Mass stranding events (MSEs) of beaked whales (BWs) were extremely rare prior to the 1960s but increased markedly after the development of naval mid-frequency active sonar (MFAS). The temporal and ...spatial associations between atypical BW MSEs and naval exercises were first observed in the Canary Islands, Spain, in the mid-1980s. Further research on BWs stranded in association with naval exercises demonstrated pathological findings consistent with decompression sickness (DCS). A 2004 ban on MFASs around the Canary Islands successfully prevented additional BW MSEs in the region, but atypical MSEs have continued in other places of the world, especially in the Mediterranean Sea, with examined individuals showing DCS. A workshop held in Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, in September 2017 reviewed current knowledge on BW atypical MSEs associated with MFAS. Our review suggests that the effects of MFAS on BWs vary among individuals or populations, and predisposing factors may contribute to individual outcomes. Spatial management specific to BW habitat, such as the MFAS ban in the Canary Islands, has proven to be an effective mitigation tool and mitigation measures should be established in other areas taking into consideration known population-level information.
Marine debris produces a wide variety of negative environmental, economic, safety, health and cultural impacts. Most marine litter has a very low decomposition rate (as plastics, which are the most ...abundant type of marine debris), leading to a gradual, but significant accumulation in the coastal and marine environment. Along that time, marine debris is a significant source of chemical contaminants to the marine environment. Once extracted from the water, incineration is the method most widely used to treat marine debris. Other treatment methods have been tested, but they still need some improvement and so far have only been used in some countries. Several extraction and collection programs have been carried out. However, as marine debris keep entering the sea, these programs result insufficient and the problem of marine debris will continue its increase. The present work addresses the environmental impact and social aspects of the marine debris, with a review of the state of the art in the treatments of this kind of waste, together with an estimation of the worldwide occurrence and characteristics.
Abstract
Context
Malignant pheochromocytoma (PHEO) and paraganglioma (PGL) are rare and knowledge of the natural history is limited.
Objective
We aimed to describe baseline characteristics and ...outcomes of patients with malignant PHEO and PGL (PPGL) and to identify predictors of shorter survival.
Design
Retrospective review of patients with malignant PPGL evaluated from 1960 to 2016.
Setting
Referral center.
Patients
The group comprised 272 patients.
Main Outcome Measures
Baseline description, survival outcomes, and predictors of shorter survival were evaluated in patients with rapidly progressive (n = 29) and indolent disease (n = 188).
Results
Malignant PPGL was diagnosed at a median age of 39 years (range, 7 to 83 years), with synchronous metastases in 96 (35%) patients. In 176 (65%) patients, metastases developed at a median of 5.5 years (range, 0.3 to 53.4 years) from the initial diagnosis. Median follow-up was 8.2 years (range, 0.01 to 54.1 years). Median overall and disease-specific survivals were 24.6 and 33.7 years, respectively. Shorter survival correlated with male sex (P = 0.014), older age at the time of primary tumor (P = 0.0011), synchronous metastases (P < 0.0001), larger primary tumor size (P = 0.0039), elevated dopamine (P = 0.0195), and not undergoing primary tumor resection (P < 0.0001). There was no difference in the type of primary tumor or presence of SDHB mutation.
Conclusions
The clinical course of patients with malignant PPGL is remarkably variable. Rapid disease progression is associated with male sex, older age at diagnosis, synchronous metastases, larger tumor size, elevated dopamine, and not undergoing resection of primary tumor. An individualized approach to patients with metastatic PPGL is warranted.
We studied patients with malignant pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma. Overall and disease-specific survivals were 24.6 and 33.7 years, respectively. Patients had a markedly variable clinical course.
