A perfect storm: two ecosystem engineers interact to degrade deciduous forests of New Jersey

Abstract Ecosystem engineers play a large role in physically structuring the ecosystem in which they are embedded

Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Ethyl-nitrosourea-induced Rat Gliomas: A Model for Experimental Therapeutics of Low-grade Gliomas

Human low-grade gliomas represent a population of brain tumors that remain a therapeutic challenge. Preclinical evaluation of agents, to test their preventive or therapeutic efficacy in these tumors, requires the use of animal nobreak models. Spontaneous gliomas develop in models of chemically induced carcinogenesis, such as in the transplacental N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) rat model. However, without the ability to detect initial tumor formation, multiplicity or to measure growth rates, it is difficult to test compounds for their interventional or preventional capabilities. In this study Fisher-334 rats, treated transplacentally with ENU, underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination in order to evaluate this approach for detection of tumor formation and growth. ENU-induced intracranial cerebral tumors were first observable in T2-weighted images beginning at 4 months of age and grew with a mean doubling time of 0.487 ± 0.112 months. These tumors were found histologically to be predominately mixed gliomas. Two therapeutic interventions were evaluated using MRI, vitamin A (all-trans retinol palmitate, RP), as a chemopreventative agent and the anti-angiogenic drug SU-5416. RP was found to significantly delay the time to first tumor observation by one month ( P = 0.05). No differences in rates of tumor formation or growth rates were observed between control and RP-treated groups. MRI studies of rats treated with SU-5416 resulted in reduction in tumor growth rates compared to matched controls. These results show that MRI can be used to provide novel information relating to the therapeutic efficacy of agents against the ENU-induced tumor model.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/45391/1/11060_2004_Article_352248.pd

Management information systems plan for Dutch Boy Philippines, Inc. (DB-MIS)

The Management Information Systems Plan for Dutch Boy Philippines is a three-year plan directed to achieve maximum use of information resources as well as the different business applications of the company. This will cover the departments namely: Technical, Production, Quality Assurance, Materials Management, Engineering, Production Planning and Control, Personnel, Purchasing, Administration, Marketing, Credit and Collection. Accounting, Sales, Customer Services, Technical Services, Project Management, Internal Audit, Management Information Systems, and Finished Goods Warehouse. The MIS plan supports both the middle and the top management as it streamlines their operations and eliminates the redundancy to further aid in their decision-making. In addition, this will evaluate the overall performance of their operations and finally, generate a recommendation for the company\u27s improvement

Effect of dietary vitamin A or N-acetylcysteine on ethylnitrosourea-induced rat gliomas

It is our hypothesis that low grade gliomas are the glial counterparts of other precancerous lesions such as colon polyps and, therefore, suitable targets for chemoprevention. Steps in the molecular progression of gliomas have been described, indicating that an accumulation of abnormalities is required for progression to a high grade and interruption of this progression might be possible. An animal model of chemical glial carcinogenesis was used to test this hypothesis. Pregnant rats were injected intravenously with ENU (ethylnitrosourea) on the 18th day of gestation to induce gliomas in the offspring, which were randomized to receive control diet, diet supplemented with vitamin A palmitate, or diet supplemented with N-acetylcysteine. Animals exposed to ENU and receiving a control diet developed brain tumors and had a shortened life expectancy compared with rats unexposed to ENU. The animals treated with NAC showed no statistically significant delay in the time to tumor and no change in the histologic grade of the tumors when compared with animals receiving control diet, but the time to death from any cause of NAC treated animals differed significantly from untreated animals. Animals receiving high dose VA had statistically significantly prolonged time to tumor, survived significantly longer than untreated animals, but had no reduction in the total number of tumors or change in the histologic grade of their tumors. The theoretical basis of these results is likely due to the putative mechanism of action of these agents. These data indicate that glioma chemoprevention is possible and deserves further exploration.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/45387/1/11060_2004_Article_185580.pd

The relationship of social support system to the anxiety level of primigravid women

The study used a descriptive type of research. Fifty (50) primigravid women from selected communities in Cavite were identified as the respondents using convenience sampling. A self-made questionnaire was used as data gathering. Data was analyzed through mean, percentage, frequency, t-test of independent means, f-test or One Way ANOVA and Spearman’s Rank-Order Correlation (Spearman’s Rho). The study concluded that, 1) Most of the respondents consisted of primigravid women from selected communities in Cavite who were 20-39 years old, married, had an income of below P10,000, Catholic, college graduate, on their third trimester, and received social support from primary source (husband, sibling and parent); 2) The level of social support, whether emotional or informational, rendered by the husband, family, relative, friends and significant others were perceived by the respondents as high degree; 3) The anxiety level of majority of primagravid women was mild; 4) The level of social support was not affected by age, civil status, educational attainment, family income and religion of primagravid women. However, the level of social support was affected by stage of pregnancy and source of social support; 5) The level of anxiety of primigravid women was not affected by age, civil status, educational attainment, socio-economic status, religion, stage of pregnancy and source of social support; 6) There was a significant relationship between social support and level of anxiety of primigravid women of selected communities in Cavite. Social support is a predictor of the level of anxiety of the respondents. The higher the level of social support, the lower the anxiety level. Conversely, the lower the social support, the higher the anxiety level of the respondents

