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PubMed1998

Exposure to chloramines in a green salad processing plant.

Acute eye and upper respiratory irritation was reported at an industrial facility that processes green salads in water containing hypochlorite. The irritant agents were chloramines resulting from the reaction of hypochlorite and nitrogen compounds coming from the sap proteins released when the vegetables were cut. Specific sampling and analytical methods were developed in order to assess the workers' exposure. Monochloramine, dichloramine and nitrogen trichloride were found in the atmosphere, which can explain the irritation phenomena of which the workers complained. In the washing room (where salads are processed), the total chloramine concentration ranged from 0.4 to 16 mg.m-3, depending on the day and the location of the area sampling points. The exposure of workers determined by personal sampling ranged from 0.2 to 5 mg.m-3. In a previous study, with swimming pool instructors exposed to the same pollutants, irritation phenomena generally appeared at chloramine values of around 0.5 mg.m-3.

Chloramines↗
PubMed2001

Determination of haloacetic acids in aqueous environments by solid-phase extraction followed by ion-pair liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometric detection.

Haloacetic acids (HAAs) were determined in different water samples by a new, fast and simple analysis method based on enrichment of 50-ml water samples at pH 1.8 by solid-phase extraction (SPE) followed by liquid chromatography (LC) separation and electrospray ionization mass spectrometric detection in the negative ionization mode. Deprotonated (M-H)-haloacetates and decarboxylated (M-COOH)- ions were detected. Different polymeric SPE sorbents were tested, and LiChrolut EN was found to be the best material for the extraction. Complete LC separation of all compounds could only be achieved by ion-pair chromatography using triethylamine as volatile ion-pairing reagent. The detection limits were in the low microg/l range. High microg/l concentration levels for the chlorinated and brominated haloacetates were found in drinking water from a drinking water treatment plant in Barcelona, and the corresponding tap water. In swimming pool water samples from Catalonia mg/l levels and in surface river water from Portugal microg/l values were detected. These results confirm other recent reports on the ubiquitous occurrence of HAAs in aqueous environments.

Acetates↗
PubMed2002

Determination of alkyl benzyl and dialkyl dimethyl quaternary ammonium biocides in occupational hygiene and environmental media by liquid chromatography with electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry and tandem mass spectrometry.

A new method for the simultaneous qualitative and quantitative determination of alkyl benzyl and dialkyl quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) has been developed. Analysis is by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry. QACs are extremely amenable to the electrospray ionisation technique (limit of detection of BAC C12 homologue 3 ng ml(-1)). The selectivity of mass spectrometric detection allows simultaneous determination of benzyl and dialkyl dimethyl ammonium compounds. The method was successfully applied to the analysis of real samples (occupational hygiene sampling devices, products and swimming pool water). Structural information was obtained by MS-MS and cone voltage ion dissociation techniques. Ion dissociation enabled the structural elucidation of an unknown quaternary ammonium compound present in a commercial formulation.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗
PubMed1999

Observation of splenic trauma: when is a little too much?

A 12-year-old boy was treated conservatively for a grade II splenic laceration. On discharge, he was instructed to avoid contact sports, running, and strenuous physical activity. Thirty-eight days later, after diving off the side of a swimming pool, he had abdominal pain, nausea, and diaphoresis. On admission, he was hemodynamically unstable. Results of a diagnostic lavage showed gross blood. At laparotomy, a fractured spleen was found, and splenectomy was performed. He recovered without complication. This case questions the activity restrictions placed on patients with conservatively managed splenic trauma. Avoidance of only contact sports and heavy exertion may be inadequate.

Child↗
PubMed1987

Drowning, near-drowning, and ice-water submersions.

Drowning is the second most common cause of accidental death in children. Swimming pools and natural bodies of water close to home present the greatest risk to young children. The single most important step in the treatment of submersion accident victims is the immediate institution of resuscitative measures at the earliest possible opportunity. Ice-water submersion accidents are an important subgroup of near-drowning victims, who at times can defy predictions for outcome after profound anoxic-ischemic insults. Drowning accident prevention is an important public health measure.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Place learning in hippocampal rats and the path integration hypothesis.

