antidepressant ratio decreased from 7.19 in 2001 to 3.86 in 2006. The utilization of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors showed a 2.5-fold increase and accounted for 90% of overall antidepressant utilization. A 2.5-fold decrease was recorded in the utilization of antipsychotics, while the atypical/typical antipsychotic ratio changed from 1:2 in 2001 to 1.1:1 in 2006. Despite some improvement observed in the prescribing quality, the predominance of benzodiazepines in the utilization of psychopharmaceuticals points to the need of additional rationalization in the field.

Biological Treatment Approaches for Degenerative Disk Disease: A Literature Review of In Vivo Animal and Clinical Data

PubMed Central

Moriguchi, Yu; Alimi, Marjan; Khair, Thamina; Manolarakis, George; Berlin, Connor; Bonassar, Lawrence J.; Härtl, Roger

2016-01-01

Study Design  Literature review. Objective  Degenerative disk disease (DDD) has a negative impact on quality of life and is a major cause of morbidity worldwide. There has been a growing interest in the biological repair of DDD by both researchers and clinicians alike. To generate an overview of the recent progress in reparative strategies for the treatment of DDD highlighting their promises and limitations, a comprehensive review of the current literature was performed elucidating data from in vivo animal and clinical studies. Methods  Articles and abstracts available in electronic databases of PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar as of December 2014 were reviewed. Additionally, data from unpublished, ongoing clinical trials was retrieved from clinicaltrials.gov and available abstracts from research forums. Data was extracted from the most recent in vivo animal or clinical studies involving any of the following: (1) treatment with biomolecules, cells, or tissue-engineered constructs and (2) annulus fibrosus repair. Results  Seventy-five articles met the inclusion criteria for review. Among these, 17 studies involved humans; 37, small quadrupeds; and 21, large quadrupeds. Findings from all treatments employed demonstrated improvement either in regenerative capacity or in pain attenuation, with the exception of one clinical study. Conclusion  Published clinical studies on cell therapy have reported encouraging results in the treatment of DDD and resultant back pain. We expect new data to emerge in the near future as treatments for DDD continue to evolve in parallel to our greater understanding of disk health and pathology. PMID:27433434

Determination of DDT and metabolites in surface water and sediment using LLE, SPE, ACE and SE.

PubMed

Sibali, Linda L; Okonkwo, Jonathan O; Zvinowanda, Caliphs

2009-12-01

Surface water and sediment samples collected from Jukskei River in South Africa, were subjected to different extraction techniques, liquid-liquid (LLE), solid-phase extraction (SPE), activated carbon extraction (ACE) and soxhlet extraction (SE) for sediment. The samples were extracted with dichloromethane, cleaned in a silica gel column and the extracts quantified using a Varian 3800 GC-ECD. The percentage recovery test for 2,4'DDT, DDE and DDD and 4,4'DDT, DDE and DDD in water ranged from 80%-96% and 76%-95% (LLE); 56%-76% and 56%-70% (SPE) and 75%-84% (ACE), respectively; while that recoveries for sediment samples varied from 65%-95% for 2,4'DDT, DDE and DDD and 80%-91% for 4,4'DDT, DDE and DDD. The high recoveries exhibited by ACE compared very well with LLE and SE. This was not the case with SPE which exhibited the lowest value of recoveries for both 2,4 and 4,4'DDD, DDE and DDT standard samples. The mean concentrations of DDT and metabolites ranged from nd-1.10 μg/L, nd-0.80 μg/L, nd-1.21 μg/L and 1.92 μg/L for LLE, SPE, ACE and SE, respectively. The total DDT (2,4' and 4,4'-DDT) in water and sediment samples ranged from 1.20-3.25 μg/L and 1.82-5.24 μg/L, respectively. The low concentrations of the DDT metabolites obtained in the present study may suggest a recent contamination of the river by DDT.

The effect of different atrioventricular delays on left atrium and left atrial appendage function in patients with DDD pacemaker.

PubMed

Kanadaşı, Mehmet; Caylı, Murat; Sahin, Durmuş Yıldıray; Sen, Ömer; Koç, Mevlüt; Usal, Ayhan; Batur, Mustafa Kemal; Demirtaş, Mustafa

2011-07-01

Although it has been known that optimization of atrioventricular delay (AVD) has favorable effect on the left ventricular functions in patients with DDD pacemaker, the effect of different AVDs on left atrium (LA) and left atrial appendage (LAA) functions has not been exactly evaluated. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of different AVDs on LA and LAA functions in DDD pacemaker implanted patients with atrioventricular block. Forty-eight patients with DDD pacemaker were enrolled into the study. Patients were divided into two groups according to the echocardiographic diastolic function: Group I (normal diastolic function) and Group II (diastolic dysfunction). LAA emptying velocity on pulsed wave Doppler and LAA late systolic wave velocity by using tissue Doppler were recorded. Patients were paced for five successive continuous pacing periods of 10 minutes duration using five selective AVDs (80-250 ms). Significant effect on LA and LAA functions has not been observed by the setting of AVD in Group I. However, when the AVD was gradually shortened form 150 ms to 80 ms, LA and LAA functions gradually decreased in Group II patients. When AVD increased to 200 ms, LA and LAA functions were improved. Further increase in AVD resulted in decreased LA and LAA functions. Setting of AVD has not significant effect on the LA and LAA functions in patients with normal diastolic function, but moderate prolongation of AVD in physiological limits improved LA and LAA functions in DDD pacemaker implanted patients with diastolic dysfunction. © 2011, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Modeling of abnormal mechanical properties of nickel-based single crystal superalloy by three-dimensional discrete dislocation dynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Hui; Li, Zhenhuan; Huang, Minsheng

2014-12-01

Unlike common single crystals, the nickel-based single crystal superalloy shows surprisingly anomalous flow strength (i.e. with the increase of temperature, the yield strength first increases to a peak value and then decreases) and tension-compression (TC) asymmetry. A comprehensive three-dimensional discrete dislocation dynamics (3D-DDD) procedure was developed to model these abnormal mechanical properties. For this purpose, a series of complicated dynamic evolution details of Kear-Wilsdorf (KW) locks, which are closely related to the flow strength anomaly and TC asymmetry, were incorporated into this 3D-DDD framework. Moreover, the activation of the cubic slip system, which is the origin of the decrease in yield strength with increasing temperature at relatively high temperatures, was especially taken into account by introducing a competition criterion between the unlocking of the KW locks and the activation of the cubic slip system. To test our framework, a series of 3D-DDD simulations were performed on a representative volume cell model with a cuboidal Ni3Al precipitate phase embedded in a nickel matrix. Results show that the present 3D-DDD procedure can successfully capture the dynamic evolution of KW locks, the flow strength anomaly and TC asymmetry. Then, the underlying dislocation mechanisms leading to these abnormal mechanical responses were investigated and discussed in detail. Finally, a cyclic deformation of the nickel-based single crystal superalloy was modeled by using the present DDD model, with a special focus on the influence of KW locks on the Bauschinger effect and cyclic softening.

Trends in the use of antiasthmatic medications in Morocco (1999-2010).

PubMed

Ghanname, Imane; Ahid, Samir; Berrada, Ghizlane; Belaiche, Abdelmjid; Hassar, Mohamed; Cherrah, Yahya

2013-12-01

Asthma is a big public health problem in Morocco. The drug therapy existing in Morocco is currently insufficient because of the low purchasing power and the low health insurance coverage available to the average citizen in Morocco. In this study we evaluated the consumption of antiasthmatics in Morocco during the period 1999-2010, the classes of used drugs and the generics' market share. We used sales data from the Moroccan subsidiaries of the IMS Health "Intercontinental Marketing Service". The consumption volume was converted to Defined Daily Doses (DDDs). During 1999-2010, antiasthmatics's consumption increased from 3.91 to 14.47 DDD per 1000 inhabitants per day. In 2010, the association Beta-2-mimetic-Glucocorticosteroids were the most consumed (8.53 DDD/1000 Inhabitants/day) followed by the short-acting inhaled Beta-2-mimetic (4 DDD/1000 Inhabitants/day) and inhaled Glucocorticosteroids alone accounted for 1.13 DDD/1000 Inhabitants/day. The largest consumption share in volume was held by the short-acting inhaled Beta-2-mimetic (42%) followed by the combination Beta-2-mimetic-Glucocorticosteroids (38%). Between 1999 and 2010, the market for generic antiasthmatics increased from 1.84 to 2.18 DDD/1000 Inhabitants/day. The ratio of the monthly average cost of treatment to the minimum wage in Morocco decreased from 10.8% in 1999 to 7.11% in 2010. Antiasthmatics' consumption in Morocco has undergone significant changes between 1999 and 2010. However, the availability of these drugs expressed as the Average Monthly Expenditure/Guaranteed Minimum Wage ratio improved. Despite this, the use of antiasmathics in Morocco remains low.

Surface Wave Dynamics in the Coastal Zone

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-09-30

summarized in Figure 1. Scatter index # DDD 󈨙 0.73 Mad󈨐 Ting󈧅+ T&M󈧆 S&Hol󈨙 S&How󈨝 Lipp󈨤+ vdW󈧍 FA󈧐 R&S󈧇/07 Slopes J&B󈧋...Battjes & Janssen [1978] TG󈨗 = Thornton & Guza [1983] Bald󈨦 = Baldock et al. [1998] DDD 󈨙 = Dally et al. [1985] J&B󈧋 = Janssen & Battjes

Occurrences and fate of DDT principal isomers/metabolites, DDA, and o,p'-DDD enantiomers in fish, sediment and water at a DDT-impacted Superfund site.

PubMed

Garrison, A W; Cyterski, M; Roberts, K D; Burdette, D; Williamson, J; Avants, J K

2014-11-01

In the 1950s and 60s, discharges from a DDT manufacturing plant contaminated a tributary system of the Tennessee River near Huntsville, Alabama, USA. Regulatory action resulted in declaring the area a Superfund site which required remediation and extensive monitoring. Monitoring data collected from 1988, after remediation, through 2011 showed annual decreases approximating first-order decay in concentrations of total DDT and its six principal congeners (p,p'-DDT, o,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDD, o,p'-DDD, p,p'-DDE and o,p'-DDE) in filets from three species of fish. As of 2013, these concentrations met the regulatory requirements of 5 mg/kg or less total DDT for each fish tested. The enantiomer fractions (EF) of chiral o,p'-DDD in smallmouth buffalo and channel catfish were always below 0.5, indicating preferential decay of the (+)-enantiomer of this congener; this EF did not change significantly over 15 years. The often-neglected DDT metabolite p,p'-DDA was found at a concentration of about 20 μg/l in the ecosystem water. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Watershed trend analysis and water-quality assessment using bottom-sediment cores from Cheney Reservoir, south-central Kansas

USGS Publications Warehouse

Pope, Larry M.

1998-01-01

An examination of Cheney Reservoir bottom sediment was conducted in August 1997 to describe long-term trends and document the occurrence of selected constituents at concentrations that may be detrimental to aquatic organisms. Average concentrations of total phosphorus in bottom-sediment cores ranged from 94 to 674 milligrams per kilogram and were statistically related to silt- and (or) clay-size particles. Results from selected sampling sites in Cheney Reservoir indicate an increasing trend in total phosphorus concentrations. This trend is probably of nonpoint-source origin and may be related to an increase in fertilizer sales in the area, which more than doubled between 1965 and 1996, and to livestock production. Few organochlorine compounds were detected in bottom-sediment samples from Cheney Reservoir. DDT, its degradation products DDD and DDE, and dieldrin had detectable concentrations in the seven samples that were analyzed. DDT and DDD were each detected in one sample at concentrations of 1.0 and 0.65 microgram per kilogram, respectively. By far, the most frequently detected organochlorine insecticide was DDE, which was detected in all seven samples, ranging in concentration from 0.31 to 1.3 micrograms per kilogram. A decreasing trend in DDE concentrations was evident in sediment-core data from one sampling site. Dieldrin was detected in one sample from each of two sampling sites at concentrations of 0.21 and 0.22 micrograms per kilogram. Polychlorinated biphenyls were not detected in any bottom-sediment sample analyzed. Selected organophosphate, chlorophenoxy-acid, triazine, and acetanilide pesticides were analyzed in 18 bottom-sediment samples. Of the 23 pesticides analyzed, only the acetanilide herbicide metolachlor was detected (in 22 percent of the samples). Seven bottom-sediment samples were analyzed for major metals and trace elements. The median and maximum concentrations of arsenic and chromium, the maximum concentration of copper, and all concentrations of nickel in the seven samples were in the range where adverse effects to aquatic organisms occasionally occur. No time trends in trace elements were discernable in the August 1997 data.

The "tract" of history in the treatment of lumbar degenerative disc disease.

PubMed

Chedid, Khalil J; Chedid, Mokbel K

2004-01-15

In this paper past, present, and future treatments of degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine are outlined in a straight forward manner. This is done to review previous knowledge of the disease, define current treatment procedures, and discuss future perspectives. An analysis of a subject of this magnitude dictates that one describes as accurate a history as possible: an anatomical/historical "tract" with emphasis on all possible deviations. Although spinal disorders have been recognized for a long time, the view of DDD as a particular disease entity is a more recent development. In this paper, the authors attempt to outline the history of DDD of the lumbar spine in an unbiased and scientific fashion. Physiological, diagnostic, and therapeutic implications will all be addressed in this study.

Space Radiation Environment Prediction for VLSI microelectronics devices onboard a LEO Satellite using OMERE-Trad Software

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sajid, Muhammad

This tutorial/survey paper presents the assessment/determination of level of hazard/threat to emerging microelectronics devices in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) space radiation environment with perigee at 300 Km, apogee at 600Km altitude having different orbital inclinations to predict the reliability of onboard Bulk Built-In Current Sensor (BBICS) fabricated in 350nm technology node at OptMA Lab. UFMG Brazil. In this context, the various parameters for space radiation environment have been analyzed to characterize the ionizing radiation environment effects on proposed BBICS. The Space radiation environment has been modeled in the form of particles trapped in Van-Allen radiation belts(RBs), Energetic Solar Particles Events (ESPE) and Galactic Cosmic Rays (GCR) where as its potential effects on Device- Under-Test (DUT) has been predicted in terms of Total Ionizing Dose (TID), Single-Event Effects (SEE) and Displacement Damage Dose (DDD). Finally, the required mitigation techniques including necessary shielding requirements to avoid undesirable effects of radiation environment at device level has been estimated /determined with assumed standard thickness of Aluminum shielding. In order to evaluate space radiation environment and analyze energetic particles effects on BBICS, OMERE toolkit developed by TRAD was utilized.

Comparative CYP-dependent binding of the adrenocortical toxicants 3-methylsulfonyl-DDE and o,p'-DDD in Y-1 adrenal cells.

PubMed

Hermansson, Veronica; Asp, Vendela; Bergman, Ake; Bergström, Ulrika; Brandt, Ingvar

2007-11-01

The environmental pollutant 3-MeSO(2)-DDE [2-(3-methylsulfonyl-4-chlorophenyl)-2-(4-chlorophenyl)-1,1-dichloroethene] is an adrenocortical toxicant in mice, specifically in the glucocorticoid-producing zona fasciculata, due to a cytochrome P450 11B1 (CYP11B1)-catalysed bioactivation and formation of covalently bound protein adducts. o,p'-DDD [2-(2-chlorophenyl)-2-(4-chlorophenyl)-1,1-dichloroethane] is toxic and inhibits steroidogenesis in the human adrenal cortex after bioactivation by unidentified CYPs, but does not exert any toxic effects on the mouse adrenal. As a step towards determining in vitro/in vivo relationships for the CYP-catalysed binding and toxicity of 3-MeSO(2)-DDE and o,p'-DDD, we have investigated the irreversible protein binding of these two toxicants in the murine adrenocortical cell line Y-1. The irreversible binding of 3-MeSO(2)-DDE previously demonstrated in vivo was successfully reproduced and could be inhibited by the CYP-inhibitors etomidate, ketoconazole and metyrapone. Surprisingly, o,p'-DDD reached similar levels of binding as 3-MeSO(2)-DDE. The binding of o,p'-DDD was sensitive to etomidate and ketoconazole, but not to metyrapone. Moreover, GSH depletion increased the binding of 3-MeSO(2)-DDE, but not of o,p'-DDD, indicating an important role of GSH conjugation in the detoxification of the 3-MeSO(2)-DDE-derived reactive metabolite. In addition, the specificity of CYP11B1 in activating 3-MeSO(2)-DDE was investigated using structurally analogous compounds. None of the analogues produced histopathological lesions in the mouse adrenal in vivo following a single i.p. injection of 100 mg/kg body weight, but two of the compounds were able to decrease the irreversible binding of 3-MeSO(2)-DDE to Y-1 cells. These results indicate that the bioactivation of 3-MeSO(2)-DDE by CYP11B1 is highly structure-dependent. In conclusion, both 3-MeSO(2)-DDE and o,p'-DDD bind irreversibly to Y-1 cells despite differences in binding and adrenotoxicity in mice in vivo. This reveals a notable in vitro/in vivo discrepancy, the contributing factors of which remain unexplained. We consider the Y-1 cell line as appropriate for studies of the cellular mechanisms behind the adrenocortical toxicity of these substances.

Defining the Complement Biomarker Profile of C3 Glomerulopathy

PubMed Central

Zhang, Yuzhou; Nester, Carla M.; Martin, Bertha; Skjoedt, Mikkel-Ole; Meyer, Nicole C.; Shao, Dingwu; Borsa, Nicolò; Palarasah, Yaseelan

2014-01-01

Background and objectives C3 glomerulopathy (C3G) applies to a group of renal diseases defined by a specific renal biopsy finding: a dominant pattern of C3 fragment deposition on immunofluorescence. The primary pathogenic mechanism involves abnormal control of the alternative complement pathway, although a full description of the disease spectrum remains to be determined. This study sought to validate and define the association of complement dysregulation with C3G and to determine whether specific complement pathway abnormalities could inform disease definition. Design, setting, participants, & measurements This study included 34 patients with C3G (17 with C3 glomerulonephritis [C3GN] and 17 with dense deposit disease [DDD]) diagnosed between 2008 and 2013 selected from the C3G Registry. Control samples (n=100) were recruited from regional blood drives. Nineteen complement biomarkers were assayed on all samples. Results were compared between C3G disease categories and with normal controls. Results Assessment of the alternative complement pathway showed that compared with controls, patients with C3G had lower levels of serum C3 (P<0.001 for both DDD and C3GN) and factor B (P<0.001 for both DDD and C3GN) as well as higher levels of complement breakdown products including C3d (P<0.001 for both DDD and C3GN) and Bb (P<0.001 for both DDD and C3GN). A comparison of terminal complement pathway proteins showed that although C5 levels were significantly suppressed (P<0.001 for both DDD and C3GN) its breakdown product C5a was significantly higher only in patients with C3GN (P<0.05). Of the other terminal pathway components (C6–C9), the only significant difference was in C7 levels between patients with C3GN and controls (P<0.01). Soluble C5b-9 was elevated in both diseases but only the difference between patients with C3GN and controls reached statistical significance (P<0.001). Levels of C3 nephritic factor activity were qualitatively higher in patients with DDD compared with patients with C3GN. Conclusions Complement biomarkers are significantly abnormal in patients with C3G compared with controls. These data substantiate the link between complement dysregulation and C3G and identify C3G interdisease differences. PMID:25341722

Solid phase synthesis of phosphorothioate oligonucleotides utilizing diethyldithiocarbonate disulfide (DDD) as an efficient sulfur transfer reagent.

PubMed

Cheruvallath, Zacharia S; Kumar, R Krishna; Rentel, Claus; Cole, Douglas L; Ravikumar, Vasulinga T

2003-04-01

Diethyldithiodicarbonate (DDD), a cheap and easily prepared compound, is found to be a rapid and efficient sulfurizing reagent in solid phase synthesis of phosphorothioate oligodeoxyribonucleotides via the phosphoramidite approach. Product yield and quality based on IP-LC-MS compares well with high quality oligonucleotides synthesized using phenylacetyl disulfide (PADS) which is being used for manufacture of our antisense drugs.

Fusion-nonfusion hybrid construct versus anterior cervical hybrid decompression and fusion: a comparative study for 3-level cervical degenerative disc diseases.

PubMed

Ding, Fan; Jia, Zhiwei; Wu, Yaohong; Li, Chao; He, Qing; Ruan, Dike

2014-11-01

A retrospective analysis. This study aimed to compare the safety and efficacy between the fusion-nonfusion hybrid construct (HC: anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion plus artificial disc replacement, ACCF plus cADR) and anterior cervical hybrid decompression and fusion (ACHDF: anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion plus discectomy and fusion, ACCF plus ACDF) for 3-level cervical degenerative disc diseases (cDDD). The optimal anterior technique for 3-level cDDD remains uncertain. Long-segment fusion substantially induced biomechanical changes at adjacent levels, which may lead to symptomatic adjacent segment degeneration. Hybrid surgery consisting of ACDF and cADR has been reported with good results for 2-level cDDD. In this context, ACCF combining with cADR may be an alternative to ACHDF for 3-level cDDD. Between 2009 and 2012, 28 patients with 3-level cDDD who underwent HC (n=13) and ACHDF (15) were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical assessments were based on Neck Disability Index, Japanese Orthopedic Association disability scale, visual analogue scale, Japanese Orthopedic Association recovery rate, and Odom criteria. Radiological analysis included range of motion of C2-C7 and adjacent segments and cervical lordosis. Perioperative parameters, radiological adjacent-level changes, and the complications were also assessed. HC showed better Neck Disability Index improvement at 12 and 24 months, as well as Japanese Orthopedic Association and visual analogue scale improvement at 24 months postoperatively (P<0.05). HC had better outcome according to Odom criteria but not significantly (P>0.05). The range of motion of C2-C7 and adjacent segments was less compromised in HC (P<0.05). Both 2 groups showed significant lordosis recovery postoperatively (P<0.05), but no difference was found between groups (P>0.05). The incidence of adjacent-level degenerative changes and complications was higher in ACHDF but not significantly (P>0.05). HC may be an alternative to ACHDF for 3-level cDDD due to the equivalent or superior early clinical outcomes, less compromised C2-C7 range of motion, and less impact at adjacent levels. 3.

Assessment of perioperative antimicrobial prophylaxis using ATC/DDD methodology.

PubMed

Bozkurt, Fatma; Kaya, Safak; Gulsun, Serda; Tekin, Recep; Deveci, Özcan; Dayan, Saim; Hoşoglu, Salih

2013-12-01

In the light of international experience and guidelines and in order to improve the quality of perioperative antimicrobial prophylaxis (PAP), various hospitals have set up their own multidisciplinary healthcare teams and have evaluated the density of PAP through close supervision and interventions. The aim of the present study was to compare the density, quality, and cost of PAP before and after an intervention implemented at our hospital in order to increase the quality of PAP. PAP was monitored using a form prepared in line with the international guidelines, which was completed by the infection control nurse under the supervision of the infectious diseases specialist. In order to reduce the frequent errors in our PAP procedures, an intervention was implemented, and the period before this intervention (January-April 2011) was compared with the post-intervention period 1 year later (January-April 2012). The density of PAP was calculated according to the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical classification/defined daily dose (ATC/DDD) methodology. A total of 2398 patients received PAP during this period. The most frequently used antibiotic before and after the intervention was cefazolin. Its use further increased after the intervention (p<0.001). After the intervention, the ratio of the correct timing of the first antibiotic dose increased from 91.7% to 99.0% (p<0.001), while the excessively long administration of PAP was reduced from 77.0% to 44.7% (p<0.001). The ratio of full compliance with the guidelines increased from 15.5% to 40.2% (p<0.001) and the rate of surgical site infections dropped from 18.5% to 12.0%. The density of antibiotic use dropped from 305.7 DDD/100 procedures=3.1 DDD/procedure to 162.1 DDD/100 procedures=1.6 DDD/procedure. The quality of PAP may be improved through better compliance with healthcare guidelines, close supervision, and training activities. Also, surgical site infections and the cost of PAP may be reduced through more appropriate antibiotic use, thus contributing to the national healthcare budget. Copyright © 2013 International Society for Infectious Diseases. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Predicting in ungauged basins using a parsimonious rainfall-runoff model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Skaugen, Thomas; Olav Peerebom, Ivar; Nilsson, Anna

2015-04-01

Prediction in ungauged basins is a demanding, but necessary test for hydrological model structures. Ideally, the relationship between model parameters and catchment characteristics (CC) should be hydrologically justifiable. Many studies, however, report on failure to obtain significant correlations between model parameters and CCs. Under the hypothesis that the lack of correlations stems from non-identifiability of model parameters caused by overparameterization, the relatively new parameter parsimonious DDD (Distance Distribution Dynamics) model was tested for predictions in ungauged basins in Norway. In DDD, the capacity of the subsurface water reservoir M is the only parameter to be calibrated whereas the runoff dynamics is completely parameterised from observed characteristics derived from GIS and runoff recession analysis. Water is conveyed through the soils to the river network by waves with celerities determined by the level of saturation in the catchment. The distributions of distances between points in the catchment to the nearest river reach and of the river network give, together with the celerities, distributions of travel times, and, consequently unit hydrographs. DDD has 6 parameters less to calibrate in the runoff module than, for example, the well-known Swedish HBV model. In this study, multiple regression equations relating CCs and model parameters were trained from 84 calibrated catchments located all over Norway and all model parameters showed significant correlations with catchment characteristics. The significant correlation coefficients (with p- value < 0.05) ranged from 0.22-0.55. The suitability of DDD for predictions in ungauged basins was tested for 17 catchments not used to estimate the multiple regression equations. For 10 of the 17 catchments, deviations in Nash-Suthcliffe Efficiency (NSE) criteria between the calibrated and regionalised model were less than 0.1. The median NSE for the regionalised DDD for the 17 catchments, for two different time series was 0.66 and 0.72. Deviations in NSE between calibrated and regionalised models are well explained by the deviations between calibrated and regressed parameters describing spatial snow distribution and snowmelt, respectively. This latter result indicates the topic for further improvements in the model structure of DDD.

Retrospective analysis of reasons for failure of DDD pacemaker implantation in patients operated on between 1993 and 2005.

PubMed

Lelakowski, Jacek; Majewski, Jacek; Małecka, Barbara; Bednarek, Jacek; Stypuła, Paweł; Szeglowski, Marcin

2007-01-01

During implantation of a DDD pacemaker the following difficulties may be encountered: venous anomalies (the absence of vessels of adequate calibre or difficulty in subclavian vein puncture), arrhythmias during implantation (episodes of atrial flutter/fibrillation while the atrial leads are being positioned), lack of mechanical stability of the electrode in the heart chamber and inability to achieve an acceptable pacing and sensing threshold during implantation. The purpose of the study was to analyse retrospectively the reasons for DDD pacemaker failure in patients operated on between 1993 and 2005. We reviewed retrospectively all implantation data from 1988 to 2005 to identify patients with primary failure of DDD pacemaker implantation. Further analysis included patients who had received a DDD pacemaker between 1993 and 2005, when this type of pacemaker made up between 9 and 40% of all pacemaker implantations. We implanted 7469 pacemakers, including 1958 (26.2%) dual-chamber pacemakers, in 783 patients with atrioventricular block (AVB), 392 with sick sinus syndrome (SSS), 450 with AVB +/- SSS and 333 with tachy-brady syndrome (TBS). The mean age of the patients was 65.5 +/- 17.3 years. DDD pacing was unsuccessful in 108 (1.4%) patients, including 32 with AVB, 22 with SSS, 16 with SSS +/- AVB and 38 with TBS. The mean age of these patients was 78.5 +/- 19.4 years. The reasons for failed implantation were venous anomalies in 12%, an arrhythmia episode in 27.8%, a high pacing threshold in the atrium in 17.6%, low atrial potential amplitude in 25.9% and lack of mechanical stability of the electrode in 16.7% of patients. The difficulties were encountered in elderly patients (p < 0.01), most frequently in patients with SSS and TBS (71). Between 2004 and 2005 venous anomalies and a high pacing threshold were the main causes of failure. Currently the main difficulties encountered during pacemaker implantation are venous anomalies and a high pacing threshold. Arrhythmia episodes, low atrial potential amplitude and lack of mechanical stability are of minor importance. Elderly patients with sick sinus syndrome and tachy-brady syndrome have the highest failure rate. (Cardiol J 2007; 14: 155-159).

Compendium of Current Single Event Effects for Candidate Spacecraft Electronics for NASA

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

O'Bryan, Martha V.; Label, Kenneth A.; Chen, Dakai; Campola, Michael J.; Casey, Megan C.; Lauenstein, Jean-Marie; Pellish, Jonathan A.; Ladbury, Raymond L.; Berg, Melanie D.

2015-01-01

NASA spacecraft are subjected to a harsh space environment that includes exposure to various types of ionizing radiation. The performance of electronic devices in a space radiation environment are often limited by their susceptibility to single event effects (SEE). Ground-based testing is used to evaluate candidate spacecraft electronics to determine risk to spaceflight applications. Interpreting the results of radiation testing of complex devices is and adequate understanding of the test condition is critical. Studies discussed herein were undertaken to establish the application-specific sensitivities of candidate spacecraft and emerging electronic devices to single-event upset (SEU), single-event latchup (SEL), single-event gate rupture (SEGR), single-event burnout (SEB), and single-event transient (SET). For total ionizing dose (TID) and displacement damage dose (DDD) results, see a companion paper submitted to the 2015 Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Nuclear and Space Radiation Effects Conference (NSREC) Radiation Effects Data Workshop (REDW) entitled "compendium of Current Total Ionizing Dose and Displacement Damage for Candidate Spacecraft Electronics for NASA by M. Campola, et al.

Comparison of Psychotropic Drug Prescribing Quality between Zagreb, Croatia and Sarajevo, B&H.

PubMed

Polić-Vižintin, Marina; Štimac, Danijela; Čatić, Tarik; Šostar, Zvonimir; Zelić, Ana; Živković, Krešimir; Draganić, Pero

2014-12-01

The purpose of this paper was to compare outpatient consumption and quality of psychotropic drug prescribing between Croatia and Bosnia & Herzegovina 2006-2010. Data on drug utilization from Zagreb Municipal Pharmacy and Sarajevo Public Pharmacy were used to calculate the number of defined daily doses (DDD) and DDD per 1000 inhabitants per day (DDD/TID) using the WHO Anatomical-Therapeutic-Chemical methodology. Total utilization of psychopharmaceuticals increased in both cities; however, it was higher in Zagreb than in Sarajevo throughout the study period. The utilization of psycholeptics increased in Zagreb by 2.4% (from 74.5 to 76.3 DDD/TID) and in Sarajevo by 3.8% (from 62.4 to 64.8 DDD/TID). The utilization of anxiolytics decreased in Zagreb by 2.1% and in Sarajevo by even 18.7%. The utilization of antidepressants increased in both cities with predominance of SSRI over TCA utilization, greater in Sarajevo (96.6%) than in Zagreb (10.2%). The anxiolytic/antidepressant ratio decreased by 11.1% in Zagreb (from 2.87 to 2.55) and by 58.7% in Sarajevo (from 5.66 to 2.34). Outpatient utilization of antipsychotics increased significantly in Sarajevo, predominated by typical ones, whereas in Zagreb the utilization of antipsychotics was stable, predominated by atypical ones. In Croatia and Bosnia & Herzegovina, there was an obvious tendency to follow western trends in drug prescribing, as demonstrated by the increased use of antidepressants and reduced use of anxiolytics. Despite some improvement observed in the prescribing quality, high use of antipsychotics with dominance of typical antipsychotics in Sarajevo points to the need of prescribing guidelines for antipsychotics.

An Overview of Starfish: A Table-Centric Tool for Interactive Synthesis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tsow, Alex

2008-01-01

Engineering is an interactive process that requires intelligent interaction at many levels. My thesis [1] advances an engineering discipline for high-level synthesis and architectural decomposition that integrates perspicuous representation, designer interaction, and mathematical rigor. Starfish, the software prototype for the design method, implements a table-centric transformation system for reorganizing control-dominated system expressions into high-level architectures. Based on the digital design derivation (DDD) system a designer-guided synthesis technique that applies correctness preserving transformations to synchronous data flow specifications expressed as co- recursive stream equations Starfish enhances user interaction and extends the reachable design space by incorporating four innovations: behavior tables, serialization tables, data refinement, and operator retiming. Behavior tables express systems of co-recursive stream equations as a table of guarded signal updates. Developers and users of the DDD system used manually constructed behavior tables to help them decide which transformations to apply and how to specify them. These design exercises produced several formally constructed hardware implementations: the FM9001 microprocessor, an SECD machine for evaluating LISP, and the SchemEngine, garbage collected machine for interpreting a byte-code representation of compiled Scheme programs. Bose and Tuna, two of DDD s developers, have subsequently commercialized the design derivation methodology at Derivation Systems, Inc. (DSI). DSI has formally derived and validated PCI bus interfaces and a Java byte-code processor; they further executed a contract to prototype SPIDER-NASA's ultra-reliable communications bus. To date, most derivations from DDD and DRS have targeted hardware due to its synchronous design paradigm. However, Starfish expressions are independent of the synchronization mechanism; there is no commitment to hardware or globally broadcast clocks. Though software back-ends for design derivation are limited to the DDD stream-interpreter, targeting synchronous or real-time software is not substantively different from targeting hardware.

Biotransformation of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane in the benthic polychaete, Nereis succinea: quantitative estimation by analyzing the partitioning of chemicals between gut fluid and lipid.

PubMed

Wang, Fei; Pei, Yuan-yuan; You, Jing

2015-02-01

Biotransformation plays an important role in the bioaccumulation and toxicity of a chemical in biota. Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) commonly co-occurs with its metabolites (dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane [DDD] and dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene [DDE]), in the environment; thus it is a challenge to accurately quantify the biotransformation rates of DDT and distinguish the sources of the accumulated metabolites in an organism. The present study describes a method developed to quantitatively analyze the biotransformation of p,p'-DDT in the benthic polychaete, Nereis succinea. The lugworms were exposed to sediments spiked with DDT at various concentrations for 28 d. Degradation of DDT to DDD and DDE occurred in sediments during the aging period, and approximately two-thirds of the DDT remained in the sediment. To calculate the biotransformation rates, residues of individual compounds measured in the bioaccumulation testing (after biotransformation) were compared with residues predicted by analyzing the partitioning of the parent and metabolite compounds between gut fluid and tissue lipid (before biotransformation). The results suggest that sediment ingestion rates decreased when DDT concentrations in sediment increased. Extensive biotransformation of DDT occurred in N. succinea, with 86% of DDT being metabolized to DDD and <2% being transformed to DDE. Of the DDD that accumulated in the lugworms, approximately 70% was the result of DDT biotransformation, and the remaining 30% was from direct uptake of sediment-associated DDD. In addition, the biotransformation was not dependent on bulk sediment concentrations, but rather on bioaccessible concentrations of the chemicals in sediment, which were quantified by gut fluid extraction. The newly established method improved the accuracy of prediction of the bioaccumulation and toxicity of DDTs. © 2014 SETAC.

Use of the p,p'-DDD: p,p'-DDE concentration ratio to trace contaminant migration from a hazardous waste site.

PubMed

Pinkney, Alfred E; McGowan, Peter C

2006-09-01

For approximately 50 years, beginning in the 1920s, hazardous wastes were disposed in an 11-hectare area of the Marine Corps Base (MCB) Quantico, Virginia, USA known as the Old Landfill. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and DDT compounds were the primary contaminants of concern. These contaminants migrated into the sediments of a 78-hectare area of the Potomac River, the Quantico Embayment. Fish tissue contamination resulted in the MCB posting signs along the embayment shoreline warning fishermen to avoid consumption. In this paper, we interpret total PCB (t-PCBs) and total DDT (t-DDT, sum of six DDT, DDD, and DDE isomers) data from monitoring studies. We use the ratio of p,p'-DDD to p,p'-DDE concentrations as a tracer to distinguish site-related from regional contamination. The median DDD/DDE ratio in Quantico Embayment sediments (3.5) was significantly higher than the median ratio (0.71) in sediments from nearby Powells Creek, used as a reference area. In general, t-PCBs and t-DDT concentrations were significantly higher in killifish (Fundulus diaphanus) and carp (Cyprinus carpio) from the Quantico Embayment compared with Powells Creek. For both species, Quantico Embayment fish had mean or median DDD/DDE ratios greater than one. Median ratios were significantly higher in Quantico Embayment (4.6) than Powells Creek (0.28) whole body carp. In contrast, t-PCBs and t-DDT in channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) fillets were similar in Quantico Embayment and Powells Creek collections, with median ratios of 0.34 and 0.26, respectively. Differences between species may be attributable to movement (carp and killifish being more localized) and feeding patterns (carp ingesting sediment while feeding). We recommend that environmental scientists use this ratio when investigating sites with DDT contamination.

[Atrial fibrillation before and after pacemaker implantation (WI and DDD) in patients with complete atrioventricular block].

PubMed

Matusik, Paweł; Woznica, Natalia; Lelakowsk, Jacek

2010-05-01

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a frequent problem of patients with pacemakers, and depends not only on disease but also on stimulation method. The aim of the study was to estimate the prevalence of AF before and after pacemaker implantation as well as to assess the influence of VVI and DDD cardiac pacing on onset of AF in patients with complete atrioventricularblock (AVB). We included 155 patients controlled between 2000 and 2008 in Pacemaker Clinic because of AVB III degree, treated with VVI or DDD pacemaker implantation. Information about the health status of the patients was gathered from medical documentation and analysis of clinical ambulatory electrocardiograms. The study group comprised of 68 women and 87 men, mean age 68.7 +/- 13.9 years during implantation. 69% of patients had VVI pacemaker. There were 72.3% of patients with sinus rhythm before pacemaker implantation. During follow-up 4 +/- 2.8 years in 19.6% cases onset of atrial fibrillation de novo was diagnosed (in 31.3% in VVI mode vs. 2.2% in DDD mode; p = 0.00014). Mean time to AF since implantation was approximately 2.5 years. In VVI group (21 persons) amounted 32.1 months, while in 1 patient with DDD pacemaker 18 months. Between group with AF after implantation and with sinus rhythm preserved there was no statistically significant difference in age or gender (p = 0.89512 and p = 0.1253, respectively). Prevalence of atrial fibrillation after pacemaker implantation increased to 40%. Atrial fibrillation is frequent in patients before and after pacemaker implantation, especially in patients stimulated in VVI mode. Major possibility of atrial fibrillation onset after pacemaker implantation should result in more attention during routine ECG examination.

[Accumulation and degradation of organochorine pesticides in shellfish culture environment in Xiamen sea area].

PubMed

Zhong, Shuo-liang; Dong, Li-ming

2011-09-01

By using GC-ECD, the concentrations of organochlorine pesticides hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) in the shellfish culture environment (sea water, sediments, and culture-shellfishes) in Xiamen sea area were analyzed, and the accumulation and degradation patterns of the HCH and DDT were preliminarily approached. In the sea area, there existed remarkable differences in the accumulation and degradation of HCH and DDT among different shellfish culture environments, being mostly associated with the habitation environment and physiological life habits of shellfish. The accumulated HCH isomers (Rx > 1) were mainly beta-HCH, delta-HCH, and gamma-HCH, whereas the degraded HCH isomers (Rx < 1) were mainly alpha-HCH. The ratio of alpha-HCH to gamma-HCH was less than or equal to 1.0, suggesting that the HCH was come from industrial HCH and lindane, most of the HCH had remained in the culture environment for a longer time, and a small amount of lindane was imported. The DDT in the sea water was aerobically degraded, its main degradation product was DDE, and the ratios of (DDD+DDE) to DDTs (p,p-DDE+p,p-DDD+o,p-DDT+p,p-DDT) was less than 0.5, whereas the DDT in sediments and shellfishes was anaerobically degraded, its main degradation product was DDD, and the ratios of (DDD+DDE) to DDTs was greater than 0.5, suggesting that there was a small amount of DDT newly imported in the sea water, and most DDT in sediments and shellfishes were already degraded and transformed into DDD and DDE. There were definite differences in the degradation rates of HCH isomers in the culture environment, suggesting the conformational change of HCH in its transformation processes in the shellfish culture ecosystem.

Cardiac pacing for severe childhood neurally mediated syncope with reflex anoxic seizures

PubMed Central

McLeod, K; Wilson, N; Hewitt, J; Norrie, J; Stephenson, J

1999-01-01

OBJECTIVE—To determine whether permanent cardiac pacing could prevent syncope and seizures in children with frequent severe neurally mediated syncope, and if so whether dual chamber pacing was superior to single chamber ventricular pacing.
METHODS—Dual chamber pacemakers were implanted into 12 children (eight male, four female) aged 2-14 years (median 2.8 years) with frequent episodes of reflex anoxic seizures and a recorded prolonged asystole during an attack. The pacemaker was programmed to sensing only (ODO), single chamber ventricular pacing with hysteresis (VVI), and dual chamber pacing with rate drop response (DDD) for four month periods, with each patient allocated to one of the six possible sequences of these modes, according to chronological order of pacemaker implantation. The parent and patient were blinded to the pacemaker mode and asked to record all episodes of syncope or presyncope ("near miss" events). The doctor analysing the results was blinded to the patient and pacemaker mode.
RESULTS—One patient was withdrawn from the study after the pacemaker was removed because of infection. In the remaining children, both dual chamber and single chamber pacing significantly reduced the number of syncopal episodes compared with sensing only (p = 0.0078 for both). VVI was as effective as DDD for preventing syncope, but DDD was superior to VVI in reducing near miss events (p = 0.016).
CONCLUSIONS—Permanent pacing is an effective treatment for children with severe neurally mediated syncope and reflex anoxic seizures. VVI is as effective as DDD in preventing syncope and seizures, but DDD is superior in preventing overall symptoms.


Keywords: syncope; reflex anoxic seizures; pacing; paediatric cardiology PMID:10573501

Substituent effects in double-helical hydrogen-bonded AAA-DDD complexes.

PubMed

Wang, Hong-Bo; Mudraboyina, Bhanu P; Wisner, James A

2012-01-27

Two series of DDD and AAA hydrogen-bond arrays were synthesized that form triply-hydrogen-bonded double-helical complexes when combined in CDCl(3) solution. Derivatization of the DDD arrays with electron-withdrawing groups increases the complex association constants by up to a factor of 30 in those arrays examined. Derivatization of the AAA arrays with electron donating substituents reveals a similar magnitude effect on the complex stabilities. The effect of substitution on both types of arrays are modeled quite satisfactorily (R(2) > 0.96 in all cases) as free energy relationships with respect to the sums of their Hammett substituent constants. In all, the complex stabilities can be manipulated over more than three orders of magnitude (>20 kJ mol(-1)) using this type of modification. Copyright © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Construction Strategy and Progress of Whole Intervertebral Disc Tissue Engineering.

PubMed

Yang, Qiang; Xu, Hai-wei; Hurday, Sookesh; Xu, Bao-shan

2016-02-01

Degenerative disc disease (DDD) is the major cause of low back pain, which usually leads to work absenteeism, medical visits and hospitalization. Because the current conservative procedures and surgical approaches to treatment of DDD only aim to relieve the symptoms of disease but not to regenerate the diseased disc, their long-term efficiency is limited. With the rapid developments in medical science, tissue engineering techniques have progressed markedly in recent years, providing a novel regenerative strategy for managing intervertebral disc disease. However, there are as yet no ideal methods for constructing tissue-engineered intervertebral discs. This paper reviews published reports pertaining to intervertebral disc tissue engineering and summarizes data concerning the seed cells and scaffold materials for tissue-engineered intervertebral discs, construction of tissue-engineered whole intervertebral discs, relevant animal experiments and effects of mechanics on the construction of tissue-engineered intervertebral disc and outlines the existing problems and future directions. Although the perfect regenerative strategy for treating DDD has not yet been developed, great progress has been achieved in the construction of tissue-engineered intervertebral discs. It is believed that ongoing research on intervertebral disc tissue engineering will result in revolutionary progress in the treatment of DDD. © 2016 Chinese Orthopaedic Association and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.

Oligosaccharide composition is similar in drusen and dense deposits in membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis type II.

PubMed

D'souza, Yvonne B; Jones, Carolyn J P; Short, Colin D; Roberts, Ian S D; Bonshek, Richard E

2009-04-01

Drusen are a feature of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Lesions similar in appearance to drusen are also found in the fundi of patients with membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis type II (dense deposit disease, DDD). The lamina densa of the glomerular basement membrane, in DDD, is transformed into an electron-dense structure by deposition of microscopically homogeneous material. Our study sought to compare the saccharide composition of drusen and dense deposits in the formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue from the eye and kidney. Six eye specimens were obtained from patients diagnosed with AMD but another eye was obtained from a patient with partial lipodystrophy, who died after renal failure presumably because of DDD. The kidney specimens were from three biopsy-proven cases of DDD. Glycosylation patterns were measured by the binding of 19 biotinylated lectins before and after neuraminidase pre-treatment. High mannose, bi/tri-antennary non-bisected and bisected complex N-glycan, N-acetyl glucosamine, galactose, and sialic acid residues were found in both drusen and dense deposits. Treatment with neuraminidase exposed subterminal galactose in both sites and sparse N-acetyl galactosamine residues in drusen alone. Our study found similar pathologic oligosaccharide structures in the eye and kidney, suggesting that drusen may be a common end result of retinal and glomerular disease.

Characterization of mitotane (o,p'-DDD)--cyclodextrin inclusion complexes: phase-solubility method and NMR.

PubMed

Alfonsi, R; Attivi, D; Astier, A; Socha, M; Morice, S; Gibaud, S

2013-05-01

Mitotane (o,p'-dichlorodimethyl dichloroethane [o,p'-DDD]) is used for the treatment of adrenocortical cancer and occasionally Cushing's syndrome. This drug is very poorly soluble in water, and following oral administration, approximately 60% of the dose is recovered in the feces unaltered. The preparation of a soluble formulation (i.e. by complexation with cyclodextrins) with improved bioavailability is the aim of this work. The inclusion of mitotane in methyl-ß-cyclodextrins was studied using both phase-solubility methods and NMR experiments. To elucidate the inclusion mechanism, o,p'-DDD was compared to its regioisomer (i.e. p,p'-DDD). It was demonstrated that two dimethyl-ß-cyclodextrins (DMßCD) can complex with the aromatic rings. From the phase-solubility diagrams, we observe that both cases are very different: K(1:1) is between 37 000 and 85 000 mol.l(-1), whereas K(1:2) is between 5.3 and 32 mol.l(-1). The NMR experiments confirmed the inclusion but it also gave an insight into the kinetics of the dissociation: the ortho-chloro moiety is in slow exchange on the NMR time scale, whereas the para-chloro moiety is in fast exchange rate. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

The diagnostic value of pepsin detection in saliva for gastro-esophageal reflux disease: a preliminary study from China.

PubMed

Du, Xing; Wang, Feng; Hu, Zhiwei; Wu, Jimin; Wang, Zhonggao; Yan, Chao; Zhang, Chao; Tang, Juan

2017-10-17

None of current diagnostic methods has been proven to be a reliable tool for gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD). Pepsin in saliva has been proposed as a promising diagnostic biomarker for gastro-esophageal reflux. We aimed to determine the diagnostic value of salivary pepsin detection for GERD. Two hundred and fifty patients with symptoms suggestive of GERD and 35 asymptomatic healthy volunteers provided saliva on morning waking, after lunch and dinner for pepsin determination using the Peptest lateral flow device. All patients underwent 24-h multichannel intraluminal impedance pH (24-h MII-pH) monitoring and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Based on 24-h MII-pH and endoscopy study, patients were defined as GERD (abnormal MII-pH results and/or reflux esophagitis) and non-GERD otherwise. Patients with GERD had a higher prevalence of pepsin in saliva and higher pepsin concentration than patients with non-GERD and healthy controls (P < 0.001 for all). The pepsin test had a sensitivity of 73% and a specificity of 88.3% for diagnosing GERD using the optimal cut-off value of 76 ng/mL. Postprandial saliva samples collected when the symptoms occurred had a more powerful ability to identify GERD. Salivary pepsin test had moderate diagnostic value for GERD. It may be a promising tool to replace the use of currently invasive tools with advantages of non-invasive, easy to perform and cost effective. ChiCTR-DDD-16009506 (date of registration: October 20, 2016).

Organochlorine contaminants in white-faced ibis eggs in southern Texas

USGS Publications Warehouse

Custer, T.W.; Mitchell, C.A.

1989-01-01

White-faced Ibis (Plegadis chihi ) eggs collected from two colonies in southern Texas in 1985 had low mean concentrations of DDE (0.14-0.27 ppm wet weight). DDD, the only other organochlorine contaminant detected, was found in only 1 of 20 eggs. DDE concentrations in eggs were not significantly correlated with eggshell thickness. Mean DDE concentrations were significantly higher in eggs collected from nests where not all of the remaining eggs hatched (1.0 ppm) than in eggs collected from nests where all the remaining eggs hatched (0.15 ppm).

A novel multiple-stage antimalarial agent that inhibits protein synthesis.

