Quantification and characterization of plastics in near-shore surface waters of Atlantic Canada.

Plastics are a ubiquitous pollutant in the marine environment. Despite growing concerns, quantitative and qualitative data on microplastics in aquatic and marine environments of Atlantic Canada is just emerging. Surface water plastics were measured and categorized by morphology (thread, microfibre, fragment, foam, film, pellet, and microbead) in two locations in Nova Scotia and one in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.

The Impact of Free Radical Stabilization Techniques on in vivo Mechanical Changes in Highly Cross-Linked Polyethylene Acetabular Liners.

Introduction: Numerous thermal free radical stabilization techniques are used in the production of highly cross-linked polyethylene (HXLPE) to improve oxidative stability. Little knowledge exists on the effects of in vivo time on the mechanical properties of HXLPE. The purpose of this study was to determine if free radical stabilization of HXLPE impacts mechanical properties as well as oxidative stability of acetabular liner rims after extended in vivo time.

Factors Controlling the Distribution of Microplastic Particles in Benthic Sediment of the Thames River, Canada.

Investigations of microplastic abundances in freshwater environments have become more common in the past five years, but few studies concern the factors that control the distribution of microplastics in river systems. We sampled benthic sediment from 34 stations along the Thames River in Ontario, Canada, to determine the influence of land use, grain size, river morphology, and relative amount of organic debris on the distribution of microplastics. Once counted and characterized for shape, color, and size, microplastic abundances were normalized to the results from Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy on randomly selected particles.

Hidden plastics of Lake Ontario, Canada and their potential preservation in the sediment record.

Microplastics are a source of environmental pollution resulting from degradation of plastic products and spillage of resin pellets. We report the amounts of microplastics from various sites of Lake Ontario and evaluate their potential for preservation in the sediment record. A total of 4635 pellets were sampled from the Humber Bay shoreline on three sampling dates.

Delivering octadecylphosphonic acid self-assembled monolayers on a Si wafer and other oxide surfaces.

We describe a simple experimental approach for delivering self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of octadecylphosphonic acid (OPA) on many oxide surfaces using a nonpolar medium with a dielectric constant around 4 (e.g., trichloroethylene).

Robust self-assembled octadecylphosphonic acid monolayers on a mica substrate.

As determined by scratch tests, self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of octadecylphosphonic acid (OPA) on a muscovite mica substrate were found to be mechanically robust and to serve as a lubricant to protect the underlying mica substrate. For comparison purposes, three polymer films were subjected to scratch tests under the same conditions. The scratch tests were conducted using a diamond-tipped stylus, and the resultant scratches were examined using atomic force microscopy.

Detection and Mapping of Chimassorb 944FD Antioxidant Additive in Polyethylene Using TOF-SIMS.

Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) with either gallium or indium primary beams, has been evaluated as a method to measure the homogeneity of distribution of an antioxidant, Chimassorb 944FD (C944), in linear low-density polyethylene. The parent ion for the oligomer at m/z 599 is sufficiently weak that it could not be used to map the distribution of the additive throughout its most commonly used concentration range (0.1-0.

Hemorrhagic cystitis due to adenovirus infection following bone marrow transplantation.

Immunocompromised patients are at significant risk for infection with adenovirus. We report 3 cases of hemorrhagic cystitis in patients following bone marrow transplantation. Of the patients 2 had positive viral urine cultures and 1 had positive stool culture but negative urine culture and biopsy proved viral cystitis.

Urinary neutrophil chemotactic factors in interstitial cystitis patients and a rabbit model of bladder inflammation.

The present study investigates a possible source of inflammatory mediators involved in the pathogenesis of bladder inflammation characteristics of interstitial cystitis disease. Our tested hypothesis is that in response to injury, tissues of the urinary bladder participate in the initiation of bladder inflammation by releasing inflammatory mediators such as neutrophil chemotactic factors. Bladders of anesthetized rabbits (n = 7) were instilled with an acidic solution (pH 4.

Gas-forming infections in genitourinary tract.

Diabetes mellitus associated with urinary tract infections and ureteral obstruction can be predisposing factors leading to emphysematous pyelonephritis. Fever, flank pains, and a palpable renal mass, associated with dehydration and hyperglycemia, were the most frequent presenting symptoms associated with emphysematous pyelonephritis. Computerized tomography (CT) scan is the best method to identify a renal or perirenal abscess and its ramifications.

Diagnostic pitfalls in the diagnosis of soft tissue bladder tumors in pediatric patients.

This is a case report of a low-grade leiomyosarcoma of the bladder in a four-year-old girl. The pitfalls in diagnosing a soft tissue tumor of the bladder in pediatric patients are discussed. This case is particularly instructive because the differential diagnosis was broad, difficult, and of serious consequence.

