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Ecology, Ecologie, Environment, Environnement, Sciences biologiques et medicales, Biological and medical sciences, Sciences biologiques fondamentales et appliquees. Psychologie, Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology, Invertebres, Invertebrates, Insecta, Ecologie animale, vegetale et microbienne, Animal, plant and microbial ecology, Ecologie animale et végétale, Animal and plant ecology, Généralités, General aspects, Arthropoda, Invertebrata, Composition, Composicion, Insecta, Miellat, Honeydew, Miel roseo, Métabolite, Metabolite, Metabolito, Spécificité espèce, Species specificity, Especificidad especie, Consumer community, GC-MS, Honeydew composition, MCF-derivatization, Metabolite profiling, and TMS-derivatization

The quantity and chemical composition of honeydew produced by scale insects may influence wider community structure, but little is known about the detailed chemical composition of the honeydew found in forest ecosystems. We used gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to examine the amino acid and carbohydrate composition of honeydew from three New Zealand communities. Low molecular weight carbohydrates (mono-, di-, and trisaccharides) were derivatized using a modified trimethylsilyl (TMS) method, and amino and non-amino organic acids were derivatized using methylchloroformate (MCF). These recently developed derivatization methods allowed us to detect atypical compounds such as sugar alcohols, fatty acids, and non-amino organic acids, in addition to the more routinely studied compounds such as sugars and amino acids. Some compounds could not be identified and may be novel. Multivariate analysis showed that honeydew from each scale insect species had a distinctive amino acid and carbohydrate signature. We suggest these chemical signatures may influence the types of consumers that are attracted to different honeydews and may explain the characteristic communities associated with these honeydews.

Environment, Environnement, Hygiene and public health, epidemiology, occupational medicine, Hygiène et santé publique, épidémiologie, médecine du travail, Toxicology, Toxicologie, Sciences biologiques et medicales, Biological and medical sciences, Sciences medicales, Medical sciences, Otorhinolaryngologie. Stomatologie, Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology, Voies aérodigestives supérieures, sinus de la face, glandes salivaires: maladies, sémiologie, Upper respiratory tract, upper alimentary tract, paranasal sinuses, salivary glands: diseases, semeiology, Maladies non tumorales, Non tumoral diseases, Neurologie, Neurology, Système nerveux (sémiologie, syndromes), Nervous system (semeiology, syndromes), Système nerveux en général, Nervous system as a whole, Nerfs crâniens. Racines rachidiennes. Nerfs périphériques. Système nerveux autonome. Goût. Odorat, Cranial nerves. Spinal roots. Peripheral nerves. Autonomic nervous system. Gustation. Olfaction, Pathologie ORL, ENT disease, ORL patología, Pathologie des sinus de la face, Paranasal sinus disease, Seno paranasal patología, Pathologie du nez, Nose disease, Nariz patología, Pathologie du système nerveux, Nervous system diseases, Sistema nervioso patología, Trouble neurologique, Neurological disorder, Trastorno neurológico, Anosmie, Anosmia, Appareil respiratoire, Respiratory system, Aparato respiratorio, Autoévaluation, Self evaluation, Autoevaluación, Exposition professionnelle, Occupational exposure, Exposición profesional, Homme, Human, Hombre, Identification, Identificación, Médecine du travail, Occupational medicine, Medicina ocupacional, Odeur, Odor, Olor, Olfaction, Olfación, Rhinite, Rhinitis, Rinitis, Santé publique, Public health, Salud pública, Sinusite, Sinusitis, Symptomatologie, Symptomatology, Sintomatología, Travailleur, Worker, Trabajador, Trouble de l'odorat, Olfactory disorder, Trastorno olfatorio, Attentats 11 septembre 2001, Hyposmia, Rhinology, Rhinosinusitis, SNOT-20, Smell, UPSIT, and World Trade Center

Following the World Trade Center (WTC) collapse on September 11, 2001, more than 40,000 people were exposed to a complex mixture of inhalable nanoparticles and toxic chemicals. While many developed chronic respiratory symptoms, to what degree olfaction was compromised is unclear. A previous WTC Medical Monitoring and Treatment Program study found that olfactory and nasal trigeminal thresholds were altered by the toxic exposure, but not scores on a 20-odor smell identification test. Objectives To employ a well-validated 40-item smell identification test to definitively establish whether the ability to identify odors is compromised in a cohort of WTC-exposed individuals and, if so, whether the degree of compromise is associated with self-reported severity of rhinitic symptoms. Methods The University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT) was administered to 99 WTC-exposed persons and 99 matched normal controls. The Sino-Nasal Outcomes Test (SNOT-20) was administered to the 99 WTC-exposed persons and compared to the UPSIT scores. Results The mean (SD) UPSIT scores were lower in the WTC-exposed group than in age-, sex-, and smoking history-matched controls [respective scores: 30.05 (5.08) vs 35.94 (3.76); p = 0.003], an effect present in a subgroup of 19 subjects additionally matched on occupation (p < 0.001). Fifteen percent of the exposed subjects had severe microsmia, but only 3% anosmia. SNOT-20 scores were unrelated to UPSIT scores (r = 0.20; p = 0.11). Conclusion Exposure to WTC air pollution was associated with a decrement in the ability to identify odors, implying that such exposure had a greater influence on smell function than previously realized.