PubMed

Baragaña, Beatriz; Hallyburton, Irene; Lee, Marcus C S; Norcross, Neil R; Grimaldi, Raffaella; Otto, Thomas D; Proto, William R; Blagborough, Andrew M; Meister, Stephan; Wirjanata, Grennady; Ruecker, Andrea; Upton, Leanna M; Abraham, Tara S; Almeida, Mariana J; Pradhan, Anupam; Porzelle, Achim; Luksch, Torsten; Martínez, María Santos; Luksch, Torsten; Bolscher, Judith M; Woodland, Andrew; Norval, Suzanne; Zuccotto, Fabio; Thomas, John; Simeons, Frederick; Stojanovski, Laste; Osuna-Cabello, Maria; Brock, Paddy M; Churcher, Tom S; Sala, Katarzyna A; Zakutansky, Sara E; Jiménez-Díaz, María Belén; Sanz, Laura Maria; Riley, Jennifer; Basak, Rajshekhar; Campbell, Michael; Avery, Vicky M; Sauerwein, Robert W; Dechering, Koen J; Noviyanti, Rintis; Campo, Brice; Frearson, Julie A; Angulo-Barturen, Iñigo; Ferrer-Bazaga, Santiago; Gamo, Francisco Javier; Wyatt, Paul G; Leroy, Didier; Siegl, Peter; Delves, Michael J; Kyle, Dennis E; Wittlin, Sergio; Marfurt, Jutta; Price, Ric N; Sinden, Robert E; Winzeler, Elizabeth A; Charman, Susan A; Bebrevska, Lidiya; Gray, David W; Campbell, Simon; Fairlamb, Alan H; Willis, Paul A; Rayner, Julian C; Fidock, David A; Read, Kevin D; Gilbert, Ian H

2015-06-18

There is an urgent need for new drugs to treat malaria, with broad therapeutic potential and novel modes of action, to widen the scope of treatment and to overcome emerging drug resistance. Here we describe the discovery of DDD107498, a compound with a potent and novel spectrum of antimalarial activity against multiple life-cycle stages of the Plasmodium parasite, with good pharmacokinetic properties and an acceptable safety profile. DDD107498 demonstrates potential to address a variety of clinical needs, including single-dose treatment, transmission blocking and chemoprotection. DDD107498 was developed from a screening programme against blood-stage malaria parasites; its molecular target has been identified as translation elongation factor 2 (eEF2), which is responsible for the GTP-dependent translocation of the ribosome along messenger RNA, and is essential for protein synthesis. This discovery of eEF2 as a viable antimalarial drug target opens up new possibilities for drug discovery.

A novel multiple-stage antimalarial agent that inhibits protein synthesis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baragaña, Beatriz; Hallyburton, Irene; Lee, Marcus C. S.; Norcross, Neil R.; Grimaldi, Raffaella; Otto, Thomas D.; Proto, William R.; Blagborough, Andrew M.; Meister, Stephan; Wirjanata, Grennady; Ruecker, Andrea; Upton, Leanna M.; Abraham, Tara S.; Almeida, Mariana J.; Pradhan, Anupam; Porzelle, Achim; Martínez, María Santos; Bolscher, Judith M.; Woodland, Andrew; Norval, Suzanne; Zuccotto, Fabio; Thomas, John; Simeons, Frederick; Stojanovski, Laste; Osuna-Cabello, Maria; Brock, Paddy M.; Churcher, Tom S.; Sala, Katarzyna A.; Zakutansky, Sara E.; Jiménez-Díaz, María Belén; Sanz, Laura Maria; Riley, Jennifer; Basak, Rajshekhar; Campbell, Michael; Avery, Vicky M.; Sauerwein, Robert W.; Dechering, Koen J.; Noviyanti, Rintis; Campo, Brice; Frearson, Julie A.; Angulo-Barturen, Iñigo; Ferrer-Bazaga, Santiago; Gamo, Francisco Javier; Wyatt, Paul G.; Leroy, Didier; Siegl, Peter; Delves, Michael J.; Kyle, Dennis E.; Wittlin, Sergio; Marfurt, Jutta; Price, Ric N.; Sinden, Robert E.; Winzeler, Elizabeth A.; Charman, Susan A.; Bebrevska, Lidiya; Gray, David W.; Campbell, Simon; Fairlamb, Alan H.; Willis, Paul A.; Rayner, Julian C.; Fidock, David A.; Read, Kevin D.; Gilbert, Ian H.

2015-06-01

There is an urgent need for new drugs to treat malaria, with broad therapeutic potential and novel modes of action, to widen the scope of treatment and to overcome emerging drug resistance. Here we describe the discovery of DDD107498, a compound with a potent and novel spectrum of antimalarial activity against multiple life-cycle stages of the Plasmodium parasite, with good pharmacokinetic properties and an acceptable safety profile. DDD107498 demonstrates potential to address a variety of clinical needs, including single-dose treatment, transmission blocking and chemoprotection. DDD107498 was developed from a screening programme against blood-stage malaria parasites; its molecular target has been identified as translation elongation factor 2 (eEF2), which is responsible for the GTP-dependent translocation of the ribosome along messenger RNA, and is essential for protein synthesis. This discovery of eEF2 as a viable antimalarial drug target opens up new possibilities for drug discovery.

Dissipative Particle Dynamics at Isoenthalpic Conditions Using Shardlow-Like Splitting Algorithms

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-09-01

dd 11 d d ,...,1d 11 2 d 2 1 d dd dlnd ,...,1d1 dddd ddd ij 2 2 2...t W p t m ij i f C iji i i i i dd dlnd d1dd ddd                      pFp r p r  Ni ,...,1 , (10) while the fluctuation...pp rr v r p dd ddd             (11a) 6 j ji i i- j i- ji- j i- j mech,i j i i j mech,i j mech,i j j i 1 u 2 2m 2m u u d d d

Association of catechol-O-methyltransferase genetic variants with outcome in patients undergoing surgical treatment for lumbar degenerative disc disease.

PubMed

Dai, Feng; Belfer, Inna; Schwartz, Carolyn E; Banco, Robert; Martha, Julia F; Tighioughart, Hocine; Tromanhauser, Scott G; Jenis, Louis G; Kim, David H

2010-11-01

Surgical treatment for lumbar degenerative disc disease (DDD) has been associated with highly variable results in terms of postoperative pain relief and functional improvement. Many experts believe that DDD should be considered a chronic pain disorder as opposed to a degenerative disease. Genetic variation of the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene has been associated with variation in human pain sensitivity and response to analgesics in previous studies. To determine whether genetic variation of COMT is associated with clinical outcome after surgical treatment for DDD. Prospective genetic association study. Sixty-nine patients undergoing surgical treatment for lumbar DDD. Diagnosis was based on documentation of chronic disabling low back pain (LBP) present for a minimum of 6 months and unresponsive to supervised nonoperative treatment, including activity modification, medication, physical therapy, and/or injection therapy. Plain radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging revealed intervertebral disc desiccation, tears, and/or collapse without focal herniation, nerve root compression, stenosis, spondylolisthesis, spondylolysis, or alternative diagnoses. Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and visual analog score (VAS) for LBP. Surgical treatment included 65 instrumented fusions and four disc arthroplasty procedures. All patients completed preoperative and 1-year postoperative ODI questionnaires. DNA was extracted from a sample of venous blood, and genotype analysis was performed for five common COMT single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Potential genetic association between these COMT SNPs and the primary outcome variable, 1-year change in ODI, was investigated using both single-marker and haplotype association analyses. Association with VAS scores for LBP was analyzed as a secondary outcome variable. Single-marker analysis revealed that the COMT SNP rs4633 was significantly associated with greater improvement in ODI score 1 year after surgery (p=.03), with individuals homozygous for the less common "T" allele demonstrating the largest improvement in ODI. Haplotype analysis of four COMT SNPs, rs6269, rs4633, rs4818, and rs4680, also identified a common haplotype "ATCA" (haplotype frequency of 39.3% in the study population) associated with greater improvement in ODI (p=.046). The greatest mean improvement in ODI was observed in patients homozygous for the "ATCA"COMT haplotype. A nonsignificant trend was observed between SNP rs4633 and greater improvement in VAS score for LBP. This is the first study to report an association between surgical treatment success in DDD patients and genetic variation in the putative pain sensitivity gene COMT. These findings require replication in other DDD populations but suggest that genetic testing for pain-relevant genetic markers such as COMT may provide useful clinical information in terms of predicting outcome after surgery for patients diagnosed with DDD. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Repetitive nonreentrant ventriculoatrial synchrony: An underrecognized cause of pacemaker-related arrhythmia.

PubMed

Sharma, Parikshit S; Kaszala, Karoly; Tan, Alex Y; Koneru, Jayanthi N; Shepard, Richard; Ellenbogen, Kenneth A; Huizar, Jose F

2016-08-01

Similar to endless loop tachycardia (ELT), repetitive nonreentrant ventriculoatrial synchrony (RNRVAS) is a ventriculoatrial (VA) synchrony pacemaker-mediated arrhythmia. RNRVAS was first described in 1990 and can only occur in the presence of retrograde VA conduction and dual-chamber or cardiac resynchronization devices with tracking (P-synchronous ventricular pacing such as DDD, DDDR) or nontracking pacing modes that allow AV-sequential pacing (DDI, DDIR). RNRVAS is promoted by (1) high lower rate limit or any feature that allows rapid pacing, (2) long AV intervals, or (3) long postventricular atrial refractory period (PVARP). In contrast to ELT, RNRVAS is a less well-recognized form of pacemaker-mediated arrhythmia; thus, unlike ELT, there are no specific device algorithms to prevent, recognize, and terminate RNRVAS. However, RNRVAS has been recently shown to occur frequently. We present a series of cases, some of which were found fortuitously. Owing to its clinical implications, we propose that algorithms should be developed to prevent, identify, and terminate RNRVAS. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Drug usage by outpatients in Croatia during an 8-year period: Influence of changes in pricing policy.

PubMed

Vitezic, Dinko; Madjarevic, Tomislav; Gantumur, Monja; Buble, Tonci; Vitezic, Miomira; Kovacevic, Miljenko; Mrsic-Pelcic, Jasenka; Sestan, Branko

2012-07-01

The aim of our study was to investigate the changes in drug usage and financial expenditure according to legal changes in Croatia during the period 2001 - 2008, especially considering pricing policy. The data on outpatient drug usage during the studied period was obtained from the Croatian National Health Insurance (CNHI). CNHI maintains a database on drugs prescribed by primary health care physicians and dispensed by pharmacies. The data was calculated and presented in defined daily doses (DDD) per inhabitant per year for antibiotics and in DDD/1,000 inhabitants/day for other drugs. The data is also presented in Euro/DDD and the financial expenditures are presented in Euros. During the investigated period drug usage increased 81.33%, while financial expenditure increased 77.23%. While total DDD/1,000 increased ~ 10% every year, financial expenditure increased 10 - 20% annually until 2006, but since then there have been no significant changes. Pricing policy changes could influence drug financial expenditure considerably in the short-term, but it is also important to apply a combination of measures for drug expenditure control. Numerous interventions from authorities from different countries all over the world, prove that there is still no so called "gold standard" which could restrain growing usage and expenditure of drugs. Clinical pharmacologists and clinical pharmacists should be included in these processes.

Clinical features and outcomes of 98 children and adults with dense deposit disease

PubMed Central

Moon, Mikyung; Lanning, Lynne D.; McCarthy, Ann Marie; Smith, Richard J. H.

2015-01-01

Background Dense deposit disease (DDD) is an ultra-rare renal disease. Methods In the study reported here, 98 patients and their families participated in a descriptive patient-centered survey using an online research format. Reports were completed by patients (38%) or their parents (62%). Age at diagnosis ranged from 1.9 to 38.9 years (mean 14 years). Results The majority of patients presented with proteinuria and hematuria; 50% had hypertension and edema. Steroids were commonly prescribed, although their use was not evidence-based. One-half of the patients with DDD for 10 years progressed to end-stage renal disease (ESRD), with young females having the greatest risk for renal failure. Of first allografts, 45% failed within 5 years, most frequently due to recurrent disease (70%). Type 1 diabetes (T1D) was present in over 16% of families, which represents a 116-fold increase in incidence compared with the general population (p<0.001). Conclusions Based on these findings, we suggest that initiatives are needed to explore the high incidence of T1D in family members of DDD patients and the greater risk for progression to ESRD in young females with DDD. These efforts must be supported by sufficient numbers of patients to establish evidence-based practice guidelines for disease management. An international collaborative research survey should be implemented to encourage broad access and participation. PMID:22105967

Review of Utilization of Cardiovascular Medicines by Daily Defined Dose in the Czech Republic and Slovak Republic.

PubMed

Szilágyiová, Petra; Slušná, Jana; Babela, Robert

2017-11-01

To the Editor, Drug utilization is an important field of drug policy and an integral part of public health internationally. This area of research attracts increasing interest but the pioneering work was done 50 years ago when the first drug consumption report from six European countries for the period of 1966-1967 showed great differences in drug utilization between population groups (WHO, 1968). These results gave important stimulus for creation of Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification and technical unit of measurement called the Defined Daily Dose (DDD) which is specified as "the assumed average maintenance dose per day for a drug used for its main indication in adults" that dealt with the objections against traditional units of measurement in drug utilization studies (WHO, 2016). The ATC/DDD methodology has in the meantime proved its suitability in drug utilization monitoring and research. As mentioned previously, consumption of pharmaceuticals is often used as a basis for comparison between countries. Based on our professional expertise, we decided to analyze the consumption of cardiovascular medicines by DDD in the Czech Republic and Slovak Republic within all ATC groups reported to OECD (OECD, 2016a). According to OECD indicator results, the Slovak Republic showed in 2014 a higher pharmaceutical consumption by DDD in ATC group C (cardiovascular system) compared to the Czech Republic (OECD, 2016a).

The Dichotic Digits difference Test (DDdT): Development, Normative Data, and Test-Retest Reliability Studies Part 1.

PubMed

Cameron, Sharon; Glyde, Helen; Dillon, Harvey; Whitfield, Jessica; Seymour, John

2016-06-01

The dichotic digits test is one of the most widely used assessment tools for central auditory processing disorder. However, questions remain concerning the impact of cognitive factors on test results. To develop the Dichotic Digits difference Test (DDdT), an assessment tool that could differentiate children with cognitive deficits from children with genuine dichotic deficits based on differential test results. The DDdT consists of four subtests: dichotic free recall (FR), dichotic directed left ear (DLE), dichotic directed right ear (DRE), and diotic. Scores for six conditions are calculated (FR left ear [LE], FR right ear [RE], and FR total, as well as DLE, DRE, and diotic). Scores for four difference measures are also calculated: dichotic advantage, right-ear advantage (REA) FR, REA directed, and attention advantage. Experiment 1 involved development of the DDdT, including error rate analysis. Experiment 2 involved collection of normative and test-retest reliability data. Twenty adults (aged 25 yr 10 mo to 50 yr 7 mo, mean 36 yr 4 mo) took part in the development study; 62 normal-hearing, typically developing, primary-school children (aged 7 yr 1 mo to 11 yr 11 mo, mean 9 yr 4 mo) and 10 adults (aged 25 yr 0 mo to 51 yr 6 mo, mean 34 yr 10 mo) took part in the normative and test-retest reliability study. In Experiment 1, error rate analysis was conducted on the 36 digit-pair combinations of the DDdT. Normative data collected in Experiment 2 were arcsine transformed to achieve a distribution that was closer to a normal distribution and z-scores calculated. Pearson product-moment correlations were used to determine the strength of relationships between DDdT conditions. The development study revealed no significant differences in the adult population between test and retest on any DDdT condition. Error rates on 36 digit pairs ranged from 1.5% to 16.7%. The most and the least error-prone digits were removed before commencement of the normative data study, leaving 25 unique digit pairs. Average z-scores calculated from the arcsine-transformed data collected from the 62 children who took part in the normative data study revealed that FR dichotic processing (LE, RE, and total) was highly correlated with diotic processing (r ranging from 0.5 to 0.6; p < 0.0001). Significant improvements in performance on retest occurred for the FR LE, RE, total, and diotic conditions (p ranging from 0.05 to 0.0004), the conditions that would be expected to improve with practice if the participant's response strategies are better the second time around. The addition of a diotic control task-that shares many response demands with the usual dichotic tasks-opens up the possibility of differentiating children who perform below expectations because of poor dichotic processing skills from those who perform poorly because of impaired attention, memory, or other cognitive abilities. The high correlation between dichotic and diotic performance suggests that factors other than dichotic performance play a substantial role in a child's ability to perform a dichotic listening task. This hypothesis is investigated further in the cognitive correlation study that follows in the companion paper (DDdT Study Part 2; Cameron et al, 2016). American Academy of Audiology.

Reducing calibration parameters to increase insight in catchment organization and similarity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Skaugen, Thomas; Onof, Christian

2013-04-01

Ideally, hydrological models should be built from equations parameterised from observed catchment characteristics and data. This state of affairs may never be reached, but a governing principle in hydrological modelling should be to keep the number of calibration parameters to a minimum. A reduced number of parameters to be calibrated, while maintaining the accuracy and detail required by modern hydrological models, will reduce parameter and model structure uncertainty and improve model diagnostics. The dynamics of runoff for small catchments are derived from the distribution of distances from points in the catchments to the nearest stream in a catchment. This distribution is unique for each catchment and can be determined from a geographical information system (GIS). The distribution of distances, will, when a celerity of (subsurface) flow is introduced, provide a distribution of travel times, or a unit hydrograph (UH). For spatially varying levels of saturation deficit we have different celerities and, hence, different UHs. Runoff is derived from the super-positioning of the different UHs. This study shows how celerities can be estimated if we assume that recession events represent the superpositioned UH for different levels of saturation deficit. The performance of the DDD (Distance Distribution Dynamics) model is compared to that of the Swedish HBV model and is found to perform equally well for eight Norwegian catchments although the number of parameters to be calibrated in the module concerning soil moisture and runoff dynamics is reduced from 7 in the HBV model to 1 in the DDD model. It is also shown that the DDD model has a more realistic representation of the subsurface hydrology. The transparency of the DDD model makes model diagnostics more easy and experience with DDD shows that differences in model performance may be related to differences in catchment characteristics. More specifically, it appears that the hydrological dynamics of bogs have to be taken especially into account when modelling Norwegian catchments.

Forecasting carbapenem resistance from antimicrobial consumption surveillance: Lessons learnt from an OXA-48-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae outbreak in a West London renal unit.

PubMed

Gharbi, M; Moore, L S P; Gilchrist, M; Thomas, C P; Bamford, K; Brannigan, E T; Holmes, A H

2015-08-01

This study aimed to forecast the incidence rate of carbapenem resistance and to assess the impact of an antimicrobial stewardship intervention using routine antimicrobial consumption surveillance data. Following an outbreak of OXA-48-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (January 2008-April 2010) in a renal cohort in London, a forecasting ARIMA model was derived using meropenem consumption data [defined daily dose per 100 occupied bed-days (DDD/100OBD)] from 2005-2014 as a predictor of the incidence rate of OXA-48-producing organisms (number of new cases/year/100,000OBD). Interrupted times series assessed the impact of meropenem consumption restriction as part of the outbreak control. Meropenem consumption at lag -1 year (the preceding year), highly correlated with the incidence of OXA-48-producing organisms (r=0.71; P=0.005), was included as a predictor within the forecasting model. The number of cases/100,000OBD for 2014-2015 was estimated to be 4.96 (95% CI 2.53-7.39). Analysis of meropenem consumption pre- and post-intervention demonstrated an increase of 7.12 DDD/100OBD/year (95% CI 2.97-11.27; P<0.001) in the 4 years preceding the intervention, but a decrease thereafter. The change in slope was -9.11 DDD/100OBD/year (95% CI -13.82 to -4.39). Analysis of alternative antimicrobials showed a significant increase in amikacin consumption post-intervention from 0.54 to 3.41 DDD/100OBD/year (slope +0.72, 95% CI 0.29-1.15; P=0.01). Total antimicrobials significantly decreased from 176.21 to 126.24 DDD/100OBD/year (P=0.05). Surveillance of routinely collected antimicrobial consumption data may provide a key warning indicator to anticipate increased incidence of carbapenem-resistant organisms. Further validation using real-time data is needed. Copyright © 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Survival After Rate-Responsive Programming in Patients With Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy-Defibrillator Implants Is Associated With a Novel Parameter: The Heart Rate Score.

PubMed

Olshansky, Brian; Richards, Mark; Sharma, Arjun; Wold, Nicholas; Jones, Paul; Perschbacher, David; Wilkoff, Bruce L

2016-08-01

Rate-responsive pacing (DDDR) versus nonrate-responsive pacing (DDD) has shown no survival benefit for patients undergoing cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator (CRT-D) implants. The heart rate score (HRSc), an indicator of heart rate variation, may predict survival. We hypothesized that high-risk HRSc CRT-D patients will have improved survival with DDDR versus DDD alone. All CRT-D patients in LATITUDE remote monitoring (2006-2011), programmed DDD, had HRSc calculated at first data upload after implant (median 1.4 months). Patients subsequently reprogrammed to DDDR 7.6 median months later were compared with a propensity-matched DDD group and followed for 21.4 median months by remote monitoring. Data were adjusted for age, sex, lower rate limit, percent atrial pacing, percent biventricular pacing, and implant year. The social security death index was used to identify deaths. Remote monitoring provided programming and histogram data. DDDR programming in CRT-D patients was associated with improved survival (adjusted hazard ratio =0.77; P<0.001). However, only those with baseline HRSc ≥70% (2308/6164) had improved HRSc with DDDR (from 88±9% to 78±15%; P<0.001) and improved survival (hazard ratio =0.74; P<0.001). Patients with a high baseline HRSc and significant improvement over time were more likely to survive (hazard ratio =0.63; P=0.006). For patients with HRSc <70%, DDDR reprogramming increased the HRSc from 46±11% to 50±15% (P<0.001); survival did not change. The HRSc did not change with DDD pacing over time. In CRT-D patients with HRSc ≥70%, DDDR reprogramming improved the HRSc and was associated with survival. Patients with lower HRSc had no change in survival with DDDR programming. © 2016 American Heart Association, Inc.

Return to Work After Diskogenic Fusion in Workers' Compensation Subjects.

PubMed

Anderson, Joshua T; Haas, Arnold R; Percy, Rick; Woods, Stephen T; Ahn, Uri M; Ahn, Nicholas U

2015-12-01

Lumbar fusion for degenerative disk disease (DDD) is associated with variable clinical outcomes. Patients with workers' compensation claims often have worse fusion outcomes than the general population. Few studies have evaluated the risk factors for poor outcomes within this clinically distinct population. The goal of this study was to identify preoperative predictors of return to work status after fusion for DDD in a workers' compensation setting. The authors used International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9), diagnosis and Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) procedural codes to identify 1037 subjects from the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation database who underwent fusion for DDD between 1993 and 2013. Of these subjects, 23.2% (n=241) made a sustained return to work within 2 years after fusion. To identify preoperative predictors of postoperative return to work status, the authors used multivariate logistic regression analysis, adjusting for many important covariates. These included prolonged time out of work (P<.001; odds ratio [OR], 0.24), psychiatric history (P<.001; OR, 0.14), prolonged use of opioid analgesics (P<.001; OR, 0.46), male sex (P=.014; OR, 0.65), and legal representation (P=.042; OR, 0.67). The return to work rates associated with these risk factors were 10.4%, 2.0%, 11.9%, 21.1%, and 20.7%, respectively. Of the study subjects, 76.8% (n=796) did not return to work and had considerably worse postoperative outcomes, highlighted by chronic opioid dependence and high rates of failed back syndrome, additional surgery, and new psychiatric comorbidity. The low return to work rates and other generally poor outcomes reported in this study may indicate a more limited role for lumbar fusion among patients with DDD who have workers' compensation claims. More studies are needed to determine whether fusion for DDD can improve function and quality of life in these patients. Copyright 2015, SLACK Incorporated.

Abilities of Co-cultures of Brown-Rot Fungus Fomitopsis pinicola and Bacillus subtilis on Biodegradation of DDT.

PubMed

Sariwati, Atmira; Purnomo, Adi Setyo; Kamei, Ichiro

2017-09-01

DDT (1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)ethane) is one of the pesticides that are hazardous for the environment and human health. Effective environmental-friendly treatment using co-cultures of fungi and bacteria is needed. In this study, the bacteria Bacillus subtilis at various volumes of 1, 3, 5, 7, and 10 mL (1 mL ≈ 6.7 × 10 8  CFU) were mixed into 10 mL of the brown-rot fungus Fomitopsis pinicola culture for degrading DDT during a 7-days incubation period. DDT was degraded by approximately 42% by F. pinicola during the 7-days incubation period. The addition of 10 mL of B. subtilis into F. pinicola culture showed the highest DDT degradation of approximately 86% during the 7-days incubation period. DDD (1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)ethane), DDE (1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)ethylene), and DDMU (1-chloro-2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)ethylene) were detected as metabolic products from DDT degradation by co-cultures of F. pinicola and B. subtilis. Transformation pathway was proposed in which DDT was transformed into three pathways as follows: (1) dechlorination to DDD, (2) dehydrochlorination to DDE, and (3) formation of DDMU.

Primary culture system of adrenocortical cells from dogs to evaluate direct effects of chemicals on steroidogenesis.

PubMed

Morishita, K; Okumura, H; Ito, N; Takahashi, N

2001-08-28

The present study was conducted to confirm the usefulness of a primary culture system of adrenocortical cells from dogs for detecting the direct effects of the chemicals on adrenal cortex. Corticosteroid levels in the culture supernatant were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) following 24-h incubation with the chemicals. Ketoconazole, miconazole, metyrapone, aminoglutethimide, and 1-(o-chlorophenyl)-1-(p-chlorophenyl)-2,2-dichloroethane (o,p-DDD), which were known to inhibit cortisol production were evaluated in this system. Both viable cells and corticosteroid levels were decreased by o,p-DDD treatment. Other chemicals showed various inhibition patterns of corticosteroid levels as follows without affecting cell viability. Ketoconazole decreased total corticosteroids level by mainly due to the decreases in cortisol and 11-deoxycortisol levels. Miconazole decreased cortisol and 11-deoxycortisol levels, however, slightly increased corticosterone level. Metyrapone decreased cortisol and corticosterone levels as 11-deoxycortisol and 11-deoxycorticosterone levels were increased. Aminoglutethimide decreased total corticosteroids level by mainly decreasing cortisol, corticosterone and 11-deoxycortisol levels. These results suggested that determination of the pattern of corticosteroid levels by HPLC in this system well reflected the mode of their action on steroidogenesis. Thus, we conclude this simple system was useful to determine the direct effects of chemicals on steroidogenesis in the adrenal cortex.

Levels of Organochlorine Pesticides and Heavy Metals in Surface Waters of Konya Closed Basin, Turkey

PubMed Central

Aydin, Mehmet Emin; Ozcan, Senar; Beduk, Fatma; Tor, Ali

2013-01-01

The concentrations of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), including α-, β-, γ-, and δ-hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH), heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide, dieldrin, aldrin, endrin, endrin aldehyde, endrin ketone, endosulfan I, endosulfan II, endosulfan sulfate, p,p′-DDE, p,p′-DDD, p,p′-DDT, methoxychlor, chlordane I, chlordane II, and heavy metals, such as As, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Ni in surface water samples from the Konya closed basin were determined to evaluate the level of contamination. Among all HCH isomers, β-HCH is the main isomer with a concentration range of 0.015–0.065 μg/L. DDE, DDD, and DDT were almost determined in all samples, in which DDE isomer had the highest concentration ranged from not detected to 0.037 μg/L. In all studied OCPs, aldrin showed the highest concentration at 0.220 μg/L. The concentrations of heavy metals in water samples were observed with order: Mn < Cu < Ni < As < Cr < Fe. In some samples, As, Fe, and Cr concentrations exceeded the drinking water quality recommended by EU, US EPA, WHO, and Turkish Regulation, while Cu, Ni, and Mn concentrations are below the guideline values. The levels of both OCPs and heavy metals were also compared with other previously published data. PMID:23533363

Orientation influence on grain size-effects in ultrafine-grained magnesium

DOE PAGES

Fan, Haidong; Aubry, Sylvie; Arsenlis, A.; ...

2014-11-08

The mechanical behavior of ultrafine-grained magnesium was studied by discrete dislocation dynamics (DDD) simulations. Our results show basal slip yields a strong size effect, while prismatic and pyramidal slips produce a weak one. We developed a new size-strength model that considers dislocation transmission across grain boundaries. Good agreement between this model, current DDD simulations and previous experiments is observed. These results reveal that the grain size effect depends on 3 factors: Peierls stress, dislocation source strength and grain boundary strength.

Maritime Mobile Force Protection (MMFP) Program

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-05-28

to draw or write on the screen.  Thin design has a starting weight of 4.65lbs.  Capture handwriting : scrawl onscreen with the included dockable...Will say “Past CPA” if CPA has already occurred. Range at CPA DDD Yards Range at Closest Point of Approach to HVU Closing Speed DDD knots Speed of...closing to HVU, if greater than or equal to zero. Will say “Opening” if the closing speed is less than zero. Data Source Radar, AIS, Correlated Source

Readily functionalized AAA-DDD triply hydrogen-bonded motifs.

PubMed

Tong, Feng; Linares-Mendez, Iamnica J; Han, Yi-Fei; Wisner, James A; Wang, Hong-Bo

2018-04-25

Herein we present a new, readily functionalized AAA-DDD hydrogen bond array. A novel AAA monomeric unit (3a-b) was obtained from a two-step synthetic procedure starting with 2-aminonicotinaldehyde via microwave radiation (overall yield of 52-66%). 1H NMR and fluorescence spectroscopy confirmed the complexation event with a calculated association constant of 1.57 × 107 M-1. Likewise, the usefulness of this triple hydrogen bond motif in supramolecular polymerization was demonstrated through viscosity measurements in a crosslinked supramolecular alternating copolymer.

Intermediate clinical and radiological results of cervical TDR (Mobi-C®) with up to 2 years of follow-up

PubMed Central

Beaurain, J.; Bernard, P.; Dufour, T.; Fuentes, J. M.; Hovorka, I.; Huppert, J.; Steib, J. P.; Vital, J. M.; Aubourg, L.

2009-01-01

The interest in cervical total disc replacement (TDR) as an alternative to the so-far gold standard in the surgical treatment of degenerative disc disease (DDD), e.g anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF), is growing very rapidly. Many authors have established the fact that ACDF may result in progressive degeneration in adjacent segments. On the contrary, but still theoretically, preservation of motion with TDR at the surgically treated level may potentially reduce the occurrence of adjacent-level degeneration (ALD). The authors report the intermediate results of an undergoing multicentre prospective study of TDR with Mobi-C® prosthesis. The aim of the study was to assess the safety and efficacy of the device in the treatment of DDD and secondary to evaluate the radiological status of adjacent levels and the occurrence of ossifications, at 2-year follow-up (FU). 76 patients have performed their 2-year FU visit and have been analyzed clinically and radiologically. Clinical outcomes (NDI, VAS, SF-36) and ROM measurements were analyzed pre-operatively and at the different post-operative time-points. Complications and re-operations were also assessed. Occurrences of heterotopic ossifications (HOs) and of adjacent disc degeneration radiographic changes have been analyzed from 2-year FU X-rays. The mean NDI and VAS scores for arm and neck are reduced significantly at each post-operative time-point compared to pre-operative condition. Motion is preserved over the time at index levels (mean ROM = 9° at 2 years) and 85.5% of the segments are mobile at 2 years. HOs are responsible for the fusion of 6/76 levels at 2 years. However, presence of HO does not alter the clinical outcomes. The occurrence rate of radiological signs of ALD is very low at 2 years (9.1%). There has been no subsidence, no expulsion and no sub-luxation of the implant. Finally, after 2 years, 91% of the patients assume that they would undergo the procedure again. These intermediate results of TDR with Mobi-C® are very encouraging and seem to confirm the efficacy and the safety of the device. Regarding the preservation of the status of the adjacent levels, the results of this unconstrained device are encouraging, but longer FU studies are needed to prove it. PMID:19434431

The First Report of KRT5 Mutation Underlying Acantholytic Dowling-Degos Disease with Mottled Hypopigmentation in an Indian Family

PubMed Central

Verma, Shyam; Pasternack, Sandra M.; Rütten, Arno; Ruzicka, Thomas; Betz, Regina C.; Hanneken, Sandra

2014-01-01

Galli Galli disease (GGD) is the name given to a rare form of acantholytic Dowling-Degos disease. (DDD), the latter itself being a rare condition. We believe we are describing for the first time in Indian dermatologic literature a case of GGD in a family where 25 persons have DDD and have been able to document a KRT5 mutation in four members of the family. Whereas reticulate pigmentation is a hallmark of DDD there are rare reports of mottled pigmentation with multiple asymptomatic hypopigmented macules scattered diffusely along with the pigmentation. All the cases described here show a mottled pigmentation comprising hypo and hyperpigmented asymptomatic macules. After the clinical diagnosis was made by one of the authors (SV) in India, the German authors repeated histological examination and successfully demonstrated a heterozygous nonsense mutation, c.C10T (p.Gln4X), in exon 1 of the KRT5 gene, from various centers in Munich, Bonn, Dusseldorf and Friedrichschafen in Germany. PMID:25284854

[Generic drugs and the consumption trends of antihypertensives in Morocco].

PubMed

Berrada El Azizi, Ghizlane; Ahid, Samir; Ghanname, Imane; Ghannam, Imane; Belaiche, Abdelmajid; Hassar, Mohammed; Cherrah, Yahia

2013-01-01

To evaluate the evolution of consumption of antihypertensive drugs generic among 1991-2010, to assess the impacts after the institution of Mandatory Health Insurance and the marketing of generic drugs. We used sales data from the Moroccan subsidiary of IMS Health Intercontinental Marketing Service. Consumption of generic antihypertensive drugs increased from 0.08 to 10.65 DDD/1 000 inhabitants/day between 1991 and 2010. In 2010, generic of the calcium channel blockers (CCBs) represented 4.08 DDD/1 000 inhabitants/day (82.09%), followed by angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) by 2.40 DDD/1 000 inhabitants/day (48.29%). The generics market of CCBs is the most dominant and represented in 2010, 79.21% in volume and 62.58% in value. In developing countries like Morocco, the generic drug is a key element for access to treatment especially for the poor population. © 2013 Société Française de Pharmacologie et de Thérapeutique.

A hierarchical dislocation-grain boundary interaction model based on 3D discrete dislocation dynamics and molecular dynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gao, Yuan; Zhuang, Zhuo; You, XiaoChuan

2011-04-01

We develop a new hierarchical dislocation-grain boundary (GB) interaction model to predict the mechanical behavior of polycrystalline metals at micro and submicro scales by coupling 3D Discrete Dislocation Dynamics (DDD) simulation with the Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulation. At the microscales, the DDD simulations are responsible for capturing the evolution of dislocation structures; at the nanoscales, the MD simulations are responsible for obtaining the GB energy and ISF energy which are then transferred hierarchically to the DDD level. In the present model, four kinds of dislocation-GB interactions, i.e. transmission, absorption, re-emission and reflection, are all considered. By this methodology, the compression of a Cu micro-sized bi-crystal pillar is studied. We investigate the characteristic mechanical behavior of the bi-crystal compared with that of the single-crystal. Moreover, the comparison between the present penetrable model of GB and the conventional impenetrable model also shows the accuracy and efficiency of the present model.

Analyzing U.S. prescription lists with RxNorm and the ATC/DDD Index.

PubMed

Bodenreider, Olivier; Rodriguez, Laritza M

2014-01-01

To evaluate the suitability of the ATC/DDD Index (Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) Classification System/Defined Daily Dose) for analyzing prescription lists in the U.S. We mapped RxNorm clinical drugs to ATC. We used this mapping to classify a large set of prescription drugs with ATC and compared the prescribed daily dose to the defined daily dose (DDD) in ATC. 64% of the 11,422 clinical drugs could be precisely mapped to ATC. 97% of the 87,001 RxNorm codes from the prescription dataset could be classified with ATC, and 97% of the prescribed daily doses could be assessed. Although the mapping of RxNorm ingredients to ATC appears to be largely incomplete, the most frequently prescribed drugs in the prescription dataset we analyzed were covered. This study demonstrates the feasibility of using ATC in conjunction with RxNorm for analyzing U.S. prescription datasets for drug classification and assessment of the prescribed daily doses.

An extended 3D discrete-continuous model and its application on single- and bi-crystal micropillars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Minsheng; Liang, Shuang; Li, Zhenhuan

2017-04-01

A 3D discrete-continuous model (3D DCM), which couples the 3D discrete dislocation dynamics (3D DDD) and finite element method (FEM), is extended in this study. New schemes for two key information transfers between DDD and FEM, i.e. plastic-strain distribution from DDD to FEM and stress transfer from FEM to DDD, are suggested. The plastic strain induced by moving dislocation segments is distributed to an elementary spheroid (ellipsoid or sphere) via a specific new distribution function. The influence of various interfaces (such as free surfaces and grain boundaries (GBs)) on the plastic-strain distribution is specially considered. By these treatments, the deformation fields can be solved accurately even for dislocations on slip planes severely inclined to the FE mesh, with no spurious stress concentration points produced. In addition, a stress correction by singular and non-singular theoretical solutions within a cut-off sphere is introduced to calculate the stress on the dislocations accurately. By these schemes, the present DCM becomes less sensitive to the FE mesh and more numerically efficient, which can also consider the interaction between neighboring dislocations appropriately even though they reside in the same FE mesh. Furthermore, the present DCM has been employed to model the compression of single-crystal and bi-crystal micropillars with rigid and dislocation-absorbed GBs. The influence of internal GB on the jerky stress-strain response and deformation mode is studied in detail to shed more light on these important micro-plastic problems.

Organochlorine pesticide residues in bed sediments of the San Joaquin River, California

USGS Publications Warehouse

Gilliom, Robert J.; Clifton, Daphne G.

1990-01-01

Bed sediments of the San Joaquin River and its tributaries were sampled during October 7–11, 1985, and analyzed for organochiorine pesticide residues in order to determine their areal distribution and to evaluate and prioritize needs for further study. Residues of DDD, DDE, DDT, and dieldrin are widespread in the fine-grained bed sediments of the San Joaquin River and its tributaries despite little or no use of these pesticides for more than 15 years. The San Joaquin River has among the highest bed-sediment concentrations of DDD, DDE, DDT, and dieldrin residues of major rivers in the United States. Concentrations of all four pesticides were correlated with each other and with the amount of organic carbon and fine-grained particles in the bed sediments. The highest concentrations occurred in bed sediments of westside tributary streams. Potential tributary loads of DDD, DDE, DDT, and dieldrin to the San Joaquin River were computed from bed-sediment concentrations and data on streamfiow and suspended-sediment concentration in order to identify the general magnitude of differences between streams and to determine study priorities. The estimated loads indicate that the most important sources of residues during the study period were Salt Slough because of a high load of fine sediment, and Newman Wasteway, Orestimba Creek, and Hospital Creek because of high bed-sediment concentrations. Generally, the highest estimated loads of DDD, DDE, DDT, and dieldrin were in Orestimba and Hospital Creeks.

The two faces of hydrogen-bond strength on triple AAA-DDD arrays.

PubMed

Lopez, Alfredo Henrique Duarte; Caramori, Giovanni Finoto; Coimbra, Daniel Fernando; Parreira, Renato Luis Tame; da Silva, Éder Henrique

2013-12-02

Systems that are connected through multiple hydrogen bonds are the cornerstone of molecular recognition processes in biology, and they are increasingly being employed in supramolecular chemistry, specifically in molecular self-assembly processes. For this reason, the effects of different substituents (NO2, CN, F, Cl, Br, OCH3 and NH2) on the electronic structure, and consequently on the magnitude of hydrogen bonds in triple AAA-DDD arrays (A=acceptor, D=donor) were evaluated in the light of topological [electron localization function (ELF) and quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM)], energetic [Su-Li energy-decomposition analysis (EDA) and natural bond orbital analysis (NBO)], and geometrical analysis. The results based on local H-bond descriptors (geometries, QTAIM, ELF, and NBO) indicate that substitutions with electron-withdrawing groups on the AAA module tend to strengthen, whereas electron-donating substituents tend to weaken the covalent character of the AAA-DDD intermolecular H-bonds, and also indicate that the magnitude of the effect is dependent on the position of substitution. In contrast, Su-Li EDA results show an opposite behavior when compared to local H-bond descriptors, indicating that electron-donating substituents tend to increase the magnitude of H-bonds in AAA-DDD arrays, and thus suggesting that the use of local H-bond descriptors describes the nature of H bonds only partially, not providing enough insight about the strength of such H bonds. Copyright © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Lethal mobilization of DDT by cowbirds

USGS Publications Warehouse

Van Velzen, A.C.; Stiles, W.B.; Stickel, L.F.

1972-01-01

This study is an experimental demonstration of lethal mobilization of DDT by brown-headed cowbirds (Molothrus ater) and the effects of food deprivation on the distribution and loss of DDT, DDD, and DDE. The principal experimental group consisted of 20 birds fed a dietary dosage of 100 ppm of DDT for 13 days. After 2 days of full rations of untreated food, they were subjected to food restriction. Food was reduced to 43 percent of normal. Seven of the 20 birds died within 4 days. No birds died in the three control groups, treated as follows: ( 1 ) 20 birds fed 100 ppm DDT for 13 days and full rations of untreated food thereafter, (2) 20 birds fed only untreated food but subjected to food restriction, and (3) 20 birds fed full rations of untreated food throughout. In a pilot study, birds were fed 100, 200, or 300 ppm of DDT and subjected to two periods of food restriction, the first of these immediately after dosage ceased and the second 4 months later. DDT-dosed birds from all dosage levels died in each period of food restriction. Before the weight loss that accompanied food restriction, the brains of DDT-dosed birds had concentrations of DDT and DDD that were far below the lethal range. Concentrations increased rapidly to lethal levels. In these birds, DDT in carcasses decreased while DDD increased. DDT-dosed birds that died during food restriction lost 16 percent of their total body burden of DDT + DDD + DDE, 21 percent of their weight, and 81 percent of their fat. The DDT-dosed birds that were subjected to food restriction but survived lost a significantly greater proportion of their body burden of residues than similarly dosed birds not subjected to weight loss. Brain levels of DDT and DDD in birds that died during food restriction soon after dosage did not differ significantly from brain levels of birds that died in a period of food restriction 4 months after dosage. Concentrations of DDE were significantly higher in the latter group, although they were lower than concentrations considered to be lethal. In contrast, carcass levels of DDT and DDD were significantly lower, and DDE was only slightly higher, in the birds that died in the second period of food restriction. It is concluded that stored DDT residues present a hazard to birds, which utilize stored fat during periods of stress due to reproduction, cold weather, disease, injury, limited food supply, or migration.

Feasibility of dual-chamber (DDD) pacing via a single-pass (VDD) pacing lead employing a floating atrial ring (dipole): case series, future considerations, and refinements.

PubMed

Kassotis, John; Voigt, Louis; Mongwa, Mbu; Reddy, C V R

2005-01-01

The objective of this study was to assess the feasibility of DDD pacing from a standard single-pass VDD pacemaker system. Over the past 2 decades significant advances have been made in the development of single-pass VDD pacing systems. These have been shown in long-term prospective studies to effectively preserve atrioventricular (AV)synchrony in patients with AV block and normal sinus node function. What remains problematic is the development of a single-pass pacing system capable of DDD pacing. Such a lead configuration would be useful in those patients with peripheral venous anomalies and in younger patients with congenital anomalies, which may require lead revisions in the future. In addition, with the increased use of resynchronization (biventricular pacing) therapy, the availability of a reliable single-pass lead will minimize operative time, enhance patient safety, and minimize the amount of hardware within the heart. The feasibility of DDD pacing via a Medtronic Capsure VDD-2 (Model #5038) pacing lead was evaluated. Twenty patients who presented with AV block and normal sinus node function were recruited for this study. Atrial pacing thresholds and sensitivities were assessed intraoperatively in the supine position with various respiratory maneuvers. Five patients who agreed to participate in long-term follow-up received a dual-chamber generator and were evaluated periodically over a 12-month period. Mean atrial sensitivity was 2.35 +/- 0.83 mV at the time of implantation. Effective atrial stimulation was possible in all patients at the time of implantation (mean stimulation threshold 3.08 +/- 1.04 V at 0.5 ms [bipolar], 3.34 +/- 0.95 V at 0.5 ms [unipolar]). Five of the 20 patients received a Kappa KDR701 generator, and atrial electrical properties were followed up over a 1-year period. There was no significant change in atrial pacing threshold or incidence of phrenic nerve stimulation over the 1-year follow-up. A standard single-pass VDD pacing lead system was capable of DDD pacing intraoperatively and during long-term follow-up. Despite higher than usual thresholds via the atrial dipole, pacemaker telemetry revealed < 10% use of atrial pacing dipole over a 12-month period, which would minimally deplete the pacemaker's battery. In addition, the telemetry confirmed appropriate sensing and pacing of the atrial dipole throughout the study period. At this time such systems can serve as back-up DDD pacing systems with further refinements required to optimize atrial thresholds in all patients.

Assessment of selected contaminants in streambed- and suspended-sediment samples collected in Bexar County, Texas, 2007-09

USGS Publications Warehouse

Wilson, Jennifer T.

2011-01-01

Elevated concentrations of sediment-associated contaminants are typically associated with urban areas such as San Antonio, Texas, in Bexar County, the seventh most populous city in the United States. This report describes an assessment of selected sediment-associated contaminants in samples collected in Bexar County from sites on the following streams: Medio Creek, Medina River, Elm Creek, Martinez Creek, Chupaderas Creek, Leon Creek, Salado Creek, and San Antonio River. During 2007-09, the U.S. Geological Survey periodically collected surficial streambed-sediment samples during base flow and suspended-sediment (large-volume suspended-sediment) samples from selected streams during stormwater runoff. All sediment samples were analyzed for major and trace elements and for organic compounds including halogenated organic compounds and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Selected contaminants in streambed and suspended sediments in watersheds of the eight major streams in Bexar County were assessed by using a variety of methods—observations of occurrence and distribution, comparison to sediment-quality guidelines and data from previous studies, statistical analyses, and source indicators. Trace elements concentrations were low compared to the consensus-based sediment-quality guidelines threshold effect concentration (TEC) and probable effect concentration (PEC). Trace element concentrations were greater than the TEC in 28 percent of the samples and greater than the PEC in 1.5 percent of the samples. Chromium concentrations exceeded sediment-quality guidelines more frequently than concentrations of any other constituents analyzed in this study (greater than the TEC in 69 percent of samples and greater than the PEC in 8 percent of samples). Mean trace element concentrations generally are lower in Bexar County samples compared to concentrations in samples collected during previous studies in the Austin and Fort Worth, Texas, areas, but considering the relatively large ranges and standard deviations associated with the concentrations measured in all three areas, the trace element concentrations are similar. On the basis of Mann-Whitney U test results, the presence of a military installation in a watershed was associated with statistically significant higher chromium, mercury, and zinc concentrations in streambed sediments compared to concentrations of the same elements in a watershed without a military installation. Halogenated organic compounds analyzed in sediment samples included pesticides (chlordane, dieldrin, DDT, DDD, and DDE), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and brominated flame retardants. Three or more halogenated organic compounds were detected in each sediment sample, and 66 percent of all concentrations were less than the respective interim reporting levels. Halogenated organic compound concentrations were mostly low compared to consensus-based sediment quality guidelines-;TECs were exceeded in 11 percent of the analyses and PECs were exceeded in 1 percent of the analyses. Chlordane compounds were the most frequently detected halogenated organic compounds with one or more detections of chlordane compounds in every watershed; concentrations were greater than the TEC in 6 percent of the samples. Dieldrin was detected in 50 percent of all samples, however all concentrations were much less than the TEC. The DDT compounds (p,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDD, and p,p'-DDE) were detected less frequently than some other halogenated organic compounds, however most detections exceeded the TECs. p,p'-DDT was detected in 13 percent of the samples (TEC exceeded in 67 percent); p,p'-DDD was detected in 19 percent of the samples (TEC exceeded in 78 percent); and p,p'-DDE was detected in 35 percent of the samples (TEC exceeded in 53 percent). p,p'-DDE concentrations in streambed-sediment samples correlate positively with population density and residential, commercial, and transportation land use. One or more PCB congeners were detected in

Follicular Dowling Degos disease: a rare variant of an evolving dermatosis.

PubMed

Singh, Saurabh; Khandpur, Sujay; Verma, Parul; Singh, Manoj

2013-01-01

Dowling Degos disease is a rare, reticulate pigmentary disorder with variable phenotypic expression that manifests as hyperpigmented macules and reticulate pigmentary anomaly of the flexures. Many variants of this condition and its overlap with other reticulate pigmentary disorders have been reported in the literature. We present here two cases of DDD with follicular localization, both clinically and histologically. It was associated with ichthyosis vulgaris in one case. Follicular DDD is an uncommon variant of this evolving dermatosis. Our report supports the possible role for disordered follicular keratinisation in its pathogenesis.

Dissipative Particle Dynamics at Isoenergetic Conditions Using Shardlow-Like Splitting Algorithms

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-09-01

i.e., as cond i mech ii uuu ddd  . The dynamics of the system is then governed by the following equations- of-motion (EOMs):   q ij Rq ij Dq jiij...ij ij ijD ij i-j ij i W r t rr pp rr v r p dd ddd            , (8a) jimech i jimech j j i-ji-j i i-ji-j jimech i uu mm u jjii

Dislocation Dissociation Strongly Influences on Frank—Read Source Nucleation and Microplasticy of Materials with Low Stacking Fault Energy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Min-Sheng; Zhu, Ya-Xin; Li, Zhen-Huan

2014-04-01

The influence of dislocation dissociation on the evolution of Frank—Read (F-R) sources is studied using a three-dimensional discrete dislocation dynamics simulation (3D-DDD). The classical Orowan nucleation stress and recently proposed Benzerga nucleation time models for F-R sources are improved. This work shows that it is necessary to introduce the dislocation dissociation scheme into 3D-DDD simulation, especially for simulations on micro-plasticity of small sized materials with low stacking fault energy.

