107 research outputs found
Comment on Sundseth et al. Global Sources and Pathways of Mercury in the Context of Human Health. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2017, 14, 105
No full textIt was with great interest that we read the article by Sundseth et al. [1] entitled Global Sources and Pathways of Mercury in the Context of Human Health which is published in the Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2017, 14, 105; doi:10.3390/ijerph14010105.[...
The comparison of outcome after arthroplasty or fusion in single level cervical disc disease
No full textRelation between atherogenic dyslipidemia and the Adult Treatment Program-III definition of metabolic syndrome (Genetic Epidemiology of Metabolic Syndrome Project)
No full textCopyright © 2004 Excerpta Medica Inc. All rights reserved.Diego F. Wyszynski, Dawn M. Waterworth, Philip J. Barter, Jonathan Cohen, Y. Antero Kesäniemi, Robert W. Mahley, Ruth McPherson, Gérard Waeber, Thomas P. Bersot, Sanjay S. Sharma, Vikki Nolan, Lefkos T. Middleton, Scott S. Sundseth, Lindsay A. Farrer, Vincent Mooser, Scott M. Grund
Multiple isolated spinal aneurysms – A rare condition with uncertain treatment strategies: A case report and literature review
No full textPurpose: Isolated spinal aneurysms (iSAs) are rare, with an uncertain natural history and no established treatment guidelines. Multiple iSAs are even more uncommon, complicating treatment decisions. Methods: This study reports a case of a ruptured radiculo-pial artery aneurysm in a patient with multiple iSAs, treated with surgical excision, assisted by intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM). Further, we review and analyze all previously reported cases of multiple iSAs. Results: A 67-year-old woman with spinal subarachnoid hemorrhage and spinal cord compression due to a ruptured radiculo-pial artery aneurysm was treated surgically. Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) showed three spinal aneurysms. Intraoperative indocyanine green video-angiography (ICG-VA) revealed an aneurysm contributing to the left posterior spinal artery. The aneurysm was excised after proximal inflow occlusion under IONM. The other aneurysms spontaneously regressed, and the patient had a good functional outcome. Through a systematic literature review, we analyzed 13 multiple iSAs including our case, involving 34 aneurysms in total. Conclusions: There is no standardized treatment approach for multiple iSAs. These aneurysms are often fusiform and clustered in contiguous metameric regions. They can be classified into flow-related and wall-weakening aneurysms. Surgery offers definitive treatment for ruptured iSAs and relieves spinal cord compression. Due to the common fusiform shape, parent vessel sacrifice may be necessary, and should include IONM and ICG-VA to minimize complications. Conservative treatment is viable as spontaneous regression often occurs
Magnetic resonance imaging evaluation after implantation of a titanium cervical disc prosthesis: a comparison of 1.5 and 3 Tesla magnet strength
No full textPurpose Cervical disc prostheses induce significant amount of artifact in magnetic resonance imaging which may complicate radiologic follow-up after surgery. The purpose of this study was to investigate as to what extent the artifact, induced by the frequently used Discover® cervical disc prosthesis, impedes interpretation of the MR images at operated and adjacent levels in 1.5 and 3 Tesla MR.
Methods Ten subsequent patients were investigated in both 1.5 and 3 Tesla MR with standard image sequences one year following anterior cervical discectomy with arthroplasty.
Outcome measures Two neuroradiologists evaluated the images by consensus. Emphasis was made on signal changes in medulla at all levels and visualization of root canals at operated and adjacent levels. A “blur artifact ratio” was calculated and defined as the height of the artifact on T1 sagittal images related to the operated level.
Results The artifacts induced in 1.5 and 3 Tesla MR were of entirely different character and evaluation of the spinal cord at operated level was impossible in both magnets. Artifacts also made the root canals difficult to assess at operated level and more pronounced in the 3 Tesla MR. At the adjacent levels however, the spinal cord and root canals were completely visualized in all patients. The “blur artifact” induced at operated level was also more pronounced in the 3 Tesla MR.
Conclusions The artifact induced by the Discover® titanium disc prosthesis in both 1.5 and 3 Tesla MR, makes interpretation of the spinal cord impossible and visualization of the root canals difficult at operated level. Adjusting the MR sequences to produce the least amount of artifact is important.
