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PubMed2005

Monitoring global rates of biodiversity change: challenges that arise in meeting the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) 2010 goals.

By agreeing to strive for 'a significant reduction in the current rate of loss of biological diversity' by the year 2010, political leaders at the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development (held in Johannesburg, South Africa) presented conservation scientists with a great opportunity, but also one of their most significant challenges. This is an extremely exciting and laudable development, but this reporting process could be made yet more powerful if it incorporates, from the outset, independent scientific assessment of the measures, how they are analysed, and practical ways of plugging key gaps. This input is crucial if the measures are to be widely owned, credible and robust to the vigorous external scrutiny to which they will doubtless be exposed. Assessing how rates of biodiversity loss have changed from current levels by 2010 will require that a given attribute has been measured at least three times; however, most habitats, species, populations and ecosystem services have not been assessed even once. Furthermore, the best data on which to base estimates of biodiversity loss are biased towards the charismatic vertebrate species; unfortunately, these supply minimal services to the human economy. We have to find ways to redress this taxonomic imbalance and expand our analyses to consider the vast diversity of invertebrate, fungal and microbial species that play a role in determining human health and economic welfare. In the first part of this paper I will use examples from local and regional monitoring of biological diversity to examine the desired properties of 'ideal indicators'. I will then change focus and examine an initial framework that asks how we might monitor changes in the economic goods and services provided by natural ecosystems. I will use this exercise to examine how the set of possible indicators given by the Convention on Biological Diversity might be modified in ways that provide a more critical assay of the economic value of biological diversity. Here I will emphasize that we need not only to monitor these benefits, but also to significantly increase public awareness of human dependence upon the role that non-voting species play in driving the world's financial economy.

Biodiversity↗
PubMed2001

Environmental scenarios for the future nitrogen policy in Flanders, Belgium.

The agricultural sector accounts for two thirds of nitrogen losses in Flanders, Belgium. Since 1991 both the government and the farmers have been taking measures to reduce the nitrogen surplus. Initially, the manure policy was aimed at distributing the manure surplus equally across Flanders. At the same time, the growth of livestock was stopped by a strict licensing policy, which required "command and control" measures. In recent years, the policy has switched to the use of individual target commitments by farmers. The Flemish manure policy will be tightened even more as a result of international pressures. An ex ante evaluation of possible policy options was carried out using three different scenarios spread out until 2010 (Business As Usual, Additional Measures, and Sustainable Development). To do this, a sector-economic, regionalized, environmental, comparative static, partial equilibrium, mathematical programming model of the Flemish agriculture was developed. The nitrogen emission into the agricultural soil was calculated by means of a regional soil balance. European targets can only be reached with manure processing, reduced fertilizer usage, and a strong reduction of intensive livestock breeding activities. The atmospheric deposition of nitrogen compounds will strongly decrease in 2010 if additional measures are taken. This will also result in a strong reduction of nitrous oxide emissions.

Agriculture↗
PubMed1998

Fruit development in trillium. Dependence On stem carbohydrate reserves

Leaves are the main source of carbon for fruit maturation in most species. However, in plants seeing contrasting light conditions such as some spring plants, carbon fixed during the spring could be used to support fruit development in the summer, when photosynthetic rates are low. We monitored carbohydrate content in the rhizome (a perennating organ) and the aboveground stem of trillium (Trillium erectum) over the entire growing season (May-November). At the beginning of the fruiting stage, stems carrying a developing fruit were harvested, their leaves were removed, and the leafless stems were maintained in aqueous solution under controlled conditions up to full fruit maturation. These experiments showed that stem carbohydrate content was sufficient to support fruit development in the absence of leaves and rhizome. This is the first reported case, to our knowledge, of complete fruit development sustained only by a temporary carbohydrate reservoir. This carbohydrate accumulation in the stem during the spring enables the plant to make better use of the high irradiances occurring at that time. Many other species might establish short-term carbohydrate reservoirs in response to seasonal changes in growing conditions.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1992

The susceptibility of the mosquitoes Aedes notoscriptus and Culex annulirostris to infection with dog heartworm Dirofilaria immitis and their vector efficiency.