Hygiene and public health, epidemiology, occupational medicine, Hygiène et santé publique, épidémiologie, médecine du travail, Sciences biologiques et medicales, Biological and medical sciences, Sciences medicales, Medical sciences, Sante publique. Hygiene-medecine du travail, Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine, Santé publique. Hygiène, Public health. Hygiene, Généralités, General aspects, Epidémiologie, Epidemiology, Divers, Miscellaneous, Androgène, Androgen, Andrógeno, Hormone stéroïde sexuelle, Sex steroid hormone, Hormona esteroide sexual, Hormone testiculaire, Testicular hormone, Hormona testicular, Association, Asociación, Biologie clinique, Clinical biology, Biología clínica, Epidémiologie, Epidemiology, Epidemiología, Homme, Human, Hombre, Intervalle QT, QT interval, Intervalo QT, Santé publique, Public health, Salud pública, Sérum, Serum, Suero, Testostérone, Testosterone, Testosterona, QTc interval, RR interval, Serum testosterone, and Ventricular repolarization

It is assumed that testosterone is an important regulator of gender-related differences in ventricular repolarization. Therefore, our aim was to study whether serum levels of testosterone are associated with QTc, QT and RR interval variation. Setting: two independent population-based cohort studies. Participants: 445 male participants (>55 years) from the Rotterdam study cohort and 1,428 male participants from the study of health in Pomerania (SHIP) with an electrocardiogram who were randomly sampled for assessment of serum testosterone at baseline, after exclusion of participants with testosterone altering drugs, QTc prolonging drugs or dig(it)oxin, left ventricular hypertrophy and left and right bundle branch block. Endpoints: length of the QTc, QT and RR intervals. Analysis: linear regression model, adjusted for the two individual studies and a pooled analysis of both studies. The pooled analysis of the Rotterdam study and SHIP showed that the QTc interval gradually decreased among the tertiles (P value for trend 0.024). The third tertile of serum testosterone was associated with a lower QTc interval compared to the first tertile [—3.4 ms (-6.5; -0.3)]. However, the third tertile of serum testosterone was not associated with a lower QT interval compared to the first tertile [-0.7 ms (-3.1; 1.8)]. The RR interval gradually increased among the tertiles (P value for trend 0.002) and the third tertile of serum testosterone showed an increased RR interval compared to the first tertile [33.5 ms (12.2; 54.8)]. In the pooled analysis of two population-based studies, serum testosterone levels were not associated with the QT interval, which could be due to a lack of power. Lower QTc intervals in men with higher serum testosterone levels could be due to the association of serum testosterone with prolongation of the RR interval.

Toxicology, Toxicologie, Sciences biologiques et medicales, Biological and medical sciences, Sciences medicales, Medical sciences, Toxicologie, Toxicology, Aminoacide, Aminoacid, Aminoácido, Carboxylic ester hydrolases, Enzyme, Enzima, Esterases, Hydrolases, Toxine, Toxin, Toxina, Albumine, Albumin, Albúmina, Cholinesterase, Etude comparative, Comparative study, Estudio comparativo, Exposition, Exposure, Exposición, Marqueur biologique, Biological marker, Marcador biológico, Neurotoxine, Neurotoxin, Neurotoxina, Organophosphoré, Organophosphorus compounds, Organofosforado, Oxime, Oxima, Traitement, Treatment, Tratamiento, Tyrosine, Tirosina, Biomarkers, Nerve agents, Oxime therapy, Phosphylated butyrylcholinesterase, and Phosphylated tyrosine

Organophosphorus nerve agents inhibit the activity of cholinesterases by phosphylation of the active site serine. In addition, sarin, cyclosarin, soman and tabun have been shown to phosphylate a tyrosine residue in albumin. Therapies against nerve agent poisoning include the use of oximes to reactivate inhibited cholinesterases by displacement of the phosphyl moiety and hence detectable levels of adducts with cholinesterases may be reduced. Adducts with tyrosine have been shown to be persistent in the guinea pig in the presence of oxime therapy. Plasma samples obtained from an animal study aimed at improving therapy against nerve agent poisoning were used to compare the suitability of tyrosine and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) adducts as biomarkers of nerve agent exposure after treatment with therapeutic oximes. Under the terms of the project licence, these samples could be collected only on death of the animal, which occurred within hours of exposure or when culled at 23 or 24 days. Tyrosine adducts were detected in all samples collected following intra-muscular administration of twice the LD50 dose of the respective nerve agent. Aged BuChE adducts were detected in samples collected within a few hours after administration of soman and tabun, but not after 23 or 24 days. No BuChE adducts were detected in animals exposed to sarin and cyclosarin where samples were collected only after 23 or 24 days.

