Organic matter (OM) production and degradation is important in coastal estuaries, and OM fate is strongly influenced by the coupled interactions of bioturbation and biogeochemistry. From April to ...September 2013 sediment cores and a benthic observing system, Wormcam, were used to investigate the in situ relationship of biogeochemistry and macrofauna bioturbation in Cape Lookout Bight North Carolina. Wormcam imagery provided a vivid depiction of macrofauna functioning in an environment not previously observed, and affirmed the importance of fine-scale temporal observations of the benthic environment in situ. Observation of macrofauna presence and bioturbation during the summer contradicted previous studies that found this area to be azoic during methane activity and sulfide build-up. Sulfate concentrations decreased while sulfide and dissolved inorganic carbon concentrations increased during the summer. This coincided with changes in the depth and rates of bioturbation. Summer burrow depths (~0.8 cm) and rates (~0.4 cm h-1) were significantly less than spring burrow depths (~3.0 cm) and rates (~1.0 cm h-1). While sulfate reduction and OM degradation increased with temperature at a microscopic level, macroscopic OM degradation was reduced. As a result, reduced conditions dominated and a thin aerobic sediment layer, a few millimeters in thickness, was visible at the sediment surface. Decreases in macrofauna burrow depth and rates diminishes the area of influence of bioturbators, limiting bioturbation and subsequently the important ecosystem functions these organisms provide.
Alveolar bone grafting (ABG) is broadly performed for cleft lip and palate patients. The rate of canine impaction post-ABG is much higher than the prevalence of canine impaction in non-cleft ...patients. This pilot study was designed to investigate factors involved in canine eruption failure after ABG and to predict the possibility of canine impaction in unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) patients. This retrospective observational study examined 45 patients with UCLP (mean age 7.9 years) classified into an impacted group (n = 9) and a spontaneously erupted group (n = 36). From 3D images, we measured lateral incisor presence or absence, lateral incisor position on the cleft side, canine position, movement change, cleft volume, and canine and first premolar overlap-area. Multivariate logistic regression analysis using independent variables indicated significant differences in results, selecting highly relevant items. Multivariate analysis indicated a significant association between the overlap-area between the canine and the first premolar at pre-ABG (p = 0.038) and the distance between the cleft side cusp tips of canine and the lateral cleft margin of pre-ABG (p = 0.005). Results suggest that canine impaction is predictable at an early stage in pre-ABG and show the possibility of comprehensive diagnosis of canine impaction using computed tomography.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have become ubiquitous environmental contaminants found in many parts of the globe and in all environmental compartments. The phase out of legacy C8 PFAS ...has led to an increase in functionality of the carbon backbone chain to include ether linkages and branching points. With the increased production of functionalized PFAS, there remains a paucity of information regarding the occurrence of constitutional isomers in the environment. In this study, a series of novel PFAS constitutional isomers were detected by high resolution mass spectrometry and characterized by MS/MS in river water collected weekly over 40 weeks. Constitutional isomers of C4H2F8O4S1 (−1.8 ± 2.5 ppm) were detected for the first time in 83% of the samples analyzed and the MS/MS fragmentation patterns clearly indicated there were two coeluting isomers present. Two chromatographically resolved peaks with deprotonated molecular formula C7H1F14O5S1 (1.9 ± 2.7 and 2.2 ± 3.1 ppm) were detected in 85% of the samples measured. MS/MS fragmentation patterns and a standard provided by a fluorochemical manufacturer confirmed the two isomers. A series of novel chlorinated PFAS were detected (M-1: C11H1Cl1F20O5 0.9 ± 2.7 ppm and C14H1Cl1F26O6 2.1 ± 2.6 ppm) in 34% of the water samples analyzed. The exact structure is not confirmed. River sediment collected below the water sample location contained several of the compounds detected in the water column illustrating the connectivity between the environmental compartments. Results highlight the need for further studies on the occurrence of isomers and authentic standards to confirm structures.
•Constitutional Isomers of C7H1F14O5S1 (M-1) detected in water and sediments.•Novel homologous series of monochlorinated perfluoroether carboxylic acids.•First reported differentiation of constitutional isomers of C4H1F8O4S1 (M-1) by MS/MS.