Although two decades of research suggests that the hippocampus plays a special role in place learning, the present paper describes a series of studies using swimming pool spatial tasks that show that hippocampal rats have considerable place learning ability, which includes the abilities of finding, remembering, and searching for places. The same studies also show that when environmental cues are uninformative, as is the case early in original learning and again in reversal learning, hippocampal rats are impaired. Since control rats quickly resolve spatial ambiguity in these situations, it is argued that they must have a system with which they can calibrate spatial cues. The discussion considers the possibility that they use dead reckoning with path integration, a spatial strategy that provides guidance based on cues generated by a point of reference and subsequent self-movement and not the cues in the environment through which they are moving. With path integration an animal can monitor its location and at the same time attach spatial meaning to cues that it encounters. An ability to recalibrate external cues may provide the tuning that allows control rats to quickly acquire place responses while hippocampal rats are constrained by the processes of associative learning.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Meningococcal carriage in relation to an outbreak of invasive disease due to Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C in the Netherlands.

BACKGROUND: a cross-sectional study on meningococcal carriage was performed in Putten, a small rural town in the Netherlands where an unusual high incidence of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) due to Neisseria meningitidis C:2a:P1.5 occurred. The outbreak was controlled by mass vaccination of all inhabitants aged 2 to 20 years. METHODS: meningococcal carriage was studied in three groups: (1) a systematic age-specific sample of 2-20 year olds who visited the immunization clinic in Putten (January 1998: n=411); (2) children and adolescents in the same age range recruited through a kindergarten and schools in Venlo, a town where the causative strain of IMD had not been encountered (February 1998; n=374); (3) all initial carriers in Putten and a sample of non-carriers in that town (March 1998: n=145). Oropharyngeal swabs were taken for the purpose of isolating N. menigitidis. RESULTS: the prevalence of carriage was 12.4% in Putten and 18.2%, in Venlo, but the prevalence of group C meningococci was higher in Putten (1.7%) than Venlo (0.5%). N. meningitidis C:2a:P1.5 was isolated twice in Putten and not at all in Venlo. A second examination in Putten showed that 18 of the 22 repeatedly tested carriers were still carriers, and six new carriers were found among the 55 initial non-carriers. Of the two known carriers of C:2a:P1.5, one was still carrying the same strain, and the other did not participate in the second investigation. Carriage was associated with increasing family size, discotheque visits and visits to youth clubs and sports clubs. In contrast, visits to the swimming pool appeared to be related to a lower risk, as was recent antibiotic use. CONCLUSION: the prevalence of carriage with the invasive strain C:2a:P1.5 was low in the population that experienced a community-wide outbreak recently: the specific strain was not found in the reference population. This indicates a relatively high risk of developing the invasive disease for those who become infected with such strains.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Deficits in allothetic and idiothetic spatial behavior in rats with posterior cingulate cortex lesions.

The cingulate cortex plays a central role in bridging neocortical and limbic structures involved in allothetic navigation, a form of navigation requiring the use of external cues. Animals can also navigate using idiothetic cues, which are cues generated by self-movement, but there have been no definitive tests of whether cingulate cortex also plays a role in idiothetic navigation. Rats with anterior cingulate (medial frontal) and posterior cingulate cortex (retrosplenial) suction ablations were trained to search for large food pellets on an open table, and the accuracy with which they returned home with the food was measured. In the idiothetic task they searched for food from a novel starting location under infrared light, and with surface olfactory cues displaced. The rats also received two tests of allothetic navigation. They were tested on a matching-to-place task in which they foraged for food from a number of successively presented new locations under normal room light, and they were trained to locate a hidden platform in a swimming pool (Morris place task). The group with posterior cingulate cortex lesions was severely impaired on all of the navigation tasks whereas the group with anterior cingulate cortex lesions displayed no deficit on the idiothetic task and only moderate deficits on the other tasks. The results demonstrate a role for posterior cingulate region in idiothetic navigation.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

A cautionary note on interpreting the effects of partial reinforcement on place learning performance in the water maze.

The effects of partial reinforcement on dry land and swimming pool place learning tasks have recently been compared and it has been suggested that they differ fundamentally [8]. That is, partial reinforcement impairs performance in the water maze, but not on dry land. However, other evidence suggests that partial reinforcement may have the opposite effect in the water maze, strengthening the accuracy and persistence of spatial responses. We discuss how the discrepancy may depend on 'levels' of negative reinforcement (e.g. escaping to a submerged platform before complete removal from the pool) and how experimental procedures may set up competitive contingencies that reinforce alternative behaviors. Finally, we consider data from past lesion studies and suggest ways to improve the design of future water maze experiments.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

A behavioral study of the contributions of cells and fibers of passage in the red nucleus of the rat to postural righting, skilled movements, and learning.

