Anaerobic Bioremediation of a Soil With Mixed Contaminants: Explosives Degradation and Influence on Heavy Metal Distribution,Monitored as Changes in Concentration and Toxicity

Water, Air, & Soil Pollution - The sorption behavior of bisphenol A (BPA) on marine sediments treated using different methods was investigated in batch equilibrium experiments. Adsorption...     

Genetic characterization of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pelargonium</Emphasis> L’Hér. germplasm

Fifteen species and eight cultivars of the section Pelargonium (DC.) Harv., two species of the section Ligularia (Sweet) Harv. and three species of the section Cortusina (DC.) Harv. were tested for genetic distance to predict successful combinations of interspecific crossings. 156 randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD)-bands and 485 double primer RAPD-bands were used for distance analysis. Combined with information on the ploidy level, species were clustered in the expected sections except Pelargonium hirtum (Burm. f.) Jacq., which clustered with the species of the section Cortusina. Different accessions of the same wild species showed a high conformity (67–98 %) comparable to the cultivars (66–70 %).     

Anthocyanins of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pithecellobium dulce</Emphasis> (Roxb.) Benth. Fruit Associated with High Antioxidant and α-Glucosidase Inhibitory Activities

Red arils of Pithecellobium dulce fruit, commonly known as guamuchil, show high antioxidant (AOx) and α-glucosidase inhibitory (IαG) activities, which have been mainly associated with the content of unknown anthocyanins. In this study, the AOx (i.e., DPPH and ABTS as Trolox equivalents, μmol TE/g) and IαG (as half-maximal inhibitory concentration, IC₅₀, mg/mL) activities of the anthocyanin-rich fraction (ARF) obtained from red arils were contrasted with those of the methanol extract (ME), and the main ARF anthocyanins were characterized by HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS, GC-MS and ¹H-NMR. The AOx and IαG values of the ARF (DPPH?=?597.8; ABTS?=?884.01; IαG?=?0.06) were better than those of the ME (DPPH?=?41.5; ABTS?=?142.3; IαG?=?17.5); remarkably, the ARF IαG value was about 42 times lower than that of acarbose. The main anthocyanins in ARF were pelargonidin 3-O-glucoside and cyanidin 3-O-glucoside. Thus, the consumption of red P. dulce arils could provide health benefits for prevention/treatment of chronic degenerative diseases such as diabetes.     

Diagnosis and treatment of arthrosis of cervical articular facet joints in Scottish Deerhounds: 9 cases (1998-2002)

OBJECTIVE: To determine diagnostic features and efficacy of treatment of arthrosis of the cervical articular facet joints between C2 and C3 in Scottish Deerhounds. DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS: 9 client-owned dogs. PROCEDURE: Medical records of affected dogs were reviewed. Diagnosis was confirmed by results of clinical examination (signs of severe pain from unilateral or bilateral flexion of the cervical vertebral column), radiography, myelography, and computed tomography. Treatment consisted of fluoroscopy-guided intra-articular injection of corticosteroids and lidocaine. RESULTS: Unilateral or bilateral arthrosis of the cervical facet joints between C2 and C3 was detected in all dogs. In 7 dogs, signs of pain were elicited by flexion of the side of the neck in which affected joints were detected radiographically. Two dogs had signs of pain during right lateral flexion, although bilateral lesions were detected. Five dogs had unilateral lesions, and 4 dogs had bilateral lesions; sclerosis and hypertrophy of the articular process were common. Two dogs had bridging of the articular space. Use of computed tomography confirmed the diagnosis. Myelography did not reveal abnormalities of the spinal cord or canal. After treatment, 8 dogs had rapid marked improvement of clinical signs, and 7 dogs remained free of clinical signs for > 4 months. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Arthrosis of the cervical facet joints in Scottish Deerhounds is a severely painful condition for which conventional radiography is a useful screening test. Intra-articular administration of corticosteroids and anesthetic is efficacious, long-lasting, and minimally invasive.     

10 years experience with denervation of the hip joint capsule for treatment of canine hip joint dysplasia and arthrosis

Denervation of the canine hip joint capsule is described as a surgical therapy method in the treatment of canine hip joint dysplasia and arthrosis. The goal of this operation is a removal of the pain immediately and a reactivation of the dynamic active component of the hip joint in moving the body forward. Simple removal of the periosteum of the craniolateral acetabulum edge destroys the rami articulares of the cranial glutaeal nerve and the rami articulares dorsalis of the sciatic nerve. Within 10 years now we performed the denervation of the canine hip joint capsule. Evaluation of the post operative clinical course in 269 cases revealed an impressive improvement of lameness due to pain relief in almost 92% of the cases.