Pesticide drift mitigation measures appear to reduce contamination of non-agricultural areas, but hazards to humans and the environment remain.

Pesticide drift onto non-agricultural land is a common problem in intensively farmed regions, and national action plans have been established across Europe to prevent it. Here, we analyzed official data on pesticide residues in grass samples collected over six years to determine whether implemented measures to reduce pesticide drift were effective. We used 306 samples collected between 2014 and 2020 on non-agricultural land in one of the most intensively managed apple and wine growing regions in Europe, the Autonomous Province of Bolzano-South Tyrol, Italy.

Integration of Biochemometrics and Molecular Networking to Identify Antimicrobials in Angelica keiskei.

Botanical medicines have been utilized for centuries, but it remains challenging to identify bioactive constituents from complex botanical extracts. Bioassay-guided fractionation is often biased toward abundant or easily isolatable compounds. To comprehensively evaluate active botanical mixtures, methods that allow for the prioritization of active compounds are needed.

[Assessment of postoperative anterior-posterior shift of AcrySof SP lens in time and its impact on resulting refraction].

Purpose: The present study assesses the anterior-posterior shift of the AcrySof SP intraocular lens in the eye between the third and fifteenth month after surgery.

Methods: The observed set contained a total of 241 eyes operated for cataract at Beskydské oční centrum (Beskydy Eye Centre; BOC), Frýdek-Místek hospital from 7 February 2007 to 7 April 2010. All surgeries were performed through microcoaxial phacoemulsification and a 2,2 mm incision, with intraocular lens (IOL) AcrySof type SP implanted.

[Comparison of optical and ultrasound biometry and assessment of using both methods in practice].

Purpose: The present study compares accuracy of optical biometry (OB) and ultrasound biometry (UB) based on postoperative best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) results, and assesses the extent of the usage of the measurement methods in current practice.

Methods: 335 eyes in total were operated for cataract at Beskydské oční centrum (Beskydy Eye Centre; BOC), Frýdek-Místek hospital, in the period between 7 February 2007 and 7 April 2010. All patients were examined using both IOL-Master and Ocu-Scan prior to the surgery.

Sarothrin from Alkanna orientalis is an antimicrobial agent and efflux pump inhibitor.

An Alkanna orientalis leaf and flower extract inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus, a pathogen that causes an estimated 478 000 hospitalizations in the US annually. Bioassay-guided fractionation of A. orientalis resulted in isolation of the flavonoid sarothrin (5,7,4'-trihydroxy-3,6,8-trimethoxyflavone), which inhibited the growth of Mycobacterium smegmatis (MIC 75 µM) and S.

RF-EMF exposure of fetus and mother during magnetic resonance imaging.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) avoids risks of genetic damage but may be associated with excess heating of body tissues. To investigate the exposure to MRI radio-frequency (RF) electromagnetic fields (EMF), low-pass and high-pass birdcage coils were simulated and the whole-body pregnant woman model SILVY used to determine local and whole-body specific absorption rates (SAR) in mother and fetus. Resonant RF-EMF of MRI devices were investigated at 0.

Assessment of inhomogeneous ELF magnetic field exposures.

In daily life as well as at workplaces, exposures to inhomogeneous magnetic fields become very frequent. This makes easily applicable compliance assessment methods increasingly important. Reference levels have been defined linking basic restrictions to levels of homogeneous fields at worst-case exposure conditions.

Dosimetric assessment of simultaneous exposure to elf electric and magnetic fields.

In the low-frequency range, both electric and magnetic fields interact with biological tissue by inducing intracorporal electric current densities, although ruled by different physical laws and, hence, with different intracorporal orientation and pathways. Presently, standards require a separate assessment of electric and magnetic fields even in the case of simultaneous exposure and, hence, ignore the superposition of intracorporal current densities. Numerical simulations with the Visible Man model show that this can lead to underestimating current densities in the central nervous system (CNS) by up to 29%.

Current densities in a pregnant woman model induced by simultaneous ELF electric and magnetic field exposure.

The pregnant woman model SILVY was studied to ascertain to what extent the electric current densities induced by 50 Hz homogeneous electric and magnetic fields increase in the case of simultaneous exposure. By vectorial addition of the electric current densities, it could be shown that under worst case conditions the basic restrictions recommended by ICNIRP (International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection) guidelines are exceeded within the central nervous system (CNS) of the mother, whereas in sole field exposure they are not. However, within the foetus the induced current densities do not comply with basic restrictions, either from single reference-level electric fields or from simultaneous exposure to electric and magnetic fields.

Electric emissions from electrical appliances.

Electric emissions from electric appliances are frequently considered negligible, and standards consider electric appliances to comply without testing. By investigating 122 household devices of 63 different categories, it could be shown that emitted electric field levels do not justify general disregard. Electric reference values can be exceeded up to 11-fold.

Magnetic emission ranking of electrical appliances. A comprehensive market survey.

Over the last decades emissions of magnetic fields from electric appliances have considerably changed. Based on a comprehensive market survey it could be shown that today magnetic emissions are usually characterised by complex frequency spectra while single-frequency emissions have become rare. Therefore, spectral assessment procedures play a critical role.

Magnetic emissions of electric appliances.

More than 1000 electric appliances have been investigated regarding their emission of magnetic fields. It was found that complex frequency spectra are common and single frequency emissions are rare. Since exposure assessment requires frequency-weighted sums, root-mean-square values are not appropriate for comparison with exposure reference levels.

Perception of ELF electromagnetic fields: excitation thresholds and inter-individual variability.