Fetal cloacal anomalies: prenatal sonographic findings and differential diagnosis.

Serial sonographic findings are presented in three cases of cloacal anomalies. The following sonographic signs were noted: transient fetal ascites, bicystic intra-abdominal structure arising from the fetal pelvis, and oligohydramnios and impaired interval growth. This sequence of sonographic findings may help clarify the natural history of the developing cloacal anomaly: In the early state of its formation, urine enters the abdominal cavity via the fallopian tubes, causing ascites; later, chronic urinary and meconium irritation of tubal mucosa may cause tubal obstruction, which in turn may lead to the formation of genitourinary tract distention, hydronephrosis, and oligohydramnios.

The blue scrotum sign of Bryant: a diagnostic clue to ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm.

A 73-year-old man presented to the emergency department twice with nonspecific abdominal pain. He was diagnosed as having mild diverticulitis and was discharged. Four days later he presented to the emergency department in severe abdominal pain with scrotal and penile ecchymoses.

Brain metastases from transitional cell carcinoma.

We report 2 cases of transitional cell carcinoma, each with a single metastasis to the brain. Both patients underwent craniotomy with resection of the metastatic deposit and adjuvant whole brain radiotherapy. One patient died 4 months later of leptomeningeal carcinomatosis, while the other patient survived 1 year with no evidence of intracranial disease at autopsy despite widespread metastatic involvement of other organs.

Endoscopic vesicourethropexy. Experience and complications.

Thirty-one patients with stress urinary incontinence were treated with the optical vesicourethropexy. Of these patients, 70.9 per cent had previous pelvic or vaginal operations, of which 59 per cent also had failed stress incontinence procedures.

ABH cell surface isoantigens in invasive bladder carcinoma associated with schistosomiasis.

The immunoperoxidase technique for demonstrating blood group ABH isoantigens was used to compare 33 patients with invasive stages T2 and T3 bladder carcinoma with (18) and without (15) schistosomiasis. Of the 18 patients with schistosomiasis 11 (61 per cent) had cell surface antigens present (9 with squamous cell carcinoma and 2 with transitional cell carcinoma and areas of squamous metaplasia), while isoantigens were absent in the remaining 7 (1 with well differentiated squamous cell, 2 with moderately to poorly differentiated squamous cell and 4 with transitional cell carcinoma). Cell surface isoantigens were present in only 3 of the 15 patients (20 per cent) without schistosomiasis (2 with squamous cell and 1 with transitional cell carcinoma) and absent in the remaining 12 with transitional cell carcinoma.

A possible etiology of the infertile 46XX male subject.

We report on an infertile male patient with the predominant 46XX female karyotype. A testicular biopsy revealed widely separated testicular tubules, absence of sperm formation and large numbers of Leydig cells. Chromosome studies, including measurements of the X chromosomes, showed a significant difference between the lengths of the short arm of the 2 X chromosomes.

A unique Y/Y translocation in an infertile male.

A monocentric and submetacentric Y/Y translocation without evidence of mosaicism was observed in a male with tall stature and azoospermia. Chromosome measurements of the abnormal Y of this patient and the normal Y of his father were undertaken to determine more precisely the chromosome break points in this translocation. The measurements failed to show a definite loss of chromatin from the original short arm of the proband's Y chromosome.

Additional evidence for X-Y chromosome interchange in a 46,XX male.

Evidence is presented to support a possible X-Y chromosome interchange etiology for the rare infertile 46,XX male syndrome. Cytogenetic studies including various chromosome banding techniques on lymphocytes and fibroblasts revealed the absence of a Y chromosome in the 400 early metaphase and midmetaphase chromosome plates analyzed. Measurements of the X chromosomes of this patient showed a significant difference in length between the terminal unstained bands on the short arms designated as p22 of the two X chromosomes.

Familial factors in bladder carcinoma.

Surprisingly, little is known about host factors in cases of bladder carcinoma. We investigated 2 families prone to transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder. A high degree of pathology verification of cancer of all anatomic sites and a meticulous recording of genealogy, associated diseases and environmental exposures, when known, have allowed a more cogent appraisal of cancer etiology.

Familial pheochromocytoma, hypercalcemia, and von Hippel-Lindau disease. A ten year study of a large family.

Long-term epidemiological and laboratory studies were carried out in a kindred with familial pheochromocytoma associated with von Hippel-Lindau disease. Thirteen members were affected by the syndrome and the trait appears to be transmitted in an autosomal dominant fashion. Of 13 patients, 7 had pheochromocytoma alone.