The mosquitoes Aedes notoscriptus (Skuse) and Culex annulirostris Skuse were fed on a dog infected with Dirofilaria immitis (Leidy) and a blood parasite count of approximately 5000 microfilaria per ml. Cx annulirostris ingested almost 4 times as much blood and almost 4 times as many microfilariae as Ae.notoscriptus (mean 26.0 compared to 6.6). Attrition of the filarial numbers occurred primarily within the midgut during the first 24 h following ingestion and was greater in Cx annulirostris than Ae.notoscriptus. Aedes notoscriptus sustained development of almost 8 times as many third-stage infective larvae as Cx annulirostris (mean of 3.8 compared to 0.5), and thus had a vector efficiency index of 57.6 compared to 1.9 for Cx annulirostris. In a series of investigations Ae.notoscriptus has now been shown to be an important vector for dog heartworm in southern Australia and may be a significant factor in the apparent burgeoning of the disease.

Aedes↗
PubMed2006

Propofol inhibits phorbol 12, 13-dibutyrate-induced, protein kinase C-mediated contraction of rat aortic smooth muscle.

BACKGROUND: Propofol induces dose-dependent vasodilation and hypotension in the clinical situation, and protein kinase C (PKC)-mediated Ca2+ sensitization plays an important role in vascular smooth muscle contraction. This study is designed to examine the effects of propofol on the active phorbol ester (phorbol 12, 13-dibutyrate; PDBu)-induced, PKC-mediated contraction of rat aortic smooth muscle. METHODS: The PDBu-induced contraction of endothelium-denuded rat aortic rings was measured in the presence or absence of PKC inhibitor, bisindolylmaleimide I, or propofol, using isometric force transducers. The PDBu-induced PKC phosphorylation of endothelium-denuded rat aortic strips was detected in the presence or absence of bisindolylmaleimide I or propofol, using Western blotting. RESULTS: PDBu, but not the inactive phorbol ester, 4-alpha-phorbol 12-myristate-13-acetate, dose-dependently induced both a slowly developing sustained contraction and PKC phosphorylation of rat aortic smooth muscle, reaching the peak level at the concentration of 10(-6) M. The PDBu (10(-6) M)-induced contraction was dose-dependently inhibited by bisindolylmaleimide I with reductions of 6.8 +/- 1.8% (P > 0.05), 39.8 +/- 8.7% (P < 0.01) and 96.7 +/- 1.4% (P < 0.01) in response to concentrations of 5 x 10(-7) M, 10(-6)x M and 5 x 10(-6) M, respectively, and by propofol with decreases of 5.2 +/- 1. 6% (P > 0.05), 9.4 +/- 1.7% (P < 0.05), 65.3 +/- 9.2% (P < 0.01) and 96.2 +/- 1.6% (P < 0.01) in response to concentrations of 5 x 10(-7) M, 10(-6) M, 5 x 10(-6) M and 10(-5) M, respectively. Both bisindolylmaleimide I and propofol also inhibited the PDBu-induced increase in the density of the phosphorylated PKC bands in a dose-dependent manner, with decreases of 6.3 +/- 2.8% (P > 0.05), 42.9 +/- 3.2% (P < 0.01) and 96.6 +/- 3.4% (P < 0.01) in response to 5 x 10(-7) M, 10(-6) M or 5 x 10(-6) M bisindolylmaleimide I, respectively, and with decreases of 4.2 +/- 2.5% (P > 0.05), 13.5 +/- 1.7% (P < 0.05), 69.5 +/- 3.5% (P < 0.01) and 95.3 +/- 4.3% (P < 0.01) in response to 5 x 10(-7) M, 10(-6) M, 5 x 10(-6) M and 10(-5) M propofol, respectively. CONCLUSION: Propofol dose-dependently inhibits PDBu-induced, PKC-mediated contraction of rat aortic smooth muscle.

Anesthetics, Intravenous↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Contractures produced by carbamate anticholinesterases in bovine tracheal smooth muscle.

1. In isolated strips of bovine tracheal muscle the carbamate anticholinesterases, neostigmine and eserine caused similar, slowly-developing, sustained spasms which were concentration-related in the range 10(-7)-10(-4) mol/l; these spasms could be abolished either by withdrawing the anticholinesterase or by addition of atropine (5 X 10(-7) mol/l). 2. Depletion of tissue stores of acetylcholine using hemicholinium-3 with or without electrical stimulation rendered the muscle unresponsive to neostigmine (10(-6) mol/l). Responses to acetylcholine itself were not impaired. 3. A low concentration of neostigmine (10(-8) mol/l) did not cause spasm but enhanced the contractile response of bovine trachealis to acetylcholine, carbachol and histamine. This concentration of neostigmine also increased the muscle's contraction upon exposure to a high-potassium solution, even in the presence of atropine (5 X 10(-7) mol/l). 4. It is concluded that neostigmine and eserine cause spasm not only by preventing breakdown of endogenously released acetylcholine but also by stimulating release of acetylcholine from nerve terminals and by a non-specific enhancement of muscle contraction.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1995

The role of food aid in drought and recovery: Oxfam's North Turkana (Kenya) drought relief programme, 1992-94.