Objective Recent studies suggest a significant association between sarcoidosis and malignancy, although the results have remained controversial. The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical ...features of patients with sarcoidosis associated with malignant diseases in Japan. Patients We conducted a medical record review of all sarcoidosis patients in Tohoku University Hospital between January 1, 1981, and May 31, 2017. Methods The clinical records and pathology reports for each patient were screened, and the clinical characteristics of malignancies as well as sarcoidosis were reviewed. Results A total of 52 (18.8%) patients with malignancy were identified among 277 patients with sarcoidosis. Among those 52 patients, we identified 62 with malignant diseases. These patients were older and more likely to be women than the remaining 225 (81.2%) sarcoidosis patients without malignancy. The most prevalent malignant disease was breast cancer (14 cases, 22.6%), followed by stomach cancer (8 cases, 12.9%) and lung cancer (7 cases, 11.3%). Among the 14 patients with both sarcoidosis and breast cancer, 8 (57.1%) were diagnosed with breast cancer before sarcoidosis. All of these eight cases had undergone surgical resection of the cancer. Conclusion This study showed a higher incidence of patients with both sarcoidosis and malignancy in Japan than in some western countries. Breast cancer is the most prevalent malignant disease. The high frequency of sarcoidosis after surgical resection of breast cancer may suggest a causative association between malignancy and the development of sarcoidosis.
To evaluate the quality of the structure and process of cancer care from the perspective of patients with cancer, we developed a Cancer Care Evaluation Scale.
Two anonymous online surveys of patients ...with cancer in Japan were conducted using a convenience sample of 400 adult cancer outpatients.
In total, 162 patients participated in the online surveys. Factor analysis revealed that the Cancer Care Evaluation Scale had the following 12 domains: (i) relationship with physician, (ii) relationship with nurse, (iii) physical care by physician, (iv) physical care by nurse, (v) psycho-existential care, (vi) help with decision-making for patients, (vii) coordination and consistency, (viii) environment, (ix) cost, (x) availability, (xi) care for the side effects of cancer treatment by a physician, and (xii) care for the side effects of cancer treatment by a nurse. The Cancer Care Evaluation Scale was correlated with overall care satisfaction (r = 0.75), but not with the quality of life (r = 0.40). In regard to rest-retest reliability, most items showed an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.7 or higher.
The validity and reliability of the Cancer Care Evaluation Scale were confirmed, suggesting that this tool is useful for evaluating the quality of cancer care from the perspective of patients with cancer.
A 70-year-old man with multicentric Castleman disease (MCD) was admitted to our hospital with jaundice and ascites. Elevations in his bilirubin and interleukin-6 levels were noted, and computed ...tomography revealed hepatic atrophy and portal vein and bile duct disorders. Steroid therapy was started for MCD, but he died of hepatic failure. An autopsy revealed that the MCD activity was mild, but advanced fibrosis and cholestasis were observed in the liver. Mild infiltration of interleukin-6-positive plasma cells was noted in the highly fibrotic area of the liver. Although rare, liver and biliary tract damage may be also considered organ disorders of MCD.
Objective: We aim to clarify care managers’ recognition of alcohol-related problems and approaches to support elderly residents with such problems and their families.Methods: Interview data with 24 ...care managers were analyzed using a qualitative integrative approach (the KJ method).Results: The care managers realized lack of learning opportunities about alcohol-related problems and difficulty in supporting the elderly in communities overlooking such problems and difficulty in understanding families’ wavering emotions and self-insufficiency for not being able to provide proper support. With the attitude of determining appropriate timings for intervention and promoting awareness among elderly residents facing alcohol-related problems, while respecting their emotions, the care managers adopted various approaches, such as providing family support utilizing care services and making environmental arrangements to prevent drinking. In such a situation, the care managers desired earnest guidance by physicians, not specializing in these problems, and collaboration with specialists and peer groups where elderly residents/families can study alcohol-related problems.Discussion: While realizing that they lacked sufficient knowledge of alcohol-related problems among elderly residents, the care managers supported them and their families by utilizing care services to resolve these problems, and through collaboration with doctors and peer groups.
