In an effort to assess potential ecological hazards to amphibian species in selected regions within New Hampshire, the traditional Frog Embryo Teratogenesis Assay-Xenopus (FETAX), a 14-/21 day tail resorption thyroid disruption assay and >30 day limb development tests were conducted with representative surface water and sediment samples. Two separate sets of samples collected from five sites were evaluated. The primary objectives of the study were to determine if samples were capable of inducing early embryo-larval maldevelopment, to determine if maldevelopment included limb defects, to determine if thyroxine co-administration altered the rates of limb malformation and to evaluate the impact of the samples on growth rates, developmental progress and metamorphic climax. Results from these studies suggested that pond water and sediment extract samples, but not whole sediment samples, from B2, FW, LP and W ponds were capable of inducing abnormal early embryo-larval development. In addition, water samples from B2 and W ponds induced significant abnormal hindlimb development. Some abnormal forelimb development was noted in the tail resorption studies, but not to the same extent as the hindlimbs. Each of the water samples induced appreciable developmental delay, including the paired reference site B1, which could be reversed by the addition of exogenous thyroxine.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

A survey of emergency medical services systems on college and university campuses.

INTRODUCTION: Many colleges and universities appear to exist in relative isolation from community-based emergency medical services (EMS) systems. In response, some have developed their own EMS systems. OBJECTIVE: To determine the extent of this phenomenon and to delineate the characteristics of these systems. DESIGN/METHODS: Questionnaires were mailed to 1,503 colleges/universities in the United States and Canada. The questionnaire asked whether the institution had an EMS system and included 19 questions about the characteristics of the system. RESULTS: A total of 919 (61%) responses were received. Of the institutions responding, 234 (25%) had an EMS system and 31 (3.4%) were considering starting a system. Characteristics of the systems were as follows: 1) Types of patients-the two most common call types were medical and trauma/surgical; 134 (57%) reported one-fourth of calls to be medical and 91 (39%) reported one-fourth of calls to be trauma/surgical. 2) Type of service-133 (57%) services transport patients; 195 (83%) respond only to the campus or other university property; the remainder also respond to the community; and 135 (58%) function all year. 3) Dispatch-178 (76%) are dispatched by the campus police, although most services are dispatched by several sources; 46 (20%) use 9-1-1. 4) Personnel-two systems (0.85%) exclusively employ paramedics; 141 systems (60%) have at least one emergency medical technician; the remainder use emergency care attendants and first-aid providers; 118 (50%) have medical directors, of these 76 (64%) are student health physicians and 21 (18%) are community physicians. 5) Demographic Information-The majority of the campus-based EMS systems exist on small campuses in urban areas. CONCLUSIONS: A significant number of colleges/universities have EMS systems and one-half transport patients. However, the level of training of the personnel and medical direction may be below the standard for the EMS systems in the communities in which these campus-based systems exist.

Canada↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Micropatterning proteins and synthetic peptides on solid supports: a novel application for microelectronics fabrication technology.

In this paper, we describe a method for immobilizing proteins and synthesizing peptides in micrometer-dimension patterns on solid supports. Microelectronics fabrication technology was adapted and used to lithographically direct the location of immobilization of proteins on appropriately derivatized surfaces. As examples, we micropatterned the protein bovine serum albumin (BSA) and the enzyme horseradish peroxidase (HRP). The catalytic activity of HRP was shown to be retained after being cross-linked to the support. When coupled with solid-phase peptide synthesis, the technique allowed synthetic peptides to be constructed in patterns again having micrometer dimensions. Synthetic polypeptides, polylysine, were constructed in patterns with dimensions that approached the practical limit of resolution for optical lithography at 1-2 microns. The patterns of immobilized molecules and synthetic peptides were visualized using histochemical methods together with light and fluorescence microscopy. The protein and peptide patterning technique described here is an advance in the field of bioelectronics. In particular, it should now be possible to devise novel methods for interfacing with biological systems and constructing new devices for incorporation into miniaturized biosensors.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Absolute and relative configuration of erythroskyrin.

We have reisolated erythroskyrin from Penicillium islandicum and have determined the relative stereochemistry of the compound through extensive 1H- and 13C-nmr studies. The absolute stereochemistry was determined by nmr studies of the O-methylmandelate esters.

Chemical Phenomena↗

PubMedDate not supplied

An analysis of the diagnostic accuracy of the Hawkins and Neer subacromial impingement signs.

The purpose of this study was to assess the diagnostic accuracy of the Neer and Hawkins impingement signs for the diagnosis of subacromial bursitis or rotator cuff pathosis. Eighty-five consecutive patients undergoing shoulder arthroscopy by a single surgeon were documented prospectively for the positive and negative clinical and arthroscopic pathologic findings. The Neer sign was found to have a sensitivity of 75% for the appearance suggestive of subacromial bursitis; this compared with 92% for the Hawkins sign. For rotator cuff tearing, the sensitivity of the Neer sign was 85% and the sensitivity of the Hawkins sign was 88%. Specificity and positive predictive values for the two tests were low, being not much higher than pretest probability. The two tests had a high negative predictive value (96% for bursitis, 90% for rotator cuff tearing) when they were combined. The results are compared with those reported in the literature. We conclude that the Neer and Hawkins signs are sensitive for appearances suggestive of subacromial bursitis and rotator cuff partial or complete tearing with a high negative predictive value. However, they lack specificity in comparison with arthroscopic findings.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

A twin study of skin reflectance.

Skin colour has been measured by reflectance spectrophotometry on 134 pairs of twins at three sites, forehead, forearm and upper arm, each at three wavelengths, 425, 545 and 685 nm. Tanning is measured most reliably at 685 nm and at this wavelength the heritability is high at the least exposed upper arm site, intermediate on the forearm, while on the forehead variation is entirely environmentally determined. The same gradient is observed, through less strikingly at 545 nm, but at 425 nm, where haemoglobin is reflecting most of the light, the degree of genetic determination is the same at all sites.

Adolescent↗