Regional droughts carry the seeds of catastrophe: the immediate risk is famine; the long-term risk is destitution. Preventing both situations is an appropriate, if not essential, goal for relief agencies. In the past, responses to hunger in Turkana District (north-west Kenya) have taken the form of traditional feeding programmes. A better understanding of the boom/bust cycles in pastoralist systems has, however, produced new relief strategies. A central tenet of these strategies is the acceptance that relief aid should assume two roles: humanitarian--to overcome food deficits--and economic--to overcome 'income' deficits. Arguments in favour of a broader role for food aid are tested with a case study of a drought relief programme in north Turkana between 1992-1994. Field studies confirmed that when food aid is integrated as an asset into household resources, it can strengthen economic recovery. Ultimately, the extent to which relief operations are able to protect both people's lives and their livelihoods is the key to more sustainable development in drought-prone areas.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

A novel function of sphingosine-1-phosphate to activate a non-selective cation channel in human endothelial cells.

1. The Ca2+ entry pathway activated by sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) was examined in primary cultured vascular endothelial cells dispersed from human umbilical vein (HUVECs) by measuring intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i), whole-cell membrane currents and single channel activity. 2. Application of S1P to HUVECs induced a slowly developing, sustained increase in [Ca2+]i. When Ca2+ was absent from the bathing solution, no S1P-induced changes in [Ca2+]i were observed. Tert-butylhydroquinone (BHQ), an inhibitor of Ca2+ pumps in endoplasmic reticulum, and histamine induced a transient elevation of [Ca2+]i in HUVECs. 3. Pretreatment of HUVECs with 100 ng x ml(-1) pertussis toxin (PTX) for 15 h almost abolished the S1P effect on [Ca2+]i and reduced the histamine effect to 40% of the control. The BHQ-induced elevation of [Ca2+]i was insensitive to PTX. 4. When whole-cell membrane currents were recorded using the amphotericin B-perforated-patch clamp technique while monitoring [Ca2+]i, application of S1P induced a tiny inward current (I(S1P)) which was followed by the elevation of [Ca2+]i. I(S1P) reversed at +20.0 +/- 2.7 mV under these experimental conditions. 5. When S1P was included in the pipette solution in the excised inside-out patch clamp configuration, single channel activity with a conductance of 17 pS was activated. This channel activity depended on the presence of intracellular GTP. 6. In summary, these results show that S1P has a novel effect in mammalian cardiovascular endothelium to activate a non-selective cation (NSC) channel in a GTP-dependent manner via a PTX-sensitive G-protein. This S1P-sensitive NSC channel acts as a Ca2+ entry pathway in endothelium.

Calcium↗
PubMed1991

Contraction of vascular smooth muscle induced by phorbol 12,13 dibutyrate in human and rat pulmonary arteries.

1. The effect of phorbol 12,13 dibutyrate (PDB) on vascular tone was studied in both human and rat isolated pulmonary arterial strips (HPA and RPA, respectively). 2. PDB (1 nM to 2 microM) produced slowly developing, sustained and concentration-dependent contractions in HPA (mean EC50 = 3.5 nM, n = 5) and RPA (mean EC50 = 120 nM, n = 5). The maximal response was 185.6 +/- 25% and 207 +/- 27.5% (n = 5) of that induced by K(+)-rich (80mM) solution, and 223 +/- 34.5% and 176.5 +/- 38.6% of the noradrenaline (10 microM)-induced contraction in HPA and RPA, respectively. 3. PDB-induced contractions were not altered either by the presence of atropine (10 microM), propranolol (5 microM), phentolamine (5 microM) or tetrodotoxin (10 microM) in the bathing solution, or by the removal of endothelium from pulmonary arteries. 4. In HPA, the amplitude of PDB-induced contractions was significantly reduced by removal of external calcium ions, addition of verapamil (10 microM) or trifluoperazine (TFP, 5 microM) and significantly increased by Bay K 8644 (0.5 microM). In contrast, in RPA, calcium-free solution and verapamil had only a moderate effect on the maximal PDB-induced contraction (approximately 20% reduction), whereas Bay K 8644 and TFP had no significant effect. In both HPA and RPA, PDB-contractions in calcium-free solutions were not modified by ryanodine (25 microM) or by 8-(N,N diethylamino)octyl-3,4,5, trimethoxybenzoate hydrochloride (TMB-8, 50 microM). 5. PDB-induced contractions were inhibited by protein kinase C (PKC) antagonists. The maximal response was decreased by 60 +/- 10.5% and 35 +/- 11.5% (n = 5) by 145-isoquinolinesulphonyl)-2-methylpiperazine (H7, 50 microM), 70.5 +/- 12.2% and 56 +/- 18% (n = 5) by phloretin (100 microM) and 80.7 +/- 8.4% and 71 +/- 14% (n = 5) by staurosporine (25 nM) in HPA and RPA, respectively.6. Long term treatment (15-20 h) of arterial strips with phorbol esters (phorbol 12,13 didecanoate, or PDB) abolished the contractile response to subsequent addition of PDB.7. These results show that PDB is a potent vasoconstrictor agent in human and rat pulmonary arteries. Unlike the rat, part of the PDB response depends on calcium influx in human preparations. PDB action appears mainly mediated by the activation of protein kinase C. PKC could thus play a major role in the control of vascular pulmonary reactivity.

