Risks from mercury in anadromous fish collected from Penobscot River, Maine.

Levels of total mercury were measured in tissue of six species of migratory fish (alewife, American shad, blueback herring, rainbow smelt, striped bass, and sea lamprey), and in roe of American shad for two consecutive years collected from the Penobscot River or its estuary. The resultant mercury levels were compared to reference doses as established in the U.S.

Rotational kinematics influence multimodal perception of heaviness.

Perceived heaviness has been shown to be specific to an object's rotational inertia (I), its resistance to rotational acceleration. According to the kinematic specification of dynamics (KSD) principle, we hypothesized that I is optically specified by rotational kinematics. Using virtual depictions of wielded objects, we investigated whether the visually detected rotational kinematics of wielded objects would influence perceived heaviness in a manner consistent with the inertial model of heaviness perception.

Unique expression of human papilloma virus type 5 and type 16 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma-a case report.

The role of human papilloma virus (HPV) in esophageal cancers from the low-incidence area (Western population) is unclear. We report a case of esophageal squamous papillomatosis associated with underlying esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). The esophagectomy specimen confirmed presence of HPV-5 and HPV-16 suggesting a viral etiology.

Effect of systemic corticosteroid therapy on risk for intra-abdominal or pelvic abscess in non-operated Crohn's disease.

Background & Aims: Systemic corticosteroid therapy increases risk of postoperative sepsis in Crohn's disease. This study investigates its effect on risk for sepsis in non-operated patients.

Methods: A retrospective case-control study was performed in 432 patients with Crohn's disease (the 94% of our database for whom adequate documentation could be retrieved).

Three different subsite classification systems for carcinomas in the proximity of the GEJ, but is it all one disease?

Background And Aim: Currently there are three different subsite classification systems for carcinomas in the region of the gastroesophaeal junction (GEJ), namely ICD-O, Munich and Liverpool. The aim of the present study was to compare clinicoepidemiological, pathological and molecular features of adenocarcinomas in the proximity of the GEJ, classified according to their position with respect to the GEJ initially, and then classified according to ICD-O, Munich and Liverpool classifications.

Methods: Forty-seven adenocarcinomas in the proximity of the GEJ were subdivided into groups 1 (exclusively within esophagus), 2 (mainly within esophagus but extending distally across GEJ), 3 (equally present in esophagus and stomach) or 4 (mainly in stomach but extending proximally across GEJ), and analysis of their clinicoepidemiological, pathological and molecular features was performed.

Loss of heterozygosity on chromosome 17p predicts neoplastic progression in Barrett's esophagus.

Background And Aim: Endoscopic surveillance for adenocarcinoma in patients with Barrett's esophagus is costly, with one cancer detected every 48-441 patient years of follow up. Genetic abnormalities, including loss of heterozygosity at sites of tumor suppressor genes, have been detected in malignant and premalignant Barrett's esophagus. The aim of this prospective study was to determine if loss of heterozygosity analysis could identify patients with Barrett's esophagus at greatest risk of adenocarcinoma, for whom endoscopic surveillance is most appropriate.

Pathogenicity of Yersinia enterocolitica Demonstrated in the Suckling Mouse.

An experimental suckling mouse intraperitoneal injection test was compared with four plasmid-associated tests (adult mouse peroral exposure, adult mouse intraperitoneal injection, auto-agglutination and plasmid detection by gel electrophoresis) to measure Yersinia enterocolitica pathogenicity. Of eight Vwa plasmid-harboring strains (O:3; O:4,32; O:5,27; O:8; O:9; O:13; O:21; and O:Tacoma) and one isogenic plasmidless strain (O:8), all Vwa plasmid-harboring strains gave identical results in all tests except the two adult mouse tests. In studies of 35 clinical strains of Y.