In this study, PCDDs/DFs and co-planar PCBs concentrations in flue gases from 17 crematories and in fly ashes and bottom ashes (mainly bone) from several crematories were measured to grasp the present state of PCDDs/DFs emissions from crematories. The effects of several factors were discussed to prevent PCDDs/DFs emissions from crematories. Total concentration (normalized by 12% O2) of PCDDs/DFs was ranged from 4.9 to 1200 ng/m3 N, and toxic equivalent concentration was ranged from 0.064 to 24 ng TEQ/m3 N. As the results obtained in this research, the following measures to reduce PCDDs/DFs emission are recommended for existing crematories: (1) keeping the temperature at 800 degrees C in main/secondary chambers during a whole cremation, and (2) lowering the temperature in the dust collector. For newly installed crematories, following measures to prevent PCDDs/DFs emission including the measures for existing ones are recommended: (1) connecting one secondary chamber to one main chamber, (2) installing the high efficiency dust collector and reducing dust concentration to less than 0.01 g/m3 N, and (3) installing the sampling point for monitoring of PCDDs/DFs.

Air Pollution↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Young's syndrome associated with situs inversus totalis.

Primary ciliary dysfunction causes recurrent sino-pulmonary infections and shares the pathophysiology of the reproductive tract. A 34-year old man with bronchectasis and situs inversus totalis was investigated because of azoospermia. Endocrinological evaluations were all normal and scrotal exploration revealed the distended caput, but atrophic body to tail, of the epididymis. Light microscopy of testicular biopsy showed normal spermatogensis and motile sperms were easily obtained by testicular sperm extraction. Electron microscopy demonstrated normal sperm structure, whereas 65% of nasal cilias showed defect of central microtubules. This case, which bears a resemblance of Kartagener's syndrome (situs inversus totalis), is considered a unique variant of Young's syndrome.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of recombinant human hepatocyte growth factor on the proliferation and function of porcine hepatocytes.

A porcine hepatocyte based bioartificial liver (BAL) is still insufficient to replace liver transplantation. In this experiment, to strengthen the performance of a BAL, the effect of human recombinant hepatocyte growth factor (rhHGF) on the proliferation and function of xenogeneic porcine hepatocytes was studied. Isolated porcine hepatocytes were seeded at various densities (5 x 10(3) to 8 x 10(4) cells/well) on a collagen coated 96 well plate in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) with 10% FCS. After 4 hours, the medium was changed to DMEM with added insulin and dexamethasone. Subsequently, rhHGF was added at various concentrations (0, 0.625, 1.25, 2.5, 5, 10, 20, 40 ng/ml) and cultured for an additional 24, 48, and 72 hours, respectively. The proliferation of porcine hepatocytes in response to rhHGF reached a plateau at 2.5 ng/ml at 24 hours and subsequently decreased. The levels of porcine albumin vs protein present in the supernatant increased when cultured at high cell density. In conclusion, rhHGF was found to stimulate proliferation of porcine hepatocytes at low cell density and low concentration. rhHGF can also increase albumin synthesis at higher cell density, thus indicating its potential use in a more satisfactory porcine hepatocyte based BAL.

Albumins↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Fibroadenoma of the gall bladder.

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Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The influence of a heparin-coated oxygenator during cardiopulmonary bypass on postoperative lung oxygenation capacity in pediatric patients with congenital heart anomalies.

BACKGROUND: Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) causes an inflammatory response and remarkably depresses the oxygenation capacity of the lung in pediatric patients with pulmonary hypertension. Although a heparin-coated circuit is more biocompatible than an uncoated circuit, the beneficial effect of a heparin-coated circuit on the postoperative lung function in the pediatric patients remains unknown. METHODS: Sixty patients younger than 3-years-old undergoing heart operations for ventricular septal defect were divided into three groups: group I = children (n = 11) without pulmonary hypertension who underwent CPB with an uncoated oxygenator; group II = children (n = 32) with pulmonary hypertension who underwent CPB with an uncoated oxygenator; and group III = children (n = 17) with pulmonary hypertension who underwent CPB with a heparin-coated oxygenator. A respiratory index (RI) was used to assess the oxygenation capacity of the lung. RESULTS: RI in group II was significantly higher than in group I and intubation time in group II was significantly longer than in group I. There was a positive correlation between preoperative pulmonary-systemic blood pressure ratio and RI at 3 hours post-CPB. Three and six hours post-CPB, RI in group III was significantly lower than in group II, but there was no significant difference in RI between both groups at 12 hours post-CPB. CONCLUSIONS: Pulmonary hypertensive pediatric patients were vulnerable to postperfusion lung injury. Beneficial effects of a heparin-coated oxygenator in a CPB circuit was limited to the early hours post-CPB and the postoperative clinical course was not modified by the heparin-coating of a membrane oxygenator.

Cardiopulmonary Bypass↗