Effect of grain size variation on strontium sorption to heterogeneous aquifer sediments.

Strontium-90 (Sr) is a major contaminant at nuclear legacy sites. The mobility of Sr is primarily governed by sorption reactions with sediments controlled by high surface area phases such as clay and iron oxides. Sr adsorption was investigated in heterogeneous unconsolidated aquifer sediments, analogous to those underlying the UK Sellafield nuclear site, with grainsizes ranging from gravels to clays.

Extracellular Vesicle MicroRNA in Malignant Pleural Effusion.

Lung and breast cancer are the two most common causes of malignant pleural effusion (MPE). MPE diagnosis plays a crucial role in determining staging and therapeutic interventions in these cancers. However, our understanding of the pathogenesis and progression of MPE at the molecular level is limited.

Effect of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems on Cigarette Abstinence in Smokers With No Plans to Quit: Exploratory Analysis of a Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Introduction: The extent to which use of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) for smoking reduction leads to cigarette abstinence in smokers with no plans to quit smoking is unclear. This exploratory analysis examined the effects of ENDS delivering different amounts of nicotine on cigarette abstinence up to 24-week follow-up, in comparison to placebo or a behavioral substitute.

Methods: This four-arm parallel-group, randomized, placebo-controlled trial took place at two academic medical centers in the United States (Penn State Hershey and Virginia Commonwealth University).

Behaviour of carbon-14 containing low molecular weight organic compounds in contaminated groundwater under aerobic conditions.

Short chain carbon-14 (C) containing organic compounds can be formed by abiotic oxidation of carbides and impurities within nuclear fuel cladding. During fuel reprocessing and subsequent waste storage there is potential for these organic compounds to enter shallow subsurface environments due to accidental discharges. Currently there is little data on the persistence of these compounds in such environments.

Neuroprotection by post-stroke administration of an oral formulation of angiotensin-(1-7) in ischaemic stroke.

New Findings: What is the central question of this study? Angiotensin-(1-7) decreases cerebral infarct volume and improves neurological function when delivered centrally before and during ischaemic stroke. Here, we assessed the neuroprotective effects of angiotensin-(1-7) when delivered orally post-stroke. What is the main finding and its importance? We show that oral delivery of angiotensin-(1-7) attenuates cerebral damage induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion in rats, without affecting blood pressure or cerebral blood flow.

Protective effects of the angiotensin II AT receptor agonist compound 21 in ischemic stroke: a nose-to-brain delivery approach.

Significant neuroprotective effects of angiotensin II type 2 (AT) receptor (AT receptor) agonists in ischemic stroke have been previously demonstrated in multiple studies. However, the routes of agonist application used in these pre-clinical studies, direct intracerebroventricular (ICV) and systemic administration, are unsuitable for translation into humans; in the latter case because AT receptor agonists are blood-brain barrier (BBB) impermeable. To circumvent this problem, in the current study we utilized the nose-to-brain (N2B) route of administration to bypass the BBB and deliver the selective AT receptor agonist Compound 21 (C21) to naïve rats or rats that had undergone endothelin 1 (ET-1)-induced ischemic stroke.

Post-stroke angiotensin II type 2 receptor activation provides long-term neuroprotection in aged rats.

Activation of the angiotensin II type 2 receptor (AT2R) by administration of Compound 21 (C21), a selective AT2R agonist, induces neuroprotection in models of ischemic stroke in young adult animals. The mechanisms of this neuroprotective action are varied, and may include direct and indirect effects of AT2R activation. Our objectives were to assess the long-term protective effects of post-stroke C21 treatments in a clinically-relevant model of stroke in aged rats and to characterize the cellular localization of AT2Rs in the mouse brain of transgenic reporter mice following stroke.

Coprecipitation of (14)C and Sr with carbonate precipitates: The importance of reaction kinetics and recrystallization pathways.

This study investigated the simultaneous removal of Sr(2+) and (14)CO3(2-) from pH>12 Ca(OH)2 solution by the precipitation of calcium carbonate. Initial Ca(2+):CO3(2-) ratios ranged from 10:1 to 10:100 (mM:mM). Maximum removal of (14)C and Sr(2+) both occurred in the system containing 10mM Ca(2+) and 1mM CO3(2-) (99.

Temperature measurements during high flux ion beam irradiations.

A systematic study of the ion beam heating effect was performed in a temperature range of -170 to 900 °C using a 10 MeV Au(3+) ion beam and a Yttria stabilized Zirconia (YSZ) sample at a flux of 5.5 × 10(12) cm(-2) s(-1). Different geometric configurations of beam, sample, thermocouple positioning, and sample holder were compared to understand the heat/charge transport mechanisms responsible for the observed temperature increase.