High-frequency modulated signals with a stereotyped down-swept contour were recorded in the northwestern Antarctic Peninsula using an autonomous recorder and a towed hydrophone array. Signals have a ...mean start frequency at 21.6 kHz, end frequency at 15.7 kHz, −10 dB bandwidth of 5.9 kHz, and duration of 65.2 ms. Bouts of signals were generally recorded with a median inter-signal interval of 2.1 s. HFM signals partially modulated in the non-ultrasonic range similar to the ones described in this paper have already been reported for killer whales in the North Pacific, Western South Atlantic and Western Australian coast. The HFM signals were recorded in the presence of other odontocete sounds such as whistles, echolocation clicks and burst-pulsed sounds. The similarities of these sounds with vocalizations described for killer whales in the Western Australian coast lead us to strongly believe that the described HFM signals were produced by Antarctic killer whales. This paper described for the first time HFM signals in Antarctica and discussed evidence suggesting that Antarctic type A killer whales are the most probable candidates to produce such signals. However, a visual confirmation is still needed and the function of the HFM signals remains unknown.
The International Whaling Commission's (IWC) Scientific Committee provides important advice to the IWC on a large variety of cetacean species, sub-species and populations and the issues affecting ...them. Cetaceans are facing increasing, non-whaling-related threats, and the Scientific Committee (SC), in accordance with the Commission's requests, has strengthened its conservation-oriented research work. A selection of the reports of the Scientific Committee from between 1986 and 2012 was assessed for its: (i) fundamental research; (ii) management; (iii) conservation; and (iv) administrative content, and to identify potential trends over time. Recommendations and their urgency were also examined, as implied from the language used by the SC in its reports. The analysis showed that the work of the Scientific Committee has increasingly been oriented towards conservation issues over the period reviewed, but at the same time this conservation work has received little funding. Increased support for conservation-related research projects is warranted to promote the long-term survival of cetaceans. Based on this review of the content and focus of the Committee reports, the analysis suggested that its issued advice be made clearer, whenever possible, and governments are urged to give due consideration to this science-based advice particularly when urgent conservation actions are needed. In addition, more consistent funding of the IWC's conservation-related research should be pursued to improve international conservation outputs regarding cetacean populations.
•Statements in IWC Scientific Committee reports are used to track its evolution.•Conservation-oriented research work has increased but still receives little funding.•A dichotomy between conservation of cetaceans and management of whaling is found.•Small Cetacean sub-committee greatly contributes to the conservation agenda.•Lack of governmental effective management actions condemn several populations.
Summary
Advanced airway management is a treatment priority in trauma care. It is likely that a proportion of patients who receive urgent airway management on arrival in the emergency department ...represent an unmet demand for airway intervention in the pre‐hospital phase. This study aimed to investigate emergency airway practice in major trauma patients and establish any unmet demand in this patient group. A retrospective review of the Trauma Audit and Research Network database was performed to identify airway intervention(s) performed for patients admitted to major trauma centres in England from 01 April 2012 to 27 June 2016. In total, 11,010 patients had airway interventions: 4375 patients (43%) had their tracheas intubated in the pre‐hospital setting compared with 5889 patients (57%) in the emergency department. Of the patients whose tracheas were intubated in the emergency department, this was done within 30 min of hospital arrival in 3264 patients (75%). Excluding tracheal intubation, 1593 patients had a pre‐hospital airway intervention of which 881 (55%) subsequently had their trachea intubated in the emergency department; tracheal intubation was done within 30 min of arrival in the majority of these cases (805 patients (91%)). Over 70% of emergency department tracheal intubations in patients with traumatic injuries were performed within 30 min of hospital arrival; this suggests there may be an unmet demand in pre‐hospital advanced airway management for trauma patients in England.
Summary
Context
Abdominal visceral adiposity and central sarcopenia are markers of increased cardiovascular risk and mortality.
Objective
To assess whether central sarcopenia and adiposity can serve ...as a marker of disease severity in patients with adrenal adenomas and glucocorticoid secretory autonomy.
Design
Retrospective cohort study.