3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethy↗
PubMed2005

Climate change and human health: estimating avoidable deaths and disease.

Human population health has always been central in the justification for sustainable development but nearly invisible in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change negotiations. Current scientific evidence indicates that climate change will contribute to the global burden of disease through increases in diarrhoeal disease, vector-borne disease, and malnutrition, and the health impacts of extreme weather and climate events. A few studies have estimated future potential health impacts of climate change but often generate little policy-relevant information. Robust estimates of future health impacts rely on robust projections of future disease patterns. The application of a standardized and established methodology has been developed to quantify the impact of climate change in relation to different greenhouse gas emission scenarios. All health risk assessments are necessarily biased toward conservative best-estimates of health effects that are easily measured. Global, regional, and national risk assessments can take no account of irreversibility, or plausible low-probability events with potentially very high burdens on human health. There is no "safe limit" of climate change with respect to health impacts as health systems in some regions do not adequately cope with the current climate variability. Current scientific methods cannot identify global threshold health effects in order for policymakers to regulate a "tolerable" amount of climate change. We argue for the need for more research to reduce the potential impacts of climate change on human health, including the development of improved methods for quantitative risk assessment. The large uncertainty about the future effects of climate change on human population health should be a reason to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and not a reason for inaction.

Environmental Health↗
PubMed1984

Tracking of atrial flutter during DDD pacing: another form of pacemaker-mediated tachycardia.

Two patients who had DDD pacemakers inserted for symptomatic sick sinus syndrome developed sustained upper-rate limit pacing. It was demonstrated in these two patients that pacemaker-mediated tachycardia was due to tracking of atrial flutter. DDD pacemakers should be used with caution in patients with the sick sinus syndrome and associated atrial tachyarrhythmias. Medical treatment of recurrent atrial tachyarrhythmias may allow patients to remain in the DDD mode.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Late potentials in a porcine model of anterior wall myocardial infarction and their relation to inducible ventricular tachycardia.

In this study, normal values for signal averaged electrocardiographic parameters were assessed in healthy pigs (n = 100) and the development of late potentials after myocardial infarction (n = 41) in relation to inducible ventricular tachycardia was investigated. Normal values are: filtered QRS duration (QRS) < or = 78 msec; root mean square voltage of the averaged QRS complex (V(tot)) > or = 51 microV, and duration of terminal activity below 30 microV (D30) < or = 37 msec. The distribution of the root mean square voltage in the last 30 msec (V30) was biphasic. Two weeks after myocardial infarction, QRS was prolonged from 55 +/- 10 to 66 +/- 19 msec (P < 0.002). D30 was prolonged from 19 +/- 6 msec to 28 +/- 13 (P < 0.002). V30 was decreased from 107 +/- 135 microV to 45 +/- 77 (P < 0.02). The total voltage (V(tot)) was decreased from 195 +/- 78 to 123 +/- 61 microV (P < 0.002). In four pigs (19%) late potentials developed. Sustained ventricular tachycardia was inducible in 11 pigs (52%), ventricular fibrillation in two pigs (10%) and eight pigs (38%) were noninducible. Three of 11 inducible pigs and one of the noninducible pigs had a late potential. The incidence of late potentials and their relation to inducible sustained ventricular tachycardia is comparable to the situation in man. Therefore, this pig model is an attractive alternative to the commonly used dog models.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Ventricular tachycardias and dilated cardiomyopathy caused by Fabry disease.

