Regional inequalities in self-reported conditions and non-communicable diseases in European countries: Findings from the European Social Survey (2014) special module on the social determinants of health.

Background: Within the European Union (EU), substantial efforts are being made to achieve economic and social cohesion, and the reduction of health inequalities between EU regions is integral to this process. This paper is the first to examine how self-reported conditions and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) vary spatially between and within countries.

Methods: Using 2014 European Social Survey (ESS) data from 20 countries, this paper examines how regional inequalities in self-reported conditions and NCDs vary for men and women in 174 regions (levels 1 and 2 Nomenclature of Statistical Territorial Units, ‘NUTS’).

Deficiency in SLC25A1, encoding the mitochondrial citrate carrier, causes combined D-2- and L-2-hydroxyglutaric aciduria.

The Krebs cycle is of fundamental importance for the generation of the energetic and molecular needs of both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Both enantiomers of metabolite 2-hydroxyglutarate are directly linked to this pivotal biochemical pathway and are found elevated not only in several cancers, but also in different variants of the neurometabolic disease 2-hydroxyglutaric aciduria. Recently we showed that cancer-associated IDH2 germline mutations cause one variant of 2-hydroxyglutaric aciduria.

Right-sided vagus nerve stimulation in humans: an effective therapy?

Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is an additive treatment option for refractory epilepsy. The electrode is placed on the cervical trunk of the left vagus nerve. In patients who are not suitable for left-sided vagus nerve stimulation (L-VNS) right-sided vagus nerve stimulation (R-VNS) may be as effective.

Calcium hypochlorite removal of mercury and petroleum hydrocarbons from co-contaminated soils.

Former oil and gas processing sites are often contaminated with both mercury and petroleum hydrocarbons. Traditional methods for treating these co-contaminated soils include thermal treatments and placement in landfills (Stepan et al. 1993).

Transformations of elemental mercury to inorganic and organic forms in mercury and hydrocarbon co-contaminated soils.

There are many industrial sites, such as gas processing plants, that are contaminated with both mercury and hydrocarbons. These sites tend to be localized but can have very high concentrations of mercury in the soil and heterogeneous distribution of hydrocarbons. The original form of mercury in many cases was elemental mercury from broken manometers.