Baseline symptom score and flow rate can predict failure of medical treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms: prospective 12-year follow-up study.

Objective: To assess predictors of failure of medical treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and evaluate long-term outcome.

Methods: Between January 1993 and September 1994, 178 men referred with LUTS were prospectively recruited. Assessments included maximum urine flow (Qmax), postvoiding residuals (PVR), transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) prostate volumes, American Urological Association symptom score, and validated quality of life (QOL) and bother scores.

Matrix isolation studies and DFT calculations on molecular alkali metal bromates.

DFT and MP2 calculations have been carried out on a series of molecular alkali metal bromates MBrO3 (M = Na, K, Rb, Cs), and the results compared with matrix isolation IR studies on the vaporisation of the solid salts. For M = Na, K or Rb, no ternary molecular species were detected in the low temperature matrix, but vaporisation of solid caesium bromate at 730 K resulted in the formation of molecular CsBrO3, which was identified as having a C3v structure involving tridentate coordination. Additionally, the DFT and MP2 calculations provide estimates of the molecular parameters for all four MBrO3 species, and for the related MXO3 species CsClO3 and CsIO3.

The use of complementary and alternative therapies in dogs and cats with cancer.

The use of complementary and alternative medical therapies is becoming widespread. The objective of this study was to examine the use of complementary and alternative therapies in dogs and cats with cancer. The types of modalities used, the intended purpose for each modality, sources of information pet owners used, and the level of interest in these modalities were all evaluated.

After more than 10 years of Gulf War veteran medical evaluations, what have we learned?

Since the 1991 Gulf War, more than 10 years and 1 billion dollars of health evaluations and research have been invested in understanding illnesses among Gulf War veterans. We examined the extensive published healthcare utilization data in an effort to summarize what has been learned. Using multiple search techniques, data as of June 2003 from four different national Gulf War health registries and numerous hospitalization and ambulatory care reports were reviewed.

The role of sustained delivery of corticosterone alone or in combination with antioxidants on the cardiovascular system of adult female rats.

Corticosteroids are used in the treatment of anti-inflammatory diseases, and their side effects can result in hypertension as well as effects on the cardiovascular system. Recent studies have shown the beneficial effects of anti-oxidants to delay the progression of many diseases by eliminating free radical formation. Antioxidants, such as selenium, may have an affect on the cardiovascular systems.

The effects of sustained delivery of glucocorticoids on the adrenal gland of male rats.

The role of stress on the structural and functional capacity of multiple organs has not been well investigated. The objective of this investigation was to morphometrically evaluate the effect of sustained delivery of corticosteroids alone or in combination with selenomethionine (SE), by tricalcium phosphate (TCP) ceramic capsule, on the adrenals of adult male rats. Nine adult male rats were randomly divided into three equal groups.

Endemic infectious diseases and biological warfare during the Gulf War: a decade of analysis and final concerns.

Infectious diseases were one of the first health threats confronted by Coalition troops deployed to the Arabian desert in August 1990. On the basis of experiences in World War II, the major endemic infectious disease risks were thought to be sandfly fever, cutaneous leishmaniasis, diarrheal disease, and malaria. Although there was active surveillance, no case of sandfly fever and few other endemic infectious diseases were identified among over 500,000 U.

Clinical findings for the first 1000 Gulf war veterans in the Ministry of Defence's medical assessment programme.

Objective: To review the clinical findings in the first 1000 veterans seen in the Ministry of Defence's Gulf war medical assessment programme to examine whether there was a particular illness related to service in the Gulf.

Design: Case series of 1000 veterans who presented to the programme between 11 October 1993 and 24 February 1997.

Subjects: Gulf war veterans.

Gulf health research.

This update has described how Gulf health research has developed over the past two years. In January 1996, MoD asked the MRC for their assistance in commissioning a programme of research to investigate Gulf veterans' health concerns. The MRC issued a 'Call for Proposals' in May 1996.

Investigating Gulf veterans' health concerns.

In order to answer the questions arising from the health concerns of Gulf veterans, the Defence Medical Services have collated relevant health data so that they may be systematically analysed. However, data coverage is limited and there are concerns about its quality. Intramural studies alone will not be robust enough to determine of veterans are experiencing an excess of ill-health so a programme of epidemiological studies will be commissioned in collaboration with the Medical Research Council.

The smoking habits of young soldiers.

In a survey of the smoking habits of over 6,000 young soldiers, it was found that the prevalence of regular smoking was 45%. Though the prevalence of regular smoking in young soldiers is higher than the general prevalence rate for smoking in 16 to 19-year olds in the civilian population, the excess is considered to be a reflection of the social and geographical background of Army recruits. The survey found that young soldiers who smoke, smoke heavily.