Women with Fabry disease are considered to have a good prognosis. Here we report the clinical history of a female patient with severe Fabry disease before and after referral to our hospital. She was diagnosed to have a cardiac variant of Fabry disease since a left ventricular endomyocardial biopsy revealed specific features of this disease and that cardiac involvement was the sole manifestation. She developed sustained ventricular tachycardia and dilated cardiomyopathy requiring oral administration of amiodarone and a cardiac defibrillator implant.

Cardiomyopathy, Dilated↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Left atrial epicardial pacing for chronotropic support in descending thoracic and thoracoabdominal aortic surgery.

Some patients undergoing surgery of the descending thoracic or thoracoabdominal aorta develop sustained bradycardia causing hemodynamic impairment. Seven patients had left atrial epicardial pacing at a physiological rate obviating their hemodynamic impairment during, and for up to several days after, their surgery. This simple technique can be readily used particularly when the aortic reconstruction is facilitated by left atrial to femoral artery bypass.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

Quality of care in China: scaling up a pilot project into a national reform program.

China's family planning program ranks as history's most intensive effort to control national population growth. Although advocates for global population control have lauded China's effort to limit births as afundamental part of its sustainable development goals, the country's population policy has also generated much international criticism. As China enters the new millennium, a long-overdue reform of its approach to implementing its family planning program has begun to refocus the program on clients' needs, informed choice of contraceptives, and better-quality services. Originally inspired by the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development held in Cairo, the reform program began as a pilot project among six counties and has now become a blueprint for reorienting the national family planning program. This article reviews the process by which a small, innovative pilot project was scaled up into a national reform effort and the key lessons learned about scaling up sensitive but necessary innovation in a difficult political environment.

China↗
PubMed2000

A perspective on animal protein production in sub-Saharan Africa.

A large survey of animal protein production in sub-Saharan Africa was performed. The objective was to identify specific production needed to ensure sustainable development. Starting from data collection and analysis to gain control of this information, the study proposes possible paths of evolution for supply and demand for animal production. Africa will be the continent where the demand will grow the most (together with Asia), because of demography and urbanization. Urbanization will represent an extraordinary opportunity for the development of animal production. In 2020, the global demand will be 20 million tons per year (7.3 in 1994) for meat, 45 million tons for milk (18.6 in 1994) and 2.9 million tons for eggs (1.1 in 1994). Red meat, which now provides 55.6% of present meat consumption will satisfy only 36.5% in 2020. This underlines the immense effort needed to intensify ruminant production and/or to develop monogastric production. Consequently, there is a need in tropical animal health and research for better knowledge and control of monogastric diseases and particularly those linked to intensification. The development of peri-urban milk production will require particular attention to hemoparasitic diseases. Globally, there is an urgent need to set up projects for the development of animal production.

Africa South of the Sahara↗
PubMed2003

Implementing a community-based oral health care program: lessons learned.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this paper is to report key findings of a process evaluation that may be useful to other institutions seeking to implement a community-based oral health care program primarily targeting children in dentally underserved communities. By partnering with community-based organizations, public schools, and community health care providers, the Columbia University School of Oral and Dental Surgery (SDOS) established the Community DentCare Network (DentCare) in the Harlem and Washington Heights/Inwood neighborhoods of northern Manhattan. These low-income neighborhoods are characterized by poor oral health and have been designated by the federal government as health professions shortage areas. METHODS: The method used in the process evaluation was open-ended qualitative interviewing by a sociologist with extensive experience in this methodology aided by a participant-observer within the DentCare program. RESULTS: The heterogeneity of the two communities required different strategies and resources to gain trust and acceptance. Fundamental changes were required of SDOS over a 10-year period, beginning with prioritizing community service into a primary mission. Collaborating with medical clinics facilitated the implementation of the network when the partners shared the same philosophical goals. Faculty and staff with different skills were needed during the start-up and the sustained development phases of the program.

Black People↗
PubMed2004

Oral health in Nigeria.

Most oral health surveys in Nigeria have been sporadic and based on convenience samples. Periodontal disease with deep pocketing occurs in Nigerians at an early age, the prevalence being 15-58% in those aged above 15 years. Caries experience has been reported to vary between very low and low in most studies, but is moderate in some urban communities. Although mean DMFT is below 4 in most communities, the restorative index is extremely low, most carious teeth remaining unrestored. The higher caries prevalence in second than first permanent molars that has been reported is most likely due to a change from traditional to Western-type diet. Other oral health problems include malocclusion, truamatised teeth, dental fluorosis, and oral tumours. The scanty oral health services available in the country are mainly in urban areas. There is, therefore, a need to develop sustainable strategies for national preventive and therapeutic oral health services in Nigeria.

Adolescent↗