Evidence of detrimental effects of environmental contaminants on growth and reproductive physiology of white sturgeon in impounded areas of the Columbia River

USGS Publications Warehouse

Feist, G.W.; Webb, M.A.H.; Gundersen, D.T.; Foster, E.P.; Schreck, C.B.; Maule, A.G.; Fitzpatrick, M.S.

2005-01-01

This study sought to determine whether wild white sturgeon from the Columbia River (Oregon) were exhibiting signs of reproductive endocrine disruption. Fish were sampled in the free-flowing portion of the river (where the population is experiencing reproductive success) and from three reservoirs behind hydroelectric dams (where fish have reduced reproductive success). All of the 18 pesticides and almost all of the 28 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) that were analyzed in livers and gonads were detected in at least some of the tissue samples. Metabolites of p,p???-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) [p,p???-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) and p,p???-1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)ethane (DDD)] were consistently found at relatively high levels in fish. Some males and immature females showed elevated plasma vitellogenin; however, concentrations were not correlated with any of the pesticides or PCBs analyzed. Negative correlations were found between a number of physiologic parameters and tissue burdens of toxicants. Plasma triglycerides and condition factor were negatively correlated with total DDT (DDD + DDE + DDT), total pesticides (all pesticides detected - total DDT), and PCBs. In males, plasma androgens and gonad size were negatively correlated with total DDT, total pesticides, and PCBs. Fish residing in the reservoir behind the oldest dam had the highest contaminant loads and incidence of gonadal abnormalities, and the lowest triglycerides, condition factor, gonad size, and plasma androgens. These data suggest that endocrine-disrupting chemicals may be accumulating behind dams over time. Overall, results of this study indicate that exposure to environmental contaminants may be affecting both growth and reproductive physiology of sturgeon in some areas of the Columbia River.

Triaspartate: a model system for conformationally flexible DDD motifs in proteins.

PubMed

Duitch, Laura; Toal, Siobhan; Measey, Thomas J; Schweitzer-Stenner, Reinhard

2012-05-03

Understanding the interactions that govern turn formation in the unfolded state of proteins is necessary for a complete picture of the role that these turns play in both normal protein folding and functionally relevant yet disordered linear motifs. It is still unclear, however, whether short peptides can adopt stable turn structures in aqueous environments in the absence of any nonlocal interactions. To explore the effect that nearest-neighbor interactions and the local peptide environment have on the turn-forming capability of individual amino acid residues in short peptides, we combined vibrational (IR, Raman, and VCD), UV-CD, and (1)H NMR spectroscopies in order to probe the conformational ensemble of the central aspartic acid residue of the triaspartate peptide (DDD). The study was motivated by the recently discovered turn propensities of aspartic acid in GDG (Hagarman; et al. Chem.-Eur. J. 2011, 17, 6789). We investigated the DDD peptide under both acidic and neutral conditions in order to elucidate the effect that side-chain protonation has on the conformational propensity of the central aspartic acid residue. Amide I' profiles were analyzed in terms of two-dimensional Gaussian distributions representing conformational subdistributions in Ramachandran space. Interestingly, our results show that while the protonated form of the DDD peptide samples various turn-like conformations similar to GDG, deprotonation of the peptide eliminates this propensity for turns, causing the fully ionized peptide to exclusively sample pPII and β-strand-like structures. To further explore the factors stabilizing these more extended conformations in fully ionized DDD, we analyzed the temperature dependence of both the UV-CD spectrum and the (3)J(H(N),H(α)) coupling constants of the two amide protons (N- and C-terminal) in terms of a simple two-state (pPII-β) thermodynamic model. Thus, we were able to obtain the enthalpic and entropic differences between the pPII and β-strand conformations of the central and C-terminal residue. For the central residue, we obtained ΔH(3) = -12.0 kJ/mol and ΔS(3) = -73.8 J/mol·K, resulting in a much larger room-temperature Gibbs free energy of 10.0 kJ/mol, which effectively locks the C-terminal in a β-like conformation. A comparison of the temperature dependence of the chemical shifts reveals that there is indeed some type of protection of the amide protons from solvent in ionized DDD. This finding and several other lines of evidence suggest that both conformations of ionized DDD are stabilized by hydrogen bonding between the carboxylate groups of the central and C-terminal residue and the respective amide protons. These hydrogen bonds can be expected to be eliminated by side-chain protonation and substituted by hydrogen bonds between the N-terminal amide proton and the C-terminal carbonyl group as well as between the central aspartate side chain and the N-terminal amide proton. Hence, our results are indicative of a pH-induced switch in hydrogen-bonding patterns of aspartic acid motifs.

[Pharmacoeconomic indicators of cardiovascular drug utilization in the Republic of Croatia and city of Zagreb in 2008].

PubMed

Stimac, Danijela; Stambuk, Ivanka

2010-12-01

In comparison with original drugs, generic drugs have the same efficacy but considerably lower price and should therefore be preferred to original drugs on prescribing. The aim of the present study was to assess outpatient utilization and rationality of cardiovascular drug prescribing in the City of Zagreb and Republic of Croatia based on the generic to original drug prescribing ratio. Data on the financial indicators and number of cardiovascular drug packages issued in 2008 were obtained from the Croatian Institute of Health Insurance. These data were used to calculate the number of defined daily doses (DDD) and number of DDD per 1000 inhabitants per day (DDD/1000/day). The index of generic/original drug utilization was determined for Zagreb and Croatia as a measure for assessment of prescribing rationality; the significance of difference was determined by X2-test. The rate of prescribing original cardiovascular drugs was significantly higher in Zagreb as compared with Croatia as a whole. The index of prescribing generic versus original drugs was 1.20 (249/208 DDD/1000/day) in Zagreb and 1.65 (249/151 DDD/1000/day) in Croatia. Difference in the utilization of generic drugs between Zagreb and Croatia as determined by X2-test (the level of statistical significance was set at P<0.05) was statistically significant (P=0.021). The highest differences were recorded in the most widely prescribed drug groups, i.e. ACE inhibitors with the generic/original drug index of 1.38 in Zagreb and 2.02 in Croatia; and hypolipemics with the generic/original drug index of 0.96 in Zagreb and 1.34 in Croatia. According to financial indicators, the generic/original drug index was 1.44 in Croatia and only 0.96 in Zagreb. The significantly greater influence of pharmaceutical industry marketing in Zagreb entailed the significantly higher rate of original drug prescribing, which is associated with considerably greater drug expenses. Measures to stimulate prescribing generic drugs should be launched at the national level.

Ondansetron reduces naturalistic drinking in non-treatment seeking alcohol dependent individuals with the LL 5′-HTTLPR genotype: a laboratory study

PubMed Central

Kenna, George A.; Zywiak, William H.; Swift, Robert M.; McGeary, John E.; Clifford, James S.; Shoaff, Jessica R.; Vuittonet, Cynthia; Fricchione, Samuel; Brickley, Michael; Beaucage, Kayla; Haass-Koffler, Carolina L.; Leggio, Lorenzo

2014-01-01

Background One hypothesis suggests that the differential response to ondansetron and serotonin specific re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may be due to a functional polymorphism of the 5′-HTTLPR promoter region in SLC6A4, the gene that codes for the serotonin transporter (5-HTT). The LL 5′-HTTLPR genotype is postulated to be specifically sensitive to the effects of ondansetron with SS/SL 5′-HTTLPR genotypes sensitive to SSRIs. This study tests this hypothesis by matching non-treatment seeking alcohol dependent (AD) individuals with LL genotype to ondansetron and SS/SL genotypes to the SSRI sertraline, and mis-matching them assessing naturalistic and bar-laboratory alcohol drinking. Methods Seventy-seven AD individuals were randomized to one of two counterbalanced arms to receive sertraline 200mg/day or ondansetron 0.5 mg/day for three weeks followed by an alcohol self-administration experiment (ASAE), then received placebo for three weeks followed by a second ASAE. Individuals then received the alternate drug for three weeks followed by a third ASAE. Drinks per drinking day (DDD with drinks in SDUs) for 7 days prior to each ASAE and milliliters consumed during each ASAE were the primary outcomes. Results Fifty-five participants completed the study. The genotype x order interaction was significant [F(1,47) = 8.42, p = .006] for DDD. Three ANCOVAs were conducted for DDD during the week before each ASAE. Ondansetron compared to sertraline resulted in a significant reduction in DDD during the week before the first [F(1,47) = 7.64, p = .008] but not the third ASAE. There was no difference in milliliters consumed during each ASAE. Conclusion This study modestly supports the hypothesis that ondansetron may reduce DDD in AD individuals with the LL genotype as measured naturalistically. By contrast there was no support that ondansetron reduces drinking during the ASAEs or that sertraline reduces alcohol use in individuals who have SS/SL genotypes. We provide limited support that ondansetron may reduce drinking in non-treatment seeking individuals with the LL genotype. PMID:24773166

Effects of over-the-counter sales restriction of antibiotics on substitution with medicines for symptoms relief of cold in Mexico and Brazil: time series analysis.

PubMed

Santa-Ana-Tellez, Yared; Mantel-Teeuwisse, Aukje K; Leufkens, Hubert G M; Wirtz, Veronika J

2016-11-01

We evaluated changes in the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), non-opioid analgesics and cough and cold medicines and its relation with the use of antibiotics after the over-the-counter (OTC) antibiotic sales restrictions in Mexico and Brazil. IMS Health provided retail quarterly data from the private sectors in Mexico and Brazil from the first quarter of 2007 to the first quarter of 2013. Data of each active substance of antibiotics, easily accessible medicines perceived as antibiotics substitutes (cough and cold medicines, analgesics and NSAIDs-the latter two being combined in the analyses), and medicines to control for external factors that can affect the medicines usage trend (antihypertensives) were converted from kilograms to defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants days (DDD/TID). Interrupted time series were used to estimate changes in level of medicines use at the intervention point and slope after the regulation. The Gregory-Hansen cointegration test was used to explore the relation between the use of antibiotics and perceived substitutes. After the regulation in Mexico NSAIDs-analgesics usage level increased by 1.1 DDD/TID with a slope increase of 0.2 DDD/TID per quarter and the cough and cold medicines usage level increased by 0.4 DDD/TID. In Brazil NSAIDs-analgesics usage level increased by 1.9 DDD/TID, and cough and cold medicines did not change. In the two countries, NSAIDs-analgesics usage changes were related with antibiotic usage changes; in Mexico cough and cold medicines usage changes had a relation with the antibiotics usage changes. These results showed a substitution effect on the use of other medicines, especially NSAIDs and analgesics, after reinforcement of OTC antibiotics sales restrictions. These regulations aimed to improve the antibiotics use and as a consequence reduce antimicrobial resistance; however, this type of policies should be comprehensive and take into account the potential substitution effects on the use of other medicines. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press in association with The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Comparison of adherence to generic multi-tablet regimens vs. brand multi-tablet and brand single-tablet regimens likely to incorporate generic antiretroviral drugs by breaking or not fixed-dose combinations in HIV-infected patients.

PubMed

Rwagitinywa, Joseph; Lapeyre-Mestre, Maryse; Bourrel, Robert; Montastruc, Jean-Louis; Sommet, Agnès

2018-03-05

Adherence to antiretroviral (ARV) is crucial to achieve viral load suppression in HIV-infected patients. This study aimed to compare adherence to generic multi-tablet regimens (MTR) vs. brand MTR likely to incorporate ARV drugs without breaking fixed-dose combinations (FDC) and brand single-tablet regimens (STR) likely to incorporate generics by breaking the FDC. Patients aged of 18 years or over exposed to one of the generic or the brand of lamivudine (3TC), zidovudine/lamivudine (AZT/TC), nevirapine (NVP), or efavirenz (EFV), or the brand STR of efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir (EFV/FTC/TDF). Adherence was measured by medication possession ratio (MPR) using both defined daily dose (DDD) and daily number of tablet recommended for adults (DNT). Adherence to generic MTR vs. brand MTR and brand STR was compared using Kruskal-Wallis. The overall median adherence was 0.97 (IQR 0.13) by DNT method and 0.97 (0.14) by DDD method. Adherence in patients exposed to generic MTR (n = 165) vs. brand MTR (n = 481) and brand STR (n = 470) was comparable by DNT and DDD methods. In conclusion, adherence to generic MTR was high and comparable with adherence to brand MTR and to STR. Utilization of DDD instead DNT to measure the MPR led to small but nonsignificant difference that has no clinical impact. © 2018 Société Française de Pharmacologie et de Thérapeutique.

Binocular disparity tuning and visual-vestibular congruency of multisensory neurons in macaque parietal cortex

PubMed Central

Yang, Yun; Liu, Sheng; Chowdhury, Syed A.; DeAngelis, Gregory C.; Angelaki, Dora E.

2012-01-01

Many neurons in the dorsal medial superior temporal (MSTd) and ventral intraparietal (VIP) areas of the macaque brain are multisensory, responding to both optic flow and vestibular cues to self-motion. The heading tuning of visual and vestibular responses can be either congruent or opposite, but only congruent cells have been implicated in cue integration for heading perception. Because of the geometric properties of motion parallax, however, both congruent and opposite cells could be involved in coding self-motion when observers fixate a world-fixed target during translation, if congruent cells prefer near disparities and opposite cells prefer far disparities. We characterized the binocular disparity selectivity and heading tuning of MSTd and VIP cells using random-dot stimuli. Most (70%) MSTd neurons were disparity-selective with monotonic tuning, and there was no consistent relationship between depth preference and congruency of visual and vestibular heading tuning. One-third of disparity-selective MSTd cells reversed their depth preference for opposite directions of motion (direction-dependent disparity tuning, DDD), but most of these cells were unisensory with no tuning for vestibular stimuli. Inconsistent with previous reports, the direction preferences of most DDD neurons do not reverse with disparity. By comparison to MSTd, VIP contains fewer disparity-selective neurons (41%) and very few DDD cells. On average, VIP neurons also preferred higher speeds and nearer disparities than MSTd cells. Our findings are inconsistent with the hypothesis that visual/vestibular congruency is linked to depth preference, and also suggest that DDD cells are not involved in multisensory integration for heading perception. PMID:22159105

Trends in antibiotic utilization in Vancouver associated with a community education program on antibiotic use.

PubMed

Fuertes, Elaine Isabelle; Henry, Bonnie; Marra, Fawziah; Wong, Hubert; Patrick, David M

2010-01-01

"Do Bugs Need Drugs" (DBND) is a community education program that was implemented in British Columbia (BC) in September 2005 to decrease inappropriate antibiotic use. This study conducted descriptive analyses of the association between DBND and changes in overall, pediatric, drug-specific, and indication-specific antibiotic utilization rates in Vancouver, BC. Utilization data on all oral solid and liquid antibiotics classified as "antibacterials for systemic use" were obtained from BC PharmaNet for the years 1996 to 2008. Utilization data were linked to physician billing data to allow indication-specific analyses. Following conversion to the defined daily dose (DDD), the Holt-Winters exponential smoothing method was used to project expected antibiotic use in the period after implementation based on use prior to implementation. Differences between expected and observed utilization rates were calculated. Overall antibiotic use has stabilized in recent years (16.2 DDD/1000 population/day in 2008). Fluoroquinolone use remains high (1.5 DDD/1000 population/day), as does the steadily increasing use of newer macrolides (1.1 to 2.7 DDD/1000 population/day between 1996 and 2008). Encouraging declines in overall and indication-specific prescription rates among children were observed. Following 3 years of DBND activities, antibiotic use was 5.8% lower than expected and the number of prescriptions dispensed to children was 10.6% lower than expected. This ecological study reports improvements in antibiotic use that occurred simultaneously to the delivery of the DBND program in Vancouver. However, we did not find a lowering of all targeted classes. Policy directives limiting the use of certain antibiotics may be required.

Seasonal Variation in Penicillin Use in Mexico and Brazil: Analysis of the Impact of Over-the-Counter Restrictions

PubMed Central

Santa-Ana-Tellez, Yared; Mantel-Teeuwisse, Aukje K.; Leufkens, Hubert G. M.

2014-01-01

During 2010, Mexico and Brazil implemented policies to enforce existing laws of restricting over-the-counter sales of antibiotics. We determined if the enforcement led to more appropriate antibiotic use by measuring changes in seasonal variation of penicillin use. We used retail quarterly sales data in defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitant-days (DDD/TID) from IMS Health from the private sector in Mexico and Brazil from the first quarter of 2007 to the first quarter of 2013. This database contains information on volume of antibiotics sold in retail pharmacies using information from wholesalers. We used interrupted time-series models controlling for external factors with the use of antihypertensives with interaction terms to assess changes in trend, level, and variation in use between quarters for total penicillin use and by active substance. The most used penicillin was amoxicillin, followed by amoxicillin-clavulanic acid and ampicillin (minimal use in Brazil). Before the restrictions, the seasonal variation in penicillin use was 1.1 DDD/TID in Mexico and 0.8 DDD/TID in Brazil. In Mexico, we estimated a significant decrease in the seasonal variation of 0.4 DDD/TID after the restriction, mainly due to changes in seasonal variation of amoxicillin and ampicillin. In Brazil, the seasonal variation did not change significantly, overall and in the breakdown by individual active substances. For Mexico, inappropriate penicillin use may have diminished after the restrictions were enforced. For Brazil, increasing use and no change in seasonal variation suggest that further efforts are needed to reduce inappropriate penicillin use. PMID:25313222

Use of generic and essential medicines for prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases in Portugal.

PubMed

Gama, Helena; Torre, Carla; Guerreiro, José Pedro; Azevedo, Ana; Costa, Suzete; Lunet, Nuno

2017-06-29

The successful control of cardiovascular diseases at the lowest possible cost requires the use of the most effective and affordable medicines. We aimed to describe the trends in the ambulatory use of medicines for prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases [Anatomic Therapeutic Chemical classification system (ATC): C and B01A] in Portugal, between 2004 and 2012, and to estimate the potential for expenditure reduction through changes in patterns of use. We analysed sell-out data, expressed as defined daily doses (DDD) and pharmacy retail price (€), from a nationwide database. We estimated potential reduction in expenditures through the increase, up to 90% of the volume of DDD, in the use of generic and essential medicines; the latter were defined according to guidelines from Portugal and another European country. Overall consumption increased by approximately 50% from 2004 to 2012, reaching nearly 2400 million DDD, whereas expenditure decreased to 753 million € (-31.3% since 2006). Use of generics and essential medicines increased, representing 43.6 and 39.9% of DDD consumption in 2012, respectively. The 40 most used groups of medicines in 2012 accounted for just over 80% of overall consumption; among these, increase in use of generics and essential medicines would have contributed to a saving of 275 million €. Changes in patterns of consumption of medicines towards a more frequent use of generics, a preferential use of essential medicines and a more rational use of fixed-dose combinations may contribute to a more efficient use of health resources.

Discontinuation of dialysis with eculizumab therapy in a pediatric patient with dense deposit disease.

PubMed

Tran, Cheryl L; Sethi, Sanjeev; Murray, David; Cramer, Carl H; Sas, David J; Willrich, Maria; Smith, Richard J; Fervenza, Fernando C

2016-04-01

Dense deposit disease (DDD) is a rare glomerular disease caused by an uncontrolled activation of the alternative complement pathway leading to end-stage renal disease in 50 % of patients. As such, DDD has been classified within the spectrum of complement component 3 (C3) glomerulopathies due to its pathogenesis from alternative pathway dysregulation. Conventional immunosuppressive therapies have no proven effectiveness. Eculizumab, a terminal complement inhibitor, has been reported to mitigate disease in some cases. We report on the efficacy of eculizumab in a pediatric patient who failed to respond to cyclophosphamide, corticosteroids, and plasma exchange. Complement biomarker profiling was remarkable for low serum C3, low properdin, and elevated soluble C5b-9. Consistent with these findings, the alternative pathway functional assay was abnormally low, indicative of alternative pathway activity, although neither C3-nephritic factors nor Factor H autoantibodies were detected. Eculizumab therapy was associated with significant improvement in proteinuria and renal function allowing discontinuation of hemodialysis (HD). Repeat C3 and soluble C5b-9 levels normalized, showing that terminal complement pathway activity was successfully blocked while the patient was receiving eculizumab therapy. Repeat testing for alternative pathway activation allowed for a successful decrease in eculizumab dosing. The case reported here demonstrates the successful recovery of renal function in a pediatric patient on HD following the use of eculizumab.

Preconceptional motivational interviewing interventions to reduce alcohol-exposed pregnancy risk.

PubMed

Ingersoll, Karen S; Ceperich, Sherry D; Hettema, Jennifer E; Farrell-Carnahan, Leah; Penberthy, J Kim

2013-04-01

Alcohol exposed pregnancy (AEP) is a leading cause of preventable birth defects. While randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have shown that multi-session motivational interviewing-based interventions reduce AEP risk, a one-session intervention could facilitate broader implementation. The purposes of this study were to: (1) test a one-session motivational AEP prevention intervention for community women and (2) compare outcomes to previous RCTs. Participants at risk for AEP (N=217) were randomized to motivational interviewing+assessment feedback (EARLY), informational video, or informational brochure conditions. Outcomes were drinks per drinking day (DDD), ineffective contraception rate, and AEP risk at 3 and 6 months. All interventions were associated with decreased DDD, ineffective contraception rate, and AEP risk. Participants who received EARLY had larger absolute risk reductions in ineffective contraception and AEP risk, but not DDD. Effect sizes were compared to previous RCTs. The one-session EARLY intervention had less powerful effects than multi-session AEP prevention interventions among community women, but may provide a new option in a continuum of preventive care. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

3D DDD modelling of dislocation-precipitate interaction in a nickel-based single crystal superalloy under cyclic deformation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lin, Bing; Huang, Minsheng; Zhao, Liguo; Roy, Anish; Silberschmidt, Vadim; Barnard, Nick; Whittaker, Mark; McColvin, Gordon

2018-06-01

Strain-controlled cyclic deformation of a nickel-based single crystal superalloy has been modelled using three-dimensional (3D) discrete dislocation dynamics (DDD) for both [0 0 1] and [1 1 1] orientations. The work focused on the interaction between dislocations and precipitates during cyclic plastic deformation at elevated temperature, which has not been well studied yet. A representative volume element with cubic γ‧-precipitates was chosen to represent the material, with enforced periodical boundary conditions. In particular, cutting of superdislocations into precipitates was simulated by a back-force method. The global cyclic stress-strain responses were captured well by the DDD model when compared to experimental data, particularly the effects of crystallographic orientation. Dislocation evolution showed that considerably high density of dislocations was produced for [1 1 1] orientation when compared to [0 0 1] orientation. Cutting of dislocations into the precipitates had a significant effect on the plastic deformation, leading to material softening. Contour plots of in-plane shear strain proved the development of heterogeneous strain field, resulting in the formation of shear-band embryos.

Neurological complications of lumbar artificial disc replacement and comparison of clinical results with those related to lumbar arthrodesis in the literature: results of a multicenter, prospective, randomized investigational device exemption study of Charité intervertebral disc. Invited submission from the Joint Section Meeting on Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves, March 2004.

PubMed

Geisler, Fred H; Blumenthal, Scott L; Guyer, Richard D; McAfee, Paul C; Regan, John J; Johnson, J Patrick; Mullin, Bradford

2004-09-01

Arthrodesis is the gold standard for surgical treatment of lumbar degenerative disc disease (DDD). Solid fusion, however, can cause stress and increased motion in the segments adjacent to the fused level. This may initiate and/or accelerate the adjacent-segment disease process. Artificial discs are designed to restore and maintain normal motion of the lumbar intervertebral segment. Restoring and maintaining normal motion of the segment reduces stresses and loads on adjacent level segments. A US Food and Drug Administration Investigational Device Exemptions multicentered study of the Charité artificial disc was completed. The control group consisted of individuals who underwent anterior lumbar interbody fusion involving BAK cages and iliac crest bone graft. This is the first report of Class I data in which a lumbar artificial disc is compared with lumbar fusion. Of 304 individuals enrolled in the study, 205 were randomized to the Charité disc-treated group and 99 to the BAK fusion-treated (control) group. Neurological status was equivalent between the two groups at 6, 12, and 24 months postoperatively. The number of patients with major, minor, or other neurological complications was equivalent. There was a greater incidence of both major and minor complications in the BAK fusion group at 0 to 42 days postoperatively. Compared with data reported in the lumbar fusion literature, the Charité disc-treated patients had equivalent or better mean changes in visual analog scale and Oswestry Disability Index scores. The Charité artificial disc is safe and effective for the treatment of single-level lumbar DDD, resulting in no higher incidence of neurological complications compared with BAK-assisted fusion and leading to equivalent or better outcomes compared with those obtained in the control group and those reported in the lumbar fusion literature.

Insecticide residues in stored grains in Sonora, Mexico: quantification and toxicity testing.

PubMed

Aldana-Madrid, M L; Valdez-Hurtado, S; Vargas-Valdez, N D; Salazar-Lopez, N J; Silveira-Gramont, M I; Loarca-Piña, F G; Rodríguez-Olibarria, G; Wong-Corral, F J; Borboa-Flores, J; Burgos-Hernández, A

2008-02-01

Food safety has acquired great attention by food importer and exporters. Food rejection or acceptance across international borders is based on the compliance with international food regulations. Due to the lack of recent data on pesticide residues in Mexican grains, this study focused on detecting and quantifying insecticide residues in stored wheat, corn, chickpeas, and beans, as well as to determine their mutagenic potential. Grains were sampled from primary storage sites in Sonora, Mexico. Malathion, chlorpyrifos, deltamethrin, cypermethrin, 4,4-DDE, 4,4-DDD and 4,4-DDT were analyzed in 135 samples. Grain samples were not mutagenic and most pesticide levels were within regulation limits.

DDD pacemaker for severe heart failure-alternate to CRT.

PubMed

Krishnamani, N C

Patients with severe systolic Heart Failure continue to have poor quality of life and increased mortality in spite of optimal medical management. Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy [CRT] is promising modality in patients with systolic heart failure and electrocardiographic [ECG] evidence of left bundle branch block [LBBB]. Cost issues continue to elude many deserving cases of this therapy in our society. Relatively cost effective Dual chamber pacing [DDD] with right atrial and isolated left ventricular pacing [RA-LV] can be a good alternative. Copyright © 2016 Cardiological Society of India. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Microstructural comparison of the kinematics of discrete and continuum dislocations models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sandfeld, Stefan; Po, Giacomo

2015-12-01

The Continuum Dislocation Dynamics (CDD) theory and the Discrete Dislocation Dynamics (DDD) method are compared based on concise mathematical formulations of the coarse graining of discrete data. A numerical tool for converting from a discrete to a continuum representation of a given dislocation configuration is developed, which allows to directly compare both simulation approaches based on continuum quantities (e.g. scalar density, geometrically necessary densities, mean curvature). Investigating the evolution of selected dislocation configurations within analytically given velocity fields for both DDD and CDD reveals that CDD contains a surprising number of important microstructural details.

Antimicrobial usage in ambulatory patients with respiratory infections in Taiwan, 2001.

PubMed

Ho, Monto; Hsiung, Chao Agnes; Yu, Hui-Tzu; Chi, Cheng-Liang; Yin, Hsiao-Chuan; Chang, Hong-Jen

2004-02-01

Excess use of antimicrobials by ambulatory patients is a determinant of antimicrobial resistance. This study investigated the types of illnesses for which antimicrobials were prescribed and the amounts prescribed with special emphasis on respiratory infections for the year in which the Bureau of National Health Insurance (BNHI) enforced a policy to restrict antimicrobials for upper respiratory infections. The number of ambulatory patients seen and the types of ambulatory facilities in Taiwan were also described. Raw data were obtained from the BNHI database on every 500 th visit in 2001. Medical diagnoses were categorized according to the ICD-9-CM system. Antimicrobial consumption was expressed in defined daily doses per 1000 population per day (DDD/1000/day). Among the population of 22.3 million in Taiwan, there were 285.8 million ambulatory patient visits (12.8 per person), including 108.9 million visits (4.9 per person) for respiratory infections, of which 62.7 million (2.8 per person) were for upper respiratory infections (URI). Antimicrobial consumption was 19.83 DDD/1000/day [standard error (SE), 0.00055], of which 9.97 DDD/1000/day (SE, 0.00047) were for respiratory infections and 4.03 DDD/1000/day (0.00055) were for URI. 23.6% of visits for URI entailed a prescription for antimicrobials. About two-thirds (66.5%) of ambulatory patients were seen in clinics, mostly private ones, and 67.6% of all antimicrobials were received there. Aminopenicillins and cephalosporins constituted 35.2% and 19.5%, respectively, of antimicrobials prescribed. Despite the new BNHI rule restricting antimicrobial usage for URI, Taiwan still has an excessive number of ambulatory patient visits, especially for respiratory infections and URI. The majority of antimicrobials used were for URI. They were mostly prescribed in private clinics rather than hospital outpatient departments.

Prescription patterns of diuretics in Dutch community-dwelling elderly patients

PubMed Central

Van Kraaij, Dave J W; Jansen, René W M M; De Gier, Johan J; Gribnau, Frank W J; Hoefnagels, Willibrord H L

1998-01-01

Aims To describe age-and gender-related prescription patterns of diuretics in community-dwelling elderly, and to compare diuretics to other cardiovascular (CV) medications. Methods Cross-sectional study of patient-specific prescription data derived from a panel of 10 Dutch community pharmacies. Determination of proportional prescription rates and prescribed daily dose (PDD) of diuretics, cardiac glycosides, nitrates, angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, β-adrenoceptor blockers, and calcium channel blockers in all 5326 patients aged 65 years or older dispensed CV medications between August 1st, 1995 and February 1st, 1996. Results Diuretics were prescribed to 2677 of 5326 patients (50.3%), 1325 patients (24.9%) using thiazides and 1198 patients (22.5%) using loop diuretics. Prescription rates of loop diuretics increased from 15.1% in patients aged 65–74 years to 37.2% in patients aged 85 years or older. Rates also increased for digoxin and nitrates. Rates for thiazide diuretics remained unchanged with age; rates for β-adrenoceptor blockers, ACE inhibitors and calcium channel blockers declined with age. Thiazides were prescribed to 30.1% of women compared with 16% of men (P<0.001). Average PDD was 135±117% of defined daily dose (DDD) for loop diuretics, and highest for bumetanide (245±2.01% of DDD, equivalent to 2.5±2.0 mg). Average PDD was 74±40% of DDD for thiazides, and highest for chlorthalidone (100±49% of DDD, equivalent to 25±12 mg). Conclusions Important characteristics of diuretic usage patterns in this elderly population were a steep increase in loop diuretic use in the oldest old, a large gender difference for thiazide use, and high prescribed doses for thiazides. PMID:9803990

Seasonal variation in penicillin use in Mexico and Brazil: analysis of the impact of over-the-counter restrictions.

PubMed

Santa-Ana-Tellez, Yared; Mantel-Teeuwisse, Aukje K; Leufkens, Hubert G M; Wirtz, Veronika J

2015-01-01

During 2010, Mexico and Brazil implemented policies to enforce existing laws of restricting over-the-counter sales of antibiotics. We determined if the enforcement led to more appropriate antibiotic use by measuring changes in seasonal variation of penicillin use. We used retail quarterly sales data in defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitant-days (DDD/TID) from IMS Health from the private sector in Mexico and Brazil from the first quarter of 2007 to the first quarter of 2013. This database contains information on volume of antibiotics sold in retail pharmacies using information from wholesalers. We used interrupted time-series models controlling for external factors with the use of antihypertensives with interaction terms to assess changes in trend, level, and variation in use between quarters for total penicillin use and by active substance. The most used penicillin was amoxicillin, followed by amoxicillin-clavulanic acid and ampicillin (minimal use in Brazil). Before the restrictions, the seasonal variation in penicillin use was 1.1 DDD/TID in Mexico and 0.8 DDD/TID in Brazil. In Mexico, we estimated a significant decrease in the seasonal variation of 0.4 DDD/TID after the restriction, mainly due to changes in seasonal variation of amoxicillin and ampicillin. In Brazil, the seasonal variation did not change significantly, overall and in the breakdown by individual active substances. For Mexico, inappropriate penicillin use may have diminished after the restrictions were enforced. For Brazil, increasing use and no change in seasonal variation suggest that further efforts are needed to reduce inappropriate penicillin use. Copyright © 2015, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

The Association Between the Use of Zolpidem and the Risk of Alzheimer's Disease Among Older People.

PubMed

Cheng, Hui-Ting; Lin, Fang-Ju; Erickson, Steven R; Hong, Jin-Liern; Wu, Chung-Hsuen

2017-11-01

To evaluate the association between zolpidem use and the risk of Alzheimer's disease among older people. A retrospective cohort study using data from 2001 to 2011 from the National Health Insurance Research Database. Taiwan. A total of 6,922 patients aged 65 years or older enrolled from January 2002 to December 2004 (the enrollment period). Zolpidem users were identified as patients who used zolpidem during the enrollment period. The index date was the date of the first zolpidem prescription. Dosage of zolpidem use was defined using cumulative defined daily dose (cDDD) based on the cumulative dosage that patients took within one year after the index date (grouped as: less than 28, 28-90, 91-180, and more than 180 cDDD). The occurrence of Alzheimer's disease was defined as the time period from the end of one year after the index date to the date of the Alzheimer's disease diagnosis. The propensity score was used to adjust the measured confounders of Alzheimer's disease. Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate the association between zolpidem use and the incidence of Alzheimer's disease. Zolpidem users with a high cumulative dose (>180 cDDD) in the first year after initiation had a significantly greater risk of Alzheimer's disease than non-zolpidem users (HR = 2.97, 95% CI = 1.61-5.49) and low cumulative dose (<28 cDDD) users (HR = 4.18, 95% CI = 1.77-9.86). We found the use of a high cumulative dose of zolpidem was associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease among older people living in Taiwan. It is advised to use caution when considering long-term use of zolpidem in older patients. © 2017, Copyright the Authors Journal compilation © 2017, The American Geriatrics Society.

Hybrid Corpectomy and Disc Arthroplasty for Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy Caused by Ossification of Posterior Longitudinal Ligament and Disc Herniation.

PubMed

Chang, Huang-Chou; Tu, Tsung-Hsi; Chang, Hsuan-Kan; Wu, Jau-Ching; Fay, Li-Yu; Chang, Peng-Yuan; Wu, Ching-Lan; Huang, Wen-Cheng; Cheng, Henrich

2016-11-01

The combination of anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) and anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion (ACCF) has been demonstrated to be effective for multilevel cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM); however, the combination of ACCF and cervical disc arthroplasty (CDA) for 3-level CSM has never been addressed. Consecutive patients (>18 years of age) with CSM caused by segmental ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) and degenerative disc disease (DDD) were reviewed. Inclusion criteria were patients who underwent hybrid ACCF and CDA surgery for symptomatic 3-level CSM with OPLL and DDD. Medical and radiologic records were reviewed retrospectively. A total of 15 patients were analyzed with a mean follow-up of 18.1 ± 7.42 months. Every patient had hybrid surgery composed of 1-level ACCF (for segmental-type OPLL causing spinal stenosis) and 1-level CDA at the adjacent level (for DDD causing stenosis). All clinical outcomes, including visual analogue scale of neck and arm pain, Neck Disability Index, Japanese Orthopedic Association scores, and Nurick scores of myelopathy, demonstrated significant improvement at 12 months after surgery. All patients (100%) achieved arthrodesis for the ACCF (instrumented) and preserved mobility for CDA (preoperation 6.2 ± 3.81° vs. postoperation 7.0 ± 4.18°; P = 0.579). For patients with multilevel CSM caused by segmental OPLL and DDD, the hybrid surgery of ACCF and CDA demonstrated satisfactory clinical and radiologic outcomes. Moreover, although located next to each other, the instrumented ACCF construct and CDA still achieved solid arthrodesis and preserved mobility, respectively. Therefore, hybrid surgery may be a reasonable option for the management of CSM with OPLL. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

QTL mapping of genes controlling plasma insulin and leptin concentrations: metabolic effect of obesity QTLs identified in an F2 intercross between C57BL/6J and DDD.Cg-A(y) inbred mice.

PubMed

Suto, Jun-ichi

2013-07-31

DDD.Cg-A(y) female mice developed massive obesity as compared with B6.Cg-A(y) female mice. We previously identified quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for obesity on chromosomes 1, 6, 9 and 17 in F2 female mice, including F2A(y) (F2 mice with the A(y) allele) and F2 non- A(y) mice (F2 mice without the A(y) allele), produced by crossing C57BL/6J and DDD.Cg-A(y) strains. We here addressed the question whether the obesity QTLs share genetic bases with putative QTLs for plasma glucose, insulin and leptin concentrations. We performed QTL analyses for the first principal component (PC1) extracted from these metabolic measurements to identify the genes that contributed to the comprehensive evaluation of metabolic traits. By single QTL scans, we identified two significant QTLs for insulin concentration on chromosomes 6 and 12, three for leptin concentration on chromosomes 1, 6 and 17, and five for PC1 on chromosomes 1, 6, 12 (two loci) and 17. Although insulin and leptin concentrations and PC1 were not normally distributed in combined F2 mice, results of single QTL scans by parametric and non-parametric methods were very similar. Therefore, QTL scan by the parametric method was performed with the agouti locus genotype as a covariate. A significant QTL × covariate interaction was found for PC1 on chromosome 9. All obesity QTLs had significant metabolic effects. Thus, obesity- and diabetes-related traits in DDD.Cg-A(y) mice were largely controlled by QTLs on chromosomes 1, 6, 9, 12 and 17.

Residual levels and identify possible sources of organochlorine pesticides in Korea atmosphere

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Park, Jin Soo; Shin, Sun Kyoung; Kim, Woo Il; Kim, Byung Hoon

2011-12-01

The nationwide monitoring program was established in 2008 to monitor of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in Korea. Under this program, it was observed air concentrations of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) at 37 sites from January to October of 2008, to determine the residue levels and identify possible sources in Korea atmosphere. Samples of OCPs including HCB, aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, p, p'-DDT, o, p'-DDT, p, p'-DDE, o, p'-DDE, p, p'-DDD, o, p'-DDD, trans-chlordane, cis-chlordane, trans-nonachlor, cis-nonachlor, oxychlordane, heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide were collected with high volume air sampler and analyzed by HRGC/HRMS. The concentrations were in the range of 41.2-344.3 pg m -3 for HCB, ND-47.55 pg m -3 for DDTs (sum of p, p'-DDT, o, p'-DDT, p, p'-DDE, o, p'-DDE, p, p'-DDD, o, p'-DDD), ND-38.97 pg m -3 for chlordanes (sum of trans-chlordane, cis-chlordane, trans-nonachlor, cis-nonachlor, oxychlordane), ND-9.19 pg m -3 for heptachlors (sum of heptachlor and heptachlor epoxide) and ND-4.32 pg m -3 for dieldrin. The predominant compound in air was HCB. However, HCB itself has not ever been registered and used as a pesticide in Korea. The elevated concentration of HCB in Korea might be contributed to geographical location and long range transport. For DDTs, it was found that no more fresh input occurred recently and technical type DDTs was prevailing in Korea. Higher concentration of chlordane was observed in winter, which was contributed to the fresh input technical chlordane and long range transport. Relatively lower levels of heptachlor and dieldrin despite much more consumption than other pesticides were resulted from shorter half-lives in environment.

Abundance and Distribution of Dimethylsulfoniopropionate Degradation Genes and the Corresponding Bacterial Community Structure at Dimethyl Sulfide Hot Spots in the Tropical and Subtropical Pacific Ocean

PubMed Central

Suzuki, Shotaro; Omori, Yuko; Wong, Shu-Kuan; Ijichi, Minoru; Kaneko, Ryo; Kameyama, Sohiko; Tanimoto, Hiroshi; Hamasaki, Koji

2015-01-01

Dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) is mainly produced by marine phytoplankton but is released into the microbial food web and degraded by marine bacteria to dimethyl sulfide (DMS) and other products. To reveal the abundance and distribution of bacterial DMSP degradation genes and the corresponding bacterial communities in relation to DMS and DMSP concentrations in seawater, we collected surface seawater samples from DMS hot spot sites during a cruise across the Pacific Ocean. We analyzed the genes encoding DMSP lyase (dddP) and DMSP demethylase (dmdA), which are responsible for the transformation of DMSP to DMS and DMSP assimilation, respectively. The averaged abundance (±standard deviation) of these DMSP degradation genes relative to that of the 16S rRNA genes was 33% ± 12%. The abundances of these genes showed large spatial variations. dddP genes showed more variation in abundances than dmdA genes. Multidimensional analysis based on the abundances of DMSP degradation genes and environmental factors revealed that the distribution pattern of these genes was influenced by chlorophyll a concentrations and temperatures. dddP genes, dmdA subclade C/2 genes, and dmdA subclade D genes exhibited significant correlations with the marine Roseobacter clade, SAR11 subgroup Ib, and SAR11 subgroup Ia, respectively. SAR11 subgroups Ia and Ib, which possessed dmdA genes, were suggested to be the main potential DMSP consumers. The Roseobacter clade members possessing dddP genes in oligotrophic subtropical regions were possible DMS producers. These results suggest that DMSP degradation genes are abundant and widely distributed in the surface seawater and that the marine bacteria possessing these genes influence the degradation of DMSP and regulate the emissions of DMS in subtropical gyres of the Pacific Ocean. PMID:25862229

Recent Progress in Discrete Dislocation Dynamics and Its Applications to Micro Plasticity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Po, Giacomo; Mohamed, Mamdouh S.; Crosby, Tamer; Erel, Can; El-Azab, Anter; Ghoniem, Nasr

2014-10-01

We present a self-contained review of the discrete dislocation dynamics (DDD) method for the numerical investigation of plasticity in crystals, focusing on recent development and implementation progress. The review covers the theoretical foundations of DDD within the framework of incompatible elasticity, its numerical implementation via the nodal method, the extension of the method to finite domains and several implementation details. Applications of the method to current topics in micro-plasticity are presented, including the size effects in nano-indentation, the evolution of the dislocation microstructure in persistent slip bands, and the phenomenon of dislocation avalanches in micro-pillar compression.

Modelling Coastal Cliff Recession Based on the GIM-DDD Method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gong, Bin; Wang, Shanyong; Sloan, Scott William; Sheng, Daichao; Tang, Chun'an

2018-04-01

The unpredictable and instantaneous collapse behaviour of coastal rocky cliffs may cause damage that extends significantly beyond the area of failure. Gravitational movements that occur during coastal cliff recession involve two major stages: the small deformation stage and the large displacement stage. In this paper, a method of simulating the entire progressive failure process of coastal rocky cliffs is developed based on the gravity increase method (GIM), the rock failure process analysis method and the discontinuous deformation analysis method, and it is referred to as the GIM-DDD method. The small deformation stage, which includes crack initiation, propagation and coalescence processes, and the large displacement stage, which includes block translation and rotation processes during the rocky cliff collapse, are modelled using the GIM-DDD method. In addition, acoustic emissions, stress field variations, crack propagation and failure mode characteristics are further analysed to provide insights that can be used to predict, prevent and minimize potential economic losses and casualties. The calculation and analytical results are consistent with previous studies, which indicate that the developed method provides an effective and reliable approach for performing rocky cliff stability evaluations and coastal cliff recession analyses and has considerable potential for improving the safety and protection of seaside cliff areas.

Widespread increase of empirical carbapenem use in acute care hospitals in Catalonia, Spain.

PubMed

Grau, Santiago; Fondevilla, Esther; Echeverría-Esnal, Daniel; Alcorta, Amaia; Limon, Enric; Gudiol, Francesc

2018-04-24

The overall increase in the use of carbapenems could lead to the selection of carbapenem-resistant bacteria. The objectives of this study were to analyze carbapenem use from 2008 to 2015 and their prescription profile in 58 hospitals affiliated to the VINCat Programme (nosocomial infection vigilance system). Retrospective, longitudinal and descriptive study of carbapenem use. Consecutive case-series study, looking for carbapenem prescription characteristics, conducted in January 2016. Use was calculated in defined daily doses (DDD)/100 patient-days (PD); prescription profiles were assessed using a standardized survey. Carbapenem use increased 88.43%, from 3.37 DDD/100-PD to 6.35 DDD/100-PD (p<0.001). A total of 631 patients were included in the prescription analysis. Carbapenems were prescribed empirically in 76.2% of patients, mainly for urinary tract and intra-abdominal infections due to suspicion of polymicrobial mixed infection (27.4%) and severity (25.4%). A worrying increase in carbapenem use was found in Catalonia. Stewardship interventions are required to prevent carbapenem overuse. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier España, S.L.U. and Sociedad Española de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Microbiología Clínica. All rights reserved.

What can nanosafety learn from drug development? The feasibility of "safety by design".

PubMed

Hjorth, Rune; van Hove, Lilian; Wickson, Fern

2017-04-01

"Safety by design" (SbD) is an intuitively appealing concept that is on the rise within nanotoxicology and nanosafety research, as well as within nanotechnology research policy. It leans on principles established within drug discovery and development (DDD) and seeks to address safety early, as well as throughout product development. However, it remains unclear what the concept of SbD exactly entails for engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) or how it is envisioned to be implemented. Here, we review the concept as it is emerging in European research and compare its resemblance with the safety testing and assessment practices in DDD. From this comparison, it is clear that "safety" is not obtained through DDD, and that SbD should be considered a starting point rather than an end, meaning that products will still need to progress through thorough safety evaluations and regulation. We conclude that although risk reduction is clearly desirable, the way SbD is currently communicated tends to treat safety as an inherent material property and that this is fundamentally problematic as it represents a recasting and reduction of societal issues into technical problems. SbD therefore faces a multitude of challenges, from practical implementation to unrealistic stakeholder expectations.

Groundwater modelling in conceptual hydrological models - introducing space

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boje, Søren; Skaugen, Thomas; Møen, Knut; Myrabø, Steinar

2017-04-01

The tiny Sæternbekken Minifelt (Muren) catchment (7500 m2) in Bærumsmarka, Norway, was during the 1990s, densely instrumented with more than a 100 observation points for measuring groundwater levels. The aim was to investigate the link between shallow groundwater dynamics and runoff. The DDD (Distance Distribution Dynamics) model is a newly developed rainfall-runoff model used operationally by the Norwegian Flood-Forecasting service at NVE. The model estimates the capacity of the subsurface reservoir at different levels of saturation and predicts overland flow. The subsurface in the DDD model has a 2-D representation that calculates the saturated and unsaturated soil moisture along a hillslope representing the entire catchment in question. The groundwater observations from more than two decades ago are used to verify assumptions of the subsurface reservoir in the DDD model and to validate its spatial representation of the subsurface reservoir. The Muren catchment will, during 2017, be re-instrumented in order to continue the work to bridge the gap between conceptual hydrological models, with typically single value or 0-dimension representation of the subsurface, and models with more realistic 2- or 3-dimension representation of the subsurface.

Gray bats and pollution in Missouri and northern Alabama

USGS Publications Warehouse

Clark, D.R.; Bunck, C.M.; Cromartie, E.; LaVal, R.K.; Tuttle, M.D.

1981-01-01

Gray bats died with lethal brain concentrations of dieldrin and rising levels of heptachlor epoxide in 1976, 1977, and 1978 at Bat Caves No. 2-3, Franklin County, Missouri. The colony disappeared in 1979. Dieldrin was banned in 1974 and 1981 was the last year for heptachlor use in Missouri. The State is recommendiing three organophosphates (chlorpyrifos or Dursban, dyfonate or Fonophos, and ethoprop or Mocap) as substitutes for heptachlor. All three compounds have excellent records in the environment. Analyses of insects collected where bats of this colony fed showed beetles, particularly rove beetles (Staphylinidae), to be the most heavily contaminated part of the bat's diet. Lactation concentrated these residues so that levels in milk were approximately 30 times those in the insect diet. Gray bats found dead in caves in northern Alabama showed DDD (a DDT derivative) contamination. Bats from the colony at Cave Springs Cave on the Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge contained up to 29 ppm DDD in their brains, but this is probably less than one-half the lethal level. Bats from other colonies contained less. The DDD contamination enters the Terinessee River just above the Wheeler Refuge and is seen in gray bat colonies as far as 60 miles downriver.

High variability of TB, HIV, hepatitis C treatment and opioid substitution therapy among prisoners in Germany.