Psychology, psychopathology, psychiatry, Psychologie, psychopathologie, psychiatrie, Sciences biologiques et medicales, Biological and medical sciences, Sciences medicales, Medical sciences, Psychopathologie. Psychiatrie, Psychopathology. Psychiatry, Etude clinique de l'adulte et de l'adolescent, Adult and adolescent clinical studies, Divers, Miscellaneous, Psychologie. Psychanalyse. Psychiatrie, Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry, PSYCHOPATHOLOGIE. PSYCHIATRIE, Langage, Language, Lenguaje, Analyse qualitative, Qualitative analysis, Análisis cualitativo, Effet psychologique, Psychological effect, Efecto psicológico, Environnement social, Social environment, Contexto social, Expérience personnelle, Personal experience, Experiencia personal, Homme, Human, Hombre, Narration, Narrative, Narración, Psychopathologie, Psychopathology, Psicopatología, Santé mentale, Mental health, Salud mental, Santé publique, Public health, Salud pública, Secouriste, Rescuer, Socorrista, Sinistre, Disaster, Siniestro, Symptomatologie, Symptomatology, Sintomatología, Traumatisme, Trauma, Traumatismo, Attentats 11 septembre 2001, 9/11, Disasters, Responders, and World Trade Center

A qualitative study of the experiences of rescue and recovery workers/volunteers at Ground Zero following the terrorist attacks of 9/11/01 is reported. Information was extracted from a semi-structured clinical evaluation of 416 responders who were the initial participants in a large scale medical and mental health screening and treatment program for 9/11 responders. Qualitative analysis revealed themes that spanned four categories― occupational roles, exposures, attitudes/experiences, and outcomes related to the experience of Ground Zero. Themes included details regarding Ground Zero roles, grotesque experiences such as smells, the sense of the surreal nature of responding, and a turning to rituals to cope after leaving Ground Zero. These findings personalize the symptom reports and diagnoses that have resulted from the 9/11 responders' exposure to Ground Zero, yielding richer information than would otherwise be available for addressing the psychological dimensions of disasters. This work shows that large scale qualitative surveillance of trauma-exposed populations is both relevant and feasible.

Genetics, Génétique, Neurology, Neurologie, Sciences biologiques et medicales, Biological and medical sciences, Sciences medicales, Medical sciences, Neurologie, Neurology, Sclérose en plaques et variantes. Syndrome de guillain barré et autres polyradiculonévrites inflammatoires. Leucoencéphalites, Multiple sclerosis and variants. Guillain barré syndrome and other inflammatory polyneuropathies. Leukoencephalitis, Génétique, Genetics, Genética, Maladie inflammatoire, Inflammatory disease, Enfermedad inflamatoria, Système nerveux central pathologie, Central nervous system disease, Sistema nervosio central patología, Système nerveux pathologie, Nervous system diseases, Sistema nervioso patología, Américain, American, Americano, Déterminisme génétique, Genetic determinism, Determinismo genético, Français, French, Francés, Liaison génétique, Genetic linkage, Ligamiento genético, Pathogénie, Pathogenesis, Patogenia, Région, Region, Región, Sclérose en plaques, Multiple sclerosis, and Esclerosis en placa

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating autoimmune disease with a strong yet complex genetic component. To date only the HLA-DR locus, and specifically the HLA-DR15 allele, has been identified and confirmed as influencing the risk of developing MS. Genomic screens on several datasets have been performed and have identified several chromosomal regions with interesting results, but none have yet been confirmed. We tested seven of the most-promising regions (on chromosomes lp, 2p, 3p, 3q, 5q, 19q, and Xp) identified from several genomic screens in a dataset of 98 multiplex MS families from the United States and 90 multiplex MS families from France. The results did not confirm linkage to 2p, 3q, 5q, or Xp in the overall dataset, or in subsets defined by geographic origin or HLA-DR15 status. Regions on lp34, 3p14, and 19q13 produced lod scores >0.90 in at least one subset of the data, suggesting that these regions should be examined in more detail.

