Pliocene diatom and sponge spicule oxygen isotope ratios from the Bering Sea: isotopic offsets and future directions

Oxygen isotope analyses of different size fractions of Pliocene diatoms (δ18Odiatom) from the Bering Sea show no evidence of an isotope offset and support the use of bulk diatom species samples for palaeoceanographic reconstructions. Additional samples containing concentrations of sponge spicules produce δ18O values several per mille lower than δ18Odiatom with a calculated mean offset of 3.6‰ ± 0.7. This difference is significantly greater than modern day variations in water δ18O through the regional water column. Despite the potential for oxygen isotope disequilibrium within δ18Osponge, there appears to be some similarity between δ18Osponge and a global stacked benthic δ18Oforam record. This highlights the potential for δ18Osponge in palaeoenvironmental research at sites where carbonates are not readily preserved

δ18O Records

Diatom silica is a form of biogenic opal (SiO2⋅nH2O) that contains oxygen isotopes that can be used in lacustrine and marine paleoenvironmental studies. Here we describe the various analytical considerations and methodologies to achieve good environmental signals. We describe diatom oxygen isotope systematics – in particular, the mineral-water temperature fractionation and silica maturation processes. Finally we give examples of studies both in lake and ocean environments. We conclude that diatom δ18O in sediments can be an extremely useful indicator of paleoenvironmental change and tends to be most successful in areas where there are likely to have been large changes in the isotope composition of the host water. In lakes this can be due to changes in the precipitation/evaporation balance, or source of precipitation, and in oceans it can be due to variations in meltwater flux. The change in δ18Odiatom due to these factors is normally greater than temperature and methodological errors

Carbon isotope composition of graptolite periderm and whole-rock from the Aeronian (Silurian, Llandovery) in Wales and Scotland and its use in chemostratigraphy

Here we show the use of graptolite periderm for chemostratigraphic study. Using material from the Aeronian (Silurian) interval from Wales and Scotland as examples, we show that the carbon isotope composition of the periderm (δ13Cgrap.) provides a signal that is locally different but not consistently so from surrounding whole-rock samples (δ13Cwhole-rock). Graptolite periderm δ13C seems not influenced by astogenetic stage of development or gross rhabdosome type and differences between δ13Cgrap. from different metamorphic grades are minimal. Taken as a whole, the Aeronian interval examined shows little overall change, but large variations are seen on the small scale, possibly reflecting very local carbon cycling. For carbon isotope stratigraphy in such rocks, therefore, large-scale bulk sampling will likely reduce inhomogeneities and give more reproducible results. Furthermore, in situations (for instance associated with sea level fluctuations) where terrestrial organic matter has been incorporated into the sediment, then graptolite carbon may more faithfully reflect bulk marine organic matter. © 2010 The Geologists' Association

Association between bile and acid turnover and osteoporosis in postmenopausal women

Objective: The intestinal absorption of vitamin D is linked to bile acid absorption. This link may be abnormal in patients with osteoporosis. The aim of this study was to investigate a possible relation between osteoporosis and bile acid turnover, measured as whole-body Se-75-HCAT retention (WBR), in postmenopausal women.Patients and methods: Whole-body counts were recorded using an uncollimated gamma camera 3 h and 7 days after oral administration of Se-75-homocholic acid taurine (Se-75-HCAT) in 16 women aged 58-85 years with dual-photon X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA)-proven osteoporosis. WBR was expressed as physical decay-corrected counts at 7 days as a percentage of the counts at 3 h.Results: Seven patients had unexplained diarrhoea. Six patients (five with diarrhoea) had WBR less than 19%. There was a significant difference in DEXA t-score between women with and without diarrhoea (P&lt;0.02). There was a significant negative correlation (R s=-0.58; P&lt;0.02) between WBR and alcohol consumption rated on a three-point scale: &lt;1, 2-7 and &gt;7 U/week.Conclusion: Our results indicate an association between osteoporosis and diarrhoea that may be the result of abnormal bile acid turnover. The role of alcohol requires further investigation.<br/

Estimation of lean body mass in children

BACKGROUND In adults, dosages of some anaesthetic agents are based on lean body mass (LBM) rather than body weight. Our aim was to derive an equation for estimating LBM in children. METHODS Patients comprised three groups: prospective kidney transplant donors from two separate centres (centres 1 and 3) and children referred to a further centre (centre 2) for the routine clinical measurement of glomerular filtration rate (GFR). GFR and extracellular fluid volume (ECV) were measured using Cr-51-EDTA. LBM was directly estimated (eLBM) in adults using an equation based on height and weight. ECV in children was estimated (eECV) from another equation based on height and weight, converted to eLBM using the relationship between eLBM and ECV determined in the adults from centre 1 and then compared with adult data from centre 3. RESULTS In children, the ratio of eECV to ECV was 1.04 (SD 0.18). In centre 1, eLBM (kg) was 3.81 (SD 0.55) times greater than ECV (litres) in men (n=50) and 3.77 (0.77) times greater in women (n=51). eLBM in children was therefore derived by multiplying eECV by 3.8. In children, eLBM showed a close linear correlation with measured ECV (eLBM=3.50ECV+2.0; R(2)=0.857), similar to adults (eLBM=2.82ECV+14.5; R(2)=0.582). In all groups, eLBM/weight correlated inversely with weight. CONCLUSIONS In terms of the relationships between eLBM, ECV, and weight, children are similar to adults. Therefore, drug dosage in children should also be based on eLBM rather than weigh

Detection of a new erm(X)-mediated antibiotic resistance in Egyptian cutaneous propionibacteria.

noA total of 107 antibiotic-resistant propionibacteria were isolated from the face of 102 Egyptian acne patients, dermatology staff and controls. Erythromycin-clindamycin-resistant propionibacteria were chosen to detect erm(X) gene and it was detected in 29 of 107 (27%) strains. However, just 7 strains had IS1249I, 3 of them had also Tn5432. The erm(X) gene which is not carried on Tn5432 confers inducible resistance to telithromycin by erythromycin or clindamycin. The DNA sequences of the PCR amplification products of this new erm(X)-mediated antibiotic resistance showed >99% identity to the erm(X) gene isolated from a Corynebacterium jeikeium. Southern blotting analysis of the erm(X)-specific probe shows that there were two copies of this resistance gene integrated within the chromosomal DNA. This is the first report of erm(X) being carried by Propionibacterium acnes outside Europe. Whilst the gene is associated with Tn5432 in some strains, the data suggests other genetic element carrying erm(X). The high carriage of erm(X) may affect the efficacy of clindamycin and macrolides for acne treatment in Egypt.Egyptian Ministry of Higher Educatio