PubMed

Müller, Jana; Schmidt, Daniel; Kollan, Christian; Lehmann, Marc; Bremer, Viviane; Zimmermann, Ruth

2017-10-25

In Germany, medical care of prisoners is completely separated from extramural health care. The extent and quality of medical care among prisoners in Germany are therefore largely unknown. We performed a secondary data analysis of pharmacy sales data for tuberculosis (TB), HIV, hepatitis C (HCV) and opioid substitution treatment (OST) delivered to prisons in 11 federal states (FS) in Germany between 01/2012 and 03/2013. The aims of this study were to assess (i) the treatment availability for the selected diseases and OST in German prisons, (ii) the proportion of prisoners treated per FS and overall for TB, HIV, HCV and OST during the study period. Substances unique to or typically used for the treatment of each disease were defined as marker substances with defined daily doses (DDD). For each marker substance we assessed the cumulative number of DDD, the average daily number of DDD (DDD d ) and average treatment prevalence per day in percent (adTP). Accordingly, the DDD d represents one person treated per day and the adTP means the proportion of prisoners treated per day. We compared the adTP of the diseases with previously measured prevalences. We obtained data from pharmacies supplying prisons in 11 of 16 German FS. Of the included prisons, 41% were supplied with medicines for TB, 71% for HIV and 58% for HCV and OST. Twice as many delivered marker substances for TB were indicated for the continuation phase and chemoprevention than the intensive phase. The HIV adTP ranged from 0.06% to 0.94%, HCV adTP ranged from 0.03% to 0.59% and OST adTP ranged from 0% to 7.90%. The overall adTP for the respective treatment was 0.39% for HIV, 0.12% for HCV and 2.18% for OST. According to our findings treatment rates for TB were consistent with the expected TB prevalence, at least in Berlin. HIV treatment seems to be offered to an adequate proportion of estimated infected prisoners. In contrast, the HCV treatment prevalence was low. High variation among FS in provision of all treatments, particularly of OST, point to inconsistent treatment practices, although nationwide extramural treatment guidelines for Germany exist.

Quantitative trait locus mapping of genes associated with vacuolation in the adrenal X-zone of the DDD/Sgn inbred mouse

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background Adrenal gland of mice contains a transient zone between the adrenal cortex and the adrenal medulla: the X-zone. There are clear strain differences in terms of X-zone morphology. Nulliparous females of the inbred mouse DDD strain develop adrenal X-zones containing exclusively vacuolated cells, whereas females of the inbred mouse B6 strain develop X-zones containing only non-vacuolated cells. The X-zone vacuolation is a physiologic process associated with the X-zone degeneration and is tightly regulated by genetic factors. Identification of the genetic factors controlling such strain differences should help analyze the X-zone function. In this study, a quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis for the extent of X-zone vacuolation was performed for two types of F2 female mice: F2Ay mice (F2 mice with the Ay allele) and F2 non-Ay mice (F2 mice without the Ay allele). These were produced by crossing B6 females and DDD.Cg-Ay males. DDD.Cg-Ay is a congenic mouse strain for the Ay allele at the agouti locus and is used for this study because a close association between the X-zone morphology and the agouti locus genotype has been suggested. The Ay allele is dominant and homozygous lethal; therefore, living Ay mice are invariably heterozygotes. Results Single QTL scans identified significant QTLs on chromosomes 1, 2, 6, and X for F2 non-Ay mice, and on chromosomes 2, 6, and 12 for F2Ay mice. The QTL on chromosome 2 was considered to be because of the agouti locus, which has been suggested to be associated with X-zone vacuolation. A significant QTL that interacted with the agouti locus was identified on chromosome 8. Conclusions The extent of X-zone vacuolation in DDD females was controlled by multiple genes with complex interactions. The murine X-zone is considered analogous structure to the human fetal zone. Therefore, the results of this study will aid in understanding function of not only of the X-zone but also of the human fetal zone. Identifying the genes responsible for the QTLs will be essential for understanding the molecular basis of X-zone function, which is currently unclear. PMID:23131041

Quantitative trait locus mapping of genes associated with vacuolation in the adrenal X-zone of the DDD/Sgn inbred mouse.

PubMed

Suto, Jun-Ichi

2012-11-06

Adrenal gland of mice contains a transient zone between the adrenal cortex and the adrenal medulla: the X-zone. There are clear strain differences in terms of X-zone morphology. Nulliparous females of the inbred mouse DDD strain develop adrenal X-zones containing exclusively vacuolated cells, whereas females of the inbred mouse B6 strain develop X-zones containing only non-vacuolated cells. The X-zone vacuolation is a physiologic process associated with the X-zone degeneration and is tightly regulated by genetic factors. Identification of the genetic factors controlling such strain differences should help analyze the X-zone function. In this study, a quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis for the extent of X-zone vacuolation was performed for two types of F2 female mice: F2Ay mice (F2 mice with the Ay allele) and F2 non-Ay mice (F2 mice without the Ay allele). These were produced by crossing B6 females and DDD.Cg-Ay males. DDD.Cg-Ay is a congenic mouse strain for the Ay allele at the agouti locus and is used for this study because a close association between the X-zone morphology and the agouti locus genotype has been suggested. The Ay allele is dominant and homozygous lethal; therefore, living Ay mice are invariably heterozygotes. Single QTL scans identified significant QTLs on chromosomes 1, 2, 6, and X for F2 non-Ay mice, and on chromosomes 2, 6, and 12 for F2Ay mice. The QTL on chromosome 2 was considered to be because of the agouti locus, which has been suggested to be associated with X-zone vacuolation. A significant QTL that interacted with the agouti locus was identified on chromosome 8. The extent of X-zone vacuolation in DDD females was controlled by multiple genes with complex interactions. The murine X-zone is considered analogous structure to the human fetal zone. Therefore, the results of this study will aid in understanding function of not only of the X-zone but also of the human fetal zone. Identifying the genes responsible for the QTLs will be essential for understanding the molecular basis of X-zone function, which is currently unclear.

Selected Organochlorines in Human Blood and Urine in the South of the Russian Far East.

PubMed

Tsygankov, Vasiliy Yu; Khristoforova, Nadezhda K; Lukyanova, Olga N; Boyarova, Margarita D; Kiku, Pavel F; Yarygina, Marina V

2017-10-01

The trace OCP concentrations, such as α-, β-, and γ-HCH, DDT and its metabolites (DDD and DDE) in blood and urine of residents from the south of the Russian Far East was revealed. A large range of OCPs was found in the urine: α- and γ-isomers of HCH, DDT and DDE. The only β-HCH was detected in the blood; this indicates its persistence and the difficulty of excretion this substance from the organism. The total trace OCP concentration, found in the biological fluids of residents of the south of the Russian Far East, providing further evidence that these organic contaminants persist in the environment.

Pesticide, PCB, and lead residues and necropsy data for bald eagles from 32 states - 1978-81

USGS Publications Warehouse

Reichel, W.L.; Schmeling, Shelia K.; Cromartie, E.; Kaiser, T.E.; Krynitsky, A.J.; Lamont, T.G.; Mulhern, B.M.; Prouty, R.M.; Stafford, C.J.; Swineford, D.M.

1984-01-01

In 1978–81, 293 bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) from 32 states were necropsied and analyzed for organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), and lead residues. DDE was found in all carcasses; PCB, DDD, trans-nonachlor, dieldrin and oxychlordane were next in order of percent frequency of detection. The median levels of DDE and PCB have declined when compared with previous collections. Five specimens contained high levels of dieldrin in their brains which may have contributed to their deaths. Seventeen eagles contained liver lead residues greater than 10 ppm and probably died of lead poisoning. Trauma and shooting are the most common causes of death.

Residues of organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls and autopsy data for bald eagles, 1971-72

USGS Publications Warehouse

Cromartie, E.; Reichel, W.L.; Locke, L.N.; Belisle, A.A.; Kaiser, T.E.; Lamont, T.G.; Mulhern, B.M.; Prouty, R.M.; Swineford, D.M.

1975-01-01

Thirty-seven bald eagles found sick or dead in 18 States during 1971-72 were analyzed for organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB's). DDE and PCB's were detected in all bald eagle carcasses; 30 carcasses contained DDD and 28 contained dieldrin. Four eagles contained possibly lethal levels of dieldrin and nine eagles had been poisoned by thallium. Autopsies revealed that illegal shooting was the most common cause of mortality. Since 1964 when data were first collected, 8 of the 17 eagles obtained from Maryland, Virginia, South Carolina, and Florida possibly died from dieldrin poisoning; all four specimens from Maryland and Virginia were from the Chesapeake Bay Tidewater area.

Assessing variability and trends in Arctic sea ice distribution using satellite data

USGS Publications Warehouse

Belchansky, G.I.; Mordvintsev, Ilia N.; Douglas, David C.

1996-01-01

A survey of organochlorine residues in woodcock wings was undertaken to determine whether these wings are suitable for showing regional differences in residues and to obtain a baseline in 1970-71 for later comparisons. Woodcock wings were obtained from the annual hunter's wing survey. Samples came from eight States (Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin) and one tri-State area (North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia). Wings from the tri-State area contained significantly higher (P<0.01) concentrations of DDT (including DDT, DDD, and DDE) than those from other States. Concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB's) also were significantly higher (P<0.05) in samples from these three States. Wings from Louisiana and the tri-State area had significantly higher (P<0.01) concentrations of dieldrin than wings from the other States, and those from Louisiana had significantly higher (P < 0.01) concentrations of mirex than those from other States. (Residues are on lipid base) The compounds detected and the ranges of residue means for all sampling areas were as follows: Total DDT (5.89--65.15 ppm); DDT (0.34 m--14.93 ppm); DDE (4.66--47.47 ppm); DDD (0.11--3.44 ppm); mirex (0.76--16.93 ppm); dieldrin (0.09--3.06 ppm); and PCB's (4.27--8.63 ppm). Woodcock wings appear to be suitable for determining regional differences in organochlorine residues in this species.

Good medicine for conservation biology: The intersection of epidemiology and conservation theory

USGS Publications Warehouse

Lafferty, Kevin D.; Gerber, Leah R.

2002-01-01

A survey of organochlorine residues in woodcock wings was undertaken to determine whether these wings are suitable for showing regional differences in residues and to obtain a baseline in 1970-71 for later comparisons. Woodcock wings were obtained from the annual hunter's wing survey. Samples came from eight States (Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin) and one tri-State area (North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia). Wings from the tri-State area contained significantly higher (P<0.01) concentrations of DDT (including DDT, DDD, and DDE) than those from other States. Concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB's) also were significantly higher (P<0.05) in samples from these three States. Wings from Louisiana and the tri-State area had significantly higher (P<0.01) concentrations of dieldrin than wings from the other States, and those from Louisiana had significantly higher (P < 0.01) concentrations of mirex than those from other States. (Residues are on lipid base) The compounds detected and the ranges of residue means for all sampling areas were as follows: Total DDT (5.89--65.15 ppm); DDT (0.34 m--14.93 ppm); DDE (4.66--47.47 ppm); DDD (0.11--3.44 ppm); mirex (0.76--16.93 ppm); dieldrin (0.09--3.06 ppm); and PCB's (4.27--8.63 ppm). Woodcock wings appear to be suitable for determining regional differences in organochlorine residues in this species.

A FFT-based formulation for discrete dislocation dynamics in heterogeneous media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bertin, N.; Capolungo, L.

2018-02-01

In this paper, an extension of the DDD-FFT approach presented in [1] is developed for heterogeneous elasticity. For such a purpose, an iterative spectral formulation in which convolutions are calculated in the Fourier space is developed to solve for the mechanical state associated with the discrete eigenstrain-based microstructural representation. With this, the heterogeneous DDD-FFT approach is capable of treating anisotropic and heterogeneous elasticity in a computationally efficient manner. In addition, a GPU implementation is presented to allow for further acceleration. As a first example, the approach is used to investigate the interaction between dislocations and second-phase particles, thereby demonstrating its ability to inherently incorporate image forces arising from elastic inhomogeneities.

Persistent Pesticides in Human Breast Milk and Cryptorchidism

PubMed Central

Damgaard, Ida N.; Skakkebæk, Niels E.; Toppari, Jorma; Virtanen, Helena E.; Shen, Heqing; Schramm, Karl-Werner; Petersen, Jørgen H.; Jensen, Tina K.; Main, Katharina M.

2006-01-01

Introduction Prenatal exposure to some pesticides can adversely affect male reproductive health in animals. We investigated a possible human association between maternal exposure to 27 organochlorine compounds used as pesticides and cryptorchidism among male children. Design Within a prospective birth cohort, we performed a case–control study; 62 milk samples from mothers of cryptorchid boys and 68 from mothers of healthy boys were selected. Milk was collected as individual pools between 1 and 3 months postpartum and analyzed for 27 organochlorine pesticides. Results Eight organochlorine pesticides were measurable in all samples (medians; nanograms per gram lipid) for cases/controls: 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)ethylene (p,p′-DDE): 97.3/83.8; β-hexachlorocyclohexane (β-HCH): 13.6/12.3; hexachlorobenzene (HCB): 10.6/8.8; α -endosulfan: 7.0/6.7; oxychlordane: 4.5/4.1; 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)ethane (p,p′-DDT): 4.6/4.0; dieldrin: 4.1/3.1; cis-heptachloroepoxide (cis-HE): 2.5/2.2. Five compounds [octachlorostyrene (OCS); pentachlorobenzene, 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)ethane (p,p′-DDD); o,p′-DDT; mirex] were measurable in most samples (detection rates 90.8–99.2%) but in lower concentrations. For methoxychlor, cis-chlordane, pentachloroanisole (PCA), γ -HCH, 1,1-dichloro-2-(2-chlorophenyl)-2,2(4-chlorophenyl)ethane, trans-chlordane, α -HCH, and o,p′-DDE, both concentrations and detection rates were low (26.5–71.5%). Heptachlor, HCH (δ, ɛ ), aldrin, β-endosulfan and trans-heptachloroepoxide were detected at negligible concentrations and low detection rates and were not analyzed further. Seventeen of 21 organochlorine pesticides [p,p′-DDT, p,p′-DDE, p,p′-DDD, o,p′-DDT, HCH (α , β, γ ), HCB, PCA, α -endosulfan, cis-HE, chlordane (cis-, trans-) oxychlordane, methoxychlor, OCS, and dieldrin] were measured in higher median concentrations in case milk than in control milk. Apart from trans-chlordane (p = 0.012), there were no significant differences between cryptorchid and healthy boys for individual chemicals. However, combined statistical analysis of the eight most abundant persistent pesticides showed that pesticide levels in breast milk were significantly higher in boys with cryptorchidism (p = 0.032). Conclusion The association between congenital cryptorchidism and some persistent pesticides in breast milk as a proxy for maternal exposure suggests that testicular descent in the fetus may be adversely affected. PMID:16835070

Spatial and seasonal variations of pesticide contamination in agricultural soils and crops sample from an intensive horticulture area of Hohhot, North-West China.

PubMed

Zhang, Fujin; He, Jiang; Yao, Yiping; Hou, Dekun; Jiang, Cai; Zhang, Xinxin; Di, Caixia; Otgonbayar, Khureldavaa

2013-08-01

The spatial variability and temporal trend in concentrations of the organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), in soils and agricultural corps were investigated on an intensive horticulture area in Hohhot, North-West China, from 2008 to 2011. The most frequently found and abundant pesticides were the metabolites of DDT (p,p'-DDE, p,p'-DDT, o,p'-DDT and p,p'-DDD). Total DDT concentrations ranged from ND (not detectable) to 507.41 ng/g and were higher than the concentration of total HCHs measured for the range of 4.84-281.44 ng/g. There were significantly positive correlations between the ∑DDT and ∑HCH concentrations (r (2)>0.74) in soils, but no significant correlation was found between the concentrations of OCPs in soils and clay content while a relatively strong correlation was found between total OCP concentrations and total organic carbon (TOC). β-HCH was the main isomer of HCHs, and was detected in all samples; the maximum proportion of β-HCH compared to ∑HCHs (mean value 54%) was found, suggesting its persistence. The α/γ-HCH ratio was between 0.89 and 5.39, which signified the combined influence of technical HCHs and lindane. Low p,p'-DDE/p,p'-DDT in N1, N3 and N9 were found, reflecting the fresh input of DDTs, while the relatively high o,p'-DDT/p,p'-DDT ratios indicated the agricultural application of dicofol. Ratios of DDT/(DDE+DDD) in soils do not indicate recent inputs of DDT into Hohhot farmland soil environment. Seasonal variations of OCPs featured higher concentrations in autumn and lower concentrations in spring. This was likely associated with their temperature-driven re-volatilization and application of dicofol in late spring.

Implementation and impact of an audit and feedback antimicrobial stewardship intervention in the orthopaedics department of a tertiary-care hospital: a controlled interrupted time series study.

PubMed

Tavares, Margarida; Carvalho, Ana Cláudia; Almeida, José Pedro; Andrade, Paulo; São-Simão, Ricardo; Soares, Pedro; Alves, Carlos; Pinto, Rui; Fontanet, Arnaud; Watier, Laurence

2018-06-01

A prospective audit and feedback antimicrobial stewardship intervention conducted in the Orthopaedics Department of a university hospital in Portugal was evaluated by comparing an interrupted time series in the intervention group with a non-intervention (control) group. Monthly antibiotic use (except cefazolin) was measured as the World Health Organization's Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical defined daily doses (ATC-DDD) from January 2012 to September 2016, excluding the 6-month phase of intervention implementation starting on 1 January 2015. Compared with the control group, the intervention group had a monthly decrease in the use of fluoroquinolones by 2.3 DDD/1000 patient-days [95% confidence interval (CI) -3.97 to -0.63]. An increase in the use of penicillins by 103.3 DDD/1000 patient-days (95% CI 47.42 to 159.10) was associated with intervention implementation, followed by a decrease during the intervention period (slope = -5.2, 95% CI -8.56 to -1.82). In the challenging scenario of treatment of osteoarticular and prosthetic joint infections, an audit and feedback intervention reduced antibiotic exposure and spectrum. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. and International Society of Chemotherapy. All rights reserved.

Sequence-Selective Formation of Synthetic H-Bonded Duplexes

PubMed Central

2017-01-01

Oligomers equipped with a sequence of phenol and pyridine N-oxide groups form duplexes via H-bonding interactions between these recognition units. Reductive amination chemistry was used to synthesize all possible 3-mer sequences: AAA, AAD, ADA, DAA, ADD, DAD, DDA, and DDD. Pairwise interactions between the oligomers were investigated using NMR titration and dilution experiments in toluene. The measured association constants vary by 3 orders of magnitude (102 to 105 M–1). Antiparallel sequence-complementary oligomers generally form more stable complexes than mismatched duplexes. Mismatched duplexes that have an excess of H-bond donors are stabilized by the interaction of two phenol donors with one pyridine N-oxide acceptor. Oligomers that have a H-bond donor and acceptor on the ends of the chain can fold to form intramolecular H-bonds in the free state. The 1,3-folding equilibrium competes with duplex formation and lowers the stability of duplexes involving these sequences. As a result, some of the mismatch duplexes are more stable than some of the sequence-complementary duplexes. However, the most stable mismatch duplexes contain DDD and compete with the most stable sequence-complementary duplex, AAA·DDD, so in mixtures that contain all eight sequences, sequence-complementary duplexes dominate. Even higher fidelity sequence selectivity can be achieved if alternating donor–acceptor sequences are avoided. PMID:28857551

Rituximab for Treatment of Membranoproliferative Glomerulonephritis and C3 Glomerulopathies

PubMed Central

2017-01-01

Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) is a histological pattern of injury resulting from predominantly subendothelial and mesangial deposition of immunoglobulins or complement factors with subsequent inflammation and proliferation particularly of the glomerular basement membrane. Recent classification of MPGN is based on pathogenesis dividing MPGN into immunoglobulin-associated MPGN and complement-mediated C3 glomerulonephritis (C3GN) and dense deposit disease (DDD). Current guidelines suggest treatment with steroids, cytotoxic agents with or without plasmapheresis only for subjects with progressive disease, that is, nephrotic range proteinuria and decline of renal function. Rituximab, a chimeric B-cell depleting anti-CD20 antibody, has emerged in the last decade as a treatment option for patients with primary glomerular diseases such as minimal change disease, focal-segmental glomerulosclerosis, or idiopathic membranous nephropathy. However, data on the use of rituximab in MPGN, C3GN, and DDD are limited to case reports and retrospective case series. Patients with immunoglobulin-associated and idiopathic MPGN who were treated with rituximab showed partial and complete responses in the majorities of cases. However, rituximab was not effective in few cases of C3GN and DDD. Despite promising results in immunoglobulin-associated and idiopathic MPGN, current evidence on this treatment remains weak, and controlled and prospective data are urgently needed. PMID:28573137

Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging and apparent diffusion coefficient mapping for diagnosing infectious spondylodiscitis: a preliminary study.

PubMed

Chen, Tai-Yuan; Wu, Te-Chang; Tsui, Yu-Kun; Chen, Hou-Hsun; Lin, Chien-Jen; Lee, Huey-Jen; Wu, Tai-Ching

2015-01-01

Though diffusion-weighted (DW) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is useful for diagnosing many pathologies, its use in infectious spondylodiscitis is unclear. We aimed to evaluate the use of DW MRI and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) mapping for the diagnosis of infectious spondylodiscitis. In this retrospective study, 17 patients with confirmed infectious spondylodiscitis were matched by age and level of infected disc with 17 patients with degenerative disc disease (DDD) and 17 healthy controls. All patients received conventional MRI and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in the same imaging session. ADC values of the 3 groups of patients were compared. The mean age of each group was 67.4 ± 11.6 years. The mean ADCs of the normal control, DDD, and infectious spondylodiscitis groups were 1.76 ± 0.19 × 10(-3) , 1.12 ± 0.22 × 10(-3) , and 1.27 ± 0.38 × 10(-3) mm2 /second, respectively. The ADCs of the DDD and infectious spondylodiscitis groups were both significantly lower than that of the normal control group (both, P < 0.001). These data suggest that DWI/ADC MRI may be useful in the early diagnosis of infectious spondylodiscitis. © 2014 The Authors. Journal of Neuroimaging published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of American Society of Neuroimaging.

Comparing antibiotic consumption between two European countries: are packages an adequate surrogate for prescriptions?

PubMed

Watier, Laurence; Cavalié, Philippe; Coignard, Bruno; Brun-Buisson, Christian

2017-11-01

Defined daily doses (DDD) are the gold standard indicator for quantifying prescriptions. Since 2014, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has also been using the number of packages per 1,000 inhabitants per day (ipd), as a surrogate for prescriptions, to report antibiotic consumption in the community and to perform comparisons between European Union (EU) countries participating in the European Surveillance of Antimicrobial Consumption Network (ESAC-Net). In 2015, consumption was reported to range across Europe from 1.0 to 4.7 packages per 1,000 ipd. Our analysis showed that consumption of antibiotics for systemic use per 1,000 ipd was on average 1.3 times greater in France than in Belgium when considering prescriptions in the numerator, 2.5 times greater when considering packages and 1.2 times greater when considering DDD. As long as the same metrics are used over time, antibiotic consumption data aggregated and disseminated by ECDC are useful for assessing temporal trends at the European level and within individual countries; these data may also be used for benchmarking across EU countries. While DDD - although imperfect - are the most widely accepted metric for this purpose, antibiotic packages do not appear suitable for comparisons between countries and may be misleading.

Comparing antibiotic consumption between two European countries: are packages an adequate surrogate for prescriptions?

PubMed Central

Watier, Laurence; Cavalié, Philippe; Coignard, Bruno; Brun-Buisson, Christian

2017-01-01

Defined daily doses (DDD) are the gold standard indicator for quantifying prescriptions. Since 2014, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has also been using the number of packages per 1,000 inhabitants per day (ipd), as a surrogate for prescriptions, to report antibiotic consumption in the community and to perform comparisons between European Union (EU) countries participating in the European Surveillance of Antimicrobial Consumption Network (ESAC-Net). In 2015, consumption was reported to range across Europe from 1.0 to 4.7 packages per 1,000 ipd. Our analysis showed that consumption of antibiotics for systemic use per 1,000 ipd was on average 1.3 times greater in France than in Belgium when considering prescriptions in the numerator, 2.5 times greater when considering packages and 1.2 times greater when considering DDD. As long as the same metrics are used over time, antibiotic consumption data aggregated and disseminated by ECDC are useful for assessing temporal trends at the European level and within individual countries; these data may also be used for benchmarking across EU countries. While DDD - although imperfect - are the most widely accepted metric for this purpose, antibiotic packages do not appear suitable for comparisons between countries and may be misleading. PMID:29162212

Impact of a new palliative care consultation team on opioid prescription in a University Hospital.

PubMed

Centeno, Carlos; Portela, María Angustias; Noguera, Antonio; Idoate, Antonio; Rubiales, Alvaro Sanz

2009-01-16

There are no validated measuring tools to gauge the effectiveness of a Hospital Palliative Care Consultation Team (PCCT). One way would be to consider its effect on the consumption of opioids expressed in total amounts and different formulations administered. We perform this study to evaluate the impact of a hospital PCCT on the trends of opioid prescription in a University Hospital. A seven year retrospective study on opioid prescription was carried out in the Clínica Universidad de Navarra. The period includes three years before and three years after the PCCT was implemented. Prescription was analysed calculating yearly the Defined Daily Dose (DDD) adjusted to 1000 hospital stays (DDD/1000HS). Indicators considered were the proportion of patients treated using opioids compared to the total estimated in need of treatment (rate of effectiveness) and the proportion of patients potentially requiring opioids but not treated who were incorporated into the treatment group (rate of improvement). From 2001 to 2007, total opioid prescription was low in non-oncology Departments (range: 69-110 DDD/1000HS) while parenteral morphine and fentanyl did not register any changes. In the same period of time, total opioid prescription increased in the Oncology Department from 240 to 558 DDD/1000HS. The rate of effectiveness in the three years prior to the implantation of the consultation team was 64% and in the three following years rose to 87%. The rate of improvement prior to the palliative care consultation team was 43% and in the three following years was 64%. A change in opioid prescription was registered after the implementation of the PCCT resulting in an increase in the prescription of parenteral morphine and methadone and a decrease in transdermal fentanyl. Implementation of a PCCT in a University Hospital is associated with a higher and more adequate use of opioids.

Impact of a new palliative care consultation team on opioid prescription in a University Hospital

PubMed Central

Centeno, Carlos; Portela, María Angustias; Noguera, Antonio; Idoate, Antonio; Rubiales, Álvaro Sanz

2009-01-01

Background There are no validated measuring tools to gauge the effectiveness of a Hospital Palliative Care Consultation Team (PCCT). One way would be to consider its effect on the consumption of opioids expressed in total amounts and different formulations administered. We perform this study to evaluate the impact of a hospital PCCT on the trends of opioid prescription in a University Hospital. Methods A seven year retrospective study on opioid prescription was carried out in the Clínica Universidad de Navarra. The period includes three years before and three years after the PCCT was implemented. Prescription was analysed calculating yearly the Defined Daily Dose (DDD) adjusted to 1000 hospital stays (DDD/1000HS). Indicators considered were the proportion of patients treated using opioids compared to the total estimated in need of treatment (rate of effectiveness) and the proportion of patients potentially requiring opioids but not treated who were incorporated into the treatment group (rate of improvement). Results From 2001 to 2007, total opioid prescription was low in non-oncology Departments (range: 69–110 DDD/1000HS) while parenteral morphine and fentanyl did not register any changes. In the same period of time, total opioid prescription increased in the Oncology Department from 240 to 558 DDD/1000HS. The rate of effectiveness in the three years prior to the implantation of the consultation team was 64% and in the three following years rose to 87%. The rate of improvement prior to the palliative care consultation team was 43% and in the three following years was 64%. A change in opioid prescription was registered after the implementation of the PCCT resulting in an increase in the prescription of parenteral morphine and methadone and a decrease in transdermal fentanyl. Conclusion Implementation of a PCCT in a University Hospital is associated with a higher and more adequate use of opioids. PMID:19149875

Cervical degenerative disease: systematic review of economic analyses.

PubMed

Alvin, Matthew D; Qureshi, Sheeraz; Klineberg, Eric; Riew, K Daniel; Fischer, Dena J; Norvell, Daniel C; Mroz, Thomas E

2014-10-15

Systematic review. To perform an evidence-based synthesis of the literature assessing the cost-effectiveness of surgery for patients with symptomatic cervical degenerative disc disease (DDD). Cervical DDD is a common cause of clinical syndromes such as neck pain, cervical radiculopathy, and myelopathy. The appropriate surgical intervention(s) for a given problem is controversial, especially with regard to quality-of-life outcomes, complications, and costs. Although there have been many studies comparing outcomes and complications, relatively few have compared costs and, more importantly, cost-effectiveness of the interventions. We conducted a systematic search in PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Collaboration Library, the Cost-Effectiveness Analysis registry database, and the National Health Service Economic Evaluation Database for full economic evaluations published through January 16, 2014. Identification of full economic evaluations that were explicitly designed to evaluate and synthesize the costs and consequences of surgical procedures or surgical intervention with nonsurgical management in patients with cervical DDD were considered for inclusion, based on 4 key questions. Five studies were included, each specific to 1 or more of our focus questions. Two studies suggested that cervical disc replacement may be more cost-effective compared with anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. Two studies comparing anterior with posterior surgical procedures for cervical spondylotic myelopathy suggested that anterior surgery was more cost-effective than posterior surgery. One study suggested that posterior cervical foraminotomy had a greater net economic benefit than anterior cervical discectomy and fusion in a military population with unilateral cervical radiculopathy. No studies assessed the cost-effectiveness of surgical intervention compared with nonoperative treatment of cervical myelopathy or radiculopathy, although it is acknowledged that existing studies demonstrate the cost-effectiveness of surgical intervention for these 2 clinical entities. A paucity of high-quality economic literature exists regarding cost-effectiveness of surgical intervention for cervical DDD. Future research is necessary to validate the findings of the few studies that do exist to guide decisions for surgery by the physician and patient with respect to cost-effectiveness. 2.

Altering the Electrostatic Potential in the Major Groove: Thermodynamic and Structural Characterization of 7-Deaza-2;#8242;-deoxyadenosine:dT Base Pairing in DNA

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kowal, Ewa A.; Ganguly, Manjori; Pallan, Pradeep S.

As part of an ongoing effort to explore the effect of major groove electrostatics on the thermodynamic stability and structure of DNA, a 7-deaza-2'-deoxyadenosine:dT (7-deaza-dA:dT) base pair in the Dickerson-Drew dodecamer (DDD) was studied. The removal of the electronegative N7 atom on dA and the replacement with an electropositive C-H in the major groove was expected to have a significant effect on major groove electrostatics. The structure of the 7-deaza-dA:dT base pair was determined at 1.1 {angstrom} resolution in the presence of Mg{sup 2+}. The 7-deaza-dA, which is isosteric for dA, had minimal effect on the base pairing geometry andmore » the conformation of the DDD in the crystalline state. There was no major groove cation association with the 7-deaza-dA heterocycle. In solution, circular dichroism showed a positive Cotton effect centered at 280 nm and a negative Cotton effect centered at 250 nm that were characteristic of a right-handed helix in the B-conformation. However, temperature-dependent NMR studies showed increased exchange between the thymine N3 imino proton of the 7-deaza-dA:dT base pair and water, suggesting reduced stacking interactions and an increased rate of base pair opening. This correlated with the observed thermodynamic destabilization of the 7-deaza-dA modified duplex relative to the DDD. A combination of UV melting and differential scanning calorimetry experiments were conducted to evaluate the relative contributions of enthalpy and entropy in the thermodynamic destabilization of the DDD. The most significant contribution arose from an unfavorable enthalpy term, which probably results from less favorable stacking interactions in the modified duplex, which was accompanied by a significant reduction in the release of water and cations from the 7-deaza-dA modified DNA.« less

Altering the Electrostatic Potential in the Major Groove: Thermodynamic and Structural Characterization of 7-Deaza-2′-deoxyadenosine:dT Base Pairing in DNA

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

As part of an ongoing effort to explore the effect of major groove electrostatics on the thermodynamic stability and structure of DNA, a 7-deaza-2′-deoxyadenosine:dT (7-deaza-dA:dT) base pair in the Dickerson–Drew dodecamer (DDD) was studied. The removal of the electronegative N7 atom on dA and the replacement with an electropositive C–H in the major groove was expected to have a significant effect on major groove electrostatics. The structure of the 7-deaza-dA:dT base pair was determined at 1.1 Å resolution in the presence of Mg2+. The 7-deaza-dA, which is isosteric for dA, had minimal effect on the base pairing geometry and the conformation of the DDD in the crystalline state. There was no major groove cation association with the 7-deaza-dA heterocycle. In solution, circular dichroism showed a positive Cotton effect centered at 280 nm and a negative Cotton effect centered at 250 nm that were characteristic of a right-handed helix in the B-conformation. However, temperature-dependent NMR studies showed increased exchange between the thymine N3 imino proton of the 7-deaza-dA:dT base pair and water, suggesting reduced stacking interactions and an increased rate of base pair opening. This correlated with the observed thermodynamic destabilization of the 7-deaza-dA modified duplex relative to the DDD. A combination of UV melting and differential scanning calorimetry experiments were conducted to evaluate the relative contributions of enthalpy and entropy in the thermodynamic destabilization of the DDD. The most significant contribution arose from an unfavorable enthalpy term, which probably results from less favorable stacking interactions in the modified duplex, which was accompanied by a significant reduction in the release of water and cations from the 7-deaza-dA modified DNA. PMID:22059929

Cytogenetic status of human lymphocytes after exposure to low concentrations of p,p'-DDT, and its metabolites (p,p'-DDE, and p,p'-DDD) in vitro.

PubMed

Gerić, Marko; Ceraj-Cerić, Nikolina; Gajski, Goran; Vasilić, Želimira; Capuder, Željka; Garaj-Vrhovac, Vera

2012-06-01

Despite that the use of DDT has been restricted for more than 40 years to malaria affected areas, low doses of this pesticide and its metabolites DDE and DDD can be found in the environment around the world. Although it has been shown that these pollutants induce cell and DNA damage, the mechanisms of their cytogenotoxic activity remains largely unknown. This study looks into their possible genotoxic effects, at doses that can be found in body fluids, on human lymphocytes using the cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay and the comet assay. After exposure for 1, 6, and 24 h compounds p,p'-DDT (0.1 μg mL(-1)), p,p'-DDE (4.1 μg mL(-1)), and p,p'-DDD (3.9 μg mL(-1)) showed increase in DNA damage. The most significant results were observed at exposure period of 24 h where number of micronucleated cells increased from control 2.5±0.71 to 23.5±3.54, 13.5±0.71, and 16.5±6.36 for DDT, DDE, and DDD, respectively. Similar effect was observed using comet test where the percentage of DNA in comets tail increased from control 1.81±0.16 to 17.24±0.55, 11.21±0.56 and 9.28±0.50 for each compound, respectively. At the same time Fpg-comet assay failed to report induction of oxidative DNA damage of these pollutants. Additionally, the type of cell death was determined using diffusion assay and necrosis dominated. Our findings suggest that even at low concentrations, these pesticides could induce cytogenetic damage to human peripheral blood lymphocytes and in that manner have the impact on human health as well. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Abundance and distribution of dimethylsulfoniopropionate degradation genes and the corresponding bacterial community structure at dimethyl sulfide hot spots in the tropical and subtropical pacific ocean.

PubMed

Cui, Yingshun; Suzuki, Shotaro; Omori, Yuko; Wong, Shu-Kuan; Ijichi, Minoru; Kaneko, Ryo; Kameyama, Sohiko; Tanimoto, Hiroshi; Hamasaki, Koji

2015-06-15

Dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) is mainly produced by marine phytoplankton but is released into the microbial food web and degraded by marine bacteria to dimethyl sulfide (DMS) and other products. To reveal the abundance and distribution of bacterial DMSP degradation genes and the corresponding bacterial communities in relation to DMS and DMSP concentrations in seawater, we collected surface seawater samples from DMS hot spot sites during a cruise across the Pacific Ocean. We analyzed the genes encoding DMSP lyase (dddP) and DMSP demethylase (dmdA), which are responsible for the transformation of DMSP to DMS and DMSP assimilation, respectively. The averaged abundance (±standard deviation) of these DMSP degradation genes relative to that of the 16S rRNA genes was 33% ± 12%. The abundances of these genes showed large spatial variations. dddP genes showed more variation in abundances than dmdA genes. Multidimensional analysis based on the abundances of DMSP degradation genes and environmental factors revealed that the distribution pattern of these genes was influenced by chlorophyll a concentrations and temperatures. dddP genes, dmdA subclade C/2 genes, and dmdA subclade D genes exhibited significant correlations with the marine Roseobacter clade, SAR11 subgroup Ib, and SAR11 subgroup Ia, respectively. SAR11 subgroups Ia and Ib, which possessed dmdA genes, were suggested to be the main potential DMSP consumers. The Roseobacter clade members possessing dddP genes in oligotrophic subtropical regions were possible DMS producers. These results suggest that DMSP degradation genes are abundant and widely distributed in the surface seawater and that the marine bacteria possessing these genes influence the degradation of DMSP and regulate the emissions of DMS in subtropical gyres of the Pacific Ocean. Copyright © 2015, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Hydrodynamically-driven drug release during interstitial flow through hollow fibers implanted near lymphatics

PubMed Central

Dukhin, Stanislav S.; Labib, Mohamed E.

2016-01-01

Current drug delivery devices (DDD) are mainly based on the use of diffusion as the main transport process. Diffusion-driven processes can only achieve low release rate because diffusion is a slow process. This represents a serious obstacle in the realization of recent successes in the suppression of lymphatic metastasis and in the prevention of limb and organ transplant rejection. Surprisingly, it was overlooked that there is a more favorable drug release mode which can be achieved when a special DDD is implanted near lymphatics. This opportunity can be realized when the interstitial fluid flow penetrates a drug delivery device of proper design and allows such fluid to flow out of it. This design is based on hollow fibers loaded with drug and whose hydrodynamic permeability is much higher than that of the surrounding tissue. The latter is referred to as hollow fiber of high hydrodynamic permeability (HFHP). The interstitial flow easily penetrates the hollow fiber membrane as well as its lumen with a higher velocity than that in the adjacent tissue. The interstitial liquid stream entering the lumen becomes almost saturated with drug as it flows out of the HFHP. This is due to the drug powder dissolution in the lumens of HFHP which forms a strip of drug solution that crosses the interstitium and finally enters the lymphatics. This hydrodynamically-driven release (HDR) may exceed the concomitant diffusion-driven release (DDR) by one or even two orders of magnitude. The hydrodynamics of the two-compartment media is sufficient for developing the HDR theory which is detailed in this paper. Convective diffusion theory for two compartments (membrane of hollow fiber and adjacent tissue) is required for exact quantification when a small contribution of DDR to predominating HDR is present. Hence, modeling is important for HDR which would lead to establishing a new branch in physico-chemical hydrodynamics. The release rate achieved with the use of HFHP increases proportional to the number of hollow fibers in the fabric employed in drug delivery. Based on this contribution, it is now possible to simultaneously provide high release rates and long release durations, thus overcoming a fundamental limitation in drug delivery. Perhaps this breakthrough in long-term drug delivery has potential applications in targeting lymphatics and in treating cancer and cancer metastasis without causing the serious side effects of systemic drugs. PMID:28579697

Phenotype variations affect genetic association studies of degenerative disc disease: conclusions of analysis of genetic association of 58 single nucleotide polymorphisms with highly specific phenotypes for disc degeneration in 332 subjects.

PubMed

Rajasekaran, S; Kanna, Rishi Mugesh; Senthil, Natesan; Raveendran, Muthuraja; Cheung, Kenneth M C; Chan, Danny; Subramaniam, Sakthikanal; Shetty, Ajoy Prasad

2013-10-01

Although the influence of genetics on the process of disc degeneration is well recognized, in recently published studies, there is a wide variation in the race and selection criteria for such study populations. More importantly, the radiographic features of disc degeneration that are selected to represent the disc degeneration phenotype are variable in these studies. The study presented here evaluates the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of candidate genes and three distinct radiographic features that can be defined as the degenerative disc disease (DDD) phenotype. The study objectives were to examine the allelic diversity of 58 SNPs related to 35 candidate genes related to lumbar DDD, to evaluate the association in a hitherto unevaluated ethnic Indian population that represents more than one-sixth of the world population, and to analyze how genetic associations can vary in the same study subjects with the choice of phenotype. A cross-sectional, case-control study of an ethnic Indian population was carried out. Fifty-eight SNPs in 35 potential candidate genes were evaluated in 342 subjects and the associations were analyzed against three highly specific markers for DDD, namely disc degeneration by Pfirrmann grading, end-plate damage evaluated by total end-plate damage score, and annular tears evaluated by disc herniations and hyperintense zones. Genotyping of cases and controls was performed on a genome-wide SNP array to identify potential associated disease loci. The results from the genome-wide SNP array were then used to facilitate SNP selection and genotype validation was conducted using Sequenom-based genotyping. Eleven of the 58 SNPs provided evidence of association with one of the phenotypes. For annular tears, rs1042631 SNP of AGC1 and rs467691 SNP of ADAMTS5 were highly significantly associated (p<.01) and SNPs in NGFB, IL1B, IL18RAP, and MMP10 were also significantly associated (p<.05). The rs4076018 SNP of NGFB was highly significant (p<.01) and rs2292657 SNP of GLI1 was significantly (p<.05) correlated to disc degeneration. For end-plate damage, the rs2252070 SNP of MMP 13 showed a significant association (p<.05). Previously associated genes such as COL 9, SKT, CHST 3, CILP, IGFR, SOXp, BMP, MMP 2-12, ADH2, IL1RN, and COX2 were not significantly associated and new associations (NGFB and GLI1) were identified. The validity of all the associations was found to be phenotype dependent. For the first time, genetic associations with DDD have been performed in an Indian population. Apart from identifying new associations, the highlight of the study was that in the same study population with DDD, SNP associations completely changed when different radiographic features were used to define the DDD phenotype. Our study results therefore indicate that standardization of the phenotypes chosen to study the genetics of disc degeneration is essential and should be strongly considered before planning genetic association studies. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Modelling Thin Film Microbending: A Comparative Study of Three Different Approaches

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aifantis, Katerina E.; Nikitas, Nikos; Zaiser, Michael

2011-09-01

Constitutive models which describe crystal microplasticity in a continuum framework can be envisaged as average representations of the dynamics of dislocation systems. Thus, their performance needs to be assessed not only by their ability to correctly represent stress-strain characteristics on the specimen scale but also by their ability to correctly represent the evolution of internal stress and strain patterns. In the present comparative study we consider the bending of a free-standing thin film. We compare the results of 3D DDD simulations with those obtained from a simple 1D gradient plasticity model and a more complex dislocation-based continuum model. Both models correctly reproduce the nontrivial strain patterns predicted by DDD for the microbending problem.

Coexistence of reticulate acropigmentation of Kitamura and Dowling-Degos disease.

PubMed

Cabral, Ana Rita; Santiago, Felicidade; Reis, José Pedro

2011-08-03

Reticulate acropigmentation of Kitamura (RAK) and Dowling-Degos Disease (DDD) are rare genodermatosis inherited as an autosomal dominant trait with variable penetrance. They are part of a spectrum of diseases with hyperpigmented macules coalescing in a reticular pattern, facial and palmoplantar pits, breaks in dermatoglyphics, comedo-like lesions and epidermoid cysts, and a unique histological picture of hyperpigmented digitate epidermal downgrowths. The authors describe the case of a 45-year-old female with reticulate acropigmentation of the dorsa of the hands and feet, hyperpigmented macules on the axilla and around the mouth, and palmar pitting. Clinical and histological findings, together with a relevant family history, allowed the authors to consider this case an example of the rare event of an overlap RAK-DDD.

Water-quality assessment of the Albemarle-Pamlico Drainage Basin, North Carolina and Virginia; organochlorine compounds in Asiatic clam (Corbicula fluminea) soft tissues and whole redbrest sunfish (Lepomis auritus) 1992-93

USGS Publications Warehouse

Smith, K.E.; Ruhl, P.M.

1996-01-01

The analysis of potential contaminants in biological tissues is an important part of many water-quality assessment programs, including the National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program. Tissue analyses often are used to provide information about (1) direct threats to ecosystem integrity, and (2) the occurrence and distribution of potential contaminants in the environment. During 1992-93, Asiatic clam (Corbicula fluminea) soft tissues and whole redbreast sunfish (Lepomis auritus) samples were collected and analyzed to obtain information about the occurrence and distribution of organochlorine compounds in the Albemarle-Pamlico drainage Basin of North Carolina and Virginia. The investigation was conducted as part of the NAWQA Program. Relatively few organochlorine compounds were detected and of the compounds detected, all were detected in relatively low concentrations. The organochlorine compounds detected were p,p'-DDD, p,p'-DDE, p,p'-DDT, dieldrin, trans-nonachlor, PCB's, and toxaphene. Multiple compounds were detected at 16 of 19 sites sampled. Compared to Asiatic clams, redbreast sunfish appear to be better bioindicators of organochlorine contamination in aquatic systems. Except for one detection of toxaphene, pesticide concentrations are well below the National Academy of Sciences and National Academy of Engineering (NAS/NAE) guidelines for the protection of fish-eating wildlife.

A 5-year follow-up study of users of benzodiazepine: starting with diazepam versus oxazepam.

PubMed

Tvete, Ingunn Fride; Bjørner, Trine; Skomedal, Tor

2016-04-01

Drug dependency may develop during long-term benzodiazepine use, indicated, for example, by dose escalation. The first benzodiazepine chosen may affect the risk of dose escalation. To detect possible differences in benzodiazepine use between new users of diazepam and oxazepam over time. This 5-year prescription database study included 19 747 new benzodiazepine users, inhabitants of Norway, aged 30-60 years, with first redemption for diazepam or oxazepam. Individuals starting on diazepam versus oxazepam were analysed by logistic regression with sex, age, other drug redemptions, prescriber's specialty, household income, education level, type of work, and vocational rehabilitation support as background variables. Time to reach a daily average intake of ≥1 defined daily doses (DDD) over a 3-month period was analysed using a Cox proportional hazard regression model. New users of oxazepam had a higher risk for dose escalation compared with new users of diazepam. This was true even when accounting for differences in sociodemographic status and previous drug use (hazard ratio [HR] 1.33, 95% confidence interval = 1.17 to 1.51). Most doctors prescribed, according to recommendations, oxazepam to individuals they may have regarded as prone to and at risk of dependency. However, these individuals were at higher risk for dose escalation even when accounting for differences in sociodemographic status and previous drug use. Differences between the two user groups could be explained by different preferences for starting drug, DDD for oxazepam being possibly too low, and some unaccounted differences in illness. © British Journal of General Practice 2016.

Assessment of the chlorinated hydrocarbons residues contamination in edible mushrooms from the North-Eastern part of Poland.

PubMed

Gałgowska, Michalina; Pietrzak-Fiećko, Renata; Felkner-Poźniakowska, Barbara

2012-11-01

The aim of the study was to determine the content of chlorinated hydrocarbon residues in edible mushrooms from the north-eastern part of Poland. Material consisted of two species of fungi: Xerocomus mushrooms (Xerocomus badius), Boletus mushrooms (Boletus edulis). The dried samples (cups and cut-up material) were extracted with Soxhlet method in order to obtain lipid substances. In the fat chlorinated hydrocarbons were determined by Ludwicki et al. (1996) method. The separation and quantitative determination of DDT, DDE, DDD and γ-HCH were conducted with the method of gas chromatography using an electron capture detector - ECD. In all tested samples the presence of γ-HCH, DDT and its metabolites (DDE, DDD) was detected. The higher content of γ-HCH was found in Xerocomus mushrooms (average 0.125 μg/kg of mushrooms); in the Boletus mushrooms -0.11 μg/kg of mushrooms. The content of ΣDDT in cups of Xerocomus mushrooms was more than 2-fold higher than in those of Boletus mushrooms (3.78:1.71 mg/kg of mushrooms). The opposite relationship was observed for cut-up material. The higher concentration of ΣDDT was found in Boletus mushrooms (2.26 mg/kg of mushrooms) while in Xerocomus mushrooms this content was 0.91 mg/kg of mushrooms. Despite the fact that chlorinated hydrocarbons were determined in all samples under study, their contents do not exceed acceptable levels indicating that the consumption of mushrooms does not pose a health risk to consumers from the organochlorine compounds. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A case report of motor neuron disease in a patient showing significant level of DDTs, HCHs and organophosphate metabolites in hair as well as levels of hexane and toluene in blood.

PubMed

Kanavouras, Konstantinos; Tzatzarakis, Manolis N; Mastorodemos, Vasileios; Plaitakis, Andreas; Tsatsakis, Aristidis M

2011-11-01

Motor neuron disease is a devastating neurodegenerative condition, with the majority of sporadic, non-familial cases being of unknown etiology. Several epidemiological studies have suggested that occupational exposure to chemicals may be associated with disease pathogenesis. We report the case of a patient developing progressive motor neuron disease, who was chronically exposed to pesticides and organic solvents. The patient presented with leg spasticity and developed gradually clinical signs suggestive of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, which was supported by the neurophysiologic and radiological findings. Our report is an evidence based case of combined exposure to organochlorine (DDTs), organophosphate pesticides (OPs) and organic solvents as confirmed by laboratory analysis in samples of blood and hair confirming systematic exposure. The concentration of non-specific dialkylphosphates metabolites (DAPs) of OPs in hair (dimethyphopshate (DMP) 1289.4 pg/mg and diethylphosphate (DEP) 709.4 pg/mg) and of DDTs (opDDE 484.0 pg/mg, ppDDE 526.6 pg/mg, opDDD 448.4 pg/mg, ppDDD+opDDT 259.9 pg/mg and ppDDT 573.7 pg/mg) were considerably significant. Toluene and n-hexane were also detected in blood on admission at hospital and quantified (1.23 and 0.87 μg/l, respectively), while 3 months after hospitalization blood testing was found negative for toluene and n-hexane and hair analysis was provided decrease levels of HCHs, DDTs and DAPs. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Relations between Land Use and Organochlorine Pesticides, PCBs, and Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds in Streambed Sediment and Fish on the Island of Oahu, Hawaii

USGS Publications Warehouse

Brasher, A.M.D.; Wolff, R.H.