Genetics, Génétique, Neurology, Neurologie, Sciences biologiques et medicales, Biological and medical sciences, Sciences medicales, Medical sciences, Neurologie, Neurology, Sclérose en plaques et variantes. Syndrome de guillain barré et autres polyradiculonévrites inflammatoires. Leucoencéphalites, Multiple sclerosis and variants. Guillain barré syndrome and other inflammatory polyneuropathies. Leukoencephalitis, Maladie inflammatoire, Inflammatory disease, Enfermedad inflamatoria, Système nerveux central pathologie, Central nervous system disease, Sistema nervosio central patología, Système nerveux pathologie, Nervous system diseases, Sistema nervioso patología, Allèle, Allele, Alelo, Association chromosomique, Chromosome association, Asociación cromosómica, Chromosome, Cromosoma, Etiologie, Etiology, Etiología, Etude familiale, Family study, Estudio familiar, Facteur risque, Risk factor, Factor riesgo, Fratrie, Sibling, Hermandad, Gène, Gene, Gen, Génétique, Genetics, Genética, Jumeau, Twin, Gemelo, Liaison génétique, Linkage, Ligamiento genético, Locus, Marqueur, Marker, Marcador, Multiple, Múltiple, Risque, Risk, Riesgo, Région, Region, Región, Sclérose en plaques, Multiple sclerosis, Esclerosis en placa, Système HLA, HLA-System, Sistema HLA, Système histocompatibilité majeur, Major histocompatibility system, Sistema histocompatibilidad mayor, Trouble neurologique, Neurological disorder, and Trastorno neurológico

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune neurological disorder with a complex etiology. Sibling risk, twin, and adoption studies have demonstrated that genes play a vital role in susceptibility to MS. Numerous association and linkage studies have implicated the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) as one component of the genetic etiology, but additional loci remain to be identified. Genomic screens have suggested over 50 regions that might harbor these genes, but there has been little agreement between studies. The one region suggested by all four screens resides within chromosome 19q13. Allelic associations with several markers in this region have also been described. This region has now been examined in detail in an expanded dataset of MS families from the United States. Genetic linkage and association were tested with multiple markers in this region using both parametric and non-parametric analyses. Additional support for an MS susceptibility locus was observed, primarily in families with the MS-associated HLA-DR2 allele. While consistent, this effect appears to be modest with a maximum λs=1.47, probably representing no more than 10% of the overall genetic effect in MS.

quick response programs, applicability, acceptability, and home care services

Objectives: This collaborative project between two community hospitals, a Metropolitan Home Care Program and the University, was designed to quantify the applicability (who is eligible for) and acceptability (who will likely comply with) Home Care services, provided through a Quick Response Program (QRP) initiative as compared to usual hospital care services, to patients, families and physicians. Methods: During a 6 week period of sampling (5 days per week, 8 hours per day) in two Emergency Departments (ED) in moderately sized community hospitals in a major metropolitan city, all patients triaged to the urgent category were assessed for eligibility for QRP services by on-site Home Care Coordinators using specific criteria. Patients meeting the criteria initially were reviewed by the ED physician for approval for QRP services and then randomized to experimental and control conditions. Patients not meeting the eligibility criteria were managed by the usual ED services procedures. Demographic and clinical data were obtained on all urgent category patients at presentation to the ED. Additionally, the nature and cost of all health care services used by the ED patients during the ED event and 10 days follow up, were obtained through hospital and Home Care record abstraction and compared among the different sample groups. Results: The QRP Initiative was applicable to 2% of the total ED patient population and 5% of the urgent category of patients triaged in the ED. It was acceptable to 97% of this eligible group. One hundred and fifty-five patients who initially qualified for QRP were excluded from eligibility at a subsequent assessment. Ninety of these patients were admitted to hospital and 65 were discharged home. In the total “exclusion” group, 37 refused Home Care services including the QRP. Health care practice implications: The sampling results raise important questions about broader system issues concerning the role of the hospital and community in providing health care services and the social value or utility that guides the allocation of health care funds. What level of applicability and acceptability would justify priority services for certain target groups. In the future, policy makers will need to be able to show that it is in the best interest of patients and society to prioritize mixtures of services to certain target groups. Copyright Kluwer Academic Publishers 1999

A series of studies investigate the decision processes of actuaries, underwriters, and reinsurers in setting premiums for ambiguous and uncertain risks. Survey data on prices reveal that all three types of these insurance decision makers are risk averse and ambiguity averse. In addition, groups appear to be influenced in their premium-setting decisions by specific reference points such as expected loss and the concern with insolvency. This behavior is consistent with a growing analytical and empirical literature in economics and decision processes that investigates the role that uncertainty plays on managerial choices. Improved risk-assessment procedures and government involvement in providing protection against catastrophic losses may induce insurers to reduce premiums and broaden available coverage. Copyright 1993 by Kluwer Academic Publishers