Phosphorus derived from agricultural practices has been targeted as a leading cause of water quality degradation in Lake Champlain. Mobilization of P from seasonally flooded agricultural soils is a concern. Using 14 soils from a research farm in New York's Champlain Valley, we characterized the available P status, extractable Fe and Al, P sorption capacities, and soluble phosphate release in flooded laboratory microcosms. Quantities of NH4-acetate available P ranged from 3 to 100 mg kg(-1) and fluoride-extractable P from 10 to 211 mg kg(-1). Flooding soils induced significant release of phosphate to the porewater over a 60- to 90-d period in 13 of the 14 soils studied. Porewater phosphate increases ranged from 2.2 to 27.0 times the initial phosphate concentrations. However, floodwater phosphate increases were much lower, with a maximum of 3.6 times the initial concentration. Average porewater phosphate concentrations over the flooding period ranged from 0.046 to 7.0 mg L(-1) and average floodwater P from 0.032 to 3.70 mg L(-1). Ammonium-acetate P and the degree of phosphorus saturation (DPS) were highly correlated with the average porewater and floodwater phosphate concentration. Average ratio of porewater to floodwater phosphate concentrations ranged from 1.0 to 3.3. Five soils that were lower in fluoride-extractable P had increasing porewater phosphate accompanied by increasing porewater Fe2+ and decreasing floodwater phosphate. Results suggest that P solubility and mobility were a function of both the available P status and redox cycling.

Agriculture↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The medical management of Graves' disease.

There are many different approaches to treat Graves' hyperthyroidism. Medical therapy is used short-term to prepare patients for radioiodine or surgery, or it is used long term with the hope of achieving a remission. b-adrenergic blocking agents are useful in all patients without a contraindication, especially selective long-acting agents such as atenalol. Thionamides are the mainstay of medical treatment. Methimazole is more potent, may be used as a single daily dose, and may have less toxicity than PTU. Severe hyperthyroidism or thyroid storm may be treated with methimazole and ipodate. Patients are prepared for surgery with methimazole and SSKI, or b-adrenergic blocking agents and ipodate.

Journal Article↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Hypercalcemia in a woman with hypoparathyroidism associated with increased parathyroid hormone-related protein during lactation.

OBJECTIVE: To report a case of postpartum hypercalcemia in a woman with hypoparathyroidism associated with increased serum concentrations of parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) during lactation. METHODS: The clinical and laboratory data for our patient and the related literature are reviewed. RESULTS: A 35-year-old woman with long-standing surgical hypoparathyroidism treated with dihydrotachysterol and calcium carbonate gave birth to a healthy boy at 40 weeks of gestation and began lactating normally. Two and a half weeks later, hypercalcemia developed in association with nausea, vomiting, and myalgias. Subsequently, an increased serum PTHrP concentration was noted. After saline diuresis and corticosteroid therapy to correct the hypercalcemia, a normal serum calcium level was maintained without vitamin D preparations or calcium supplements until the 12th postpartum week, when hypocalcemia reappeared. The serum PTHrP level was no longer increased, and treatment with calcitriol and calcium carbonate was resumed. Subsequent serum calcium concentrations have been normal. CONCLUSION: This case suggests that PTHrP stimulation of the parathyroid hormone-PTHrP receptor during lactation may compensate for the absence of parathyroid hormone in lactating women with hypoparathyroidism and that treatment with pharmacologic doses of vitamin D preparations during the postpartum period may result in hypercalcemia.

Journal Article↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Study indicates influenza vaccine beneficial for college athletes.

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Adult↗