2004-01-01

Bed-sediment and/or fish samples were collected from 27 sites around the island of Oahu (representing urban, agricultural, mixed, and forested land use) to determine the occurrence and distribution of hydrophobic organic compounds including organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs). Of the 28 organochlorine compounds analyzed in the fish, 14 were detected during this study. Nineteen of the 31 organochlorine compounds and 40 of the 65 SVOCs were detected in the sediment. Urban sites had the highest number of detections and tended to have the highest concentrations of pesticides. Chlordane compounds were the most frequently detected constituents at urban sites, followed by dieldrin, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and DDT compounds. PAHs were the most frequently detected constituents in watersheds with mixed (urban and agricultural) land use. The only pesticides detected at agricultural sites were DDT and its degradation products, DDD and DDE. No pesticides or PCBs were detected at the forested sites, but a few ubiquitous SVOCs were found in sediments at some forested sites. In general, concentrations of the most frequently detected pesticides were higher in fish than in sediment. Following a trend that has been observed elsewhere in the nation, concentrations of most organochlorine pesticides and PCBs are decreasing in Hawaii.

Higher systemic antibiotic consumption in a population of South Korea (2008 - 2009).

PubMed

Sohn, Hyun Soon; Oh, Ock Hee; Kwon, Jin-Won; Lee, Young Sook

2013-07-01

This study was conducted to investigate overall systemic antibiotic consumption levels and specific patterns using standardized Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical/Defined Daily Dose (ATC/DDD) methodology. National Health Insurance claims data during 2008 and 2009 was used. Antibiotic prescription data was classified using the ATC system and converted into DDD. Consumption figures were presented as the number of DDD per 1,000 inhabitants per day (DID). Detailed information on indications and seasonal variations, age and institutional determinants on antibiotic consumption were also explored. Total consumption was slightly increased from 24.3 to 25.2 DID in 2009 compared to 2008. The most frequently prescribed antibiotic was amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (5.1 and 5.2 DID, in 2008 and 2009, respectively), followed by cefaclor (3.0 and 3.3 DID) and amoxicillin (3.3 and 3.2 DID). Respiratory system diseases were the main causes of antimicrobial prescription (47.3%) and acute forms of bronchitis, tonsillitis and sinusitis were the most common diseases. There were typical seasonal fluctuations with heightened winter peaks. Consumption figures under 5 years of age (41.6 and 43.3 DID) were even higher than figures in aged 65 - 80 (36.2 and 39.1 DID). Antibiotic consumption in South Korea remained high compared with other OECD countries. Efforts to increase prudent antibiotic use, especially for upper respiratory system infections and for younger children, should be made to decrease antibiotic use.

Decreasing Clostridium difficile Infections by an Antimicrobial Stewardship Program That Reduces Moxifloxacin Use

PubMed Central

Equiluz-Bruck, Susanne; Fudel, Marta; Reiter, Ingun; Schmid, Andrea; Singer, Erna; Chott, Andreas

2014-01-01

Clostridium difficile infections (CDI) in hospitalized patients are known to be closely related to antibiotic exposure. Although several substances can cause CDI, the risk differs between individual agents. In Vienna and other eastern parts of Austria, CDI ribotype 027 is currently highly prevalent. This ribotype has the characteristic of intrinsic moxifloxacin resistance. Therefore, we hypothesized that moxifloxacin restriction can decrease the number of CDI cases in hospitalized patients. Our antibiotic stewardship (ABS) group applied an information campaign on CDI and formal restriction of moxifloxacin in Wilhelminenspital (Vienna, Austria), a 1,000- bed tertiary care hospital. The preintervention period (period 1) was January through May 2013, and the intervention period (period 2) was June through December 2013. We recorded the defined daily doses (DDD) of moxifloxacin and the number of CDI patients/month. Moxifloxacin use was reduced from a mean (± standard error of the mean [SEM]) of 1,038 ± 109 DDD per month (period 1) to 42 ± 10 DDD per month (period 2) (P = 0.0045). Total antibiotic use was not affected. The mean (±SEM) numbers of CDI cases in period 1 were 59 ± 3 per month and in period 2 were 32 ± 3 per month (46% reduction; P = 0.0044). Reducing moxifloxacin use in combination with providing structured information on CDI was associated with an immediate decrease in CDI rates in this large community teaching hospital. PMID:24936597

Antimicrobial use in Belgian broiler production.

PubMed

Persoons, Davy; Dewulf, Jeroen; Smet, Annemieke; Herman, Lieve; Heyndrickx, Marc; Martel, An; Catry, Boudewijn; Butaye, Patrick; Haesebrouck, Freddy

2012-08-01

The use of antimicrobials in production animals has become a worldwide concern in the face of rising resistance levels in commensal, pathogenic and zoonotic bacteria. In the years 2007 and 2008 antimicrobial consumption records were collected during two non consecutive production cycles in 32 randomly selected Belgian broiler farms. Antimicrobials were used in 48 of the 64 monitored production cycles, 7 farms did not use any antimicrobials in both production cycles, 2 farms only administered antimicrobials in one of the two production cycles, the other 23 farms applied antimicrobial treatment in both production cycles. For the quantification of antimicrobial drug use, the treatment incidences (TI) based on the defined daily doses (the dose as it should be applied: DDD) and used daily doses (the actual dose applied: UDD) were calculated. A mean antimicrobial treatment incidence per 1000 animals of 131.8 (standard deviation 126.8) animals treated daily with one DDD and 121.4 (SD 106.7) animals treated daily with one UDD was found. The most frequently used compounds were amoxicillin, tylosin and trimethoprim-sulphonamide with a mean TI(UDD) of 37.9, 34.8, and 21.7, respectively. The ratio of the UDD/DDD gives an estimate on correctness of dosing. Tylosin was underdosed in most of the administrations whereas amoxicillin and trimethoprim-sulphonamide were slightly overdosed in the average flock. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Lead-related complications after DDD pacemaker implantation.

PubMed

Dębski, Maciej; Ulman, Mateusz; Ząbek, Andrzej; Boczar, Krzysztof; Haberka, Kazimierz; Kuniewicz, Marcin; Lelakowski, Jacek; Małecka, Barbara

2018-04-10

Pacing leads remain the weakest link in pacemaker systems despite advances in manufacturing technology. To assess the long-term pacing lead performance in an unselected real-life cohort following primary DDD pacing system implantation. A single-centre retrospective analysis of patients who underwent DDD pacing system implantation between October 1984 and December 2014 and were followed up until August 2016 was conducted. The inclusion criterion was at least one follow-up visit following post-implant discharge. The performance of each atrial and ventricular lead implanted was evaluated during the follow-up period, and the incidence of and predictive factors for lead dislodgement and failure were analysed. The data of 3771 patients and 24431.8 patient-years of follow-up were analysed. The mean follow-up of patients was 77.7 ± 61.8 months. During the study period, 7887 transvenous atrial and right ventricular pacing leads were implanted. Lead dislodgement occurred in 94 (1.2%) leads [92 (2.4%) patients], perforation in 11 (0.1%) leads [10 (0.3%) patients] and lead failure in 329 (4.2%) leads [275 (7.3%) patients]. Atrial lead position was a predictive factor for lead dislodgement, while age at implantation, polyurethane 80A insulation, subclavian vein access, unipolar lead construction and lead manufacturer were multivariate predictors of lead failure. Leads with polyurethane 80A insulation, unipolar construction and implantation via subclavian vein puncture exhibited the worst long-term performance.

Identification of Quantitative Trait Loci That Determine Plasma Total-Cholesterol and Triglyceride Concentrations in DDD/Sgn and C57BL/6J Inbred Mice.

PubMed

Suto, Jun-Ichi; Kojima, Misaki

2017-01-01

DDD/Sgn mice have significantly higher plasma lipid concentrations than C57BL/6J mice. In the present study, we performed quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping for plasma total-cholesterol (CHO) and triglyceride (TG) concentrations in reciprocal F 2 male intercross populations between the two strains. By single-QTL scans, we identified four significant QTL on chromosomes (Chrs) 1, 5, 17, and 19 for CHO and two significant QTL on Chrs 1 and 12 for TG. By including cross direction as an interactive covariate, we identified separate significant QTL on Chr 17 for CHO but none for TG. When the large phenotypic effect of QTL on Chr 1 was controlled by composite interval mapping, we identified three additional significant QTL on Chrs 3, 4, and 9 for CHO but none for TG. QTL on Chr 19 was a novel QTL for CHO and the allelic effect of this QTL significantly differed between males and females. Whole-exome sequence analysis in DDD/Sgn mice suggested that Apoa2 and Acads were the plausible candidate genes underlying CHO QTL on Chrs 1 and 5, respectively. Thus, we identified a multifactorial basis for plasma lipid concentrations in male mice. These findings will provide insight into the genetic mechanisms of plasma lipid metabolism.

Identification of Quantitative Trait Loci That Determine Plasma Total-Cholesterol and Triglyceride Concentrations in DDD/Sgn and C57BL/6J Inbred Mice

PubMed Central

Kojima, Misaki

2017-01-01

DDD/Sgn mice have significantly higher plasma lipid concentrations than C57BL/6J mice. In the present study, we performed quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping for plasma total-cholesterol (CHO) and triglyceride (TG) concentrations in reciprocal F2 male intercross populations between the two strains. By single-QTL scans, we identified four significant QTL on chromosomes (Chrs) 1, 5, 17, and 19 for CHO and two significant QTL on Chrs 1 and 12 for TG. By including cross direction as an interactive covariate, we identified separate significant QTL on Chr 17 for CHO but none for TG. When the large phenotypic effect of QTL on Chr 1 was controlled by composite interval mapping, we identified three additional significant QTL on Chrs 3, 4, and 9 for CHO but none for TG. QTL on Chr 19 was a novel QTL for CHO and the allelic effect of this QTL significantly differed between males and females. Whole-exome sequence analysis in DDD/Sgn mice suggested that Apoa2 and Acads were the plausible candidate genes underlying CHO QTL on Chrs 1 and 5, respectively. Thus, we identified a multifactorial basis for plasma lipid concentrations in male mice. These findings will provide insight into the genetic mechanisms of plasma lipid metabolism. PMID:28642824

Distributions and fate of chlorinated pesticides, biomarkers and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sediments along a contamination gradient from a point-source in San Francisco Bay, California

USGS Publications Warehouse

Pereira, W.E.; Hostettler, F.D.; Rapp, J.B.

1996-01-01

The distribution and fate of chlorinated pesticides, biomarkers, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in surficial sediments along a contamination gradient in the Lauritzen Canal and Richmond Harbor in San Francisco Bay was investigated. Compounds were identified and quantified using gas chromatography-ion trap mass spectrometry. Biomarkers and PAHs were derived primarily from weathered petroleum. DDT was reductively dechlorinated under anoxic conditions to DDD and several minor degradation products, DDMU, DDMS, and DDNU. Under aerobic conditions, DDT was dehydrochlorinated to DDE and DBP. Aerobic degradation of DDT was diminished or inhibited in zones of high concentration, and increased significantly in zones of lower concentration: Other chlorinated pesticides identified in sediment included dieldrin and chlordane isomers. Multivariate analysis of the distributions of the DDTs suggested that there are probably two sources of DDD. In addition, DDE and DDMU are probably formed by similar mechanisms, i.e. dehydrochlorination. A steep concentration gradient existed from the Canal to the Outer Richmond Harbor, but higher levels of DDD than those found in the remainder of the Bay indicated that these contaminants are transported on particulates and colloidal organic matter from this source into San Francisco Bay. Chlorinated pesticides and PAHs may pose a potential problem to biota in San Francisco Bay.

The strength and dislocation microstructure evolution in superalloy microcrystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hussein, Ahmed M.; Rao, Satish I.; Uchic, Michael D.; Parthasarathay, Triplicane A.; El-Awady, Jaafar A.

2017-02-01

In this work, the evolution of the dislocations microstructure in single crystal two-phase superalloy microcrystals under monotonic loading has been studied using the three-dimensional discrete dislocation dynamics (DDD) method. The DDD framework has been extended to properly handle the collective behavior of dislocations and their interactions with large collections of arbitrary shaped precipitates. Few constraints are imposed on the initial distribution of the dislocations or the precipitates, and the extended DDD framework can support experimentally-obtained precipitate geometries. Full tracking of the creation and destruction of anti-phase boundaries (APB) is accounted for. The effects of the precipitate volume fraction, APB energy, precipitate size, and crystal size on the deformation of superalloy microcrystals have been quantified. Correlations between the precipitate microstructure and the dominant deformation features, such as dislocation looping versus precipitate shearing, are also discussed. It is shown that the mechanical strength is independent of the crystal size, increases linearly with increasing the volume fraction, follows a near square-root relationship with the APB energy and an inverse square-root relationship with the precipitate size. Finally, the flow strength in simulations having initial dislocation pair sources show a flow strength that is about one half of that predicted from simulations starting with single dislocation sources. The method developed can be used, with minimal extensions, to simulate dislocation microstructure evolution in general multiphase materials.

Utilization of Parenteral Morphine by Application of ATC/DDD Methodology: Retrospective Study in the Referral Teaching Hospital.

PubMed

Dragojevic-Simic, Viktorija; Rancic, Nemanja; Stamenkovic, Dusica; Simic, Radoje

2017-01-01

Few studies analyzed the pattern of opioid analgesic utilization in hospital settings. The aim of this study was to determine the consumption pattern of parenteral morphine in patients hospitalized in the Serbian referral teaching hospital and to correlate it with utilization at the national and international level. In retrospective study, the required data were extracted from medical records of surgical patients who received parenteral morphine in the 5-year period, from 2011 to 2015. We used the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification/Defined Daily Doses (DDD) international system for consumption evaluation. While the number of performed surgical procedures in our hospital steadily increased from 2011 to 2015, the number of inpatient bed-days decreased from 2012. However, the consumption of parenteral morphine varied and was not more than 0.867 DDD/100 bed-days in the observed period. Based on the available data, parenteral morphine consumption in our hospital was lower compared with international data. The low level of morphine use in the hospital was in accordance with national data, and compared with other countries, morphine consumption applied for medical indications in Serbia was low. Adequate legal provision to ensure the availability of opioids, better education and training of medical personnel, as well as multidisciplinary approach should enable more rational and individual pain management in the future, not only within the hospitals.

Influence of Cougar Reservoir Drawdown on Sediment and DDT Transport and Deposition in the McKenzie River Basin, Oregon, Water Years 2002-04

USGS Publications Warehouse

Anderson, Chauncey W.

2007-01-01

Construction of a selective withdrawal tower at Cougar Reservoir in the South Fork McKenzie River, Oregon, during 2002-05 resulted in a prolonged release of sediment and high-turbidity water to downstream reaches throughout the summer of 2002, with additional episodic releases during storms in the following winters. Suspended-sediment concentrations and loads at five continuously monitored turbidity and discharge gaging stations were estimated using regression methods. Deposition in salmonid spawning beds was measured using infiltration bags. Stations were located upstream and downstream of Cougar Reservoir in the South Fork McKenzie River, in the mainstem of the McKenzie River upstream of the South Fork and downstream of Blue River, and in Blue River downstream of Blue River Reservoir. During 2002, Cougar Reservoir released approximately 17,000 tons of suspended sediment into the South Fork McKenzie River, or more than twice the incoming load from the South Fork upstream of the reservoir. In 2003 and 2004, the release of sediment from Cougar Reservoir decreased to 10,900 and 4,100 tons, respectively. Although Cougar Reservoir likely was a substantial source of sediment to the lower reaches during water years 2002 and 2003, the lack of continuous turbidity monitoring at stations other than the South Fork McKenzie River prior to January 2003 prevents quantification of the actual contribution to the mainstem. During water year 2004, the only year with complete records at all sites, Cougar Reservoir released about 24 percent (4,100 tons) of the sediment load estimated on the mainstem near Vida (16,900 tons); however, the relative contribution of Cougar Reservoir is expected to have been substantially larger during 2002 and 2003 when the newly exposed river channel in the upper reaches of the reservoir was actively eroding and migrating. Deposition of fine (less than 0.063-millimeter diameter) sediment into spawning beds, measured with the use of deployed infiltration bags, was greatest downstream of Cougar and Blue River Reservoirs (1.0 and 1.2 percent of total sediments, respectively). Deposition was least in the high-energy, unregulated environments (about 0.25 percent) of the South Fork McKenzie River above Cougar Reservoir and in the mainstem above the South Fork, and intermediate near Vida, the most downstream site on the mainstem. DDT, applied throughout much of the upper McKenzie River drainage basin to control spruce budworm during the 1950s, was detected in the South Fork near Rainbow in the form of its metabolites DDD and DDE in fine sediment captured in the infiltration bags. DDE also was detected in infiltration bags deployed in the McKenzie River near Vida, downstream of the South Fork. All concentrations of DDD and DDE were less than the aquatic-life criterion for bed sediment. DDT species were not detected in water samples, including samples collected during large storms. The reservoir apparently acted as a trap for sediment and DDT throughout the course of its existence, facilitating degradation of the trapped DDT, and may have been a source for both during the construction period in 2002-05, but the lack of detections during storms indicates that DDT transport was small. Transport of detectable amounts of DDT likely was limited to periods of high suspended-sediment concentrations (greater than 75-100 milligrams per liter). Infiltration bags were deployed during August 2003-July 2004 and were a useful device for measuring fine-sediment deposition and for chemical analysis of the deposited material. Deposition of fine-grained sediment downstream of the flood-control dams may be reduced if bed-moving events can be periodically reintroduced to those reaches.

An improved dispersive solid-phase extraction clean-up method for the gas chromatography-negative chemical ionisation tandem mass spectrometric determination of multiclass pesticide residues in edible oils.

PubMed

Deme, Pragney; Azmeera, Tirupathi; Prabhavathi Devi, B L A; Jonnalagadda, Padmaja R; Prasad, R B N; Vijaya Sarathi, U V R

2014-01-01

An improved sample preparation using dispersive solid-phase extraction clean-up was proposed for the trace level determination of 35 multiclass pesticide residues (organochlorine, organophosphorus and synthetic pyrethroids) in edible oils. Quantification of the analytes was carried out by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in negative chemical ionisation mode (GC-NCI-MS/MS). The limit of detection and limit of quantification of residues were in the range of 0.01-1ng/g and 0.05-2ng/g, respectively. The analytes showed recoveries between 62% and 110%, and the matrix effect was observed to be less than 25% for most of the pesticides. Crude edible oil samples showed endosulfan isomers, p,p'-DDD, α-cypermethrin, chlorpyrifos, and diazinon residues in the range of 0.56-2.14ng/g. However, no pesticide residues in the detection range of the method were observed in refined oils. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Ion irradiation of electronic-type-separated single wall carbon nanotubes: A model for radiation effects in nanostructured carbon

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rossi, Jamie E.; Cress, Cory D.; Helenic, Alysha R.; Schauerman, Chris M.; DiLeo, Roberta A.; Cox, Nathanael D.; Messenger, Scott R.; Weaver, Brad D.; Hubbard, Seth M.; Landi, Brian J.

2012-08-01

The structural and electrical properties of electronic-type-separated (metallic and semiconducting) single wall carbon nanotube (SWCNT) thin-films have been investigated after irradiation with 150 keV 11B+ and 150 keV 31P+ with fluences ranging from 1012 to 1015 ions/cm2. Raman spectroscopy results indicate that the ratio of the Raman D to G' band peak intensities (D/G') is a more sensitive indicator of SWCNT structural modification induced by ion irradiation by one order of magnitude compared to the ratio of the Raman D to G band peak intensities (D/G). The increase in sheet resistance (Rs) of the thin-films follows a similar trend as the D/G' ratio, suggesting that the radiation induced variation in bulk electrical transport for both electronic-types is equal and related to localized defect generation. The characterization results for the various samples are compared based on the displacement damage dose (DDD) imparted to the sample, which is material and damage source independent. Therefore, it is possible to extend the analysis to include data from irradiation of transferred CVD-graphene films on SiO2/Si substrates using 35 keV C+ ions, and compare the observed changes at equivalent levels of ion irradiation-induced damage to that observed in the SWCNT thin-film samples. Ultimately, a model is developed for the prediction of the radiation response of nanostructured carbon materials based on the DDD for any incident ion with low-energy recoil spectra. The model is also related to the defect concentration, and subsequently the effective defect-to-defect length, and yields a maximum defect concentration (minimum defect-to-defect length) above which the bulk electrical transport properties in SWCNT thin-films and large graphene-based electronic devices rapidly degrade when exposed to harsh environments.

A study on the quality of outpatient prescription of psychopharmaceuticals in the City of Zagreb 2006-2009.

PubMed

Zivković, Kresimir; Zelić-Kerep, Ana; Stimac, Danijela; Ozić, Sanja; Zivković, Nikica

2014-06-01

The lack of Croatian studies which could determine the justifiability of excessive psychopharmaceutical utilization was an encouragement to conduct this research. Furthermore, regarding the conduction of this study, it would be possible to determine whether the trend of drug utilization has increased, decreased or perhaps stabilized. The data on the outpatient utilization of psycholeptics and psychoanaleptics were collected from all Zagreb pharmacies, 2006-2009. Based on the collected data for all N05 and N06 groups of drugs, the defined daily doses (DDD) and DDD per thousand inhabitants per day (DDD/TID) have been calculated using the Anatomical-Therapeutic-Chemical classification (ATC) for 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009. To indicate the quality of drug prescription the Drug Utilization 90% (DU 90%) method was used. Moreover, in order to determine a more precise quality of individual drug group prescriptions, the indicators have been calculated by determining the proportion of the total utilization of individual therapeutic and pharmacological therapeutic subgroups in DDD/TID a day. The utilization of anxiolytics (N05B) accounts for most of the psycholeptic utilization in the City of Zagreb throughout the entire study period. In the study period, the utilization of antidepressants has slightly increased, by 10.5%, taking the first and the last years of the period into account. In 2006, 5 benzodiazepines and the hypnotic zolpidem, as well as 5 selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and 1 third generation antipsychotic (olanzapin) were found in the DU 90% segment. In 2009, the DU 90% segment also comprised 5 benzodiazepines and the hypnotic zolpidem, as well as 6 SSRIs and 1 third generation antipsychotic (olanzapin). In the City of Zagreb, a general insight into the quality of psychopharmaceutical prescriptions indicates stability in comparison to earlier studies. The ratio index of the first generation antipsychotic utilization, compared to the third generation antipsychotics, shows an increase in the quality of prescription. Also, the ratio index of total tricyclic antidepressants (TCA) and SSRI utilization indicates improvement in quality of prescription. The ratio index of the entire outpatient utilization of anxiolytics and antidepressants expressed in DDD/TID unfortunately shows a very mild increase of prescription quality. Benzodiazepines accounted for more than 50% of the outpatient utilization of psychopharmaceuticals throughout the study period, which proves the need for precise guidelines as the most significant means of drug rationalization and utilization. It is necessary to identify priorities and problems in order to solve them successfully, by monitoring drug utilization and prescription on a national level. Results demonstrate that within the primary health care system, there is a need for constant education on rational prescription of this drug group.

Economic prescribing of corticosteroid nasal sprays in Germany: comparison of mometasone and budesonide nasal sprays on the basis of the DDD, the PDD and reference prices.

PubMed

Becker, Beril; Kruppert, Silvia; Kostev, Karel

2013-01-01

According to the German Social Security Code (SGB V), drugs should be prescribed on a cost-effective basis. An attempt is made to achieve this in Germany with the help of the DDD system and reference prices. Taking the example of the most frequently prescribed corticosteroid nasal sprays containing the active substances budesonide (BNS) or mometasone (MNS), we will show here that the DDD system is not necessarily suitable for tapping economic reserves. Despite the pharmacologic differences between the two substances, a uniformly defined daily dose (DDD) is assumed for both. Moreover, since 2006 they have formed a reference-price group of nasally administered medication with other active substances. Products were compared with regard to potential differences in patient populations and resulting treatment costs. The extent to which the two instruments are suitable for tapping economic reserves were estimated. We analyzed longitudinal diagnostic and prescription data in the IMS® Disease Analyzer Database from the period 2006 to July 2010. In total we analyzed data from 16,163 MNS and 4,218 BNS patients from GP practices plus 11,103 MNS and 2,521 BNS patients from ENT practices. The average quantity prescribed per patient differed in favor of MNS by -111.5 (for first prescriptions) to -260.1 puffs (after 730 days) in GP practices and by -137.3 to -488.3 puffs in ENT practices (p < 0.001). The mean calculated treatment cost per year from the point of view of the statutory health insurer was 20.40 € (GP practices) and 30.50 € (ENT practices) for MNS compared to 22.40 € (GP practices) and 32.10 € (ENT practices) for BNS. Based on the price level after the 2011 referenceprice adjustment, the treatment costs are 16.40 € (GP practices) and 24.20 € (ENT practices) for MNS versus 21.20 € (GP practices) and 32.30 € (ENT practices) for BNS. The volumes of MNS actually prescribed are significantly lower than those of BNS in the compared patient populations. Based on the actual consumption of the substances, there is no treatment-cost advantage for BNS in comparison to MNS from the statutory health insurer's point of view. By contrast, the reference-price adjustment results in a greater reduction of treatment costs for mometasone, so that in this case the statutory health insurer is able to tap economic reserves. Both the comparative parameters used for calculating the reference price and the DDD system are only conditionally suitable for tapping economic reserves for drugs.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Szulik, Marta W.; Pallan, Pradeep S.; Nocek, Boguslaw

5-Hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC), 5-formylcytosine (5fC), and 5-carboxylcytosine (5caC) form during active demethylation of 5-methylcytosine (5mC) and are implicated in epigenetic regulation of the genome. They are differentially processed by thymine DNA glycosylase (TDG), an enzyme involved in active demethylation of 5mC. Three modified Dickerson–Drew dodecamer (DDD) sequences, amenable to crystallographic and spectroscopic analyses and containing the 5'-CG-3' sequence associated with genomic cytosine methylation, containing 5hmC, 5fC, or 5caC placed site-specifically into the 5'-T 8X 9G 10-3' sequence of the DDD, were compared. The presence of 5caC at the X9 base increased the stability of the DDD, whereas 5hmC or 5fC didmore » not. Both 5hmC and 5fC increased imino proton exchange rates and calculated rate constants for base pair opening at the neighboring base pair A 5:T 8, whereas 5caC did not. At the oxidized base pair G 4:X 9, 5fC exhibited an increase in the imino proton exchange rate and the calculated k op. In all cases, minimal effects to imino proton exchange rates occurred at the neighboring base pair C 3:G 10. No evidence was observed for imino tautomerization, accompanied by wobble base pairing, for 5hmC, 5fC, or 5caC when positioned at base pair G 4:X 9; each favored Watson–Crick base pairing. However, both 5fC and 5caC exhibited intranucleobase hydrogen bonding between their formyl or carboxyl oxygens, respectively, and the adjacent cytosine N 4 exocyclic amines. The lesion-specific differences observed in the DDD may be implicated in recognition of 5hmC, 5fC, or 5caC in DNA by TDG. Furthermore, they do not correlate with differential excision of 5hmC, 5fC, or 5caC by TDG, which may be mediated by differences in transition states of the enzyme-bound complexes.« less

Differential stabilities and sequence-dependent base pair opening dynamics of Watson-Crick base pairs with 5-hydroxymethylcytosine, 5-formylcytosine, or 5-carboxylcytosine.

PubMed

Szulik, Marta W; Pallan, Pradeep S; Nocek, Boguslaw; Voehler, Markus; Banerjee, Surajit; Brooks, Sonja; Joachimiak, Andrzej; Egli, Martin; Eichman, Brandt F; Stone, Michael P

2015-02-10

5-Hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC), 5-formylcytosine (5fC), and 5-carboxylcytosine (5caC) form during active demethylation of 5-methylcytosine (5mC) and are implicated in epigenetic regulation of the genome. They are differentially processed by thymine DNA glycosylase (TDG), an enzyme involved in active demethylation of 5mC. Three modified Dickerson-Drew dodecamer (DDD) sequences, amenable to crystallographic and spectroscopic analyses and containing the 5'-CG-3' sequence associated with genomic cytosine methylation, containing 5hmC, 5fC, or 5caC placed site-specifically into the 5'-T(8)X(9)G(10)-3' sequence of the DDD, were compared. The presence of 5caC at the X(9) base increased the stability of the DDD, whereas 5hmC or 5fC did not. Both 5hmC and 5fC increased imino proton exchange rates and calculated rate constants for base pair opening at the neighboring base pair A(5):T(8), whereas 5caC did not. At the oxidized base pair G(4):X(9), 5fC exhibited an increase in the imino proton exchange rate and the calculated kop. In all cases, minimal effects to imino proton exchange rates occurred at the neighboring base pair C(3):G(10). No evidence was observed for imino tautomerization, accompanied by wobble base pairing, for 5hmC, 5fC, or 5caC when positioned at base pair G(4):X(9); each favored Watson-Crick base pairing. However, both 5fC and 5caC exhibited intranucleobase hydrogen bonding between their formyl or carboxyl oxygens, respectively, and the adjacent cytosine N(4) exocyclic amines. The lesion-specific differences observed in the DDD may be implicated in recognition of 5hmC, 5fC, or 5caC in DNA by TDG. However, they do not correlate with differential excision of 5hmC, 5fC, or 5caC by TDG, which may be mediated by differences in transition states of the enzyme-bound complexes.

SU-F-T-144: Analytical Closed Form Approximation for Carbon Ion Bragg Curves in Water

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tuomanen, S; Moskvin, V; Farr, J

2016-06-15

Purpose: Semi-empirical modeling is a powerful computational method in radiation dosimetry. A set of approximations exist for proton ion depth dose distribution (DDD) in water. However, the modeling is more complicated for carbon ions due to fragmentation. This study addresses this by providing and evaluating a new methodology for DDD modeling of carbon ions in water. Methods: The FLUKA, Monte Carlo (MC) general-purpose transport code was used for simulation of carbon DDDs for energies of 100–400 MeV in water as reference data model benchmarking. Based on Thomas Bortfeld’s closed form equation approximating proton Bragg Curves as a basis, we derivedmore » the critical constants for a beam of Carbon ions by applying models of radiation transport by Lee et. al. and Geiger to our simulated Carbon curves. We hypothesized that including a new exponential (κ) residual distance parameter to Bortfeld’s fluence reduction relation would improve DDD modeling for carbon ions. We are introducing an additional term to be added to Bortfeld’s equation to describe fragmentation tail. This term accounts for the pre-peak dose from nuclear fragments (NF). In the post peak region, the NF transport will be treated as new beams utilizing the Glauber model for interaction cross sections and the Abrasion- Ablation fragmentation model. Results: The carbon beam specific constants in the developed model were determined to be : p= 1.75, β=0.008 cm-1, γ=0.6, α=0.0007 cm MeV, σmono=0.08, and the new exponential parameter κ=0.55. This produced a close match for the plateau part of the curve (max deviation 6.37%). Conclusion: The derived semi-empirical model provides an accurate approximation of the MC simulated clinical carbon DDDs. This is the first direct semi-empirical simulation for the dosimetry of therapeutic carbon ions. The accurate modeling of the NF tail in the carbon DDD will provide key insight into distal edge dose deposition formation.« less

Differential stabilities and sequence-dependent base pair opening dynamics of Watson–Crick base pairs with 5-hydroxymethylcytosine, 5-formylcytosine, or 5-carboxylcytosine

DOE PAGES

Szulik, Marta W.; Pallan, Pradeep S.; Nocek, Boguslaw; ...

2015-01-29

5-Hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC), 5-formylcytosine (5fC), and 5-carboxylcytosine (5caC) form during active demethylation of 5-methylcytosine (5mC) and are implicated in epigenetic regulation of the genome. They are differentially processed by thymine DNA glycosylase (TDG), an enzyme involved in active demethylation of 5mC. Three modified Dickerson–Drew dodecamer (DDD) sequences, amenable to crystallographic and spectroscopic analyses and containing the 5'-CG-3' sequence associated with genomic cytosine methylation, containing 5hmC, 5fC, or 5caC placed site-specifically into the 5'-T 8X 9G 10-3' sequence of the DDD, were compared. The presence of 5caC at the X9 base increased the stability of the DDD, whereas 5hmC or 5fC didmore » not. Both 5hmC and 5fC increased imino proton exchange rates and calculated rate constants for base pair opening at the neighboring base pair A 5:T 8, whereas 5caC did not. At the oxidized base pair G 4:X 9, 5fC exhibited an increase in the imino proton exchange rate and the calculated k op. In all cases, minimal effects to imino proton exchange rates occurred at the neighboring base pair C 3:G 10. No evidence was observed for imino tautomerization, accompanied by wobble base pairing, for 5hmC, 5fC, or 5caC when positioned at base pair G 4:X 9; each favored Watson–Crick base pairing. However, both 5fC and 5caC exhibited intranucleobase hydrogen bonding between their formyl or carboxyl oxygens, respectively, and the adjacent cytosine N 4 exocyclic amines. The lesion-specific differences observed in the DDD may be implicated in recognition of 5hmC, 5fC, or 5caC in DNA by TDG. Furthermore, they do not correlate with differential excision of 5hmC, 5fC, or 5caC by TDG, which may be mediated by differences in transition states of the enzyme-bound complexes.« less

Recognition of O6-benzyl-2′-deoxyguanosine by a perimidinone-derived synthetic nucleoside: a DNA interstrand stacking interaction

PubMed Central

Kowal, Ewa A.; Lad, Rahul R.; Pallan, Pradeep S.; Dhummakupt, Elizabeth; Wawrzak, Zdzislaw; Egli, Martin; Sturla, Shana J.; Stone, Michael P.

2013-01-01

The 2′-deoxynucleoside containing the synthetic base 1-[(2R,4S,5R)-4-hydroxy-5-(hydroxymethyl)-tetrahydrofuran-2-yl)-1H-perimidin-2(3H)-one] (dPer) recognizes in DNA the O6-benzyl-2′-deoxyguanosine nucleoside (O6-Bn-dG), formed by exposure to N-benzylmethylnitrosamine. Herein, we show how dPer distinguishes between O6-Bn-dG and dG in DNA. The structure of the modified Dickerson–Drew dodecamer (DDD) in which guanine at position G4 has been replaced by O6-Bn-dG and cytosine C9 has been replaced with dPer to form the modified O6-Bn-dG:dPer (DDD-XY) duplex [5′-d(C1G2C3X4A5A6T7T8Y9G10C11G12)-3′]2 (X = O6-Bn-dG, Y = dPer) reveals that dPer intercalates into the duplex and adopts the syn conformation about the glycosyl bond. This provides a binding pocket that allows the benzyl group of O6-Bn-dG to intercalate between Per and thymine of the 3′-neighbor A:T base pair. Nuclear magnetic resonance data suggest that a similar intercalative recognition mechanism applies in this sequence in solution. However, in solution, the benzyl ring of O6-Bn-dG undergoes rotation on the nuclear magnetic resonance time scale. In contrast, the structure of the modified DDD in which cytosine at position C9 is replaced with dPer to form the dG:dPer (DDD-GY) [5′-d(C1G2C3G4A5A6T7T8Y9G10C11G12)-3′]2 duplex (Y = dPer) reveals that dPer adopts the anti conformation about the glycosyl bond and forms a less stable wobble pairing interaction with guanine. PMID:23748954

Differential Stabilities and Sequence-Dependent Base Pair Opening Dynamics of Watson–Crick Base Pairs with 5-Hydroxymethylcytosine, 5-Formylcytosine, or 5-Carboxylcytosine

PubMed Central

2016-01-01

5-Hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC), 5-formylcytosine (5fC), and 5-carboxylcytosine (5caC) form during active demethylation of 5-methylcytosine (5mC) and are implicated in epigenetic regulation of the genome. They are differentially processed by thymine DNA glycosylase (TDG), an enzyme involved in active demethylation of 5mC. Three modified Dickerson–Drew dodecamer (DDD) sequences, amenable to crystallographic and spectroscopic analyses and containing the 5′-CG-3′ sequence associated with genomic cytosine methylation, containing 5hmC, 5fC, or 5caC placed site-specifically into the 5′-T8X9G10-3′ sequence of the DDD, were compared. The presence of 5caC at the X9 base increased the stability of the DDD, whereas 5hmC or 5fC did not. Both 5hmC and 5fC increased imino proton exchange rates and calculated rate constants for base pair opening at the neighboring base pair A5:T8, whereas 5caC did not. At the oxidized base pair G4:X9, 5fC exhibited an increase in the imino proton exchange rate and the calculated kop. In all cases, minimal effects to imino proton exchange rates occurred at the neighboring base pair C3:G10. No evidence was observed for imino tautomerization, accompanied by wobble base pairing, for 5hmC, 5fC, or 5caC when positioned at base pair G4:X9; each favored Watson–Crick base pairing. However, both 5fC and 5caC exhibited intranucleobase hydrogen bonding between their formyl or carboxyl oxygens, respectively, and the adjacent cytosine N4 exocyclic amines. The lesion-specific differences observed in the DDD may be implicated in recognition of 5hmC, 5fC, or 5caC in DNA by TDG. However, they do not correlate with differential excision of 5hmC, 5fC, or 5caC by TDG, which may be mediated by differences in transition states of the enzyme-bound complexes. PMID:25632825

Electrocardiograms with pacemakers: accuracy of computer reading.

PubMed

Guglin, Maya E; Datwani, Neeta

2007-04-01

We analyzed the accuracy with which a computer algorithm reads electrocardiograms (ECGs) with electronic pacemakers (PMs). Electrocardiograms were screened for the presence of electronic pacing spikes. Computer-derived interpretations were compared with cardiologists' readings. Computer-drawn interpretations required revision by cardiologists in 61.3% of cases. In 18.4% of cases, the ECG reading algorithm failed to recognize the presence of a PM. The misinterpretation of paced beats as intrinsic beats led to multiple secondary errors, including myocardial infarctions in varying localization. The most common error in computer reading was the failure to identify an underlying rhythm. This error caused frequent misidentification of the PM type, especially when the presence of normal sinus rhythm was not recognized in a tracing with a DDD PM tracking the atrial activity. The increasing number of pacing devices, and the resulting number of ECGs with pacing spikes, mandates the refining of ECG reading algorithms. Improvement is especially needed in the recognition of the underlying rhythm, pacing spikes, and mode of pacing.

Organochlorine chemical residues in bluegills and common carp from the irrigated San Joaquin Valley floor, California

USGS Publications Warehouse

Saiki, Michael K.; Schmitt, Christopher J.

1986-01-01

Samples of bluegills (Lepomis macrochirus) and common carp (Cyprinus carpio) collected from the San Joaquin River and two tributaries (Merced River and Salt Slough) in California were analyzed for 21 organochlorine chemical residues by gas chromatography to determine if pesticide contamination was confined to downstream sites exposed to irrigated agriculture, or if nonirrigated upstream sites were also contaminated. Residues ofp,p′-DDE were detected in all samples of both species. Six other contaminants were also present in both species at one or more of the collection sites: chlordane (cis-chlordane +trans-nonachlor);p,p′-DDD;o,p′-DDT;p,p′-DDT; DCPA (dimethyl tetrachloroterephthalate); and dieldrin. Concentrations of most of these residues were generally higher in carp than in bluegills; residues of other compounds were found only in carp: α-BHC (α-benzenehexachloride), Aroclor® 1260, and toxaphene. Concentrations of most organochlorines in fish increased from upstream to downstream. Water quality variables that are influenced by irrigation return flows (e.g., conductivity, turbidity, and total alkalinity) also increased from upstream to downstream and were significantly correlated (P < 0.05) with organochlorine residue levels in the fish. In carp, concentrations of two residues-⌆DDT (p,p′-DDD +p,p′-DDE + +p,p′-DDT; 1.43 to 2.21 mg/kg wet weight) and toxaphene (3.12 mg/kg wet weight)-approached the highest levels reported by the National Pesticide Monitoring Program for fish from other intensively farmed watersheds of the United States in 1980 to 1981, and surpassed criteria for whole-body residue concentrations recomended by the National Academy of Sciences and National Academy of Engineers for the protection of piscivorous wildlife.

Environmental pollutant and necropsy data for ospreys from the eastern United States, 1975-1982

USGS Publications Warehouse

Wiemeyer, Stanley N.; Schmeling, Shelia K.; Anderson, Allen

1987-01-01

Twenty-three ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) found dead or moribund in the eastern United States during 1975–1982 were necropsied and selected tissues were analyzed for organo-chlorines and metals. Major causes or factors contributing to death were trauma, impact injuries, and emaciation. DDE was detected in 96% of the osprey carcasses, DDD in 65%, DDT and heptachlor epoxide in 13%, dieldrin, oxychlordane, and cis-nonachlor in 35%, cis-chlordane in 52%, trans-nonachlor in 45%, and PCB's in 83%. Carcasses of immature ospreys from the Chesapeake Bay had significantly lower concentrations of DDE, DDD + DDT, cis-chlordane, and PCB's than carcasses of adults from the same area. Concentrations of some organochlorines in ospreys from the Chesapeake Bay declined significantly from 1971–1973 to 1975–1982. Significant differences in concentrations of certain metals in the ospreys' livers were noted between time periods, and sex and age groups for birds from the Chesapeake Bay. During 1975–1982, adults had significantly lower concentrations of chromium, copper, and arsenic than immatures and nestlings, and adult males had higher mercury concentrations than adult females. Adult females had lower zinc concentrations in 1975–1982 than in 1971–1973. Immatures and nestlings had higher concentrations of chromium and lead in 1975–1982 than in 1971–1973. A slightly elevated concentration of chromium (1.7 ppm) or arsenic (3.2 ppm) was found in the livers of individual ospreys. Several ospreys had elevated concentrations of mercury in their livers; two ospreys had more than 20 ppm which may have contributed to their deaths.

Incidence of organochlorine pesticides and the health condition of nestling ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) at Laguna San Ignacio, a pristine area of Baja California Sur, Mexico.

PubMed

Rivera-Rodríguez, Laura B; Rodríguez-Estrella, Ricardo

2011-01-01

We identified and quantified organochlorine (OC) pesticide residues in the plasma of 28 osprey (Pandion haliaetus) nestlings from a dense population in Laguna San Ignacio, a pristine area of Baja California Sur, Mexico, during the 2001 breeding season. Sixteen OC pesticides were identified and quantified. α-, β-, δ- and γ-hexachlorocyclohexane, heptaclor, heptachlor epoxide, endosulfan I and II, endosulfan-sulfate, p,p'-DDE, p,p'-DDD, aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, endrin aldehyde, and endrin ketone were the OCs found in the plasma of nestlings, ranging from 0.002 to 6.856 pg/μl (parts per billion). No differences were found in the concentration of pesticides between genders (P > 0.05). In our work, the concentrations detected in the plasma were lower than those reported to be a threat for the species and that affect the survival and reproduction of birds. The presence of OC pesticides in the remote Laguna San Ignacio osprey population is an indication of the ubiquitous nature of these contaminants. OCs are apparently able to travel long distances from their source to the study area. A significant relationship between hemoglobin and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentrations and OC concentrations were found suggesting that a potential effect on the health of chicks may exist in this osprey population caused by the OC, e.g. anemia. The total proteins were positively correlated with α-BHC, endosulfan I, and p,p'-DDD. It has been suggested that OC also affects competitive interactions and population status over the long term in vertebrate species, and our results could be used as reference information for comparison with other more exposed osprey populations.

Variation of antibiotic consumption and its correlated factors in Turkey.

PubMed

Sahin, Ayfer; Akici, Ahmet; Aydin, Volkan; Melik, Bahar; Aksoy, Mesil; Alkan, Ali

2017-07-01

Presentation of antibiotic utilization data by reliable and comparable analyses constitutes an important way of ensuring rational use of antibiotics. This study aimed to evaluate antibiotic consumption (AC) of Turkey by each city/region and to investigate any association of such consumption with socio-economic factors. For 81 provinces and 12 regions in Turkey, AC data from IMS (Intercontinental Medical Statistics) in 2011 was analyzed in accordance with "ATC/DDD, DID" (Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical/Defined Daily Doses, DID = DDD/1000 inhabitants/day) methodology supported by World Health Organization. Association between provincial AC rates and socio-economic development index (SEDI)-2011 and between regional AC rates and some health indicators were analyzed. While provincial AC data of Turkey was detected to vary between 17.2 and 55.2 DID (Hakkari and Usak, respectively), regional AC ranged from 28.4 to 48.9 DID (Middle Eastern Anatolia and Western Anatolia, respectively). Mostly consumed antibiotic group among all regions were beta-lactamase inhibitor/penicillin combinations (range: 9.9-17.6 DID). SEDI and AC of each city showed positive correlation (rho = 0.683, p < 0.001). While regional AC was positively associated with percentage of 14-year-old population (p = 0.002) and pharmacist density (p < 0.001), it was negatively associated with physician density (p = 0.038). It is remarkable that Turkey, at both provincial and regional levels, exhibits important variations in AC, which is proportional to socio-economic status. Besides, the consumption is found to be closely associated with recognized critical factors of access to healthcare. These findings are expected to provide important insights to the activities promoting rational use of antibiotics.

Stem cells in degenerative orthopaedic pathologies: effects of aging on therapeutic potential.

PubMed

Atesok, Kivanc; Fu, Freddie H; Sekiya, Ichiro; Stolzing, Alexandra; Ochi, Mitsuo; Rodeo, Scott A

2017-02-01

The purpose of this study was to summarize the current evidence on the use of stem cells in the elderly population with degenerative orthopaedic pathologies and to highlight the pathophysiologic mechanisms behind today's therapeutic challenges in stem cell-based regeneration of destructed tissues in the elderly patients with osteoarthritis (OA), degenerative disc disease (DDD), and tendinopathies. Clinical and basic science studies that report the use of stem cells in the elderly patients with OA, DDD, and tendinopathies were identified using a PubMed search. The studies published in English have been assessed, and the best and most recent evidence was included in the current study. Evidence suggests that, although short-term results regarding the effects of stem cell therapy in degenerative orthopaedic pathologies can be promising, stem cell therapies do not appear to reverse age-related tissue degeneration. Causes of suboptimal outcomes can be attributed to the decrease in the therapeutic potential of aged stem cell populations and the regenerative capacity of these cells, which might be negatively influenced in an aged microenvironment within the degenerated tissues of elderly patients with OA, DDD, and tendinopathies. Clinical protocols guiding the use of stem cells in the elderly patient population are still under development, and high-level randomized controlled trials with long-term outcomes are lacking. Understanding the consequences of age-related changes in stem cell function and responsiveness of the in vivo microenvironment to stem cells is critical when designing cell-based therapies for elderly patients with degenerative orthopaedic pathologies.

Decreasing Clostridium difficile infections by an antimicrobial stewardship program that reduces moxifloxacin use.

PubMed

Wenisch, Judith Maria; Equiluz-Bruck, Susanne; Fudel, Marta; Reiter, Ingun; Schmid, Andrea; Singer, Erna; Chott, Andreas

2014-09-01

Clostridium difficile infections (CDI) in hospitalized patients are known to be closely related to antibiotic exposure. Although several substances can cause CDI, the risk differs between individual agents. In Vienna and other eastern parts of Austria, CDI ribotype 027 is currently highly prevalent. This ribotype has the characteristic of intrinsic moxifloxacin resistance. Therefore, we hypothesized that moxifloxacin restriction can decrease the number of CDI cases in hospitalized patients. Our antibiotic stewardship (ABS) group applied an information campaign on CDI and formal restriction of moxifloxacin in Wilhelminenspital (Vienna, Austria), a 1,000- bed tertiary care hospital. The preintervention period (period 1) was January through May 2013, and the intervention period (period 2) was June through December 2013. We recorded the defined daily doses (DDD) of moxifloxacin and the number of CDI patients/month. Moxifloxacin use was reduced from a mean (±standard error of the mean [SEM]) of 1,038±109 DDD per month (period 1) to 42±10 DDD per month (period 2) (P=0.0045). Total antibiotic use was not affected. The mean (±SEM) numbers of CDI cases in period 1 were 59±3 per month and in period 2 were 32±3 per month (46% reduction; P=0.0044). Reducing moxifloxacin use in combination with providing structured information on CDI was associated with an immediate decrease in CDI rates in this large community teaching hospital. Copyright © 2014, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Organo-halogenated contaminants (OHCs) in the sediments from the Soan River, Pakistan: OHCs(adsorbed TOC) burial flux, status and risk assessment.

PubMed

Malik, Riffat Naseem; Mehboob, Fouzia; Ali, Usman; Katsoyiannis, Athanasios; Schuster, Jasmin K; Moeckel, Claudia; Jones, Kevin C

2014-05-15

In this study, regression analysis revealed that TOC is the principal factor in controlling the fate of organo-halogenated contaminants (OHCs: PCBs, PBDEs, OCPs) in Soan River, Pakistan. The OHCs(adsorbed TOC) burial flux (OHCs(adsorbed TOC)Bf; mg/cm(2)·yr) was calculated in the following ranges: ∑PCBs (0.07-0.31), ∑PBDEs (0.005-0.029), ∑HCHs (0.015-0.046) and ∑DDTs (0.007-0.039). Apart from OHCs(adsorbed TOC)Bf, the levels of OHCs were in the following order: PCBs>DDTs>PBDEs>HCH>Chlordane>HCB. PBDEs and PCB congener patterns showed following order respectively: BDE-149>-153>-18>-138>-44 and PCB-149>-153>-18>-138>-44. DDT isomers and metabolites' pattern were p,p'-DDT>p,p'-DDD>p,p'-DDE>o,p'-DDT>o,p'-DDD>o,p'-DDE and HCHs were β-HCH>α-HCH>γ-HCH>δ-HCH. PBDE composition had similarities to penta-BDE and DE-71 mixtures and PCBs with commercial products Aroclor-1254 and -1260. (DDE+DDD)/∑DDTs and p,p'-DDT/p,p'-DDE suggested the recent input of DDTs in sediments while α/γ-HCH indicated past usage of lindane and technical mixtures. Risk assessment suggested that Soan River and its tributaries are potentially at risk against most of the OHCs. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Carbapenem stewardship: positive impact on hospital ecology.