So far, in guidelines limiting exposure to electromagnetic fields, basic limits of intracorporal electric current densities have been recommended to prevent from nerve cell stimulation. They were based on experimental data and extrapolated to the general population with limited knowledge on the inter-individual variability. To assess the variability of cellular excitability the perception thresholds for directly applied electric currents were used as surrogate.

Electromagnetic field spectral evaluation problems in exposure assessment.

Electromagnetic fields have become an omnipresent factor in our daily environment. It has become common that the exposure situations are characterised by a cocktail of spectral contributions from different sources, while exposures to single frequencies are rare. Thirty-two different types of drilling machines were analysed.

Fetal exposure to low frequency electric and magnetic fields.

To investigate the interaction of low frequency electric and magnetic fields with pregnant women and in particular with the fetus, an anatomical voxel model of an 89 kg woman at week 30 of pregnancy was developed. Intracorporal electric current density distributions due to exposure to homogeneous 50 Hz electric and magnetic fields were calculated and results were compared with basic restrictions recommended by ICNIRP guidelines. It could be shown that the basic restriction is met within the central nervous system (CNS) of the mother at exposure to reference level of either electric or magnetic fields.

Electromagnetic shielding mats: facts and fiction.

The use of electricity is accompanied by electric and magnetic fields which, intended or not, became a part of our environment. However, fear from environmental electromagnetic fields (EMFs) is widespread and so is business with fear. A number of more or less serious products including miracle products are placed on the market partly at excessive costs.

Electric current perception of children: the role of age and gender.

Although it is widely accepted that children merit increased protection, little is known about the quantitative consequences of electric currents when setting safety limits. Measurements were performed on 240 children (117 girls and 123 boys) older than 9 years. It was found that the electrosensitivity of children was higher than that of adults, but did not exceed the overall span of adult electrosensitivity.

[Inefficiency of electrosmog-shielding mats. Part 2: radio frequency range].

It could already be shown that electromagnetic shielding mats do not reduce but even enhance electric field exposure in daily life situations. By measurements and numerical simulations the claims of manufacturers were checked who pretend that radio frequency electromagnetic fields can be shielded to 99% and more, and transferred to earth by earth cables (if attached). It could be shown that in the radio frequency range such products do not fulfil the justified expectations of customers, but in most cases even cause the opposite.

Electric current perception of the general population including children and the elderly.

Although the 50 Hz electric current perception threshold is a key parameter for limiting electric touch currents in electrical technology and for limiting indirect effects of external electromagnetic fields, the data available mainly reflect men's perception ability; with only sparse data for women and almost none for children or the elderly. Measurements with 240 children aged 9 - 16 years, and 123 elderly people, allow this gap of knowledge to be filled. Taking into account the demographic age distribution, it was possible to generate a probability distribution representing the perception ability of the overall general population, and thus to provide a more established basis for deriving safety limits.

[Inefficiency of electrical pollution-shielding mats. 1: low frequency range].

Despite of the fact that environmental electric and magnetic fields are magnitudes below the existing limits, fear from electromagnetic pollution increase and so does business with fear by offering more or less plausible products with partly excessively high prices . Based on numerical simulation the claims of manufacturers on the efficiency of electromagnetic shielding mats were tested. It is pretended that electric fields can be shielded to 98% and more, and transferred to earth by earth cables (if attached).

[Investigation of sleep disorders in the vicinity of high frequency transmitters].

To investigate the potential impact of RF electromagnetic fields of transmitters on the sleep quality of nearby residents, a new study design is presented. In a double-blind crossover field study the effect of on-site shielding, rather than of additional exposure, is investigated. For improved sleep quality differentiation the polysomnographic parameters are expanded by additional parameters.

Inhibited hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis in type I pseudohypoparathyroidism.

Objective: To assess the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis in two patients with the diagnosis of type I pseudohypoparathyroidism established previously by characteristic clinical features and laboratory findings, including low serum Ca++, high parathyroid hormone concentration, and subnormal urinary cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) responses to exogenous administration of parathyroid hormone.

Methods: We determined serum thyroxine, triiodothyronine (T(3)), T(3) resin uptake, and 24-hour thyroidal uptake of 123 I before and after subcutaneous administration of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), 10 U daily for 3 days. Serum TSH levels were determined before and again at 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes after intravenous administration of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) (400 microg) after an overnight fast.

Normal thyroxine and elevated thyrotropin concentrations: evolving hypothyroidism or persistent euthyroidism with reset thyrostat.

Background: The natural course in subjects manifesting normal serum thyroxine (T4), and triiodothyronine (T3), with an elevated thyrotropin (TSH) level demonstrated two distinct outcomes, one progressing to well defined hypothyroidism as expressed by onset of subnormal T4, T3 and a further rise in TSH and the other remaining in the same state. However, thyroid hormone concentrations at the time of diagnosis fail to distinguish between the two groups. Therefore, we examined the influence of alteration in circulating TSH levels on thyroid gland function at the time of diagnosis in subjects with this syndrome to assess the role of pituitary thyroid axis in these different outcomes.

Therapeutic 131I dose in hyperthyroidism: role of pretreatment with thionamide.

Radioiodine therapy has become a cornerstone of treatment of hyperthyroidism. However, the timing of its administration varies between 1) the time of initial diagnosis with concurrent therapy with beta adrenergic blocking drugs or 2) following induction of euthyroidism with thioamide, Propylthiouracil or Methimazole. This study assessed 24-HR 131I uptake values and the thyroid scan in 24 subjects with hyperthyroidism at the time of diagnosis and again after attaining the euthyroid state with Propylthiouracil or Methimazole.