Feasibility of a Telemedicine Urgent Care Program to Address Patient Complaints on First Contact

Many health systems employ nurse telephone advice services to facilitate remote triage of patients to appropriate level of care. However, the effectiveness of these programs to reduce ED and subsequent health care utilization remains to be demonstrated. We describe a novel virtual urgent care program implemented within a Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system that interfaces with a nurse telephone advice line and leverages telemedicine tools to rapidly address and resolve nonemergent conditions. During a 4-month pilot period, 104 unique patients received care through the program, and over 85% of patients achieved timely resolution for their urgent complaints on first contact with the health care system. Demonstrating feasibility for such a program has potential implications for the optimization of remote triage and urgent care services to improve health care utilization and outcomes

Folate Intake, MTHFR Polymorphisms, and the Risk of Colorectal Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background. The objective was to determine whether relationships exist between the methylene-tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) polymorphisms and risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) and examine whether the risk is modified by level of folate intake. Methods. MEDLINE, Embase, and SCOPUS were searched to May 2012 using the terms “folic acid,” “folate,” “colorectal cancer,” “methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase,” “MTHFR.” Observational studies were included which (1) assessed the risk of CRC for each polymorphism and/or (2) had defined levels of folate intake for each polymorphism and assessed the risk of CRC. Results. From 910 references, 67 studies met our criteria; hand searching yielded 10 studies. The summary risk estimate comparing the 677CT versus CC genotype was 1.02 (95% CI 0.95–1.10) and for 677TT versus CC was 0.88 (95% CI 0.80–0.96) both with heterogeneity. The summary risk estimates for A1298C polymorphisms suggested no reduced risk. The summary risk estimate for high versus low total folate for the 677CC genotype was 0.70 (95% CI 0.56–0.89) and the 677TT genotype 0.63 (95% CI 0.41–0.97). Conclusion. These results suggest that the 677TT genotype is associated with a reduced risk of developing CRC, under conditions of high total folate intake, and this associated risk remains reduced for both MTHFR 677 CC and TT genotypes

Folate Intake, MTHFR Polymorphisms, and the Risk of Colorectal Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background. The objective was to determine whether relationships exist between the methylene-tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) polymorphisms and risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) and examine whether the risk is modified by level of folate intake. Methods. MEDLINE, Embase, and SCOPUS were searched to May 2012 using the terms “folic acid,” “folate,” “colorectal cancer,” “methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase,” “MTHFR.” Observational studies were included which (1) assessed the risk of CRC for each polymorphism and/or (2) had defined levels of folate intake for each polymorphism and assessed the risk of CRC. Results. From 910 references, 67 studies met our criteria; hand searching yielded 10 studies. The summary risk estimate comparing the 677CT versus CC genotype was 1.02 (95% CI 0.95–1.10) and for 677TT versus CC was 0.88 (95% CI 0.80–0.96) both with heterogeneity. The summary risk estimates for A1298C polymorphisms suggested no reduced risk. The summary risk estimate for high versus low total folate for the 677CC genotype was 0.70 (95% CI 0.56–0.89) and the 677TT genotype 0.63 (95% CI 0.41–0.97). Conclusion. These results suggest that the 677TT genotype is associated with a reduced risk of developing CRC, under conditions of high total folate intake, and this associated risk remains reduced for both MTHFR 677 CC and TT genotypes.Peer Reviewe

Speciation and Bioavailability of Trace Metals (Cd, Cu and Pb) in Marine Sediment Samples from Placer Bay near Manila Mining Corporation, Surigao City, Philippines

Chemical speciation by sequential extraction method of Cd, Cu and Pb of sediment samples from Manila Mining Corporation is described in this study. Different extractants was employed during the extraction process to each of the defined host fractions; exchangeable, carbonate-bound, organic bound, Fe-Mn bound and residual metal fractions. Moreover, excellent metal recoveries for sequential extraction protocol as compared to the total digestion method were observed for Pb and Cd, while low metal recovery for Cu. Results on the speciation and bioavailability of the studied trace metals in the sediment samples showed that the extractability (potentially available metal fraction) follows the order as Pb > Cu >> Cd. Likewise, the average residual fraction (nonavailable metal fraction) in all sampling stations was found to be equal to 29 %, 38 % and 88 % for Pb, Cu and Cd, respectively. Importantly, Pb was found to be widely distributed in all of the host fractions across all sampling stations, while Cu was more associated in the following fractions: Fe-Mn oxide bound metal fraction (33 %), organic-bound metal fraction (28 %) and in the residual fraction (38 %). Similarly, Cd metal was found to be significantly adsorbed in the residual fraction which suggests that Cd metal is less available in all of the sediment samples being studied. Results of this study may serve as a basis to the administrators in conceptualizing an effective framework for proper remediation and rehabilitation program in the area