Ethanol concentrations measured in 178 event-based wet deposition samples collected at five Atmospheric Integrated Research Monitoring Network (AIRMoN) sites in the Eastern US between February 2018 ...to January 2019 ranged from below the detection limit of 19 nM to 4160 nM. The volume weighted average ethanol concentration at each site ranged from 237 nM to 1375 nM. No significant correlation was observed between ethanol and any analytes (NH
4
+
, Cl
−
, SO
4
2−
, NO
3
−
, Ca
2+
, Na
+
, Mg
2+
, K
+
, PO
4
3−
and H
+
) at all sites in the study, likely due to differences in atmospheric residence time and emission sources. Significant seasonal variations of ethanol were not observed for any sites, however notably higher concentrations in the winter vs. summer and growing vs. nongrowing seasons suggest photochemical dynamics play a substantial role in seasonal atmospheric concentrations. The AIRMoN concentrations were combined with previous measured ethanol wet deposition data to produce an updated empirical-based global wet deposition ethanol flux of 3.7 ± 1.8 Tg/yr (
n
= 1051). The carbon isotopic composition of a subset of samples ranged from −25.8 to −15.7‰ with an average of (−20.4 ± 4.0‰,
n
= 6). Isotope mixing model results indicate an approximately equivalent contribution of biogenic (55.2 ± 14.4%) and anthropogenic (44.8 ± 14.4%) sources of ethanol to the atmosphere over all collections sites. Results provide atmospheric scientists, environmental chemists and policy makers with baseline U.S. atmospheric ethanol concentrations in order to help determine the impact of future ethanol fuel production and to help quantify the wet deposition ethanol sink.
Objective Although several studies have reported the relationship between hypoalbuminemia and the clinical outcome, it remains disputable in patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF). We ...therefore investigated the relationship between hypoalbuminemia on admission and long-term mortality in hospitalized patients following ADHF. Methods We examined a cohort of 751 consecutive patients who were admitted to the cardiac intensive-care unit between 2007 and 2011 with a diagnosis of ADHF. These patients were divided into 2 groups according to the presence or absence of hypoalbuminemia on admission, which was defined as a serum albumin ≤3.4 g/dL. A propensity score (PS) was calculated to evaluate the effects of variables related to the presence or absence of hypoalbuminemia. The association between hypoalbuminemia and mortality was assessed using two Cox regression models-namely, conventional adjustment and matching patients with and without hypoalbuminemia using the PS. Results Among the pre-match patients (n=551), 311 (56%) were classified as exhibiting hypoalbuminemia on admission. There were 152 deaths (27.5%), and the median follow-up was 1.9 years. The presence of hypoalbuminemia on admission tended to be associated with increased mortality in the unadjusted model hazard ratio (HR) 1.32, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.95-1.84; p=0.098 but not in the conventional adjusted model (HR 0.98, 95% CI 0.64-1.52; p=0.938). Even in post-match patients, no association between hypoalbuminemia and mortality was observed (HR 1.09, 95% CI 0.68-1.76; p=0.722). Conclusion Hypoalbuminemia on admission was not associated with long-term mortality in patients with ADHF, even if PS matching was used.
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) plays a potential role in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease through improved cellular bioenergetics. Critical illness in the intensive care unit has been ...reported to be associated with decreased circulating CoQ10 levels, and we previously demonstrated the association of low CoQ10 levels with in-hospital mortality. However, the association of CoQ10 with the acute phase of cardiovascular disease and long-term mortality remains unclear. We enrolled 242 consecutive patients with cardiovascular disease admitted to the coronary care unit of Juntendo University Hospital to investigate the association between long-term mortality and serum CoQ10 levels. During a mean follow-up of 3.2 years, 58 patients died. The mean serum CoQ10 levels were significantly lower in the non-survivors than in the survivors (0.48 ± 0.27 vs. 0.58 ± 0.38 mg/L;
p
= 0.035). Compared with the patients with above-median CoQ10 levels (0.46 mg/L), the cumulative incidence of all-cause mortality was significantly higher in those with lower CoQ10 levels (
p
= 0.025). Multivariate Cox regression analysis further demonstrated that lower CoQ10 levels were associated with poor prognosis. Low serum CoQ10 levels during the acute phase of cardiovascular diseases were associated with long-term mortality in patients, suggesting the utility of low serum CoQ10 levels as a predictor and potential therapeutic target.
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