PubMed

Lima, Ana Lucia Lei Munhoz; Oliveira, Priscila Rosalba Domingos de; Paula, Adriana Pereira de; Dal-Paz, Karine; Almeida, João Nóbrega de; Félix, Cássia da Silva; Rossi, Flávia

2011-01-01

Excessive group 2 carbapenem use may result in decreased bacterial susceptibility. We evaluated the impact of a carbapenem stewardship program, restricting imipenem and meropenem use. Ertapenem was mandated for ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae infections in the absence of non-fermenting Gram-negative bacilli (GNB) from April 2006 to March 2008. Group 2 carbapenems were restricted for use against GNB infections susceptible only to carbapenems and suspected GNB infections in unstable patients. Cumulative susceptibility tests were done for nosocomial pathogens before and after restriction using Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guide-lines.Vitek System or conventional identification methods were performed and susceptibility testing done by disk diffusion according to CLSI.Antibiotic consumption (t-test) and susceptibilities (McNemar's test) were determined. The defined daily doses (DDD) of group 2 carbapenems declined from 61.1 to 48.7 DDD/1,000 patient-days two years after ertapenem introduction (p = 0.027). Mean ertapenem consumption after restriction was 31.5 DDD/1,000 patient-days. Following ertapenem introduction no significant susceptibility changes were noticed among Gram-positive cocci. The most prevalent GNB were P. aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Acinetobacter spp. There was no change in P. aeruginosa susceptibility to carbapenems. Significantly improved P. aeruginosa and K. pneumoniae ciprofloxacin susceptibilities were observed, perhaps due to decreased group 2 carbapenem use. K. pneumoniae susceptibility to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole improved. Preferential use of ertapenem resulted in reduced group 2 carbapenem use, with a positive impact on P. aeruginosa and K. pneumoniae susceptibility.

MR PROSTATE SEGMENTATION VIA DISTRIBUTED DISCRIMINATIVE DICTIONARY (DDD) LEARNING.

PubMed

Guo, Yanrong; Zhan, Yiqiang; Gao, Yaozong; Jiang, Jianguo; Shen, Dinggang

2013-01-01

Segmenting prostate from MR images is important yet challenging. Due to non-Gaussian distribution of prostate appearances in MR images, the popular active appearance model (AAM) has its limited performance. Although the newly developed sparse dictionary learning method[1, 2] can model the image appearance in a non-parametric fashion, the learned dictionaries still lack the discriminative power between prostate and non-prostate tissues, which is critical for accurate prostate segmentation. In this paper, we propose to integrate deformable model with a novel learning scheme, namely the Distributed Discriminative Dictionary ( DDD ) learning, which can capture image appearance in a non-parametric and discriminative fashion. In particular, three strategies are designed to boost the tissue discriminative power of DDD. First , minimum Redundancy Maximum Relevance (mRMR) feature selection is performed to constrain the dictionary learning in a discriminative feature space. Second , linear discriminant analysis (LDA) is employed to assemble residuals from different dictionaries for optimal separation between prostate and non-prostate tissues. Third , instead of learning the global dictionaries, we learn a set of local dictionaries for the local regions (each with small appearance variations) along prostate boundary, thus achieving better tissue differentiation locally. In the application stage, DDDs will provide the appearance cues to robustly drive the deformable model onto the prostate boundary. Experiments on 50 MR prostate images show that our method can yield a Dice Ratio of 88% compared to the manual segmentations, and have 7% improvement over the conventional AAM.

[The effect of atrial pacing on left ventricular diastolic function and BNP levels in patients with DDD pacemaker].

PubMed

Apali, Zeynep; Bayata, Serdar; Yeşil, Murat; Arikan, Erdinç; Postaci, Nursen

2010-08-01

We aimed to investigate the effect of atrial pacing on left ventricular diastolic function and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels in patients with DDD pacemaker. Thirty patients with complete atrio-ventricular (AV) block and DDD pacemaker were included. All patients had normal left ventricular systolic function. Echocardiographic diastolic function parameters (transmitral and tissue Doppler velocities during early (E and E') and late (A and A') filling) and NT-pro-BNP levels were evaluated prospectively during atrial sensing and pacing periods. Echocardiographic data were compared with paired sample t test and NT-pro-BNP levels were compared with Wilcoxon test. Echocardiographic E/A, E'/A', E/E' ratios were calculated as 0.72+/-0.34, 0.61+/-0.21 and 8.76+/-2.58 during atrial sensing period. Same parameters were found as 0.71+/-0.23, 0.64+/-0.16 and 8.93+/-3.16 respectively during atrial pacing period. Echocardiographic left ventricular diastolic function parameters were not significantly different during atrial pacing and atrial sensing periods. Median plasma NT-pro-BNP levels were measured as 142 pg/ml (min-max 47-563 pg/ml) and 147 pg/ml (min-max 33-1035 pg/ml) during atrial sensing and pacing periods respectively. These levels were not significantly different (p=0.86). The result of this study has shown that, atrial pacing has not any additional detrimental effect on left ventricular diastolic function parameters in paced patients with normal left ventricular systolic function.

Application of ATC/DDD methodology to evaluate of antibiotic use in a general hospital in Turkey.

PubMed

Sözen, Hamdi; Gönen, Ibak; Sözen, Ayse; Kutlucan, Ali; Kalemci, Serdar; Sahan, Murat

2013-09-03

The aim of this study is to evaluate in-house antibiotic use in a state hospital in Turkey with its cost, using the ATC/DDD index, which is an accepted standard method. This study was performed as a point prevalence study in a state hospital with 372 beds. All in-house patients using antibiotics on July 19, 2011 were included in the study. Indications for antibiotic use and information about the patients were recorded on special forms. Antibiotic use and cost analysis were evaluated using the ATC/DDD index, which is also suggested by the WHO to be used in similar studies. 147 patients out of 308 patients who were in-house were identified to use antibiotics with appropriate indications for prophylaxis or treatment in 61% of the patients. The rate of appropriate antibiotic use was identified to be in 78%, while this rate was 38.9% in surgical clinics. The daily cost of the antibiotics consumed on the date of the study was calculated as 4104.79 TL (=2476.80 USD). The rate of inappropriate use of antibiotics seems to be high in our hospital. This will result in both increased costs and also increased nosocomial infection rates with resistant species. Infectious disease specialists should take more active roles in the in-house antibiotic use, hospitals should prepare and implement their own principles of antibiotic use, and microbiology laboratories should be used more effectively. These measures would decrease the conspicuous shortcomings in the antibiotic use.

Development of a Search and Rescue Simulation to Study the Effects of Prolonged Isolation on Team Decision Making

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Entin, Elliot E.; Kerrigan, Caroline; Serfaty, Daniel; Young, Philip

1998-01-01

The goals of this project were to identify and investigate aspects of team and individual decision-making and risk-taking behaviors hypothesized to be most affected by prolonged isolation. A key premise driving our research approach is that effects of stressors that impact individual and team cognitive processes in an isolated, confined, and hazardous environment will be projected onto the performance of a simulation task. To elicit and investigate these team behaviors we developed a search and rescue task concept as a scenario domain that would be relevant for isolated crews. We modified the Distributed Dynamic Decision-making (DDD) simulator, a platform that has been extensively used for empirical research in team processes and taskwork performance, to portray the features of a search and rescue scenario and present the task components incorporated into that scenario. The resulting software is called DD-Search and Rescue (Version 1.0). To support the use of the DDD-Search and Rescue simulator in isolated experiment settings, we wrote a player's manual for teaching team members to operate the simulator and play the scenario. We then developed a research design and experiment plan that would allow quantitative measures of individual and team decision making skills using the DDD-Search and Rescue simulator as the experiment platform. A description of these activities and the associated materials that were produced under this contract are contained in this report.

5. Historic American Buildings Survey Frank O. Branzetti, Photographer July ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

5. Historic American Buildings Survey Frank O. Branzetti, Photographer July 10, 1940 (i) 10- MILE STONE, 1187 HANCOCK ST., QUINCY - Milestones H, I, CCC, DDD & EEE, Various Quincy locations, Quincy, Norfolk County, MA

4. Historic American Buildings Survey Frank O. Branzetti, Photographer July ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

4. Historic American Buildings Survey Frank O. Branzetti, Photographer July 10, 1940 (h) 9- MILE STONE, ADAMS ST., QUINCY - Milestones H, I, CCC, DDD & EEE, Various Quincy locations, Quincy, Norfolk County, MA

Organochlorine Pesticides Residues in Human Breast Milk from the Middle Governorates in Jordan in 2013/2014.

PubMed

Al Antary, Tawfiq M; Alawi, Mahmoud A; Estityah, Hussein; Haddad, Nizar

2017-07-01

One hundred samples of mother breast milk were gathered from six middle governorates and districts in Jordan in 2013/2014 to monitor Organochlorine pesticides pollutants. The results showed clearly that banned organochlorine pesticides are still detected in the monitored samples in low concentration despite banning of these persistent pollutants in Jordan since 36 years ago. However, the results indicated that 1% of the contaminated samples contained β-HCH, 5% γ-HCH, 3% p,p'-DDD, 2% heptachlor, 45% p,p'-DDE and 3% p,p'-DDT. In addition, these monitored samples had no residues of aldrin, dieldrin, α-endosulfan, β-endosulfan, HCB, o,p'-DD, o,p'-DDT and o,p'-DDE. In conclusion, there was a decline in the residues of Organochlorine pesticides, particularly DDT group members.

Pesticide concentrations in water and in suspended and bottom sediments in the New and Alamo rivers, Salton Sea Watershed, California, April 2003

USGS Publications Warehouse

LeBlanc, Lawrence A.; Orlando, James L.; Kuivila, Kathryn

2004-01-01

This report contains pesticide concentration data for water, and suspended and bed sediment samples collected in April 2003 from twelve sites along the New and Alamo Rivers in the Salton Sea watershed, in southeastern California. The study was done in collaboration with the California State Regional Water Quality Control Board, Colorado River Region, to assess inputs of current-use pesticides associated with water and sediment into the New and Alamo Rivers. Five sites along the New River and seven sites along the Alamo River, downstream of major agricultural drains, were selected and covered the lengths of the rivers from the international boundary to approximately 1.5 km from the river mouths. Sampling from bridges occurred at seven of the twelve sites. At these sites, streamflow measurements were taken. These same sites were also characterized for cross-stream homogeneity by measuring dissolved oxygen, pH, specific conductance, temperature, and suspended solids concentration at several vertical (depths) and horizontal (cross-stream) points across the river. Large volume water samples (200?300 L) were collected for isolation of suspended sediments by flow-through centrifugation. Water from the outflow of the flow-through centrifuge was sampled for the determination of aqueous pesticide concentrations. In addition, bottom sediments were sampled at each site. Current-use pesticides and legacy organochlorine compounds (p,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDE and p,p'-DDD) were extracted from sediments and measured via gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Organic carbon and percentage of fines were also determined for suspended and bottom sediments. Cross-stream transects of dissolved constituents and suspended sediments showed that the rivers were fairly homogeneous at the sites sampled. Streamflow was higher at the outlet sites, with the Alamo River having higher flow (1,240 cfs) than the New River (798 cfs). Twelve current-use pesticides, one legacy organochlorine compound (p,p'-DDE), and the additive piperonyl butoxide were detected in water samples. Trifluralin was found in the highest concentration of all detected compounds (68.5?599 ng/L) at all sites in both rivers, except for the international boundary sites. Atrazine was also detected in high concentration (51.0?285 ng/L) at several sites. The outlet sites had among the highest numbers of pesticides detected and the international boundary sites had the lowest numbers of pesticides detected for both rivers. The numbers of pesticides detected were greater for the Alamo River than for the New River. Six current-use pesticides and two legacy organochlorines (p,p'-DDE and p,p'-DDD) were found associated with suspended and bed sediments. The DDT metabolite p,p'-DDE was detected in all suspended and bed sediments from the Alamo River, but only at two sites in the New River. Dacthal, chlorpyrifos, pendimethalin, and trifluralin were the most commonly detected current-use pesticides. Trifluralin was the compound found in the highest concentrations in suspended (14.5?120 ng/g) and bed (1.9?9.0 ng/g) sediments. The sites along the Alamo River had more frequent detections of pesticides in suspended and bed sediments when compared with the New River sites. The greatest number of pesticides that were detected in suspended sediments (seven) were in the samples from the Sinclair Road and Harris Road sites. For bottom sediments, the Alamo River outlet site had the greatest number of pesticide detections (eight).

3. Historic American Buildings Survey Frank O. Branzetti, Photographer July ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

3. Historic American Buildings Survey Frank O. Branzetti, Photographer July 10, 1940 (eee) 71/4m. 50r. STONE, HANCOCK ST., QUINCY - Milestones H, I, CCC, DDD & EEE, Various Quincy locations, Quincy, Norfolk County, MA

2. Historic American Buildings Survey Frank O. Branzetti, Photographer July ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

2. Historic American Buildings Survey Frank O. Branzetti, Photographer July 9, 1940 (ccc) 6- MILE STONE, opp. 487 HANCOCK ST., QUINCY - Milestones H, I, CCC, DDD & EEE, Various Quincy locations, Quincy, Norfolk County, MA

The toxicity of p,p'-DDT to the clapper rail

USGS Publications Warehouse

Van Velzen, A.; Kreitzer, J.F.

1975-01-01

The LC50 (concentration of toxicant in the diet expected to kill half of the test birds in 5 days) for p,p' -DDT in clapper rails (Rallus longirostris) was found to be 1,612 ppm for males and 1,896 ppm for females. Amounts of DDT + DDD in the brains of birds that died were significantly greater (P < 0.01) than those in the brains of survivors. Thirty ppm DDT + DDD approximated the lower limit of these compounds in the brains of rails diagnostic of death from DDT poisoning. Residues in livers and carcasses are reported. Considering the relatively high resistance of the clapper rail to DDT poisoning, we concluded that exposure to this pesticide in marshes is not likely to be a significant factor in mortality of adult rails. Effects other than direct mortality were not evaluated in this study.

The Indian Ocean tsunami and private donations to NGOs.

PubMed

Kim, Youngwan; Nunnenkamp, Peter; Bagchi, Chandreyee

2016-10-01

Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are widely believed to raise their flag in humanitarian hotspots with a strong media presence in order to attract higher private donations. We assess this hypothesis by comparing the changes in donations between US-based NGOs with and without aid operations in the four countries most affected by the tsunami in the Indian Ocean in 2004. Simple before-after comparisons tend to support the hypothesis that 'flying the flag' helps attract higher private donations. However, performing a difference-in-difference-in-differences (DDD) approach, we find only weak indications that private donors systematically and strongly preferred NGOs with operations in the region. Extended specifications of the baseline regressions reveal that our major findings are robust. NGO heterogeneity matters in some respects, but the DDD results hold when accounting for proxies of the NGOs' reputation and experience. © 2016 The Author(s). Disasters © Overseas Development Institute, 2016.

Pharmacoepidemiological Data from Drug Dispensing Charities as a Measure of Health Patterns in a Population not Assisted by the Italian National Health Service.

PubMed

Bini, Silvia; Cerri, Cesare; Rigamonti, Antonello E; Bertazzi, Pietro A; Fiorini, Gianfrancesco; Cella, Silvano G

2016-08-19

We analysed drug dispensation by charitable organisations in a year time. Drugs were grouped according to the Anatomic Therapeutic Chemical classification and the amount dispensed was calculated with the system of the Daily Defined Dose (DDD) and expressed as DDD/1000 subjects/day. A number of 87,550 subjects were studied (13,308 Italians; 74,242 Immigrants). Though we noticed a great sesonal variability, the drugs most frequently dispensed were those for the respiratory, cardiovascular and gastrointestinal system and antibiotics, which is different from the rest of the Italian population and the immigrant population assisted by our National Health Service (NHS). We also found that chronic diseases are increasing in these subjects. We conclude that the subjects not receiving NHS assitance have, at least in part, different health patterns and requirements. This should be considered when planning tailored interventions.

Comparison of methods of preserving tissues for pesticide analysis

USGS Publications Warehouse

Stickel, W.H.; Stickel, L.F.; Dyrland, R.A.; Hughes, D.L.

1984-01-01

Formalin preservation, freezing, spoiling followed by freezing, and phenoxyethanol were compared in terms of concentrations of DDT, DDD, DDE, endrin, and hepatachlor epoxide measured in brain, liver and carcass of birds fed dietary dosages of pesticides and in spiked egg homogenate. Phenoxyethanol proved to be an unsatisfactory preservative; the amount of 'extractable lipid' was excessive, and measurements of concentrations in replicates were erratic. Concentrations of residues in formalin-preserved and frozen samples did not differ significantly in any tissue. Percentage lipid in brains and eggs, however, were significantly lower in formalin-preserved samples. Samples of muscle and liver that had been spoiled before freezing yielded less DDD, and muscle samples yielded more DDT than formalin-preserved samples. The authors conclude that formalin preservation is a satisfactory method for preservation of field samples and that the warming and spoiling of samples that may occur unavoidably in the field will not result in misleading analytical results.

A 2:1 AV rhythm: an adverse effect of a long AV delay during DDI pacing and its prevention by the ventricular intrinsic preference algorithm in DDD mode.

PubMed

Minamiguchi, Hitoshi; Oginosawa, Yasushi; Kohno, Ritsuko; Tamura, Masahito; Takeuchi, Masaaki; Otsuji, Yutaka; Abe, Haruhiko

2012-07-01

A 91-year-old woman received a dual-chamber pacemaker for sick sinus syndrome and intermittently abnormal atrioventricular (AV) conduction. The pacemaker was set in DDI mode with a 350-ms AV delay to preserve intrinsic ventricular activity. She complained of palpitation during AV sequential pacing. The electrocardiogram showed a 2:1 AV rhythm from 1:1 ventriculoatrial (VA) conduction during ventricular pacing in DDI mode with a long AV interval. After reprogramming of the pacemaker in DDD mode with a 250-ms AV interval and additional 100-ms prolongation of the AV interval by the ventricular intrinsic preference function, VA conduction disappeared and the patient's symptom were alleviated without increasing unnecessary right ventricular pacing. ©2011, The Authors. Journal compilation ©2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Dechlorination of 1,1,1-Trichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane by Aerobacter aerogenes

USGS Publications Warehouse

Wedemeyer, Gary

1967-01-01

Whole cells or cell-free extracts of Aerobacter aerogenes catalyze the degradation of 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane (DDT) in vitro to at least seven metabolites: 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethylene (DDE); 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane (DDD); 1-chloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethylene (DDMU); 1-chloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane (DDMS); unsym-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethylene (DDNU); 2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)acetate (DDA); and 4,4′-dichlorobenzophenone (DBP). The use of metabolic inhibitors together with pH and temperature studies indicated that discrete enzymes are involved. By use of the technique of sequential analysis, the metabolic pathway was shown to be: DDT → DDD →DDMU →DDMS → DDNU → DDA → DBP, or DDT → DDE. Dechlorination was marginally enhanced by light-activated flavin mononucleotide.

A health insurance company-initiated practice support intervention for optimizing acid-suppressing drug prescriptions in primary care.

PubMed

Smeets, Hugo M; Hoes, Arno W; Zuithoff, Nicolaas P A; van Dijk, Paul C M; van der Lee, Arnold P M; de Wit, Niek J

2011-08-01

A health insurance-initiated programme to improve cost-effectiveness of acid-suppressing drugs (ASDs). To evaluate the effect of two different interventions of general practitioner support in reducing drug prescription. A sequential cluster randomized controlled trial with 90 participating general practitioners in a telephone support (TS) group or practice visit (PV) group. TS group received support in phase-1 (first 6 months), but served as control group in phase-2 (6-12 months period). PV group received no intervention in phase-1, serving as the control group for the TS group, but received support in phase-2. Prescription data were extracted from Agis Health Insurance Database. Outcomes were the proportion of responders to drug reduction and the number of defined daily dose (DDD). Differences in users and DDD were analysed using multilevel regression analysis. At baseline, 3424 patients used ASD chronically (211 DDDs, on average). The difference between TS and control groups among responders was 3.2% [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.8; 5.6] and relative risk was 1.26 (95% CI: 1.06; 1.51). The difference between PV and control groups was not relevant (0.4%, 95% CI: -1.99; 2.79 and relative risk: 1.01, 95% CI: 0.82; 1.20). The difference in DDD per patient was -3.0 (95% CI: -8.9; 2.9) and -5.82 (95% CI: -12.4; 0.73), respectively. This health insurance company-initiated intervention had a moderate effect on ASD prescription. In contrast to TS, PVs did not seem to reduce ASD prescription rates.

The role of transient receptor potential channels in joint diseases.

PubMed

Krupkova, O; Zvick, J; Wuertz-Kozak, K

2017-10-10

Transient receptor potential channels (TRP channels) are cation selective transmembrane receptors with diverse structures, activation mechanisms and physiological functions. TRP channels act as cellular sensors for a plethora of stimuli, including temperature, membrane voltage, oxidative stress, mechanical stimuli, pH and endogenous, as well as, exogenous ligands, thereby illustrating their versatility. As such, TRP channels regulate various functions in both excitable and non-excitable cells, mainly by mediating Ca2+ homeostasis. Dysregulation of TRP channels is implicated in many pathologies, including cardiovascular diseases, muscular dystrophies and hyperalgesia. However, the importance of TRP channel expression, physiological function and regulation in chondrocytes and intervertebral disc (IVD) cells is largely unexplored. Osteoarthritis (OA) and degenerative disc disease (DDD) are chronic age-related disorders that significantly affect the quality of life by causing pain, activity limitation and disability. Furthermore, currently available therapies cannot effectively slow-down or stop progression of these diseases. Both OA and DDD are characterised by reduced tissue cellularity, enhanced inflammatory responses and molecular, structural and mechanical alterations of the extracellular matrix, hence affecting load distribution and reducing joint flexibility. However, knowledge on how chondrocytes and IVD cells sense their microenvironment and respond to its changes is still limited. In this review, we introduced six families of mammalian TRP channels, their mechanisms of activation, as well as, activation-driven cellular consequences. We summarised the current knowledge on TRP channel expression and activity in chondrocytes and IVD cells, as well as, the significance of TRP channels as therapeutic targets for the treatment of OA and DDD.

Concurrent Use of Lumbar Total Disc Arthroplasty and Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion: The Lumbar Hybrid Procedure for the Treatment of Multilevel Symptomatic Degenerative Disc Disease: A Prospective Study.

PubMed

Scott-Young, Matthew; McEntee, Laurence; Schram, Ben; Rathbone, Evelyne; Hing, Wayne; Nielsen, David

2018-01-15

A prospective study. The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical and patient outcomes post combined total disc arthroplasty (TDA) and anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF), known as hybrid surgery for the treatment of multilevel symptomatic degenerative disc disease (DDD). Class I studies comparing the treatment of one-level lumbar DDD with TDA and ALIF have confirmed the effectiveness of those treatments through clinical and patient outcomes. Although the success of single-level disease is well documented, the evidence relating to the treatment of multilevel DDD with these modalities is emerging. With the evolution of the TDA technology, a combined approach to multilevel disease has developed in the form of the hybrid procedure. A total of 617 patients underwent hybrid surgery for chronic back pain between July 1998 and February 2012. Visual Analog Pain Scale for the back and leg were recorded along with the Oswestry Disability Index and Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire. Both statistically and clinically significant (p < 0.005) reductions were seen in back and leg pain, which were sustained for at least 8 years postsurgery. In addition, significant improvements (P < 0.001) in self-rated disability and function were also maintained for at least 8 years. Patient satisfaction was rated as good or excellent in >90% of cases. The results of this research indicate that improvements in both back and leg pain and function can be achieved using the hybrid lumbar reconstructive technique. 4.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, Cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors and paracetamol use in Queensland and in the whole of Australia.

PubMed

Barozzi, Nadia; Tett, Susan E

2008-09-24

Cross national drug utilization studies can provide information about different influences on physician prescribing. This is important for medicines with issues around safety and quality of use, like non selective non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (ns-NSAIDs) and cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors. To enable comparison of prescription medicine use across different jurisdictions with a range of population sizes, data first need to be compared within Australia to understand whether use in a smaller sub-population may be considered as representative of the total use within Australia. The aim of this study was to compare the utilization of non selective NSAID, COX-2 inhibitors and paracetamol between Queensland and Australia. Dispensing data were obtained for concession beneficiaries for Australia for ns-NSAIDs, COX-2 inhibitors and paracetamol subsidized by the PBS over the period 1997-2003. The same data were purchased for Queensland. Data were converted to Defined Daily Dose (DDD)/1000 beneficiaries/day (World Health Organization anatomical therapeutic chemical classification, 2005). Total NSAID and paracetamol consumption were similar in Australia and Queensland. Ns-NSAID use decreased sharply with the introduction of COX-2 inhibitors (from approximately 80 to 40 DDD/1000 beneficiaries/day). Paracetamol was constant (approximately 45 DDD/1000 beneficiaries/day). COX-2 inhibitors consumption was initially higher in Queensland than in the whole of Australia. Despite initial divergence in celecoxib use between Queensland and Australia, the use of ns-NSAIDs, COX-2 inhibitors and paracetamol overall, in concession beneficiaries, was comparable in Australia and Queensland.

Provocative discography screening improves surgical outcome.

PubMed

Margetic, Petra; Pavic, Roman; Stancic, Marin F

2013-10-01

The objective of this study was to compare the surgical outcomes of patients operated on, with or without discography prior to operation. The study was designed as a randomized controlled trial, using power analysis with McNemar's test on two correlated proportions. The study comprised of 310 patients divided into trial (207) and control (103) groups. Inclusion criteria were low back pain resistant to nonsurgical treatment for more than 6 months and conventional radiological findings showing degenerative changes without a clear generator of pain. Exclusion criteria were red flags (tumor, trauma, and infection). After standard radiological diagnostic imaging (X-ray, CT, and MR), patients filled in the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), SF-36, Zung, and MSP questionnaires. Depending on their radiological findings, patients were included and randomly placed in the trial or control group. At the 1-year follow-up examination, patients filled in the ODI, SF-36, and Likert scale questionnaires. The difference between preoperative and postoperative ODI in the control group degenerative disc disease (DDD) subgroup was 22.07 %. The difference between preoperative and postoperative ODI in the trial group DDD subgroup was 35.04 %. Differences between preoperative and postoperative ODI in the control group other indications subgroup was 26.13 %. Differences between preoperative and postoperative ODI in the trial group other indications subgroup was 28.42 %. DDD treated surgically without discography did not reach the clinically significant improvement of 15 ODI points for the patients treated with fusion. Provocative discography screening with psychological testing in the trial group made improvement following fusion clinically significant.

Osteoporosis medication dispensing for older Australian women from 2002 to 2010: influences of publications, guidelines, marketing activities and policy.

PubMed

Peeters, Geeske; Tett, Susan E; Duncan, Emma L; Mishra, Gita D; Dobson, Annette J

2014-12-01

Developments in anti-osteoporosis medications (AOMs) have led to changes in guidelines and policy, which, along with media and marketing strategies, have had an impact upon the prescribing of AOM. The aim was to examine patterns of AOM dispensing in older women (aged 76-81 years at baseline) from 2002 to 2010. Administrative claims data were used to describe AOM dispensing in 4649 participants (born in 1921-1926 and still alive in 2011) in the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health. The patterns were interpreted in the context of changes in guidelines, indications for subsidy, publications (scholarly and general media), and marketing activities. Total use of AOM increased from 134 DDD/1000/day in 2002 to 216 DDD/1000/day in 2007 but then decreased to 184 DDD/1000/day in 2010. Alendronate was the most commonly dispensed AOM but decreased from 2007, while use of risedronate (2002 onward), strontium ranelate (2007 onward) and zoledronic acid (2008 onward) increased. Etidronate and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) prescriptions gradually decreased over time. The decline in alendronate dispensing coincided with increases of other bisphosphonates and publicity about potential adverse effects of bisphosphonates, despite relaxing indications for bone density testing and subsidy for AOM. Overall dispense of AOM from 2002 reached a peak in 2007 and thereafter declined despite increases in therapeutic options and improved subsidised access. The recent decline in overall AOM dispensing seems to be explained largely by negative publicity rather than specific changes in guidelines and policy. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Developmental toxicity of p,p'-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene, their metabolites, and benzo[a]pyrene in Xenopus laevis embryos.

PubMed

Saka, Masahiro

2004-04-01

Since 1995, high incidences of deformed frogs have been documented in Kitakyushu, Japan. In this area, relatively high concentrations of DDT, trinitrotoluene (TNT), their metabolites (p,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene [DDE], p,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane [DDD], 2-amino-4,6-dinitrotoluene [2ADNT], and 4-amino-2,6-dinitrotoluene [4ADNT]), and benzo[a]pyrene [BaP]) have been identified from field samples. I used a standardized assay with Xenopus laevis embryos (frog embryo teratogenesis assay--Xenopus, FETAX) to examine the developmental toxicity of these compounds. Both DDE and BaP were considered nearly nontoxic in embryonic development because they induced low (< 10%) mortality and malformation incidence even at the highest concentrations tested (DDE, 393 microM; BaP, 13.2 microM). The DDD (96-h median lethal concentration [LC50] = 44.1 microM, 96-h median effective concentration [EC50] for malformation = 14.9 microM) was more lethal and teratogenic than its parent compound, DDT (96-h LC50 = 101 microM, 96-h EC50 = 41.5 microM). Predominant symptoms observed were axial malformations (DDT and DDD) and irregular gut coiling (DDT). However, DDT and DDD should not act as major lethal or teratogenic toxicants in the aquatic environment within a short-term exposure via water because their 96-h LC50 and 96-h EC50 values were extremely high, considering their low solubility in water. The TNT (96-h LC50 = 16.7 microM) was more lethal than 2ADNT (96-h LC50 = 166 microM) or 4ADNT (96-h LC50 = 115 microM). Although 4ADNT (96-h EC50 = 85.8 microM) induced various tadpole malformations, it was a weak teratogen compared with TNT (96-h EC50 = 9.78 microM) and 2ADNT (96-h EC50 = 16.9 microM). The most typical malformations observed were axial malformations, eye abnormalities (TNT), edema, and irregular gut coiling (2ADNT and 4ADNT). The 96-h LC50 and 96-h EC50 values of TNT, 2ADNT, and 4ADNT were lower than their saturated concentrations in water. Therefore, these nitroaromatic compounds may show lethal or teratogenic effects on aquatic animals if their habitats are severely contaminated with TNT.

Intradiscal injection of simvastatin results in radiologic, histologic, and genetic evidence of disc regeneration in a rat model of degenerative disc disease

PubMed Central

Than, Khoi D.; Rahman, Shayan U.; Wang, Lin; Khan, Adam; Kyere, Kwaku A.; Than, Tracey T.; Miyata, Yoshinari; Park, Yoon-Shin; La Marca, Frank; Kim, Hyungjin M.; Zhang, Huina; Park, Paul; Lin, Chia-Ying

2014-01-01

BACKGROUND CONTEXT A large percentage of back pain can be attributed to degeneration of the intervertebral disc (IVD). Bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) is known to play an important role in chondrogenesis of the IVD. Simvastatin is known to up-regulate expression of BMP-2. Thus, we hypothesized that intradiscal injection of simvastatin in a rat model of degenerative disc disease (DDD) would result in retardation of DDD. PURPOSE To develop a novel conservative treatment for DDD and related discogenic back pain. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING Laboratory investigation. METHODS Disc injury was induced in 272 rats via 21-gauge needle puncture. After 6 weeks, injured discs were treated with simvastatin in a saline or hydrogel carrier. Rats were sacrificed at predetermined time points. Outcome measures assessed were radiologic, histologic, and genetic. Radiologically, the MRI index (number of pixels multiplied by corresponding image densities) was determined. Histologically, disc spaces were read by 3 blinded scorers employing a previously described histological grading scale. Genetically, nuclei pulposi were harvested and polymerase chain reaction was run to determine relative levels of aggrecan, collagen type II, and BMP-2 gene expression. This project was supported by Grant No. R01 AR056649 from NIAMS/NIH. There are no other financial conflicts of interest to report. RESULTS Radiologically, discs treated with 5 mg/mL simvastatin in hydrogel or saline demonstrated MRI indices that were normal through 8 weeks post-treatment, although this was more sustained when delivered in hydrogel. Histologically, discs treated with 5 mg/mL simvastatin in hydrogel demonstrated improved grades in comparison to discs treated at higher doses. Genetically, discs treated with 5 mg/mL of simvastatin in hydrogel demonstrated higher gene expression of aggrecan and collagen type II than control. CONCLUSIONS Degenerate discs treated with 5 mg/mL simvastatin in a hydrogel carrier demonstrated radiographic and histologic features resembling normal, non-injured IVDs. In addition, gene expression of aggrecan and collagen type II (important constituents of the IVD extracellular matrix) was up-regulated in treated discs. Injection of simvastatin into degenerate IVDs may result in retardation of disc degeneration and represents a promising investigational therapy for conservative treatment of DDD. PMID:24291703

Variation in Antiosteoporotic Drug Prescribing and Spending Across Spain. A Population-Based Ecological Cross-Sectional Study.

PubMed

Sanfélix-Gimeno, Gabriel; Librero-López, Julián; Modroño-Riaño, Gracia; Peiró, Salvador; Rodríguez-Bernal, Clara L

2018-01-01

Introduction: Evidence has shown that utilization of antiosteoporotic medications does not correspond with risk, and studies on other therapies have shown that adequacy of pharmaceutical prescribing might vary between regions. Nevertheless, very few studies have addressed the variability in osteoporotic drug consumption. We aimed to describe variations in pharmaceutical utilization and spending on osteoporotic drugs between Health Areas (HA) in Spain. Methods: Population-based cross-sectional ecological study of expenditure and utilization of the five therapeutic groups marketed for osteoporosis treatment in Spain in 2009. Small area variation analysis (SAVA) methods were used. The units of analysis were the 168 HA of 13 Spanish regions, including 7.2 million women aged 50 years and older. The main outcomes were the defined daily dose (DDD) per 1000 inhabitants and day (DDD/1000/Day) dispensed according to the pharmaceutical claims reimbursed, and the expenditure on antiosteoporotics at retail price per woman ≥50 years old and per year. Results: The average osteoporosis drug consumption was 116.8 DDD/1000W/Day, ranging from 78.5 to 158.7 DDD/1000W/Day between the HAs in the 5th and 95th percentiles. Seventy-five percent of the antiosteoporotics consumed was bisphosphonates, followed by raloxifene, strontium ranelate, calcitonins, and parathyroid hormones including teriparatide. Regarding variability by therapeutic groups, biphosphonates showed the lowest variation, while calcitonins and parathyroid hormones showed the highest variation. The annual expenditure on antiosteoporotics was €426.5 million, translating into an expenditure of €59.2 for each woman ≥50 years old and varying between €38.1 and €83.3 between HAs in the 5th and 95th percentiles. Biphosphonates, despite accounting for 79% of utilization, only represented 63% of total expenditure, while parathyroid hormones with only 1.6% of utilization accounted for 15% of the pharmaceutical spending. Conclusion: This study highlights a marked geographical variation in the prescription of antiosteoporotics, being more pronounced in the case of costly drugs such as parathyroid hormones. The differences in rates of prescribing explained almost all of the variance in drug spending, suggesting that the difference in prescription volume between territories, and not the price of the drugs, is the main source of variation in this setting. Data on geographical variation of prescription can help guide policy proposals for targeting areas with inadequate antiosteoporotic drug use.

21 CFR 872.1740 - Caries detection device.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Caries detection device. 872.1740 Section 872.1740...) MEDICAL DEVICES DENTAL DEVICES Diagnostic Devices § 872.1740 Caries detection device. (a) Identification. The caries detection device is a device intended to show the existence of decay in a patient's tooth...

21 CFR 872.1745 - Laser fluorescence caries detection device.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Laser fluorescence caries detection device. 872... SERVICES (CONTINUED) MEDICAL DEVICES DENTAL DEVICES Diagnostic Devices § 872.1745 Laser fluorescence caries detection device. (a) Identification. A laser fluorescence caries detection device is a laser, a...

Assessment of Fish Habitat, Water Quality, and Selected Contaminants in Streambed Sediments in Noyes Slough, Fairbanks, Alaska, 2001-2002

USGS Publications Warehouse

Kennedy, Ben W.; Whitman, Matthew S.; Burrows, Robert L.; Richmond, Sharon A.

2004-01-01

During 2001-2002, the U.S. Geological Survey sampled streambed sediment at 23 sites, measured water quality at 26 sites, and assessed fish habitat for the entire length of Noyes Slough, a 5.5-mile slough of the Chena River in Fairbanks, Alaska. These studies were undertaken to document the environmental condition of the slough and to provide information to the public for consideration in plans to improve environmental conditions of the waterway. The availability of physical habitat for fish in the slough does not appear to be limited, although some beaver dams and shallow water may restrict movement, particularly during low flow. Elevated water temperatures in summer and low dissolved-oxygen concentrations are the principle factors adversely affecting water quality in Noyes Slough. Increased flow mitigated poor water-quality conditions and reduced the number of possible fish barriers. Flow appears to be the most prominent mechanism shaping water quality and fish habitat in Noyes Slough. Streambed sediment samples collected at 23 sites in 2001 were analyzed for 24 trace elements. Arsenic, lead, and zinc were the only trace elements detected in concentrations that exceed probable effect levels for the protection of aquatic life. The background concentration for arsenic in Noyes Slough is naturally elevated because of significant concentrations of arsenic in local bedrock and ground water. Sources of the zinc and lead contamination are uncertain, however both lead and zinc are common urban contaminants. Streambed-sediment samples from 12 sites in 2002 were analyzed for organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs). The concentration of bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate of 2,600 micrograms per kilogram (?g/kg) for one sample from the site above Aurora Drive approached the aquatic-life criterion of 2,650 ?g/kg. Low concentrations of p-cresol, chrysene, and fluoranthene were detected in most of the sediment samples. The presence of these compounds in Noyes Slough sediment was expected because cresols are emitted to the atmosphere in the exhaust from motor vehicles and chrysene and fluoranthene are formed during the incomplete burning of coal, oil, gas, wood, garbage, or other organic substances. Low-level concentrations of DDT or its degradation products DDD and DDE were detected in all samples collected during 2002. However, total DDT (DDT+DDD+DDE) concentrations are less than the effects range median aquatic-life criterion of 46.1 ?g/kg. In general, total DDT concentrations were less than 10 ?g/kg, except for samples from two sites that have estimated concentrations of about 14 and 20 ?g/kg.

Residues, Sources and Potential Biological Risk of Organochlorine Pesticides in Surface Sediments of Qiandao Lake, China.

PubMed

Yang, Huayun; Zhou, Shanshan; Li, Weidong; Liu, Qi; Tu, Yunjie

2015-10-01

Sediment samples were analyzed to comprehensively characterize the concentrations, distribution, possible sources and potential biological risk of organochlorine pesticides in Qiandao Lake, China. Concentrations of sumHCH and sumDDT in sediments ranged from 0.03 to 5.75 ng/g dry weight and not detected to 14.39 ng/g dry weight. The predominant β-HCH and the α-HCH/γ-HCH ratios indicated that the residues of HCHs were derived not only from historical technical HCH use but also from additional usage of lindane. Ratios of o,p'-DDT/p,p'-DDT and DDD/DDE suggested that both dicofol-type DDT and technical DDT applications may be present in most study areas. Additionally, based on two sediment quality guidelines, γ-HCH, o,p'-DDT and p,p'-DDT could be the main organochlorine pesticides species of ecotoxicological concern in Qiandao Lake.

77 FR 59554 - Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; Georgia; Control Techniques Guidelines and...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-09-28

...-.02(2)(ddd),'' ``391-3-1-.02(2)(eee),'' ``391-3-1-.02(2)(hhh),'' ``391-3-1-.02(2)(kkk),'' and ``391-3... expanded Polystyrene publication]. Products Manufacturing. * * * * * * * 391-3-1-.02(2)(hhh) Wood Furniture...

The Recursive Paradigm: Suppose We Already Knew.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Maurer, Stephen B.

1995-01-01

Explains the recursive model in discrete mathematics through five examples and problems. Discusses the relationship between the recursive model, mathematical induction, and inductive reasoning and the relevance of these concepts in the school curriculum. Provides ideas for approaching this material with students. (Author/DDD)

Increased base rate of atrial pacing for prevention of atrial fibrillation after implantation of a dual-chamber pacemaker: insights from the Atrial Overdrive Pacing Study.

PubMed

Kantharia, Bharat K; Freedman, Roger A; Hoekenga, David; Tomassoni, Gery; Worley, Seth; Sorrentino, Robert; Steinhaus, David; Wolkowicz, Joel M; Syed, Zaffer A

2007-11-01

Different pacing sites and various algorithms have been utilized to prevent atrial fibrillation (AF) in pacemaker recipients. However, the optimal pacing rate settings have not yet been established. In this randomized, prospective, multicentre, single-blinded, cross over study, rate-adaptive pacing at a high base rate (BR) in patients, age 60 years or above, or a history of paroxysmal AF, who underwent dual-chamber (DDD) pacemaker implantation for standard pacing indications, was evaluated for prevention of AF. In the study cohort of 145 patients implanted with DDD pacemakers with a programmable rest rate (RR) feature, the BR/RR settings were sequentially but randomly adjusted as follows: 60 bpm/Off for the baseline quarter (initial 3 months) and then to either 'A-B-C' or 'C-B-A' settings (A = 70/65 bpm, B = 70/Off, C = 80/65 bpm) for the subsequent quarters each of 3 months duration. Data on automatic mode switch episodes, device diagnostics, and a questionnaire evaluating pacemaker awareness and palpitations were collected. Ninety-nine patients, mean age 77 +/- 10 years, who completed the study protocol and followed for 12 months did not show significant differences in the number of mode switch episodes between any settings used. The percentage of atrial pacing was lower during baseline pacing compared to settings A, B, and C (P < 0.0001). Setting C produced a higher percentage of atrial pacing than A and B (P < 0.01). Although a higher percentage of atrial pacing correlated with a lower incidence of mode switch episodes, there was no statistically significant difference in the number of mode switch episodes between settings A, B, and C. There were no significant differences in the questionnaire scores relating to pacemaker awareness or palpitation. Overdrive single-site pacing in the right atrium achieved by programming analysed settings in the present study did not reduce AF as assessed by mode switch episodes. Additionally, no change in the symptoms of arrhythmia or awareness of pacing was seen.

Ecological Assessment of Clinicians' Antipsychotic Prescription Habits in Psychiatric Inpatients: A Novel Web- and Mobile Phone-Based Prototype for a Dynamic Clinical Decision Support System.

PubMed

Berrouiguet, Sofian; Barrigón, Maria Luisa; Brandt, Sara A; Nitzburg, George C; Ovejero, Santiago; Alvarez-Garcia, Raquel; Carballo, Juan; Walter, Michel; Billot, Romain; Lenca, Philippe; Delgado-Gomez, David; Ropars, Juliette; de la Calle Gonzalez, Ivan; Courtet, Philippe; Baca-García, Enrique

2017-01-26

Electronic prescribing devices with clinical decision support systems (CDSSs) hold the potential to significantly improve pharmacological treatment management. The aim of our study was to develop a novel Web- and mobile phone-based application to provide a dynamic CDSS by monitoring and analyzing practitioners' antipsychotic prescription habits and simultaneously linking these data to inpatients' symptom changes. We recruited 353 psychiatric inpatients whose symptom levels and prescribed medications were inputted into the MEmind application. We standardized all medications in the MEmind database using the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification system and the defined daily dose (DDD). For each patient, MEmind calculated an average for the daily dose prescribed for antipsychotics (using the N05A ATC code), prescribed daily dose (PDD), and the PDD to DDD ratio. MEmind results found that antipsychotics were used by 61.5% (217/353) of inpatients, with the largest proportion being patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (33.4%, 118/353). Of the 217 patients, 137 (63.2%, 137/217) were administered pharmacological monotherapy and 80 (36.8%, 80/217) were administered polytherapy. Antipsychotics were used mostly in schizophrenia spectrum and related psychotic disorders, but they were also prescribed in other nonpsychotic diagnoses. Notably, we observed polypharmacy going against current antipsychotics guidelines. MEmind data indicated that antipsychotic polypharmacy and off-label use in inpatient units is commonly practiced. MEmind holds the potential to create a dynamic CDSS that provides real-time tracking of prescription practices and symptom change. Such feedback can help practitioners determine a maximally therapeutic drug treatment while avoiding unproductive overprescription and off-label use. ©Sofian Berrouiguet, Maria Luisa Barrigón, Sara A Brandt, George C Nitzburg, Santiago Ovejero, Raquel Alvarez-Garcia, Juan Carballo, Michel Walter, Romain Billot, Philippe Lenca, David Delgado-Gomez, Juliette Ropars, Ivan de la Calle Gonzalez, Philippe Courtet, Enrique Baca-García. Originally published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research (http://www.jmir.org), 26.01.2017.

Prescription opioid analgesics for pain management in Australia: 20 years of dispensing.

PubMed

Islam, M M; McRae, I S; Mazumdar, S; Taplin, S; McKetin, R

2016-08-01

Opioid prescribing/dispensing data can inform policy surrounding regulation by informing trends and types of opioid prescribed and geographic variations. In Australia so far only partial data on dispensing have been published, and data for states/territories remain unknown. Using a range of measures, this study examines 20-year (1992-2011) trends in prescription opioid analgesics in Australia - both nationally and for individual jurisdictions. Dispensing data were obtained from the Drug Utilisation Sub-Committee and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) websites. Trends in numbers of prescriptions and daily defined dose (DDD)/1000 people/day were examined over time and across states/territories. Seasonal variations in PBS/Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (RPBS) items for nationwide dispensing were adjusted using a centred moving smoothing technique. In two decades, 165.32 million prescriptions for opioids were dispensed, with codeine and its derivatives the most prescribed formulation (50.1%) followed by tramadol (13.5%) and oxycodone derivatives (12.7%). In terms of DDD/1000 people/day, dispensing increased from 5.38 in 1992 to 14.46 in 2011. There are significant increasing trends for total, PBS/RPBS and under co-payment prescriptions (priced below patient co-payment). The DDD/1000 people/day for items dispensed through PBS/RPBS was highest in Tasmania. Prescription opioid dispensing increased substantially over the study period. With an ageing population, this trend is likely to continue in future. A growing concern about harms associated with opioid use warrants balanced control measures so that harms could be minimised without reducing effective pain treatment. Research examining utilisation in small geographic areas may help design spatially tailored interventions. A real-time drug-monitoring programme may reduce undue prescribing and dispensing. © 2016 Royal Australasian College of Physicians.

The Impact of Restricting Over-the-Counter Sales of Antimicrobial Drugs: Preliminary Analysis of National Data.

PubMed

Moura, Maria Luísa; Boszczowski, Icaro; Mortari, Naíma; Barrozo, Lígia Vizeu; Chiaravalloti Neto, Francisco; Lobo, Renata Desordi; Pedroso de Lima, Antonio Carlos; Levin, Anna S

2015-09-01

To describe the nationwide impact of a restrictive law on over-the-counter sales of antimicrobial drugs, implemented in Brazil in November 2010. Approximately 75% of the population receives healthcare from the public health system and receives free-of-charge medication if prescribed. Total sales in private pharmacies as compared with other channels of sales of oral antibiotics were evaluated in this observational study before and after the law (2008-2012). Defined daily dose per 1000 inhabitants per day (DDD/TID) was used as standard unit. In private pharmacies the effect of the restrictive law was statistically significant (P < 0.001) with an estimated decrease in DDD/TID of 1.87 (s.e. =  0.18). In addition, the trend of DDD/TID before the restrictive law was greater than after the intervention (P < 0.001). Before November 2010, the slope for the trend line was estimated as 0.08 (s.e. = 0.01) whereas after the law, the estimated slope was 0.03 (s.e. = 0.01). As for the nonprivate channels, no difference in sales was observed (P = 0.643). The impact in the South and Southeast (more developed) regions was higher than in the North, Northeast, and Mid-West. The state capitals had a 19% decrease, compared with 0.8% increase in the rest of the states. Before the law, the sales of antimicrobial drugs were steadily increasing. From November 2010, with the restrictive law, there was an abrupt drop in sales followed by an increase albeit at a significantly lower rate. The impact was higher in regions with better socio-economic status.

Cardiovascular drugs consumption--comparison between two Croatian regions, City of Zagreb and Lika-Senj County.