Although the red nucleus consists of cells of origin for the rubro-spinal and rubro-olivary tracts, fibers of passage, including those of the superior cerebellar peduncle, which project from the cerebellum to the ventrolateral thalamus, pass through it. This study examined the relative effect of cell vs. fiber damage in the red nucleus on a number of behaviors thought to involve the red nucleus, including a skilled movement of reaching for food with a forelimb, postural righting on a surface and in the air, and learning a place response in a swimming pool test. Rats received unilateral or bilateral red nucleus lesions, using either the relatively cell-specific neurotoxins, ibotenic and quinolinic acid, or non-specific electrolytic anodal lesions. Both neurotoxic lesions effectively eliminated all red nucleus cell bodies, and in some animals they produced small cavities in the red nucleus and/or loss of cells in adjacent structures. Electrolytic lesions destroyed both cells and fibers, leaving a large cavity. The severity of the behavioral deficits were not related to the loss of red nucleus cells and there was a close relation between fiber damage and behavioral impairments on all of the tasks. The results suggest that for a number of behaviors, which have been thought to involve the red nucleus, impairments are more closely associated with fiber damage or damage to structures outside the red nucleus than they are to damage to cells of the red nucleus.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Involvement of the hippocampus and associative parietal cortex in the use of proximal and distal landmarks for navigation.

Rats with dorsal hippocampus or associative parietal cortex (APC) lesions and sham-operated controls were trained on variants of the Morris water maze navigation task. In the 'proximal landmark condition', the rats had to localize the hidden platform solely on the basis of three salient object landmarks placed directly in the swimming pool. In the 'distal landmark condition', rats could rely only on distal landmarks (room cues) to locate the platform. In the 'beacon condition', the platform location was signaled by a salient cue directly attached to it. Rats with hippocampal lesions were impaired in the distal and to a less extent in the proximal landmark condition whereas rats with parietal lesions were impaired only in the proximal landmark condition. None of the lesioned groups was impaired in the beacon condition. These results suggest that the processing of information related to proximal, distal landmarks or associated beacon are mediated by different neural systems. The hippocampus would contribute to both proximal and distal landmark processing whereas the APC would be involved in the processing of proximal landmarks only. Navigation relying on a cued-platform would not require participation of the hippocampus nor the APC. Assuming that the processing of proximal landmarks heavily depends on the integration of visuospatial and idiothetic information, these results are consistent with the hypothesis that the APC plays a role in the combination of multiple sensory information and contributes to the formation of an allocentric spatial representation.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Traumatic evisceration of intestinal loops through the anus.

A case of traumatic evisceration of intestinal loops through the anus in a young child is presented. This unusual injury took place in a swimming pool and was brought about when a negative pressure applied to the child's perineum by the suction pump created a pressure differential of sufficient force to cause the injury. Surgical management of the case is discussed.

Anal Canal↗
PubMed2003

Assessment of the effectiveness of downward water sprays for mitigating gaseous chlorine releases in partially confined spaces.

Water sprays are sometimes used as a means of mitigating accidental releases of chlorine gas. This paper gives results of a series of small-scale experimental field tests on the mitigation of chlorine gaseous releases (about 1kg/min) by various downward water sprays. The releases were from a cylinder of liquefied chlorine located in a storage shed. The shed could be configured to simulate confined and semi-confined installations used at public swimming pools. The water sprays were located in the shed. During these tests, different types of spray nozzles and storage configurations were tested under various atmospheric conditions, in order to select the best water spray. It was shown that the best chlorine downstream concentration reduction (factor 3-5 at 10m) was achieved with a flat fan water spray for the semi-confined configuration. Poor absorption in water was observed (<1%). The highest absorption (roughly 5%) was obtained with a fog water spray for the confined configuration. This is expected since chlorine is a low soluble gas. It has been evidenced for the confined configuration, that even if reduction of concentration has been observed (factor 2), downstream concentration remains very high (>10,000ppm), and above critical level of toxicity. Consequently, the use of water sprays in this case without additives to promote absorption seems to be inefficient.

Absorption↗
PubMed1999

Unexpected death in persons with symptomatic epilepsy due to glial brain tumors: a report of two cases and review of the literature.