© The Author(s) 2013 Open Access This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits any use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author(s) and the source are credited
A Novel Combination of Methods Developed for Decision Support on Abatement of Mercury in Europe
No full textThere is clear evidence from the global mercury cycle that there is an urgent need for actions to reduce global anthropogenic mercury emissions. A legally- binding global agreement to reduce emissions of mercury is soon in place, meaning that many countries need to take steps to lower their emissions. Identification and assessment of policy options that already are in place as well as setting pollution control objectives and developing effective strategies to meet these objectives, are depending on a decision support tool that allows for identifying current and future environmental problems and to reduce these problems by providing a holistic management approach. Recent scientific advancement allows a more complete picture of the mercury problems and solutions to the problems, which is of outmost interest when it comes to justifying spending resources on the relevant measures. To make sure that resource allocation is favoring human welfare, the economic costs of introducing these measures need to be compared to their economic benefits. The major goal of this study was to provide a novel combination of assessment tools that form a framework for a decision support system towards environmental policy on mercury in Europe. The decision support tool was intended to act as a guideline for policy makers for the purpose of introducing cost- effective abatement of mercury. It was for the EU 27 countries demonstrated that large economic benefits can be achieved globally with reduced mercury emissions in the EU region. The investigated Baseline scenario thus highlighted the importance of full implementation of existing measures and the importance of making further progress in reducing mercury emissions from European sources. Reducing emissions in developing countries may however, be more cost effective, which basically reconfirms the need for a global convention on mercury
Metals in the environment as risk factors for infectious diseases:Gaps and opportunities
No full textMany parts of the world in which common infectious diseases are endemic also have the highest prevalence of trace metal deficiencies or rising rates of trace metal pollution. Infectious diseases can increase human susceptibility to adverse effects of metal exposure (at suboptimal or toxic levels), and metal excess or deficiency can increase the incidence or severity of infectious diseases. The co-clustering of major infectious diseases with trace metal deficiency or toxicity has created a complex web of interactions with serious but poorly understood health repercussions, yet has been largely overlooked in animal and human studies. This book focuses on the distribution, trafficking, fate, and effects of trace metals in biological systems. Its goal is to enhance our understanding of the relationships between homeostatic mechanisms of trace metals and the pathogenesis of infectious diseases. Drawing on expertise from a range of fields, the book offers a comprehensive review of current knowledge on vertebrate metal-withholding mechanisms and the strategies employed by different microbes to avoid starvation (or poisoning). Chapters summarize current, state-of-the-art techniques for investigating pathogen-metal interactions and highlight open question to guide future research. The book makes clear that improving knowledge in this area will be instrumental to the development of novel therapeutic measures against infectious diseases. ContributorsM. Leigh Ackland, Vahid Fa Andisi, Angele L. Arrieta, Michael A. Bachman, J. Sabine Becker, Robert E. Black, Julia Bornhorst, Sascha Brunke, Joseph A. Caruso, Jennifer S. Cavet, Anson C. K. Chan, Christopher H. Contag, Heran Darwin, George V. Dedoussis, Rodney R. Dietert, Victor J. DiRita, Carol A. Fierke, Tamara Garcia-Barrera, David P. Giedroc, Peter-Leon Hagedoorn, James A. Imlay, Marek J. Kobylarz, Joseph Lemire, Wenwen Liu, Slade A. Loutet, Wolfgang Maret, Andreas Matusch, Trevor F. Moraes, Michael E. P. Murphy, Maribel Navarro, Jerome O. Nriagu, Ana-Maria Oros-Peusquens, Elisabeth G. Pacyna, Jozef M. Pacyna, Robert D. Perry, John M. Pettifor, Stephanie Pfaffen, Dieter Rehder, Lothar Rink, Anthony B. Schryvers, Ellen K. Silbergeld, Eric P. Skaar, Miguel C. P. Soares, Kyrre Sundseth, Dennis J. Thiele, Richard B. Thompson, Meghan M. Verstraete, Gonzalo Visbal, Fudi Wang, Mian Wang, Thomas J. Webster, Jeffrey N. Weiser, Günter Weiss, Inga Wessels, Bin Ye, Judith T. Zelikoff, Lihong Zhan
Cranioplasty with autologous cryopreserved bone after decompressive craniectomy. Complications and risk factors for developing surgical site infection
No full textAir quality and human welfare
No full textHuman welfare is generally referring to allocation of resources to fit the well being of humans. If high standard of well-being is to be maintained, the concerns for a healthy environment must be balanced against requirements of economic growth. In a natural capital system, human welfare is best served by improving the quality and flow of desired services delivered rather than merely increasing the total money flow. An ecosystem based management of living and natural resource use will steer this progress to the best of human welfare while the efficiency of ecosystem based management depends strongly on the availability of integrated assessment tools that will combine environmental models and monitoring data with ecological economic valuation methods. In applied welfare economics, the methodological approach to assess resource allocations towards societal optimality and thereby establish criteria for government intervention is often linked to tools as Cost-ffectiveness Analysis (CEA), Cost-Benefit Assessment (CBA) or Multi-criteria Analysis (MCA). By illustrating an assessment on costs and benefits of the implementation of Hg emission reduction measures in the coal sector, it becomes obvious that for a full analysis of societal costs and benefits, several aspects of Hg pollution, sources, impacts and co-benefits need to be considered
Development of a PC-Based System for Recording Flash Electroretinograms in Experimental Animals
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