PubMed

Jurković, Drazen; Stimac, Danijela; Bajramović, Dubravko; Tiljak, Hrvoje; Stevanović, Ranko

2014-06-01

The aim of this paper is to determine the differences in the outpatient consumption of cardiovascular drugs between Croatian regions: the City of Zagreb and Lika-Senj County. The data on the number of packages and the purchase price for each drug have been obtained from all pharmacies in Lika-Senj County and all pharmacies in the City of Zagreb. Defined daily doses/1000 inhabitants/day (DDD/1000/day) was calculated for every drug in accordance with its code name and Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical/Defined Daily Dose (ATC/DDD) index of the World Health Organization (WHO) for 2007. For drug combinations without defined daily doses, equivalent doses (ED) were used. The quality of drug prescribing within the group of cardiovascular drugs was assessed using the Drug Utilization (DU90%) method and the adherence of the DU90% segment to the guidelines for prescribing individual drug groups. The statistical significance of differences in results between the City of Zagreb and Lika-Senj County was tested using the chi-square test at the level of statistical significance p < 0.05. The comparison of the share of the five most often prescribed drug groups in Lika-Senj County has shown statistically significant differences when compared to the City of Zagreb (chi2 = 28.93, df = 4, p < 0.001). The total outpatient consumption of cardiovascular drugs in the City of Zagreb and Lika-Senj County differs significantly. The consumption, quality of prescribing drugs and cost/DDD in the City of Zagreb is higher than in Lika-Senj County; in the City of Zagreb, newer and more expensive drugs are prescribed to a higher extent.

The use of melatonin in Swedish children and adolescents--a register-based study according to age, gender, and medication of ADHD.

PubMed

Furster, Catrin; Hallerbäck, Maria Unenge

2015-07-01

The use of melatonin is increasing among Swedish children and adolescents despite deficient knowledge of usage in these groups. The aim of this study was to investigate the use of melatonin in Swedish children and adolescents according to age, gender, dosage, treatment duration, and use of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medication. Data from the Swedish Prescribed Drug Register was analyzed for children and adolescents 0-19 years old in Sweden during 2006-2013. The number of new users of melatonin in 2013 was 4296 and 3093 among boys and girls, respectively. Girls started treatment with melatonin in older ages compared to boys. Regular users of melatonin were most common among boys 10-14 years. The average defined daily dose (DDD) per regular user was decreasing from 2.4 DDD in 2006 to 1.7 DDD in 2012. Among girls and boys 5-9 years who were regular users in 2010, over 40 and 50%, respectively, were still regular users in 2013. In the age group 15-19 years, only about 10% were still regular users in 2013. In 2013, 65% of boys and 49% of girls, using melatonin regularly, also used medication for ADHD regularly. More Swedish boys than girls used melatonin regularly. The boys started treatment earlier and more often combined regular use of melatonin with regular use of medication for ADHD. This indicates that girls and boys partly are prescribed melatonin for different reasons. About half of the younger children stayed on melatonin treatment for several years, while 90% of adolescents (15-19 years) concluded their treatment.

Effectiveness of community psychosocial and pharmacological treatments for alcohol use disorder: A national observational cohort study in England.

PubMed

Peacock, Amy; Eastwood, Brian; Jones, Andrew; Millar, Tim; Horgan, Patrick; Knight, Jonathan; Randhawa, Kulvir; White, Martin; Marsden, John

2018-05-01

This was a national English observational cohort study using administrative data to estimate the effectiveness of community pharmacological and psychosocial treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD). All adults commencing AUD treatment in the community reported to the National Drug Treatment Monitoring System (April 1 2014-March 31 2015; N = 52,499). Past 28-day admission drinking pattern included drinks per drinking day (DDD): 0 ('Abstinent'), 1-15 ('Low-High'), 16-30 ('High-Extreme') and over 30 DDD ('Extreme'). The primary outcome was successful completion of treatment within 12 months of commencement with no re-presentation (SCNR) in the subsequent six months, analysed by multi-level, mixed effects, multivariable logistic regression. The majority reported DDD in the 'Low-High' (n = 17,698, 34%) and 'High-Extreme' (n = 21,383, 41%) range. Smaller proportions were categorised 'Extreme' (n = 7759, 15%) and 'Abstinent' (n = 5661, 11%). Three-fifths (58%) achieved SCNR. Predictors of SCNR were older age, black/minority ethnic group, employment, criminal justice system referral, and longer treatment exposure. Predictors of negative outcome were AUD treatment history, lower socio-economic status, housing problems, and 'Extreme' drinking at admission. In addition to psychosocial interventions, pharmacological interventions and recovery support increased the likelihood of SCNR. Pharmacological treatment was only beneficial for the 'Low-High' groups with recovery support. Over half of all patients admitted for community AUD treatment in England are reported to successfully complete treatment within 12 months and are not re-admitted for further treatment in the following 6 months. Study findings underscore efforts to tailor AUD treatment to the severity of alcohol consumption and using recovery support. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Antimicrobial Stewardship Lessons From Mupirocin Use and Resistance in Methicillin-Resitant Staphylococcus Aureus.

PubMed

Peterson, Lance R; Samia, Noelle I; Skinner, Andrew M; Chopra, Amit; Smith, Becky

2017-01-01

The quantitative relationship between antimicrobial agent consumption and rise or fall of antibiotic resistance has rarely been studied. We began all admission surveillance testing for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in August 2005 with subsequent contact isolation and decolonization using nasally applied mupirocin ointment for those colonized. In October 2012, we discontinued decolonization of medical (nonsurgical service) patients. We conducted a retrospective study from 2007 through 2014 of 445680 patients; 35235 were assessed because of mupirocin therapy and positive test results for MRSA. We collected data on those patients receiving 2% mupirocin ointment for decolonization to determine the defined daily doses (DDDs). A nonparametric regression technique was used to quantitate the effect of mupirocin consumption on drug resistance in MRSA. Using regressive modeling, we found that, when consumption was consistently >25 DDD/1000 patient-days, there was a statistically significant increase in mupirocin resistance with a correlating positive rate of change. When consumption was ≤25 DDD/1000 patient-days, there was a statistically significant decrease in mupirocin resistance with a correlating negative rate of change. The scatter plot of fitted versus observed mupirocin resistance values showed an R 2 value of 0.89-a high correlation between mupirocin use and resistance. Use of the antimicrobial agent mupirocin for decolonization had a threshold of approximately 25 DDD/1000 patient-days that separated a rise and fall of resistance within the acute-care setting. This has implications for how widely mupirocin can be used for decolonization, as well as for setting consumption thresholds when prescribing antimicrobials as part of stewardship programs. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Infectious Diseases Society of America.

Tidal salt marsh sediment in California, USA. Part 1: occurrence and sources of organic contaminants.

PubMed

Hwang, Hyun-Min; Green, Peter G; Young, Thomas M

2006-08-01

Surface sediment samples (0-5 cm) from five tidal marshes along the coast of California, USA were analyzed for organic pollutants to investigate their relationship to land use, current distribution within marshes, and possible sources. Among the study areas, Stege Marsh, located in San Francisco Bay, was the most contaminated. Compared to San Francisco Bay, Stege Marsh had much higher levels of organic contaminants such as PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), DDTs, and chlordanes. At reference marshes (Tom's Point and Walker Creek in Tomales Bay), organic contaminants in sediments were very low. While PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) were found at all of the study areas (22-13,600 ng g(-1)), measurable concentrations of PCBs were found only in the sediments from Stege Marsh (80-9,940 ng g(-1)). Combustion related (pyrogenic) high molecular weight PAHs were dominant in sediments from Stege and Carpinteria Marshes, while in sediments from Tom's Point and Walker Creek petroleum related (petrogenic) low molecular weight PAHs and alkyl-substituted PAHs were much more abundant than pyrogenic PAHs. PCB congener patterns in all of the Stege Marsh samples were the same and revealed that Aroclor 1248 was a predominant source. In all marshes, the sum of DDE and DDD accounted for more than 90% of total DDTs, indicating that DDT has degraded significantly. The ratios of p,p'-DDE to p,p'-DDD in sediments from Stege Marsh provide evidence of possible previous use of technical DDD. Chlordane ratios indicated that chlordanes have degraded slightly. Bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (280-32,000 ng g(-1)) was the most abundant phthalate. The data indicates that Stege Marsh may be a source of contaminants that continue to be discharged into San Francisco Bay.

Comparative drug dose and drug combinations in patients that present to hospital due to self-poisoning.

PubMed

Armstrong, Thomas M; Davies, Matthew S; Kitching, Gary; Waring, W Stephen

2012-11-01

Self-poisoning is a common reason for acute presentation to hospital. Commonly involved drugs have been reported, but few data exist concerning the different combinations of agents or comparative doses ingested. The present study sought to better characterise the typical patterns of drug overdose that may present via the emergency department. Consecutive adults ≥16 years of age that presented to York Hospital owing to self-poisoning were studied for 2010-2011 inclusive. The primary outcome measure was reported dose, expressed as a multiple of the defined daily dose (DDD) to allow comparison between different agents. There were 1024 patients, including 622 women (60.7%), and median age was 32 years (range, 16 to 92 years). Overdose in men was associated with a higher overall quantity of drugs: arithmetic mean of 20 DDD multiples (95% CI, 15-26) versus 13 (11-15), p = 0.001. Overdose involved a single agent only in 538 patients (52.5%). The mean paracetamol dose was 4.0 (95% CI, 3.7-4.3) DDD multiples; the doses of antidepressants (19.4, 17.0-21.7, p < 0.0001) and benzodiazepines (18.0, 12.8-23.2, p < 0.0001) were comparatively higher. The types of agents involved in self-poisoning and common combinations of agents are characterised. Psychotropic medications were ingested in comparatively larger quantities than analgesic agents and had worse clinical outcome. Further work is required to understand the factors that determine the quantity of drug ingested in patients at risk of drug overdose so as to minimise the risk of significant toxicity. © 2012 The Authors Basic & Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology © 2012 Nordic Pharmacological Society.

Do young people benefit from AA as much, and in the same ways, as adult aged 30+? A moderated multiple mediation analysis.

PubMed

Hoeppner, Bettina B; Hoeppner, Susanne S; Kelly, John F

2014-10-01

Research has shown that participation in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) confers significant recovery benefit to adults suffering from alcohol use disorder (AUD). Concerns persist, however, that AA may not work as well for younger adults, who tend to have shorter addiction histories, different social circumstances, and less spiritual/religious interest than adults. Secondary data analysis of Project MATCH, using a prospective, moderated multiple mediation analysis to test and compare six previously identified mechanisms of change in younger adults (n=266) vs. adults aged 30+ (n=1460). Nine clinical sites within the United States. Treatment-seeking adults (n=1726) suffering from AUD who participated in 12 weeks of outpatient treatment and completed follow-ups at 3-, 9- and 15-months. AA attendance during treatment; mediators at 9 months; and outcomes [percentage of days abstinent (PDA) and drinks per drinking day (DDD)] at 15 months. AA attendance was associated with improved drinking outcomes in both younger adults (PDA: F(1, 247)=8.55, p<0.01; DDD: F(1, 247)=15.93, p<0.01) and adults aged 30+ (PDA: F(1, 1311)=86.58, p<0.01; DDD: F(1, 1311)=11.96, p<0.01). Only two of the six hypothesized pathways (i.e., decreases in pro-drinking social networks, self-efficacy in social situations) appeared to work in younger adults. Unidentified mechanisms of behavior change that are mobilized by AA participation appear to be at work in young people. Once identified, these mechanisms may shed new light on how exactly AA confers similar benefits for young people and, more broadly, may enhance our understanding of recovery-related change for young adults that could yield novel intervention targets. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Usage patterns of 'over-the-counter' vs. prescription-strength nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in France.

PubMed

Duong, Mai; Salvo, Francesco; Pariente, Antoine; Abouelfath, Abdelilah; Lassalle, Regis; Droz, Cecile; Blin, Patrick; Moore, Nicholas

2014-05-01

Most risks of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are pharmacological, dose and duration dependent. Usage patterns of prescription-only (POM) or 'over-the-counter (OTC)' NSAIDs may influence risks, but are not commonly described. The Echantillon Généraliste de Bénéficiaires database, the permanent 1/97 representative sample from the French national healthcare insurance systems, was queried over 2009-2010 to identify usage patterns, concomitant chronic diseases and cardiovascular medication in OTC and POM NSAID users. Over 2 years, 229 477 of 526 108 patients had at least one NSAID dispensation; 44 484 patients (19%) were dispensed only OTC NSAIDs (93% ibuprofen) and 121 208 (53%) only POM NSAIDs. The OTC users were younger (39.9 vs. 47.4 years old) and more often female (57 vs. 53%); 69% of OTC users and 49% of POM users had only one dispensation. A mean of 14.6 defined daily doses (DDD) were dispensed over 2 years for OTC vs. 53 for POM; 93% OTC vs. 60% POM patients bought ≤ 30 DDD over 2 years, and 1.5 vs. 12% bought ≥ 90 DDD. Chronic comorbidities were found in 19% of OTC users vs. 28% of POM users; 24 vs. 37% had at least one dispensation of a cardiovascular drug over the 2 years. Most of the use of NSAIDs appears to be short term, especially for OTC-type NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen. The validity of risk estimates for NSAIDs extrapolated from clinical trials or from observational studies not including OTC-type usage may need to be revised. © 2013 The British Pharmacological Society.

The key role of dislocation dissociation in the plastic behaviour of single crystal nickel-based superalloy with low stacking fault energy: Three-dimensional discrete dislocation dynamics modelling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Minsheng; Li, Zhenhuan

2013-12-01

To model the deformation of single crystal nickel based superalloys (SCNBS) with low stacking fault energy (SFE), three-dimensional discrete dislocation dynamics (3D-DDD) is extended by incorporating dislocation dissociation mechanism. The present 3D-DDD simulations show that, consistent with the existing TEM observation, the leading partial can enter the matrix channel efficiently while the trailing partial can hardly glide into it when the dislocation dissociation is taken into account. To determine whether the dislocation dissociation can occur or not, a critical percolation stress (CPS) based criterion is suggested. According to this CPS criterion, for SCNBS there exists a critical matrix channel width. When the channel width is lower than this critical value, the dislocation tends to dissociate into an extended configuration and vice versa. To clarify the influence of dislocation dissociation on CPS, the classical Orowan formula is improved by incorporating the SFE. Moreover, the present 3D-DDD simulations also show that the yielding stress of SCNBSs with low SFE may be overestimated up to 30% if the dislocation dissociation is ignored. With dislocation dissociation being considered, the size effect due to the width of γ matrix channel and the length of γ‧ precipitates on the stress-strain responses of SCNBS can be enhanced remarkably. In addition, due to the strong constraint effect by the two-phase microstructure in SCNBS, the configuration of formed junctions is quite different from that in single phase crystals such as Cu. The present results not only provide clear understanding of the two-phase microstructure levelled microplastic mechanisms in SCNBSs with low SFE, but also help to develop new continuum-levelled constitutive laws for SCNBSs.

Estimating catchment-scale groundwater dynamics from recession analysis - enhanced constraining of hydrological models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Skaugen, Thomas; Mengistu, Zelalem

2016-12-01

In this study, we propose a new formulation of subsurface water storage dynamics for use in rainfall-runoff models. Under the assumption of a strong relationship between storage and runoff, the temporal distribution of catchment-scale storage is considered to have the same shape as the distribution of observed recessions (measured as the difference between the log of runoff values). The mean subsurface storage is estimated as the storage at steady state, where moisture input equals the mean annual runoff. An important contribution of the new formulation is that its parameters are derived directly from observed recession data and the mean annual runoff. The parameters are hence estimated prior to model calibration against runoff. The new storage routine is implemented in the parameter parsimonious distance distribution dynamics (DDD) model and has been tested for 73 catchments in Norway of varying size, mean elevation and landscape type. Runoff simulations for the 73 catchments from two model structures (DDD with calibrated subsurface storage and DDD with the new estimated subsurface storage) were compared. Little loss in precision of runoff simulations was found using the new estimated storage routine. For the 73 catchments, an average of the Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency criterion of 0.73 was obtained using the new estimated storage routine compared with 0.75 using calibrated storage routine. The average Kling-Gupta efficiency criterion was 0.80 and 0.81 for the new and old storage routine, respectively. Runoff recessions are more realistically modelled using the new approach since the root mean square error between the mean of observed and simulated recession characteristics was reduced by almost 50 % using the new storage routine. The parameters of the proposed storage routine are found to be significantly correlated to catchment characteristics, which is potentially useful for predictions in ungauged basins.

Testing a Matching Hypothesis for Emerging Adults in Project MATCH: During-Treatment and One-Year Outcomes

PubMed Central

Davis, Jordan P.; Bergman, Brandon G.; Smith, Douglas C.; Kelly, John F.

2017-01-01

Objective: Compared with older adults, emerging adults (18-29 years old) entering treatment typically have less severe alcohol use consequences. Also, their unique clinical presentations (e.g., modest initial abstinence motivation) and developmental contexts (e.g., drinking-rich social networks) may make a straightforward implementation of treatments developed for adults less effective. Yet, this has seldom been examined empirically. This study was a secondary analysis of Project MATCH (Matching Alcoholism Treatments to Client Heterogeneity) data examining (a) overall differences between emerging adults and older adults (≥30 years old) on outcomes during treatment and at 1-year follow-up, and (b) whether emerging adults had poorer outcomes on any of the three Project MATCH treatments in particular. Method: Participants were 267 emerging adults and 1,459 older adults randomly assigned to individually delivered cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational enhancement therapy (MET), or 12-step facilitation (TSF). Multilevel growth curve models tested differences on percentage of days abstinent (PDA) and drinks per drinking day (DDD) by age group and treatment assignment. Results: During treatment, compared with older adults, emerging adults reported more DDD but similar PDA. Further, emerging adults assigned to TSF had less PDA and more DDD than emerging adults and older adults assigned to CBT or MET during treatment (i.e., emerging adults in TSF has poorer outcomes initially), but this matching effect was not evident at 1-year follow-up. Conclusions: This study is among the first to test age group differences across three psychosocial interventions shown to be efficacious treatments for alcohol use disorder. Although emerging adults generally did as well as their older counterparts, they may require a more developmentally sensitive approach to bolster TSF effects during treatment. PMID:27936374

The Impact of Restricting Over-the-Counter Sales of Antimicrobial Drugs

PubMed Central

Moura, Maria Luísa; Boszczowski, Icaro; Mortari, Naíma; Barrozo, Lígia Vizeu; Neto, Francisco Chiaravalloti; Lobo, Renata Desordi; Pedroso de Lima, Antonio Carlos; Levin, Anna S.

2015-01-01

Abstract To describe the nationwide impact of a restrictive law on over-the-counter sales of antimicrobial drugs, implemented in Brazil in November 2010. Approximately 75% of the population receives healthcare from the public health system and receives free-of-charge medication if prescribed. Total sales in private pharmacies as compared with other channels of sales of oral antibiotics were evaluated in this observational study before and after the law (2008–2012). Defined daily dose per 1000 inhabitants per day (DDD/TID) was used as standard unit. In private pharmacies the effect of the restrictive law was statistically significant (P < 0.001) with an estimated decrease in DDD/TID of 1.87 (s.e. =  0.18). In addition, the trend of DDD/TID before the restrictive law was greater than after the intervention (P < 0.001). Before November 2010, the slope for the trend line was estimated as 0.08 (s.e. = 0.01) whereas after the law, the estimated slope was 0.03 (s.e. = 0.01). As for the nonprivate channels, no difference in sales was observed (P = 0.643). The impact in the South and Southeast (more developed) regions was higher than in the North, Northeast, and Mid-West. The state capitals had a 19% decrease, compared with 0.8% increase in the rest of the states. Before the law, the sales of antimicrobial drugs were steadily increasing. From November 2010, with the restrictive law, there was an abrupt drop in sales followed by an increase albeit at a significantly lower rate. The impact was higher in regions with better socio-economic status. PMID:26402824

Effect of Statin Intensity on the Risk of Epilepsy After Ischaemic Stroke: Real-World Evidence from Population-Based Health Claims.

PubMed

Lin, Fang-Ju; Lin, Hung-Wei; Ho, Yunn-Fang

2018-04-01

Statins possess neuroprotective effects. However, real-world evidence supporting their utility in post-stroke epilepsy (PSE) prevention is limited. The association between statin use, including timing of prescribing (pre-stroke vs post-stroke), type (lipophilicity, intensity of therapy) and dose intensity, and risk of developing PSE were investigated by studying Taiwanese health claims (2003-2013). Patients with new-onset ischaemic stroke were identified. The main outcome was a diagnosis of epilepsy after ischaemic stroke. According to pre-stroke statin use, groups of current users, former users, and non-users were compared using ANOVA. An extended Cox regression model was utilized to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) of PSE, with post-stroke statin use and certain comedications as time-dependent variables. Serial sensitivity analyses were performed to ensure study robustness. Of the 20,858 ischaemic stroke patients, 954 (4.6%) developed PSE. Post-stroke statin use (adjusted HR (aHR) 0.55; 95% confidence interval 0.46-0.67, p < 0.001), but not pre-stroke statin use was associated with a significantly reduced risk of developing PSE. A dose-response correlation was also observed between PSE risk reduction and quartiles of the statin cumulative defined daily dose (cDDD) (aHR 0.84, 0.67, 0.53, and 0.50 for the lowest, second, third, and highest quartiles of cDDD, respectively). Risk predictors and protectors against PSE were also characterized. The post-stroke use of statins after ischaemic stroke was associated with PSE risk reduction in a cDDD-dependent manner. Further clinical studies on the potential applications of statins for PSE prophylaxis, particularly among at-risk patients, are warranted.

Validity and reliability of the VOAA-DDD to assess spontaneous hand use with a video observation tool in children with spastic unilateral cerebral palsy.

PubMed

Aarts, Pauline B M; Jongerius, Peter H; Geerdink, Yvonne A; Geurts, Alexander C

2009-11-25

In 2003 new computer software, the VOAA (Video Observations Aarts and Aarts), was designed to score and evaluate two important aspects of spontaneous upper limb use, i.e. overall duration and frequency of specific behaviours. The aim of this study was to investigate the test-retest, interrater and intrarater reliability and the construct validity of a new module, the VOAA-DDD, to determine developmental disregard in children with spastic unilateral cerebral palsy (CP). A test-retest design with three raters for reliability and a two-group design for construct validity were used. Subjects were a total of 20 children with spastic unilateral CP equally divided in two age groups (2.5-5 and 5-8 years), and 56 healthy children of the same age groups. Overall duration and frequency of specific behaviours of the affected arm and hand were assessed during a task demanding ('stringing beads') and a task stimulating ('decorating a muffin') the use of both hands. Reliability was estimated by intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). Construct validity was assessed by comparing children with CP to healthy children. All ICCs exceeded 0.87. In contrast with healthy children, children with CP used their affected hand less during the 'muffin' task compared to the 'beads' task. Of the children with CP, 90% in the age group of 2.5-5 years and 50% in the age group of 5-8 years showed values exceeding the extreme values of healthy controls, respectively, indicating developmental disregard. The VOAA-DDD is a reliable and valid instrument to assess spontaneous use of the affected arm and hand in order to determine developmental disregard in children with spastic unilateral CP.

Systematic study of the contamination of wastewater treatment plant effluents by organic priority compounds in Almeria province (SE Spain).

PubMed

Barco-Bonilla, Nieves; Romero-González, Roberto; Plaza-Bolaños, Patricia; Martínez Vidal, José L; Garrido Frenich, Antonia

2013-03-01

The occurrence of priority organic pollutants in wastewater (WW) effluents was evaluated in a semi-arid area, characterized by a high agricultural and tourism activity, as Almeria province (Southeastern Spain). Twelve wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) were sampled in three campaigns during 2011, obtaining a total of 33 WW samples, monitoring 226 compounds, including pesticides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), phenolic compounds and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Certain banned organochlorine pesticides such as aldrin, pentachlorobenzene, o,p'-DDD and endosulfan lactone were found, and the most frequently detected pesticides were herbicides (diuron, triazines). PAHs and VOCs were also detected, noting that some of these pollutants were ubiquitous. Regarding phenolic compounds, 4-tertoctylphenol was found in all the WW samples at high concentration levels (up to 89.7 μg/L). Furthermore, it was observed that WW effluent samples were less contaminated in the second and third sampling periods, which corresponded to dry season. This evaluation revealed that despite the WW was treated in the WWTP, organic contaminants are still being detected in WW effluents and therefore they are released into the environment. Finally the risk of environmental threat due to the presence of some compounds in WWTP effluents, especially concerning 4-tertoctylphenol must be indicated. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Level 1 Water-Quality Inventory of Baseline Levels of Pesticides in Urban Creeks - Golden Gate National Recreation Area and the Presidio of San Francisco, California

USGS Publications Warehouse

Hladik, Michelle; Orlando, James L.

2008-01-01

To characterize baseline water-quality levels of pesticides in Golden Gate National Recreation Area and the Presidio of San Francisco, the U.S. Geological Survey collected and analyzed surface-water and bed-sediment samples at 10 creeks during February, April, and July 2006. Pesticide data were obtained using previously developed methods. Samples from sites in the Presidio were analyzed only for pyrethroid insecticides, whereas the remaining samples were analyzed for pyrethroids and additional current and historical-use pesticides. Pesticide concentrations were low in both the water (below 30 ng/L) and sediment (below 3 ng/g). The pyrethroid bifenthrin was detected in water samples from two sites at concentrations below 2 ng/L. Other compounds detected in water included the herbicides dacthal (DCPA) and prometryn, the insecticide fipronil, the insecticide degradates p,p'-DDE and fipronil sulfone, and the fungicides cyproconazole, myclobutanil and tetraconazole. The only pesticides detected in the sediment samples were p,p'-DDT and its degradates (p,p'-DDD and p,p'-DDE). Pesticide information from the samples collected can provide a reference point for future sampling and can help National Park Service managers assess the water quality of the urban creeks.

75 FR 34939 - Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Ohio; Final Approval and...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-06-21

...)(5), (OO), (OO)(1), (OO)(2), (OO)(3), (OO)(4), (PP)(2), (UU)(3), (AAA), (DDD), and Appendix A. EPA is... Compounds from Stationary Sources, Paragraph (AAA), as adopted by Ohio on October 25, 2002, effective on...

DDT, DDD, AND DDE DECHLORINATION BY ZERO-VALENT IRON

EPA Science Inventory

Traditionally, destruction of DDT [1,1,1-trichIoro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane] for environmental remediation required high-energy processes such as incineration. Here, the capability of powdered zero-valent iron to dechlorinate DDT and related compounds at room tempera...

75 FR 8496 - Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; Ohio New Source Review Rules

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-02-25

... CFR 51.166 and 51.165 definitions in OAC 3745-31-01 (E), (J), (M), (X), (JJ), (QQ), (DDD), (EEE), (XXX...), (N), (O), (P), (Q), (S), (T), (U), (V), (W), (X), (DD), (EE), (FF), (GG), (JJ), (MM), (NN), (QQ...

Dissociation and Alterations in Brain Function and Structure: Implications for Borderline Personality Disorder.

PubMed

Krause-Utz, Annegret; Frost, Rachel; Winter, Dorina; Elzinga, Bernet M

2017-01-01

Dissociation involves disruptions of usually integrated functions of consciousness, perception, memory, identity, and affect (e.g., depersonalization, derealization, numbing, amnesia, and analgesia). While the precise neurobiological underpinnings of dissociation remain elusive, neuroimaging studies in disorders, characterized by high dissociation (e.g., depersonalization/derealization disorder (DDD), dissociative identity disorder (DID), dissociative subtype of posttraumatic stress disorder (D-PTSD)), have provided valuable insight into brain alterations possibly underlying dissociation. Neuroimaging studies in borderline personality disorder (BPD), investigating links between altered brain function/structure and dissociation, are still relatively rare. In this article, we provide an overview of neurobiological models of dissociation, primarily based on research in DDD, DID, and D-PTSD. Based on this background, we review recent neuroimaging studies on associations between dissociation and altered brain function and structure in BPD. These studies are discussed in the context of earlier findings regarding methodological differences and limitations and concerning possible implications for future research and the clinical setting.

QSAR and molecular modelling studies on B-DNA recognition of minor groove binders.

PubMed

de Oliveira, André Mauricio; Custódio, Flávia Beatriz; Donnici, Cláudio Luis; Montanari, Carlos Alberto

2003-02-01

Aromatic bisamidines have been proved to be efficient compounds against Leishmania spp. and Pneumocystis carinii. Although the mode of action is still not known, these molecules are supposed to be DNA minor groove binders (MGBs). This paper describes a molecular modelling study for a set of MGBs in order to rank them through their complementarity to the Dickerson Drew Dodecamer (DDD) according to their interaction energies with B-DNA. A comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) has shown the importance of relatively bulky positively charged groups attached to the MGB aromatic rings, and small and negatively charged substituents into the middle chain. Models were obtained for DNA denaturation related to H-bonding processes of binding modes. Validation of the model demonstrated the robustness of CoMFA in terms of independent test set of similar MGBs. GRID results allotted bioisosteric substitution of z.sbnd;Oz.sbnd; by z.sbnd;NHz.sbnd; in furan ring of furamidine and related compounds as being capable to enhance the binding to DDD.

Impact of a clinical microbiology-intensive care consulting program in a cardiothoracic intensive care unit.

PubMed

Arena, Fabio; Scolletta, Sabino; Marchetti, Luca; Galano, Angelo; Maglioni, Enivarco; Giani, Tommaso; Corsi, Elisabetta; Lombardi, Silvia; Biagioli, Bonizella; Rossolini, Gian Maria

2015-09-01

A preintervention-postintervention study was carried out over a 4-year period to assess the impact of an antimicrobial stewardship intervention, based on clinical microbiologist ward rounds (clinical microbiology-intensive care partnership [CMICP]), at a cardiothoracic intensive care unit. Comparison of clinical data for 37 patients with diagnosis of bacteremia (18 from preintervention period, 19 from postintervention period) revealed that CMICP implementation resulted in (1) significant increase of appropriate empirical treatments (+34%, P = .029), compliance with guidelines (+28%, P = .019), and number of de-escalations (+42%, P = .032); and (2) decrease (average = 2.5 days) in time to optimization of antimicrobial therapy and levofloxacin (Δ 2009-2012 = -74 defined daily dose [DDD]/1,000 bed days) and teicoplanin (Δ 2009-2012 = -28 DDD/1,000 bed days) use. Copyright © 2015 Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

[Impact of regulatory measures in the trends of community consumption of antibiotics in Chile].

PubMed

Bavestrello, Luis; Cabello, Angela; Casanova, Dunny

2002-11-01

The indiscriminate use of antibiotics increases the appearance of bacterial resistance and forces the use of more expensive alternatives. The Chilean Ministry of Health is regulating the consumption of antibiotics since September 1999. These regulatory measures restricted the sale of antibiotics only when these were prescribed by an MD or an DS. To study the impact of these regulatory measures on antibiotics sales in pharmacies. A retrospective analysis of antibiotics sales in pharmacies from 1996 to 2000. The information was obtained from the International Marketing System (IMS Health), an auditing system of pharmacy sales. The consumption unit used was the Defined Daily Dose per 1000 inhabitants/day (DDD). There was an important reduction in DDD, after the introduction of regulatory measures, for amoxicillin, ampicillin, erythromycin, trimethoprim/sulpha, chroramphenicol, cloxacillin and phenoxymethylpenicillin. There was also a important fall in sales, expressed in dollars. The regulatory measures of the Ministry of Health, had an immediate and great impact on antibiotics sales in Chile.

Organochlorine insecticide residues in ducklings and their dilution by growth.

PubMed

Charnetski, W A

1976-08-01

Residues of DDT, DDD, DDE, and dieldrin in 7 species of ducklings from Alberta, Canada, were measured. Levels of DDT and metabolites ranged from 0 to 36.48 ppm in fat of 96% of the birds and from 0 to 0.97 ppm im muscle from 67% of the birds. Residue levels of dieldrin ranged from 0 to 2.62 ppm in fat and from 0 to 0.11 ppm in muscle of 43 and 19% of the birds, respectively. Growth dilution was considered to be the most significant factor in reducing the insecticide residue levels in the ducklings. DDT (total DDT, DDE, and DDD) residue levels were decreased with increased weight of pintail (A. acuta), baldpate (Mareca americana), and gadwall (A. strepera) ducklings. Dieldrin used in grasshopper control did not contribute to residue levels in the ducklings. Contamination by DDT was considered to have originated from outside the habitat. No dieldrin or DDT residues were found in ducklings' food sources analysed.

The Cleveland Clinic experience with adrenal cortical carcinoma.

PubMed

Bodie, B; Novick, A C; Pontes, J E; Straffon, R A; Montie, J E; Babiak, T; Sheeler, L; Schumacher, P

1989-02-01

Between 1936 and 1987, 82 patients with adrenal cortical carcinoma were seen at our clinic. Of these patients 49 (72 per cent) have been seen during the last 25 years. A total of 40 patients (48.8 per cent) presented with a hormonally functional tumor and 42 (51.2 per cent) had a nonfunctional tumor. Forty patients (48.8 per cent) presented with localized disease, 12 (14.6 per cent) with regional disease and 30 (36.6 per cent) with distant metastases. Complete surgical removal of all gross tumor was achieved in 49 patients. Over-all 3 and 5-year patient survival rates in this series were 37.5 and 25.1 per cent, respectively. Survival was significantly improved (43.9 per cent at 5 years, p equals 0.0001) in patients with localized disease that was completely removed surgically; postoperative adjuvant therapy with op'-DDD was of no benefit in these patients. Survival in patients with metastatic disease was poor and was not improved by treatment with op'-DDD, cytotoxic chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

Transport of sediment-bound organochlorine pesticides to the San Joaquin River, California

USGS Publications Warehouse

Kratzer, C.R.

1999-01-01

Suspended sediment samples were collected in westside tributaries and the main stem of the San Joaquin River, California, in June 1994 during the irrigation season and in January 1995 during a winter storm. These samples were analyzed for 15 organochlorine pesticides to determine their occurrence and their concentrations on suspended sediment and to compare transport during the irrigation season (April to September) to transport during winter storm runoff (October to March). Ten organochlorine pesticides were detected during the winter storm runoff; seven during the irrigation season. The most frequently detected organochlorine pesticides during both sampling periods were p,p'-DDE, p,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDD, dieldrin, toxaphene, and chlordane. Dissolved samples were analyzed for three organochlorine pesticides during the irrigation season and for 15 during the winter storm. Most calculated total concentrations of p,p'-DDT, chlordane, dieldrin, and toxaphene exceeded chronic criteria for the protection of freshwater aquatic life. At eight sites in common between sampling periods, suspended sediment concentrations and streamflow were greater during the winter storm runoff median concentration of 3,590 mg/L versus 489 mg/and median streamflow of 162 ft3/s versus 11 ft3/s. Median concentrations of total DDT (sum of p,p'-DDD, p,p'-DDE, and p,p'-DDT), chlordane, dieldrin, and toxaphene on suspended sediment were slightly greater during the irrigation season, but instantaneous loads of organochlorine pesticides at the time of sampling were substantially greater during the winter storm. Estimated loads for the entire irrigation season exceeded estimated loads for the January 1995 storm by about 2 to 4 times for suspended transport and about 3 to 11 times for total transport. However, because the mean annual winter runoff is about 2 to 4 times greater than the runoff during the January 1995 storm, mean winter transport may be similar to irrigation season transport. This conclusion is tentative primarily because of insufficient information on long-term seasonal variations in suspended sediment and organochlorine concentrations. Nevertheless, runoff from infrequent winter storms will continue to deliver a significant load of sediment-bound organochlorine pesticides to the San Joaquin River even if irrigation-induced sediment transport is reduced. As a result, concentrations of organochlorine pesticides in San Joaquin River biota will continue to be relatively high compared to other regions of the United States.

ENANTIOMERIC OCCURRENCE AND DISTRIBUTION OF CHIRAL ORGANOCHLORINE COMPOUNDS IN U.S. RIVER SEDIMENT AND BIOTA

EPA Science Inventory

River sediment and biota (fish, bivalves) from throughout the continental U.S. were analyzed for chiral organochlorine compounds (o,p'-DDT and DDD, some chlordane compounds, PCB atropisomers) to assess spatial trends in environmental chirality. Chiral PCB enantiomers were racemic...

Genetics Home Reference: PURA syndrome

MedlinePlus

... lead to a reduced amount of functional Purα protein. Although it is not understood how a partial loss of Purα function leads to the ... KJ, Gawne-Cain M; DDD study, Magee AC, Turnpenny PD, Baralle D. Whole exome sequencing in family trios reveals de novo mutations in ...

Reconstructing Mathematics Pedagogy from a Constructivist Perspective.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Simon, Martin A.

1995-01-01

Begins with an overview of the constructivist perspective and the pedagogical theory development upon which a constructivist teaching experiment with 20 prospective elementary teachers was based. Derives a theoretical framework for mathematics pedagogy with a focus on decisions about content and mathematical tasks. (49 references) (Author/DDD)

REMEDIATING PESTICIDE CONTAMINATED SOILS USING SOLVENT EXTRACTION

EPA Science Inventory

Bench-scale solvent extraction studies were performed on soil samples obtained from a Superfund site contaminated with high levels of p,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDD,, p,p'-DDE and toxaphene. The effectiveness of the solvent extraction process was assessed using methanol and 2-propanol as sol...

Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Natural Fit with DDD.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Myles, Brenda Smith; Simpson, Richard L.; Babkie, Andrea M.

2003-01-01

This position statement from the Critical Issues Committee of the Developmental Disabilities Division of the Council for Exceptional Children focuses on clarifying the place of autism spectrum disorders within the field of developmental disabilities. The representation of concerns relating to autism spectrum disorders by the Developmental…

Acoustic enhancement for photo detecting devices

DOEpatents

Thundat, Thomas G; Senesac, Lawrence R; Van Neste, Charles W

2013-02-19

Provided are improvements to photo detecting devices and methods for enhancing the sensitivity of photo detecting devices. A photo detecting device generates an electronic signal in response to a received light pulse. An electro-mechanical acoustic resonator, electrically coupled to the photo detecting device, damps the electronic signal and increases the signal noise ratio (SNR) of the electronic signal. Increased photo detector standoff distances and sensitivities will result.

78 FR 22369 - National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Mineral Wool Production and Wool...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-04-15

... Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Mineral Wool Production and Wool Fiberglass Manufacturing... Fiberglass Manufacturing (Subpart NNN) major source rules? A. Subpart DDD--Mineral Wool Production Major... Wool Production Major Source Rule B. Subpart NNN--Wool Fiberglass Manufacturing Major Source Rule VIII...

40 CFR 129.101 - DDT, DDD and DDE.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... stormwater runoff or other discharges from areas subject to contamination solely by fallout from air... other discharges from areas subject to contamination solely by fallout from air emissions of DDT; or to... subject to direct contamination by DDT as a result of the manufacturing process, including but not limited...

Two hearts synchronized each other with a DDD pacemaker.

PubMed

Brunacci, Michele; Valbusa, Alberto; Brunelli, Claudio; Bertero, Giovanni

2016-12-01

: We describe the case of a patient with dyspnea and heterotopic cardiac transplant, ventricular fibrillation from the native heart and sinus rhythm from the transplanted one. The two hearts were synchronized with a pacemaker. Electric external cardioversion and a different type of pacemaker stimulation were successfully performed, with improving symptoms.

40 CFR 63.1329 - Process contact cooling towers provisions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... DDD, shall maintain an ethylene glycol concentration in the process contact cooling tower at or below... to the process contact cooling tower. (1) To determine the ethylene glycol concentration, owners or... procedures specified in 40 CFR 60.564(j)(1)(i). An average ethylene glycol concentration by weight shall be...

77 FR 50613 - Didecyl Dimethyl Ammonium Carbonate and Didecyl Dimethyl Ammonium Bicarbonate; Exemption From the...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-08-22

... used as sanitizers on appliances, beverage bottling, counter tops, food packaging, refrigerators..., countertops, and in food/beverage processing facilities. The assessment calculated the Daily Dietary Dose (DDD... estimates from exposure to treated food packaging and beverage bottles are also below the Agency's LOC...

21 CFR 872.1870 - Sulfide detection device.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2014-04-01 2014-04-01 false Sulfide detection device. 872.1870 Section 872.1870 Food and Drugs FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (CONTINUED) MEDICAL DEVICES DENTAL DEVICES Diagnostic Devices § 872.1870 Sulfide detection device. (a) Identification...

21 CFR 872.1740 - Caries detection device.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2014-04-01 2014-04-01 false Caries detection device. 872.1740 Section 872.1740 Food and Drugs FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (CONTINUED) MEDICAL DEVICES DENTAL DEVICES Diagnostic Devices § 872.1740 Caries detection device. (a) Identification...

21 CFR 872.1740 - Caries detection device.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Caries detection device. 872.1740 Section 872.1740 Food and Drugs FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (CONTINUED) MEDICAL DEVICES DENTAL DEVICES Diagnostic Devices § 872.1740 Caries detection device. (a) Identification...

Concentrations of selected organochlorine compounds in fish tissue in the Mississippi Embayment Study Unit : Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee, 1995-99

USGS Publications Warehouse

Femmer, Suzanne R.; Coupe, Richard H.; Justus, B.G.; Kleiss, Barbara A.

2004-01-01

Whole fish were collected at 52 sites during 1995-99 to evaluate the occurrence and distribution of selected organochlorine compounds in the Mississippi Embayment Study Unit. Samples were collected as part of the U.S. Geological Survey National Water Quality Assessment Program. From 5 to 8 fish were collected at each site; the fish were composited, and an aliquot of the tissue was analyzed for 28 organo-chlorine compounds, which included pesticides, pesticide degradates, and polychlorinated biphenyls. The use of these organochlorine compounds has been discontinued or severely restricted within the United States, but the continued detection of these compounds or their degradates in the air, water, soil, and biota in national surveys, coupled with known environmental problems associated with these compounds (such as a long half-life and the propensity to accumulate in living tissue), is cause for continued interest in their environmental fate. At least one organochlorine compound was detected in every fish-tissue sample, and as many as 15 different compounds were detected in some. The most frequently detected com-pounds were the degradates of p,p'-dichlorodiphenyltrichlo-roethane (p,p'-DDT); p,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p,p'-DDE) was detected in every sample above the method reporting limit, and p,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane (p,p'-DDD), was detected in 94 percent of the samples. Polychlorinated biphenyl compounds and dieldrin were detected in 83 and 78 percent of fish-tissue samples, respectively. Because these were whole fish samples, the results are not directly comparable to human health standards, which are based on fish fillets. Comparison of these results, however, to the guidelines for the protection of fish-eating wildlife indicates that concentrations of the p,p'-DDT degradates and toxaphene continue to be of environmental concern.

77 FR 39498 - Guidances for Industry and Food and Drug Administration Staff: Computer-Assisted Detection...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-07-03

...] Guidances for Industry and Food and Drug Administration Staff: Computer-Assisted Detection Devices Applied... Clinical Performance Assessment: Considerations for Computer-Assisted Detection Devices Applied to... guidance, entitled ``Computer-Assisted Detection Devices Applied to Radiology Images and Radiology Device...

Micro Ring Grating Spectrometer with Adjustable Aperture

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Park, Yeonjoon (Inventor); King, Glen C. (Inventor); Elliott, James R. (Inventor); Choi, Sang H. (Inventor)

2012-01-01

A spectrometer includes a micro-ring grating device having coaxially-aligned ring gratings for diffracting incident light onto a target focal point, a detection device for detecting light intensity, one or more actuators, and an adjustable aperture device defining a circular aperture. The aperture circumscribes a target focal point, and directs a light to the detection device. The aperture device is selectively adjustable using the actuators to select a portion of a frequency band for transmission to the detection device. A method of detecting intensity of a selected band of incident light includes directing incident light onto coaxially-aligned ring gratings of a micro-ring grating device, and diffracting the selected band onto a target focal point using the ring gratings. The method includes using an actuator to adjust an aperture device and pass a selected portion of the frequency band to a detection device for measuring the intensity of the selected portion.

Method and apparatus for continuous fluid leak monitoring and detection in analytical instruments and instrument systems

DOEpatents

Weitz, Karl K [Pasco, WA; Moore, Ronald J [West Richland, WA

2010-07-13

A method and device are disclosed that provide for detection of fluid leaks in analytical instruments and instrument systems. The leak detection device includes a collection tube, a fluid absorbing material, and a circuit that electrically couples to an indicator device. When assembled, the leak detection device detects and monitors for fluid leaks, providing a preselected response in conjunction with the indicator device when contacted by a fluid.

AN INTEGRATION OF COPEPOD-BASED BAFS, LIFECYCLE TOXICITY TESTING, AND ENDOCRINE DISRUPTION METHODOLOGIES FOR RAPID POPULATION-LEVEL RISK ASSESSMENT OF PERSISTENT BIOACCUMULATIVE TOXICANTS

EPA Science Inventory

Extensive multi-generational microplate culturing (copepod hatching stage through two broods) experiments were completed with the POPs lindane, DDD and fipronil sulfide.  Identical tandem microplate experiments were run concurrently to yield sufficient copepod biomass for li...

40 CFR Appendix A to Subpart Ddd... - Free Formaldehyde Analysis of Insulation Resins by the Hydroxylamine Hydrochloride Method

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... buffer. 3.350-mL burette for 1.0 N sodium hydroxide. 3.4Magnetic stirrer and stir bars. 3.5250-mL beaker...L beaker. Record sample weight. 5.3Add 100 mL of the methanol/water mixture and stir on a magnetic...

Dare to Share

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Briggs, Linda L.

2007-01-01

Today, as difficult as it is for large institutions to keep software and hardware up-to-date, the challenge and expense of keeping up is only amplified for smaller colleges and universities. In the area of data-driven decision-making (DDD), the challenge can be even greater. Because smaller schools are pressed for time and resources on nearly all…

Multimedia Projects in Education: Designing, Producing, and Assessing, Third Edition

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ivers, Karen S.; Barron, Ann E.

2005-01-01

Building on the materials in the two previous successful editions, this book features approximately 40% all new material and updates the previous information. The authors use the DDD-E model (Decide, Design, Develop--Evaluate) to show how to select and plan multimedia projects, use presentation and development tools, manage graphics, audio, and…

Students with Disabilities, Learning Difficulties and Disadvantages: Policies, Statistics and Indicators--2007

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

OECD Publishing (NJ3), 2008

2008-01-01

This book provides an internationally comparable set of indicators on educational provision for students with disabilities, learning difficulties and disadvantages (DDD). It highlights the number of students involved, where they are educated--special schools, special classes or regular classes--and in what phases of education--pre-primary,…

CLEANING UP PESTICIDE CONTAMINATED SOILS: COMPARING EFFECTIVENESS OF SUPERCRITICAL FLUID EXTRACTION WITH SOLVENT EXTRACTION AND LOW TEMPERATURE THERMAL DESORPTION

EPA Science Inventory

Bench-scale supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) studies were performed on soil samples obtained from a Superfund site that is contaminated with high levels of p,p,-DDT, p,p,-DDD, p,p,-DDE, toxaphene and hexachlorocyclohexane. The effectiveness of supercritical fluid extraction ...

Network Analysis of a Demonstration Program for the Developmentally Disabled

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fredericks, Kimberly A.

2005-01-01

This chapter presents the findings from a network analysis of a demonstration program for the developmentally disabled to show the application of graphical network analysis in program evaluation. The developmentally disabled demonstration (DDD) program was a five-year pilot project to provide person-centered service environments to people with …

How To Use Differentiated Instruction with Students with Developmental Disabilities in the General Education Classroom. DDD Prism Series.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gartin, Barbara C.; Murdick, Nikki L.; Imbeau, Marcia; Perner, Darlene E.

This book discusses how educators can achieve inclusive classrooms that give students with different abilities the maximum opportunity for growth. It provides frameworks for planning learning environments, content, process, and products that enable students with learning challenges to succeed with meaningful curriculum. Decision-making guidelines…

Developmentally Disabled Persons in Family Settings: Report No. 1.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cox, Wendy M.; Wilson, Wendell L.

The first of three reports from a study of developmentally disabled persons living with their families, this document presents findings on the first group (group A) studied: Washington's Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) clients 16 and older who currently live with their families. The closest relatives or guardians were interviewed and…

UPTAKE AND DEPURATION OF NON-IONIC ORGANIC CONTAMINANTS FROM SEDIMENT BY THE OLIGOCHAETE, LUMBRICULUS VARIEGATUS

EPA Science Inventory

Uptake of sediment-associated contaminants by the oligochaete, Lumbriculus variegatus, was evaluated after 1,3,7,14,28, and 56 d of exposure to a field-collected sediment contaminated with DDT and its metabolites DDD and DDE or to a field-collected sediment contaminated with PAHs...

Persistent halogenated compounds in aquaculture environments of South China: implications for global consumers' health risk via fish consumption.

PubMed

Yu, Huan-Yun; Zhang, Bao-Zhong; Giesy, John P; Zeng, Eddy Y

2011-10-01

This study examined the potential sources of persistent halogenated compounds (PHCs), including organochlorine pesticides, mainly DDXs (sum of o,p'- and p,p'-DDT, -DDD, and -DDE and p,p'-DDMU) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers, to typical aquaculture environments of South China, determined the relative importance of gill diffusion and fish feeding for exposure of fish to these contaminants and assessed potential health risk for global consumers via consumption of fish from South China. Fish feed is generally a direct and important source of PHCs in both freshwater and seawater aquaculture. In addition, gill diffusion is the predominant uptake route for PHCs (except p,p'-DDMU, o,p'-DDD and -DDT) in farmed freshwater fish, whereas accumulation from the diet is the major route for farmed marine fish. Risks to health of global consumers via consumption of fish from South China are minimal. However, increased risk can be foreseen due to continuous use of brominated fire retardants and electronic waste importation to China. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The role of twinning deformation on the hardening response of polycrystalline magnesium from discrete dislocation dynamics simulations

DOE PAGES

Fan, Haidong; Aubry, Sylvie; Arsenlis, Athanasios; ...