Two cases of unexpected death in persons with epileptic seizures due to a brain tumor are presented which encompassed an astrocytoma WHO grade II and an anaplastic astrocytoma WHO grade III. A 35-year-old man was found somnolent and disoriented at home. A computed tomography (CT) scan revealed a tumor of the right frontal lobe suggestive for an oligodendroglioma. During an angiographic examination the patient experienced an epileptic seizure. Some weeks later, the man was found dead in front of his house with a fresh bite mark of the tongue. Neuropathological examination revealed an astrocytoma WHO grade II of the right frontal lobe. A 47-year-old man plunged into a swimming-pool and was found submerged some minutes later. After resuscitation he survived comatose for 8 days but finally died due to severe hypoxic brain damage. He had been operated on a brain tumor of the temporal lobe 1 year before the accident. Neuropathological examination revealed residual tumor tissue at the operation site corresponding to an anaplastic astrocytoma WHO grade III. Although rare, death in persons with epileptic seizures due to brain tumors is an important mechanism of death encountered by the forensic pathologist.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Submersion injuries in children and adults.

Drowning and near drowning remain a common cause of childhood death and disability. Toddlers aged one through four drown in private swimming pools. Submersions greater than 10 minutes and lack of CPR at the scene or the need for greater than 20 minutes of resuscitation portends a poor prognosis. Management of respiratory failure without neurologic impairment has the most successful outcome. Prevention of drowning morbidity is dependent on constant parental supervision, and immediate and expert CPR.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

[Warts and molluscum contagiosum: practical point of view].

Warts and molluscums contagiosums are two benign viral skin diseases that commonly affect children. Contamination occurs by autoinoculation or during skin to skin contact. Molluscums contagiosums are more frequent in immunodeficient and atopic children. Swimming-pool practice and contact sports favour warts transmission. The choice of treatment depends upon the age of the child and the number and location of the lesions. Natural resolution can be awaited when lesions are limited. In first intent, curettage of the lesions under local anesthesia for molluscums contagiosums, salicylic acid preparation or cryotherapy according to location for warts, are the treatment of choice. In neither affection school ousting is necessary.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed2004

Serological evidence of Cryptosporidium infections in a Russian city and evaluation of risk factors for infections.

PURPOSE: Assess the relative frequency of Cryptosporidium infections and risk factors for infection in Cherepovets, Russia. METHODS: In June 1999, data on demographic, socioeconomic, hygienic characteristics, and recent gastrointestinal illness were collected on 50 community-recruited adults and 50 blood donors. The community group then maintained daily diaries of exposures and gastrointestinal symptoms for 5 months. Sera samples at the inception and conclusion of the study were tested for antibody responses to the 15/17 kDa and 27 kDa Cryptosporidium antigens using mini-immunoblots. RESULTS: At the inception, 68% and 88% of study participants had detectable serological responses to 15/17 kDa and 27 kDa antigens. Older age was associated with stronger antibody responses to both antigens. Attendance at swimming pools was associated with stronger responses to both antigens in predominantly male blood donors. Over the follow-up period, drinking non-boiled water from shallow draw-wells was associated with an increase in serological response to the 27 kDa antigen. Self-reported gastrointestinal illness was not associated with an increase in serological response. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of positive serological responses in Cherepovets was higher than in most prior Cryptosporidium serosurveys in non-outbreak communities. Drinking water is an important pathway for infection.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Hydrotherapy--a new approach to improve function in the older patient with chronic heart failure.

AIMS: Hydrotherapy, i.e. exercise in warm water, as a rehabilitation program has been considered potentially dangerous in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) due to the increased venous return caused by the hydrostatic pressure. However, hydrotherapy has advantages compared to conventional training. We studied the applicability of an exercise programme in a temperature-controlled swimming pool, with specific reference to exercise capacity, muscle function, quality of life and safety. METHODS AND RESULTS: Twenty-five patients with CHF (NYHA II-III, age 72.1+/-6.1) were randomised into either 8 weeks of hydrotherapy (n=15), or into a control group (n=10). The training program was well tolerated with no adverse events. Patients in the hydrotherapy group improved their maximal exercise capacity (+6.5 vs.-5.9 W, P=0.001), isometric endurance in knee extension (+4 vs.-9 s, P=0.01) together with an improvement in the performance of heel-lift (+4 vs. -3 n.o., P=<0.01), shoulder abduction (+12 vs. -8 s, P=0.01) and shoulder flexion (+6 vs. +4, P=0.01) in comparison to patients in the control group. CONCLUSION: Physical training in warm water was well tolerated and seems to improve exercise capacity as well as muscle function in small muscle groups in patients with CHF. This new approach broadens the variety of training regimes for older patients with CHF.

Aged↗