Patients
Twenty‐five patients with overt Cushing's syndrome (CS), 48 patients with mild autonomous cortisol excess (MACE) and 32 patients with a nonfunctioning adrenal tumour (NFAT) were included.
Methods
Medical records were reviewed, and body composition measurements (visceral fat VAT, subcutaneous fat SAT, visceral/total fat V/T, visceral/subcutaneous V/S and total abdominal muscle mass) were calculated based on abdominal computed tomography (CT).
Results
In patients with overt CS, when compared to patients with NFAT, the V/T fat and the V/S ratio were increased by 0.08 (P < .001) and by 0.3 (P < .001); however, these measurements were decreased by 0.04 (P = .007) and 0.2 (P = .01), respectively, in patients with MACE. Total muscle mass was decreased by −10 cm2 (P = .02) in patients with overt CS compared to patients with NFAT. Correlation with morning serum cortisol concentrations after dexamethasone suppression testing revealed that for every 28 nmol/L cortisol increase there was a 0.008 increase in V/T (P < .001), 0.02 increase in the V/S fat ratio (P < .001) and a 1.2 cm2 decrease in mean total muscle mass (P = .002).
Conclusions
The severity of hypercortisolism was correlated with lower muscle mass and higher visceral adiposity. These CT‐based markers may allow for a more reliable and objective assessment of glucocorticoid‐related disease severity in patients with adrenal adenomas.
Marine debris (MDs) produces a wide variety of negative environmental, economic, safety, health and cultural impacts. Most marine litter has a very low decomposition rate (plastics), leading to a ...gradual accumulation in the coastal and marine environment. Characterization of the MDs has been done in terms of their pollutant content: PAHs, ClBzs, ClPhs, BrPhs, PCDD/Fs and PCBs. The results show that MDs is not a very contaminated waste. Also, thermal decomposition of MDs materials has been studied in a thermobalance at different atmospheres and heating rates. Below 400–500K, the atmosphere does not affect the thermal degradation of the mentioned waste. However, at temperatures between 500 and 800K the presence of oxygen accelerates the decomposition. Also, a kinetic model is proposed for the combustion of the MDs, and the decomposition is compared with that of their main constituents, i.e., polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), polypropylene (PP), nylon and polyethylene-terephthalate (PET).
•The analysis and characterization of waste from marine environment were performed.•Its pollutant content has been determined, considering PAHs, PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs.•Thermal decomposition of MDs was studied at different atmospheres and heating rates.•Kinetic models for the combustion of the five main plastics of MDs were proposed.•Composition of the waste is calculated using thermal behavior of different plastics.
A mixture of polyethylene (PE), polyethylene-terephtalate (PET), polypropylene (PP) and Nylon was submerged in marine water during 12 moths. The chlorine content of these plastics was measured ...through the passing time. Thermobalance was used to look for differences in the thermal decomposition of the plastics during in that time interval. Degradation of PET, PP and Nylon produced changes in the weight loss curve, but behaviour of PE is confusing. Pyrolysis and combustion at 850 °C was finally performed to get knowledge of the possible differences in the emission of main gases, volatiles and semivolatiles including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated benzenes (ClBzs), polychlorinated phenols (ClPhs), polybrominated phenols (BrPhs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs). Results show that the emission of chlorinated species is somewhat not affected by the chlorine content of the plastics mix. The production of PCBs and PCDD/Fs was very low, under 4 pg WHO-TEQ/g.
•A mixture of 4 plastics was submerged in seawater for 12 months. The chlorine content and the NCV were periodically measured.•Thermal properties of these plastics were affected by the contact with the marine water. PET was the most affected polymer.•Pyrolysis and combustion runs were carried out. Emission of gases, PAHs, ClBzs, ClPhs, BrPhs, PCBs and PCDD/Fs were studied.•Pollutant emissions are higher when the content of oxygen in the process is lower.•Emissions of chlorinated species are not affected by the chlorine content. The production of PCBs and PCDD/Fs was very low.
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