2015-04-13

The mechanical response of micro-twinned polycrystalline magnesium was studied through three-dimensional discrete dislocation dynamics (DDD). A systematic interaction model between dislocations and (1012) tension twin boundaries (TBs) was proposed and introduced into the DDD framework. In addition, a nominal grain boundary (GB) model agreeing with experimental results was also introduced to mimic the GB’s barrier effect. The current simulation results show that TBs act as a strong obstacle to gliding dislocations, which contributes significantly to the hardening behavior of magnesium. On the other hand, the deformation accommodated by twinning plays a softening role. Therefore, the concave shape of the Mgmore » stress-strain curve results from the competition between dislocation-TB induced hardening and twinning deformation induced softening. At low strain levels, twinning deformation induced softening dominates and a decreasing hardening rate is observed in Stage-I. In Stage-II, both the hardening and softening effects decline, but twinning deformation induced softening declines faster, which leads to an increasing hardening rate.« less

Study of DDT and its derivatives DDD, DDE adsorption and degradation over Fe-SBA-15 at low temperature.

PubMed

Wang, Hailin; Tian, Hua; Hao, Zhengping

2012-01-01

Mesoporous SBA-15 with different Fe2O3 loading were synthesized by an in-situ coating progress for removals of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and its derivatives, i.e., 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis-(p-chlorophenyl)ethane (DDD) and 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis-(4-chloro -phenyl) ethane (DDE). The results from XRD (X-ray diffractometer), TEM (transmission electron microscopy) indicated that the iron could be well dispersed on SBA-15 within 6 wt.% Fe2O3 loading. Nitrogen adsorption-desorption tests indicated that the synthesized materials were characterized by ordered meso-structure, high surface area and large pore volume. DDTs were removed from aqueous media in 12-hr treatment and high removal efficiency of DDTs was achieved at over 94%. DDTs could be completely degraded at 350 degrees C under the existence of SBA-15 with 4 wt.% Fe2O3 loading. The final degradation products of DDT were dichlorobenzophenone (DCB) and bis-(4-chloro-phenyl) methane (DDM), suggesting a complete dechlorination from trichloromethyl.

Environment of Space Interactions with Space Systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2004-01-01

The primary product of this research project was a computer program named SAVANT. This program uses the Displacement Damage Dose (DDD) method of calculating radiation damage to solar cells. This calculation method was developed at the Naval Research Laboratory, and uses fundamental physical properties of the solar cell materials to predict radiation damage to the solar cells. This means that fewer experimental measurements are required to characterize the radiation damage to the cells, which results in a substantial cost savings to qualify solar cells for orbital missions. In addition, the DDD method makes it easier to characterize cells that are already being used, but have not been fully tested using the older technique of characterizing radiation damage. The computer program combines an orbit generator with NASA's AP-8 and AE-8 models of trapped protons and electrons. This allows the user to specify an orbit, and the program will calculate how the spacecraft moves during the mission, and the radiation environment that it encounters. With the spectrum of the particles, the program calculates how they would slow down while traversing the coverglass, and provides a slowed-down spectrum.

Primary combination of phase-field and discrete dislocation dynamics methods for investigating athermal plastic deformation in various realistic Ni-base single crystal superalloy microstructures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gao, Siwen; Rajendran, Mohan Kumar; Fivel, Marc; Ma, Anxin; Shchyglo, Oleg; Hartmaier, Alexander; Steinbach, Ingo

2015-10-01

Three-dimensional discrete dislocation dynamics (DDD) simulations in combination with the phase-field method are performed to investigate the influence of different realistic Ni-base single crystal superalloy microstructures with the same volume fraction of {γ\\prime} precipitates on plastic deformation at room temperature. The phase-field method is used to generate realistic microstructures as the boundary conditions for DDD simulations in which a constant high uniaxial tensile load is applied along different crystallographic directions. In addition, the lattice mismatch between the γ and {γ\\prime} phases is taken into account as a source of internal stresses. Due to the high antiphase boundary energy and the rare formation of superdislocations, precipitate cutting is not observed in the present simulations. Therefore, the plastic deformation is mainly caused by dislocation motion in γ matrix channels. From a comparison of the macroscopic mechanical response and the dislocation evolution for different microstructures in each loading direction, we found that, for a given {γ\\prime} phase volume fraction, the optimal microstructure should possess narrow and homogeneous γ matrix channels.

Dislocation mechanisms in stressed crystals with surface effects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Chi-Chin; Crone, Joshua; Munday, Lynn; Discrete Dislocation Dynamics Team

2014-03-01

Understanding dislocation properties in stressed crystals is the key for important processes in materials science, including the strengthening of metals and the stress relaxation during the growth of hetero-epitaxial structures. Despite existing experimental approaches and theories, many dislocation mechanisms with surface effects still remain elusive in experiments. Even though discrete dislocation dynamics (DDD) simulations are commonly employed to study dislocations, few demonstrate sufficient computational capabilities for massive dislocations with the combined effects of surfaces and stresses. Utilizing the Army's newly developed FED3 code, a DDD computation code coupled with finite elements, this work presents several dislocation mechanisms near different types of surfaces in finite domains. Our simulation models include dislocations in a bended metallic cantilever beam, near voids in stressed metals, as well as threading and misfit dislocations in as-grown semiconductor epitaxial layers and their quantitative inter-correlations to stress relaxation and surface instability. Our studies provide not only detailed physics of individual dislocation mechanisms, but also important collective dislocation properties such as dislocation densities and strain-stress profiles and their interactions with surfaces.

Three-dimensional formulation of dislocation climb

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gu, Yejun; Xiang, Yang; Quek, Siu Sin; Srolovitz, David J.

2015-10-01

We derive a Green's function formulation for the climb of curved dislocations and multiple dislocations in three-dimensions. In this new dislocation climb formulation, the dislocation climb velocity is determined from the Peach-Koehler force on dislocations through vacancy diffusion in a non-local manner. The long-range contribution to the dislocation climb velocity is associated with vacancy diffusion rather than from the climb component of the well-known, long-range elastic effects captured in the Peach-Koehler force. Both long-range effects are important in determining the climb velocity of dislocations. Analytical and numerical examples show that the widely used local climb formula, based on straight infinite dislocations, is not generally applicable, except for a small set of special cases. We also present a numerical discretization method of this Green's function formulation appropriate for implementation in discrete dislocation dynamics (DDD) simulations. In DDD implementations, the long-range Peach-Koehler force is calculated as is commonly done, then a linear system is solved for the climb velocity using these forces. This is also done within the same order of computational cost as existing discrete dislocation dynamics methods.

21 CFR 872.1870 - Sulfide detection device.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

.... A sulfide detection device is a device consisting of an AC-powered control unit, probe handle, probe... periodontal pocket probing depths, detect the presence or absence of bleeding on probing, and detect the...

21 CFR 872.1870 - Sulfide detection device.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

.... A sulfide detection device is a device consisting of an AC-powered control unit, probe handle, probe... periodontal pocket probing depths, detect the presence or absence of bleeding on probing, and detect the...

21 CFR 872.1870 - Sulfide detection device.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

.... A sulfide detection device is a device consisting of an AC-powered control unit, probe handle, probe... periodontal pocket probing depths, detect the presence or absence of bleeding on probing, and detect the...

21 CFR 872.1870 - Sulfide detection device.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

.... A sulfide detection device is a device consisting of an AC-powered control unit, probe handle, probe... periodontal pocket probing depths, detect the presence or absence of bleeding on probing, and detect the...

Discreet passive explosive detection through 2-sided waveguided fluorescence

DOEpatents

Harper, Ross James [Stillwater, OK; la Grone, Marcus [Cushing, OK; Fisher, Mark [Stillwater, OK

2011-10-18

The current invention provides a passive sampling device suitable for collecting and detecting the presence of target analytes. In particular, the passive sampling device is suitable for detecting nitro-aromatic compounds. The current invention further provides a passive sampling device reader suitable for determining the collection of target analytes. Additionally, the current invention provides methods for detecting target analytes using the passive sampling device and the passive sampling device reader.

49 CFR 1544.209 - Use of metal detection devices.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... 49 Transportation 9 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Use of metal detection devices. 1544.209 Section...: AIR CARRIERS AND COMMERCIAL OPERATORS Operations § 1544.209 Use of metal detection devices. (a) No aircraft operator may use a metal detection device within the United States or under the aircraft operator...

49 CFR 1544.209 - Use of metal detection devices.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 49 Transportation 9 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Use of metal detection devices. 1544.209 Section...: AIR CARRIERS AND COMMERCIAL OPERATORS Operations § 1544.209 Use of metal detection devices. (a) No aircraft operator may use a metal detection device within the United States or under the aircraft operator...

10 CFR 32.61 - Ice detection devices containing strontium-90; requirements for license to manufacture or...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... 10 Energy 1 2014-01-01 2014-01-01 false Ice detection devices containing strontium-90... Generally Licensed Items § 32.61 Ice detection devices containing strontium-90; requirements for license to... ice detection devices containing strontium-90 for distribution to persons generally licensed under...

10 CFR 32.61 - Ice detection devices containing strontium-90; requirements for license to manufacture or...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... 10 Energy 1 2012-01-01 2012-01-01 false Ice detection devices containing strontium-90... Generally Licensed Items § 32.61 Ice detection devices containing strontium-90; requirements for license to... ice detection devices containing strontium-90 for distribution to persons generally licensed under...

10 CFR 32.61 - Ice detection devices containing strontium-90; requirements for license to manufacture or...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... 10 Energy 1 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Ice detection devices containing strontium-90... Generally Licensed Items § 32.61 Ice detection devices containing strontium-90; requirements for license to... ice detection devices containing strontium-90 for distribution to persons generally licensed under...

10 CFR 32.61 - Ice detection devices containing strontium-90; requirements for license to manufacture or...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... 10 Energy 1 2013-01-01 2013-01-01 false Ice detection devices containing strontium-90... Generally Licensed Items § 32.61 Ice detection devices containing strontium-90; requirements for license to... ice detection devices containing strontium-90 for distribution to persons generally licensed under...

Device for detection and identification of carbon- and nitrogen-containing materials

DOEpatents

Karev, Alexander Ivanovich; Raevsky, Valery Georgievich; Dzhilavyan, Leonid Zavenovich; Laptev, Valery Dmitrievich; Pakhomov, Nikolay Ivanovich; Shvedunov, Vasily Ivanovich; Rykalin, Vladimir Ivanovich; Brothers, Louis Joseph; Wilhide, Larry K

2014-03-25

A device for detection and identification of carbon- and nitrogen-containing materials is described. In particular, the device performs the detection and identification of carbon- and nitrogen-containing materials by photo-nuclear detection. The device may comprise a race-track microtron, a breaking target, and a water-filled Cherenkov radiation counter.

Acoustic sensors using microstructures tunable with energy other than acoustic energy

DOEpatents

Datskos, Panagiotis G.

2003-11-25

A sensor for detecting acoustic energy includes a microstructure tuned to a predetermined acoustic frequency and a device for detecting movement of the microstructure. A display device is operatively linked to the movement detecting device. When acoustic energy strikes the acoustic sensor, acoustic energy having a predetermined frequency moves the microstructure, where the movement is detected by the movement detecting device.

Acoustic sensors using microstructures tunable with energy other than acoustic energy

DOEpatents

Datskos, Panagiotis G.

2005-06-07

A sensor for detecting acoustic energy includes a microstructure tuned to a predetermined acoustic frequency and a device for detecting movement of the microstructure. A display device is operatively linked to the movement detecting device. When acoustic energy strikes the acoustic sensor, acoustic energy having a predetermined frequency moves the microstructure, where the movement is detected by the movement detecting device.

Concentrations and distribution of manmade organic compounds in the Lake Tahoe Basin, Nevada and California, 1997-99

USGS Publications Warehouse

Lico, Michael S.; Pennington, Nyle

1999-01-01

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency and the Lahontan Regional Water-Quality Control Board, sampled Lake Tahoe, major tributary streams to Lake Tahoe, and several other lakes in the Lake Tahoe Basin for manmade organic compounds during 1997-99. Gasoline components were found in all samples collected from Lake Tahoe during the summer boating season. Methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX) were the commonly detected compounds in these samples. Most samples from tributary streams and lakes with no motorized boating had no detectable concentrations of gasoline components. Motorized boating activity appears to be directly linked in space and time to the occurrence of these gasoline components. Other sources of gasoline components to Lake Tahoe, such as the atmosphere, surface runoff, and subsurface flow, are minor compared to the input by motorized boating. Water sampled from Lake Tahoe during mid-winter, when motorized boating activity is low, had no MTBE and only one sample had any detectable BTEX compounds. Soluble pesticides rarely were detected in water samples from the Lake Tahoe Basin. The only detectable concentrations of these compounds were in samples from Blackwood and Taylor Creeks collected during spring runoff. Concentrations found in these samples were low, in the 1 to 4 nanograms per liter range. Organochlorine compounds were detected in samples collected from semipermeable membrane devices (SPMD's) collected from Lake Tahoe, tributary streams, and Upper Angora Lake. In Lake Tahoe, SPMD samples collected offshore from urbanized areas contained the largest number and highest concentrations of organochlorine compounds. The most commonly detected organochlorine compounds were cis- and trans-chlordane, p, p'-DDE, and hexachlorobenzene. In tributary streams, SPMD samples collected during spring runoff generally had higher combined concentrations of organochlorine compounds than those collected during baseflow conditions. Upper Angora Lake had the fewest number of organochlorine compounds detected of all lake samples. Dioxins and furans were not detected in SPMD samples from two sites in Lake Tahoe or from two tributary streams. The number of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) compounds and their combined concentrations generally were higher in samples from Lake Tahoe than those from tributary streams. Areas of high-motorized boating activity at Lake Tahoe had the largest number and highest concentrations of PAH's. PAH compounds were detected in samples from SPMD's in four of six tributary streams during spring runoff, all tributary streams during baseflow conditions, and at all lake sites. The most commonly detected PAH's in tributary streams during spring runoff were phenanthrene, fluoranthene, pyrene, and chrysene, and during baseflow conditions were phenanthrene, 1-methylphenanthrene, diethylnaphthalene, and pyrene. Upper Truckee River, which has an urban area in its drainage basin, had the largest number and highest combined concentration of PAH's of all stream samples. Bottom-sediment from Lake Tahoe had detectable concentrations of p-cresol, a phenol, in all but one sample. A sample collected near Chambers Lodge contained phenol at an estimated concentration of 4 micrograms per kilogram (?g/kg). Bottom-sediment samples from tributary streams had no detectable concentrations of organochlorine or PAH compounds. Several compounds were detected in bottom sediment from Upper Angora Lake at high concentrations. These compounds and their concentrations were p, p'-DDD (10 ?g/kg), p, p'-DDE (7.4 ?g/kg), 2,6-dimethylnaphthalene (estimated at 190 ?g/kg), pentachlorophenol (3,000 ?g/kg), and p-cresol (4,400 ?g/kg).

Mechanical annealing under low-amplitude cyclic loading in micropillars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cui, Yi-nan; Liu, Zhan-li; Wang, Zhang-jie; Zhuang, Zhuo

2016-04-01

Mechanical annealing has been demonstrated to be an effective method for decreasing the overall dislocation density in submicron single crystal. However, simultaneously significant shape change always unexpectedly happens under extremely high monotonic loading to drive the pre-existing dislocations out of the free surfaces. In the present work, through in situ TEM experiments it is found that cyclic loading with low stress amplitude can drive most dislocations out of the submicron sample with virtually little change of the shape. The underlying dislocation mechanism is revealed by carrying out discrete dislocation dynamic (DDD) simulations. The simulation results indicate that the dislocation density decreases within cycles, while the accumulated plastic strain is small. By comparing the evolution of dislocation junction under monotonic, cyclic and relaxation deformation, the cumulative irreversible slip is found to be the key factor of promoting junction destruction and dislocation annihilation at free surface under low-amplitude cyclic loading condition. By introducing this mechanics into dislocation density evolution equations, the critical conditions for mechanical annealing under cyclic and monotonic loadings are discussed. Low-amplitude cyclic loading which strengthens the single crystal without seriously disturbing the structure has the potential applications in the manufacture of defect-free nano-devices.

Antidepressant Utilization and Suicide in Europe: An Ecological Multi-National Study

PubMed Central

Gusmão, Ricardo; Quintão, Sónia; McDaid, David; Arensman, Ella; Van Audenhove, Chantal; Coffey, Claire; Värnik, Airi; Värnik, Peeter; Coyne, James; Hegerl, Ulrich

2013-01-01

Background Research concerning the association between use of antidepressants and incidence of suicide has yielded inconsistent results and is the subject of considerable controversy. The first aim is to describe trends in the use of antidepressants and rates of suicide in Europe, adjusted for gross domestic product, alcohol consumption, unemployment, and divorce. The second aim is to explore if any observed reduction in the rate of suicide in different European countries preceded the trend for increased use of antidepressants. Methods Data were obtained for 29 European countries between 1980 and 2009. Pearson correlations were used to explore the direction and magnitude of associations. Generalized linear mixed models and Poisson regression distribution were used to clarify the effects of antidepressants on suicide rates, while an autoregressive adjusted model was used to test the interaction between antidepressant utilization and suicide over two time periods: 1980–1994 and 1995–2009. Findings An inverse correlation was observed in all countries between recorded Standardised Death Rate (SDR) for suicide and antidepressant Defined Daily Dosage (DDD), with the exception of Portugal. Variability was marked in the association between suicide and alcohol, unemployment and divorce, with countries depicting either a positive or a negative correlation with the SDR for suicide. Every unit increase in DDD of an antidepressant per 1000 people per day, adjusted for these confounding factors, reduces the SDR by 0.088. The correlation between DDD and suicide related SDR was negative in both time periods considered, albeit more pronounced between 1980 and 1994. Conclusions Suicide rates have tended to decrease more in European countries where there has been a greater increase in the use of antidepressants. These findings underline the importance of the appropriate use of antidepressants as part of routine care for people diagnosed with depression, therefore reducing the risk of suicide. PMID:23840475

Antibiotic consumption in non-teaching Lebanese hospitals: A cross-sectional study.

PubMed

Iskandar, Katia; Hanna, Pierre A; Salameh, Pascale; Raad, Etwal B

2016-01-01

The rising threat of antibiotic resistance is linked to patterns of antibiotic use in hospital settings where global efforts are undertaken to encourage reporting and benchmarking antibiotic consumption in an attempt to improve prescription regimens. In Lebanon, where data concerning the level of antibiotic consumption in hospitals is scarce, the aim of our paper is to track the intensity of antibiotic consumption in order to identify potential evidence of antibiotic misuse or abuse. The study is conducted in 2012 for a period of 12-month using data from pharmacy records in 27 non-teaching Lebanese hospitals according to the Anatomical, Therapeutic and chemical classification system and Defined Daily Dose (ATC/DDD) recommended by the World Health Organization and compiling data on ABC Calc software version 3.1. Results show that the average antibiotic consumption excluding pediatric cases is 72.56 Defined Daily Dose per 100 Bed-Days (DDD/100BD). Total broad spectrum antibiotic consumption is 12.14 DDD/100BD with no significant difference found between public and private hospitals (p>0.05 for all). The most commonly used antibiotics were Amoxycillin/Clavulanic acid, Ceftriaxone, Amoxycillin and Cefuroxime for parenteral use. Consumption of beta-lactams, Cephalosporins, Carbapenems, Monobactams and quinolones did not vary significantly by region, occupancy rate, number of beds including the number of intensive care unit beds. Our data findings provides baseline information on patterns of antibiotic consumption in Lebanon and the issue calls for concerted efforts to encourage data reporting on national basis and to correlate future findings with results of antibiotic susceptibility testing which can provide insights and tools needed to assess the public health consequences of antimicrobial misuse and to evaluate the impact of antibiotic resistance containment interventions. Copyright © 2016 King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Expecting the unexpected: applying the Develop-Distort Dilemma to maximize positive market impacts in health.

PubMed

Peters, David H; Paina, Ligia; Bennett, Sara

2012-10-01

Although health interventions start with good intentions to develop services for disadvantaged populations, they often distort the health market, making the delivery or financing of services difficult once the intervention is over: a condition called the 'Develop-Distort Dilemma' (DDD). In this paper, we describe how to examine whether a proposed intervention may develop or distort the health market. Our goal is to produce a tool that facilitates meaningful and systematic dialogue for practitioners and researchers to ensure that well-intentioned health interventions lead to productive health systems while reducing the undesirable distortions of such efforts. We apply the DDD tool to plan for development rather than distortions in health markets, using intervention research being conducted under the Future Health Systems consortium in Bangladesh, China and Uganda. Through a review of research proposals and interviews with principal investigators, we use the DDD tool to systematically understand how a project fits within the broader health market system, and to identify gaps in planning for sustainability. We found that while current stakeholders and funding sources for activities were easily identified, future ones were not. The implication is that the projects could raise community expectations that future services will be available and paid for, despite this actually being uncertain. Each project addressed the 'rules' of the health market system differently. The China research assesses changes in the formal financing rules, whereas Bangladesh and Uganda's projects involve influencing community level providers, where informal rules are more important. In each case, we recognize the importance of building trust between providers, communities and government officials. Each project could both develop and distort local health markets. Anyone intervening in the health market must recognize the main market perturbations, whether positive or negative, and manage them so as to maximize the benefits to the health system and population health.

Psychotropic drugs and risk of motor vehicle accidents: a population-based case-control study

PubMed Central

Chang, Chia-Ming; Wu, Erin Chia-Hsuan; Chen, Chuan-Yu; Wu, Kuan-Yi; Liang, Hsin-Yi; Chau, Yeuk-Lun; Wu, Chi-Shin; Lin, Keh-Ming; Tsai, Hui-Ju

2013-01-01

Aim To examine comprehensively the relationship between exposure to four classes of psychotropic drugs including antipsychotics, antidepressants, benzodiazepines (BZDs) and Z-drugs, and motor vehicle accidents (MVAs). Method The authors conducted a matched case-control study of 5183 subjects with MVAs and 31 093 matched controls, identified from the claims records of outpatient service visits during the period from 2000 to 2009. Inclusion criteria were defined as subjects aged equal to or more than 18 years and involved in MVAs. Conditional logistic regressions with covariates adjustment (including urbanity, psychiatric and non-psychiatric outpatient visits and Charlson comorbidity score) were applied to examine the effect of four classes of psychotropic drugs on MVAs. Results Significant increased risk of MVAs was found in subjects taking antidepressants within 1 month (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 1.73, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.34, 2.22), 1 week (AOR 1.71, 95% CI 1.29, 2.26), and 1 day (AOR 1.70, 95% CI 1.26, 2.29) before MVAs occurred. Similar results were observed in subjects taking benzodiazepines (BZDs) (AOR 1.56, 95% CI 1.38, 1.75 for 1 month; AOR 1.64, 95% CI 1.43, 1.88 for 1 week, and AOR 1.62, 95% CI 1.39, 1.88 for 1 day) and Z-drugs (AOR 1.42, 95% CI 1.14, 1.76 for 1 month, AOR 1.37, 95% CI 1.06, 1.75 for 1 week, AOR 1.34, 95% CI 1.03, 1.75 for 1 day), but not antipsychotics. Moreover, significant dose effects of antidepressants (equal to or more than 0.6–1.0 DDD), BZDs (equal to or more than 0.1–0.5 DDD) and Z-drugs (more than 1 DDD) were observed, respectively, on the risk of experiencing an MVA. Conclusion Taken together, subjects taking antidepressants, BZDs and Z-drugs, separately, should be particularly cautioned for their increasing risk of MVAs. PMID:22971090

Drug exposure in register-based research—An expert-opinion based evaluation of methods

PubMed Central

Taipale, Heidi; Koponen, Marjaana; Tolppanen, Anna-Maija; Hartikainen, Sirpa; Ahonen, Riitta; Tiihonen, Jari

2017-01-01

Background In register-based pharmacoepidemiological studies, construction of drug exposure periods from drug purchases is a major methodological challenge. Various methods have been applied but their validity is rarely evaluated. Our objective was to conduct an expert-opinion based evaluation of the correctness of drug use periods produced by different methods. Methods Drug use periods were calculated with three fixed methods: time windows, assumption of one Defined Daily Dose (DDD) per day and one tablet per day, and with PRE2DUP that is based on modelling of individual drug purchasing behavior. Expert-opinion based evaluation was conducted with 200 randomly selected purchase histories of warfarin, bisoprolol, simvastatin, risperidone and mirtazapine in the MEDALZ-2005 cohort (28,093 persons with Alzheimer’s disease). Two experts reviewed purchase histories and judged which methods had joined correct purchases and gave correct duration for each of 1000 drug exposure periods. Results The evaluated correctness of drug use periods was 70–94% for PRE2DUP, and depending on grace periods and time window lengths 0–73% for tablet methods, 0–41% for DDD methods and 0–11% for time window methods. The highest rate of evaluated correct solutions for each method class were observed for 1 tablet per day with 180 days grace period (TAB_1_180, 43–73%), and 1 DDD per day with 180 days grace period (1–41%). Time window methods produced at maximum only 11% correct solutions. The best performing fixed method TAB_1_180 reached highest correctness for simvastatin 73% (95% CI 65–81%) whereas 89% (95% CI 84–94%) of PRE2DUP periods were judged as correct. Conclusions This study shows inaccuracy of fixed methods and the urgent need for new data-driven methods. In the expert-opinion based evaluation, the lowest error rates were observed with data-driven method PRE2DUP. PMID:28886089

VDD vs DDD pacemakers: a meta-analysis.

PubMed

Shurrab, Mohammed; Elitzur, Yair; Healey, Jeff S; Gula, Lorne; Kaoutskaia, Anna; Israel, Carsten; Lau, Ching; Crystal, Eugene

2014-11-01

Dual-chamber (DDD) and VDD pacing are recognized alternatives for patients with advanced atrioventricular (AV) conduction abnormalities and spared sinus node function. The comparative data between these 2 modes are limited. A literature search was performed using multiple major databases. Outcomes of interest were (1) adverse events including incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF) and (2) procedural parameters. Odds ratio (OR) was reported for dichotomous variables and standardized mean difference (SMD) for continuous variables. Eight controlled studies (7 cohorts and 1 randomized controlled trial: total 1942 patients) were included. VDD mode was used in 922 patients. Mean follow-up period for the VDD group was 51 ± 24 months. There was a trend toward lower overall adverse events in the VDD group (9.6% vs 11.6%; OR, 0.74 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.51-1.05; P = 0.09]). Shorter implantation and fluoroscopy times were noted with VDD pacing (46.2 ± 12 vs 65.9 ± 20 minutes; SMD, -0.96 [95% CI, -1.26 to -0.66; P < 0.0001] and 4.6 ± 1 vs 9.3 ± 0.4 minutes; SMD, -0.83 [95% CI, -1.38 to -0.29; P = 0.003], respectively). Mean P-wave amplitude was significantly lower in VDD (1.5 ± 0.8 mV vs 3.1 ± 0.9 mV; P = 0.02). The incidence of AF was lower in the VDD group but it did not reach statistical significance (7.5% vs 13.0%; OR, 0.7; 95% CI, 0.39-1.27; P = 0.24). This meta-analysis suggests that VDD is a reasonable alternative to DDD pacemakers with lower pneumothorax risk and shorter implantation and fluoroscopy times. More high-quality data are required to definitively compare the 2 strategies. Copyright © 2014 Canadian Cardiovascular Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Estimating catchment scale groundwater dynamics from recession analysis - enhanced constraining of hydrological models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Skaugen, T.; Mengistu, Z.

2015-10-01

In this study we propose a new formulation of subsurface water storage dynamics for use in rainfall-runoff models. Under the assumption of a strong relationship between storage and runoff, the temporal distribution of storage is considered to have the same shape as the distribution of observed recessions (measured as the difference between the log of runoff values). The mean subsurface storage is estimated as the storage at steady-state, where moisture input equals the mean annual runoff. An important contribution of the new formulation is that its parameters are derived directly from observed recession data and the mean annual runoff and hence estimated prior to calibration. Key principles guiding the evaluation of the new subsurface storage routine have been (a) to minimize the number of parameters to be estimated through the, often arbitrary fitting to optimize runoff predictions (calibration) and (b) maximize the range of testing conditions (i.e. large-sample hydrology). The new storage routine has been implemented in the already parameter parsimonious Distance Distribution Dynamics (DDD) model and tested for 73 catchments in Norway of varying size, mean elevations and landscape types. Runoff simulations for the 73 catchments from two model structures; DDD with calibrated subsurface storage and DDD with the new estimated subsurface storage were compared. No loss in precision of runoff simulations was found using the new estimated storage routine. For the 73 catchments, an average of the Nash-Sutcliffe Efficiency criterion of 0.68 was found using the new estimated storage routine compared with 0.66 using calibrated storage routine. The average Kling-Gupta Efficiency criterion was 0.69 and 0.70 for the new and old storage routine, respectively. Runoff recessions are more realistically modelled using the new approach since the root mean square error between the mean of observed and simulated recessions was reduced by almost 50 % using the new storage routine.

Relationship between consumption of MRSA-active antibiotics and burden of MRSA in acute care hospitals in Catalonia, Spain.

PubMed

Grau, Santiago; Fondevilla, Esther; Freixas, Núria; Mojal, Sergi; Sopena, Nieves; Bella, Feliu; Gudiol, Francesc

2015-04-01

To analyse the possible relationship between consumption of old and new MRSA-active antibiotics and burden of MRSA in acute care hospitals in Catalonia during the period 2007-12. Fifty-four hospitals participating in the VINCat Programme were included. Proportion of MRSA (resistant isolates of Staphylococcus aureus per 100 isolates of S. aureus tested), incidence of new cases of infection [new cases of MRSA per 1000 occupied bed-days (OBD)] and incidence of cases of bacteraemia (MRSA bacteraemia cases per 1000 OBD) were determined to estimate the annual MRSA burden. Antibiotic consumption was calculated in DDD/100 OBD. Cost was expressed in euros/100 OBD. MRSA rates remained stable over the study period, with the proportion of MRSA ranging from 20% to 22.82% in 2007 and 2012, respectively (P=0.864). Consumption of old MRSA-active antibiotics (vancomycin and teicoplanin) did not change significantly, with values from 1.51 to 2.07 DDD/100 OBD (P=0.693). Consumption of new MRSA-active antibiotics (linezolid and daptomycin) increased significantly, with values rising from 0.24 to 1.49 DDD/100 OBD (P<0.001). Cost increased by almost 200%. A widespread and steady increase in consumption of new MRSA-active antibiotics was observed among acute care hospitals in Catalonia, in spite of a stable MRSA burden. At the same time, consumption of old drugs remained stable. Such trends resulted in a significant increase in cost. Our findings suggest that factors other than the proportion of methicillin resistance among S. aureus may influence the use of old and new MRSA-active antibiotics in the clinical setting. © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Cost-Effectiveness of Surgical Versus Conservative Treatment for Thoracolumbar Burst Fractures.

PubMed

Aras, Efe Levent; Bunger, Cody; Hansen, Ebbe Stender; Søgaard, Rikke

2016-02-01

Historical, register-based cohort study following 85 patients in the course of a time frame extending from 2 years before to 2 years after trauma occurrence. To investigate the cost-effectiveness of surgery versus conservative management for thoracolumbar burst fractures. Despite the prevalence of thoracolumbar burst fractures, consensus has still not been reached in terms of their clinical management and whereas from a health policy point of view, efficient use of resources is equally important, literature pertaining to this aspect is limited. Consecutive patients who were admitted to a university clinic between 2004 and 2008 because of CT-verified AO type A3 fractures (T11-L2), age 18 to 65 years Patients with neurological compromise, osteoporosis, or malignancy were not included. The cost parameter defined primary and secondary health-care use (2010 &OV0556;) and the effect parameter was based on three alternative measures of pain medication: morphine milligram and defined daily doses (DDD) of narcotic and nonnarcotic analgesics. For cost-effectiveness analysis, we employed a difference-in-difference approach, including control for treatment selection (age, sex, and fracture type). Nonparametric bootstrapping was used to estimate conventional 95% confidence intervals of mean estimates. When taking into consideration all health-care consumption, surgical management was observed to cost an additional &OV0556;10,734 (4215; 15,144) as compared with conservative management. The differences on morphine at 527(-3031; 6,016) milligram, narcotic analgesics at -8(-176; 127) DDD, and nonnarcotic analgesics at -3(-72; 58) DDD were all insignificant The probability for surgery being cost-effective did not exceed 50% for any value of willingness to pay for effect. Surgical management does not seem to be a cost-effective strategy as compared with conservative management for traumatic thoracolumbar burst fractures without neurological deficits. In addition, higher-volume studies examining the clinical effect of alternative management strategies would be valuable. 3.

Levels of pesticides residues in the White Nile water in the Sudan.

PubMed

Nesser, Gibreel A A; Abdelbagi, Azhari O; Hammad, Ahmed Mohammed Ali; Tagelseed, Mirghani; Laing, Mark D

2016-06-01

Twenty-two commonly used pesticides were monitored during autumn, winter, and summer of 2004-2005 in 27 water samples from three sites along the White Nile in Sudan (former Sudan). Sites were selected to reflect pesticides gathered from drainage canals in central Sudan and from upstream sources. Collected samples were extracted and subjected to gas chromatographic analysis. Pesticides levels were measured in nanograms per liter. Pesticides residues were detected in 96 % of the samples with a total residue burden of 4132.6 ng L(-1), and an overall mean concentration and range of 50.99 and not detected-1570 ng L(-1), respectively. Ororganochlorines were the most frequently detected contaminants, which were found in 70 % of the samples, causing a total burden of 2852.8 ng L(-1), followed by pyrethroids 15 % of the samples, with a total burden of 926.5 ng L(-1). The tested herbicides were detected in ˂4 % of the samples with a total burden of 353.3 ng L(-1), while organophosphorus levels were below the detection limit. The most frequent contaminants were the following: heptachlor and its epoxide (52 % of samples), followed by DDTs (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes) (DDT and DDE, in 19 % of the samples), cypermethrin and fenvalerate (in 11 % of the samples), and pendimethalin (in <4 % of the samples). Residues of hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) isomers (α, β, γ and δ), endosulfan (α and β), p, p-DDD, λ cyhalothrin, deltamethrin, and oxyfluorfen were not detected in the analyzed samples. Generally, levels were least in autumn, and followed by summer and winter. Sources of contamination might include agricultural lands in central Sudan and upstream sources. Both recent and old contaminations were indicated.

Discreet passive explosive detection through 2-sided wave guided fluorescence

DOEpatents

Harper, Ross James; la Grone, Marcus; Fisher, Mark

2012-10-16

The current invention provides a passive sampling device suitable for collecting and detecting the presence of target analytes. In particular, the passive sampling device is suitable for detecting nitro-aromatic compounds. The current invention further provides a passive sampling device reader suitable for determining the collection of target analytes. Additionally, the current invention provides methods for detecting target analytes using the passive sampling device and the passive sampling device reader.

Discovery and Biogeochemical Investigation of Chlorinated Industrial Waste in the Deep Ocean

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lemkau, K. L.; Kivenson, V. B.; Carmichael, C. A.; Aeppli, C.; Bagby, S. C.; Wentz, K.; Baxter, A.; Paul, B. G.; Pizarro, O.; Yoerger, D.; Reddy, C. M.; Valentine, D. L.

2014-12-01

Prior to the 1972 US ban on DDT use, dumping of solid waste from DDT manufacturing was permitted at two locations off the coast of Southern California. Between 1947 and 1961, 37-53 million liters of DDT waste (containing an estimated 350-700 metric tons of DDT) were disposed of at these deep-ocean dumpsites. In 2011 and 2013 we explored these sites with ROV Jason and AUV Sentry, discovering the remains of ~60 barrels scattered across dumpsite 2. Strikingly, many of these barrels were surrounded by distinctive white rings suggestive of microbial activity. We describe our identification and exploration of these sites and present results from chemical analysis of sediment cores collected around waste barrels. DDT and its degradation products (DDE, DDD and DDMU) were detectable at ng to μg per gram concentrations and showed spatial trends with both distance and depth around barrels. Analysis of microbial community DNA provides a first look at the role of microbiological processes in shaping these trends.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in sediments from an urban- and industrial-impacted subtropical estuary (Babitonga Bay, Brazil).

PubMed

Rizzi, Juliane; Taniguchi, Satie; Martins, César C

2017-06-15

Babitonga Bay is a large estuary, which has been under pressure from anthropogenic activities coexisting with a natural area of Atlantic rainforest and mangrove systems. The concentration of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) was determined to evaluate the contamination status and the determine possible pollution sources in the estuary. The ∑DDT (sum of DDT, DDE and DDD concentrations) was the predominant OCP group, with concentrations ranging from

A Bridging Water Anchors the Tethered 5-(3-Aminopropyl)-2′-deoxyuridine Amine in the DNA Major Groove Proximate to the N+2 C·G Base Pair: Implications for Formation of Interstrand 5′-GNC-3′ Cross-Links by Nitrogen Mustards

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wang, Feng; Li, Feng; Ganguly, Manjori

2008-11-14

Site-specific insertion of t-(3-aminopropyl)-2'-deoxyuridine (Z3dU) and 7-deaza-dG into the Dickerson-Drew dodecamers 5'-d(C{sup 1}G{sup 2}C{sup 3}G{sup 4}A{sup 5}A{sup 6}T{sup 7}T{sup 8}C{sup 9}{und Z}{sup 10}C{sup 11}G{sup 12})-3'{center_dot}5'-d (C{sup 13}G{sup 14}C{sup 15}G{sup 16}A{sup 17}A{sup 18}T{sup 19}T{sup 20}C{sup 21}{und Z}{sup 22}C{sup 23}G{sup 24})-3' (named DDD{sup Z10}) and 5'-d(C{sup 1}G{sup 2}C{sup 3}G{sup 4}A{sup 5}A{sup 6}T{sup 7}{und X}{sup 20}C{sup 21}{und Z}{sup 22}C{sup 23}G{sup 24})-3' (named DDD{sup 2+Z10}) (X = 73dU; Z = 7-deaza-dG) suggests a mechanism underlying the formation of interstrand N+2 DNA cross-links by nitrogen mustards, e.g., melphalan and mechlorethamine. Analysis of the DDD{sup 2+Z10} duplex reveals that the tethered cations at base pairs A{supmore » 5}{center_dot}X{sup 20} and X{sup 8}{center_dot}A{sup 17} extend within the major groove in the 3'-direction, toward conserved Mg{sup 2+} binding sites located adjacent to N+2 base pairs C{sup 3}{center_dot}Z{sup 22} and Z{sup 10}{center_dot}C{sup 15}. Bridging waters located between the tethered amines and either Z{sup 10} or Z{sup 22} O{sup 6} stabilize the tethered cations and allow interactions with the N + 2 base pairs without DNA bending. Incorporation of 7-deaza-dG into the DDD{sup 2+Z10} duplex weakens but does not eliminate electrostatic interactions between tethered amines and Z{sup 10} O{sup 6} and Z{sup 22} O{sup 6}. The results suggest a mechanism by which tethered N7-dG aziridinium ions, the active species involved in formation of interstrand 5'-GNC-3' cross-links by nitrogen mustards, modify the electrostatics of the major groove and position the aziridinium ions proximate to the major groove edge of the N+2 C{center_dot}G base pair, facilitating interstrand cross-linking.« less

Organochlorine and heavy metal residues in bald eagle eggs

USGS Publications Warehouse

Krantz, W.C.; Mulhern, B.M.; Bagley, George E.; Sprunt, A.; Ligas, F.J.; Robertson, W.B.

1970-01-01

Bald eagle eggs collected in 1968 from nests in Wisconsin, Maine, and Florida all contained residues of DDE, DDD, dieldrin, heptachlor epoxide, and polychlorinated biphenyls. Many also contained traces of DDT. Eggs from five nonproductive nests sampled in Maine contained much higher residues than did eggs collected from either productive or nonproductive nests in Wisconsin and Florida.

Multimedia Projects in Education: Designing, Producing, and Assessing. Second Edition.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ivers, Karen S.; Barron, Ann E.

This handbook provides educators with strategies and ideas for incorporating multimedia projects into the curriculum for grades 4-12. With a focus on student learning, the authors show how to plan and implement multimedia activities and engage students in expressing themselves through a variety of media. Using the DDD-E model (Decide, Design,…

Occurences and Fate of DDT Principal Isomers/Metabolites, DDA, and o,p'-DDD Enantiomers in Fish, Sediment and Water at a DDT-Impacted Superfund Site

EPA Science Inventory

In the 1950s and 60s, discharges from a DDT manufacturing plant contaminated a tributary system of the Tennessee River near Huntsville, Alabama, USA. Regulatory action resulted in declaring the area a Superfund site which required remediation and extensive monitoring. Monitoring ...

Preservice Early Childhood Educators' and Elementary Teachers' Perspectives on Including Young Children with Developmental Disabilities: A Mixed Methods Analysis

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Frankel, Elaine B.; Hutchinson, Nancy L.; Burbidge, Julie; Minnes, Patricia

2014-01-01

This mixed methods study reports on the perspectives of 143 preservice early childhood educators (ECE) and 208 elementary teacher candidates (TC) on teaching children with developmental disabilities and delays (DDD) in inclusive classrooms. A questionnaire was administered which included items on demographic characteristics, experience, knowledge,…

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Science.gov Websites

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Organochlorine compounds in bed sediment and fish tissue in the South Platte River Basin, USA, 1992-1993

USGS Publications Warehouse

Tate, C.M.; Heiny, J.S.

1996-01-01

Bed-sediment and fish-tissue samples were collected in the South Platte River Basin to determine the occurrence and distribution of organochlorine compounds in the basin. During August-November 1992 and August 1993, bed sediment (23 sites) and fish tissue (subset of 19 sites) were sampled and analyzed for 32 organochlorine compounds in bed sediment and 27 compounds in fish tissue. More types of organochlorine compounds were detected in fish tissue than in bed sediment. Total DDT, p,p???-DDE, o,p???-DDE, p,p???-DDD, total PCS, Dacthal??, dieldrin, cis-chlordane, cis-nonachlor, trans-nonachlor, and p,p???-DDT were detected in fish tissue at >25% of the sites; p,p???-DDE, total DDT, cis-chlordane, and trans-chlordane were detected in bed sediment at >25% of the sites. Organochlorine concentrations in bed sediment and fish tissue were related to land-use settings. Few organochlorine compounds were detected at minimally impacted sites located in rangeland, forest, and built-up land-use settings. Chlordane-related compounds and p,p???-methoxychlor in bed sediment and fish tissue, endrin in fish tissue, and endosulfan I in bed sediment were associated with urban and mixed (urban and agricultural) sites. Dacthal?? in bed sediment and fish tissue was associated with agricultural sites. The compounds HCB, ??-HCH, PCA, and toxaphene were detected only at mixed land-use sites. Although DDT and DDT-metabolites, dieldrin, and total PCB were detected in urban, mixed, and agricultural land-use settings, highest mean concentrations were detected at mixed land-use sites. Mixed land-use sites had the greatest number of organochlorine compounds detected in fish tissue, whereas urban and mixed sites had the greatest number of organochlorine compounds detected in bed sediment. Measuring concentrations of organochlorine compounds in bed sediment and fish tissue at the same site offers a more complete picture of the persistence of organochlorine compounds in the environment and their relation to land-use settings.

Occurrence of Selected Nutrients, Trace Elements, and Organic Compounds in Streambed Sediment in the Lower Chena River Watershed near Fairbanks, Alaska, 2002-03

USGS Publications Warehouse

Kennedy, Ben W.; Hall, Cassidee C.

2009-01-01

In 2002-03, the U.S. Geological Survey collected samples of streambed sediment at 18 sites in the lower Chena River watershed for analysis of selected nutrients, traces elements, and organic compounds. The purpose of the project was to provide Federal, State, and local agencies as well as neighborhood committees, with information for consideration in plans to improve environmental conditions in the watershed. The exploratory sampling program included analysis of streambed sediment from the Chena River and Chena Slough, a tributary to the Chena River. Results were compared to streambed-sediment guidelines for the protection of aquatic life and to 2001-02 sediment data from Noyes Slough, a side channel of the lower Chena River. The median total phosphorus concentration in Chena Slough sediment samples, 680 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg), was two orders of magnitude greater than median total phosphorus concentration in Chena River sediment samples of 5.2 mg/kg. Median concentrations of chloride and sulfate also were greater in Chena Slough samples. Low concentrations of nitrate were detected in most of the Chena Slough samples; nitrate concentrations were below method reporting limits or not detected in Chena River sediment samples. Streambed-sediment samples were analyzed for 24 trace elements. Arsenic, nickel, and zinc were the only trace elements detected in concentrations that exceeded probable-effect levels for the protection of aquatic life. Concentrations of arsenic in Chena Slough samples ranged from 11 to 70 mg/kg and concentrations in most of the samples exceeded the probable-effect guideline for arsenic of 17 mg/kg. Arsenic concentrations in samples from the Chena River ranged from 9 to 12 mg/kg. The background level for arsenic in the lower Chena River watershed is naturally elevated because of significant concentrations of arsenic in local bedrock and ground water. Sources of elevated concentrations of zinc in one sample, and of nickel in two samples, are unknown. With the exception of elevated arsenic levels in samples from Chena Slough, the occurrence and concentration of trace elements in the streambed sediments of Chena Slough and Chena River were similar to those in Noyes Slough sediment. Sediment samples were analyzed for 78 semivolatile organic compounds and 32 organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Low concentrations of dimethylnaphthalene and p-Cresol were detected in most Chena Slough and Chena River sediment samples. The number of semivolatile organic compounds detected ranged from 5 to 21 in most Chena Slough sediment samples. In contrast, three or fewer semivolatile organic compounds were detected in Chena River sediment samples, most likely because chemical-matrix interference resulted in elevated reporting limits for organochlorine compounds in the Chena River samples. Low concentrations of fluoranthene, pyrene, and phenanthrene were detected in Chena Slough sediment. Relatively low concentrations of DDT or its degradation products, DDD and DDE, were detected in all Chena Slough samples. Concentrations of total DDT (DDT+DDD+DDE) in two Chena Slough sediment samples exceeded the effectsrange median aquatic-life criteria of 46.1 micrograms per kilogram (ug/kg). DDT concentrations in Chena River streambed-sediment samples were less than 20 ug/kg. Low concentrations of PCB were detected in two Chena Slough streambed-sediment samples. None of the concentrations of the polychlorinated biphenyls or semivolatile organic compounds for which the samples were analyzed exceeded available guidelines for the protection of aquatic life. With the exception of elevated total DDT in two Chena Slough samples, the occurrence and concentration of organochlorine compounds in Chena Slough and Chena River sediment were similar to those in samples collected from Noyes Slough in 2001-02.

Design of a leak detection device for marine airtight container

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Yuan; Zhu, Faxin; Lu, Jinshu; Li, Yule; Wu, Wenfeng; Zhang, Jianwei; Qin, Beichen

2018-04-01

The ship airtight container as the research object, according to the tightness of the traditional detection methods of sealed container from the shortcomings of the design of modern ship sealed container leak detection device based on the requirements of the use of AutoCAD to design a ship leakage detection device using airtight container, and introduces its working principle and main components. Finally, from the aspects of technology, structure, operation and economy, the feasibility analysis of the leak detection device for marine airtight container is designed, and it is concluded that the device has the advantages of simple operation, short detection time, easy maintenance and cost control, and has high feasibility.

Development of a solid-phase microextraction-based method for sampling of persistent chlorinated hydrocarbons in an urbanized coastal environment.

PubMed

Zeng, Eddy Y; Tsukada, David; Diehl, Dario W

2004-11-01

Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) has been used as an in situ sampling technique for a wide range of volatile organic chemicals, but SPME field sampling of nonvolatile organic pollutants has not been reported. This paper describes the development of an SPME-based sampling method employing a poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS)-coated (100-microm thickness) fiber as the sorbent phase. The laboratory-calibrated PDMS-coated fibers were used to construct SPME samplers, and field tests were conducted at three coastal locations off southern California to determine the equilibrium sampling time and compare the efficacy of the SPME samplers with that of an Infiltrex 100 water pumping system (Axys Environmental Systems Ltd., Sidney, British Columbia, Canada). p,p'-DDE and o,p'-DDE were the components consistently detected in the SPME samples among 42 polychlorinated biphenyl congeners and 17 chlorinated pesticidestargeted. SPME samplers deployed attwo locations with moderate and high levels of contamination for 18 and 30 d, respectively, attained statistically identical concentrations of p,p'-DDE and o,p'-DDE. In addition, SPME samplers deployed for 23 and 43 d, respectively, at a location of low contamination also contained statistically identical concentrations of p,p'-DDE. These results indicate that equilibrium could be reached within 18 to 23 d. The concentrations of p,p'-DDE, o,p'-DDE, or p,p'-DDD obtained with the SPME samplers and the Infiltrex 100 system were virtually identical. In particular, two water column concentration profiles of p,p'-DDE and o,p'-DDE acquired by the SPME samplers at a highly contaminated site on the Palos Verdes Shelf overlapped with the profiles obtained by the Infiltrex 100 system in 1997. The field tests not only reveal the advantages of the SPME samplers compared to the Infiltrex 100 system and other integrative passive devices but also indicate the need to improve the sensitivity of the SPME-based sampling technique.