Cervical spinal cord injuries in patients with refractory epilepsy.

The incidence of cervical spinal cord injuries (c-SCI) in patients with refractory epilepsy is 30-40 times higher than in the normal population. The injuries occur after seizure-related falls. Risk factors and pitfalls in diagnosis are discussed.

Availability of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to earthworms (Eisenia andrei, Oligochaeta) in field-polluted soils and soil-sediment mixtures.

The bioavailability of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) for earthworms (Eisenia andrei) was experimentally determined in seven field-polluted soils and 15 soil-sediment mixtures. The pore-water concentration of most PAHs was higher than predicted. However, most of the compound was associated with dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and not directly available for uptake by earthworms.