Contribution of combined sewer overflows to trace contaminant loads in urban streams.

The present study examines the contribution of combined sewer overflows (CSO) to loads and concentrations of trace contaminants in receiving surface water. A simple method to assess the ratio of CSO to wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents was applied to the urban River Spree in Berlin, Germany. The assessment indicated that annual loads are dominated by CSO for substances with removal in WWTP above approximately 95%.

Good measurement for good improvement work.

Purpose: To provide guidance on using measurement to support the conduct of local quality improvement projects that will strengthen the evaluation of results and increase their potential for publication.

Target Group: Individuals leading quality improvement efforts who wish to enhance their use of measurement.

Procedures To Promote Good Measurement: Eleven procedures are offered to promote intelligent measurement in quality improvement research that may become publishable: 1.

The Carpentier-Edwards stented supra-annular pericardial aortic valve prosthesis: clinical durability and hemodynamic performance.

There are encouraging reports of satisfactory long-term experiences with second-generation stent-mounted glutaraldehyde-fixed pericardial aortic valve prostheses. Durability has improved, but the issue has not been completely resolved. There is disagreement whether the small sizes of these prostheses are associated with inferior outcomes.

The effect of comorbid illness on mortality outcomes in cardiac surgery.

Hypothesis: Comorbid conditions are associated with the risk of death from coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

Design: Prospective cohort study data were collected on patient and disease characteristics and comorbid conditions including hypertension, diabetes, obesity, vascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cancer (excluding nonmelanoma skin cancer), dialysis-dependent renal failure, liver disease, and dementia. Statistical analysis used logistic regression for the calculation of adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).