Bacterial community structure and activity in different Cd-treated forest soils

In this study we compared indicators of Cd bioavailability (water extracts, Lakanen extracts, free ions) and ecotoxicity in forest soils with contrasting physico-chemical characteristics. Soil samples were treated with CdCl2 solutions (0, 0.1, 1, 10 and 100 mM) and incubated for 30 days. Microbial activity indexes (acid phosphatase, β-glucosidase, basal respiration) and changes in bacterial community structure using terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) fingerprinting were investigated. The Cd concentrations measured ranged from 1% to 37% of the total additions in water extracts, to higher levels in Lakanen extracts. Effects of Cd were observed at bioavailable concentrations exceeding United Nations/European Economic Commission UN/ECE guidelines for total Cd in the soil solution. Basal respiration was the most affected index, while enzymatic activities showed variable responses to the Cd treatments. We also noticed that soils with pH higher than 6.7 and clay content higher than 50% showed inhibition of basal respiration but no marked shift in bacterial community structure. Soils with lower pH (pH <5.8) with less clay content (<50%) showed in addition strong changes in the bacterial community structure. Our results provide evidence for the importance of relating the effects of Cd on the soil communities to soil properties and to bioavailabilit

SAPALDIA: Methods and participation in the cross-sectional part of the Swiss Study on Air Pollution and Lung Diseases in Adults

Summary: SAPALDIA-the Swiss Study on Air Pollution and Lung Diseases in Adults-focuses on the long term health effects of low to moderate levels of air pollutants as typically seen in different parts of Switzerland. The aim of the SAPALDIA cross-sectional study carried out in 1991 was to determine the prevalence of bronchial asthma, chronic bronchitis and allergic conditions in the adult population of Switzerland and to identify and to determine the respective importance of potentially influencing factors. These could be both personal (smoking habits, allergy status, family history, occupation) and environmental (outdoor and indoor pollution, aeroallergens, climate). A further aim of the cross-sectional study consisted in the identification of individuals susceptible to present symptoms during a two year observation period and to be included in the SAPALDIA follow-up study. This technical report represents the methodological documentation for the cross-sectional study of SAPALDIA. The instruments and the methods of standardisation are presented and discussed. The medical examination consisted of a computerised interview using a standardised questionnaire, the taking of a blood sample for serological tests, allergy skin testing, the measurement of endexpiratory CO and body height, and pulmonary function testing followed by methacholine challenge testing or bronchodilatation testing. The pattern of participation and the 9651 participants of the study, representing 59.3% of the sample, are described. Based on information on non-participants gained by telephone interviews and mailed short questionnaires, possible selection biases are quantified and discusse

Preservation of Epstein-Barr-Virus Status and Mismatch Repair Protein Status along the Metastatic Course of Gastric Cancer.

(1) Background: EBV in-situ hybridization and mismatch repair (MMR) protein immunohistochemistry identifies two subgroups of gastric cancer (GC) with high immunogenicity and likelihood for response to immune checkpoint inhibition. As tumor biology may change during the metastatic course which can negatively influence the success of therapeutic decisions made on primary tissue, we investigated the consistency of GC EBV and MMR status within primary tumors and metastases. (2) Patients and Methods: We investigated a cohort of 415 primary resected GC, including 111 cases with corresponding distant metastases and 297 cases with lymph node metastases. Tumors were analyzed by EBV in-situ hybridization and MLH1, PMS2, MSH2, and MSH6 immunohistochemistry using tissue microarray technique. (3) Results: Primary tumors were grouped EBV-positive MMR-proficient, EBV-negative MMR-deficient and EBV-negative MMR-proficient. 11/415 (2.7%) of primary tumors were EBV-positive MMR-proficient whereas 49/415 (11.8%) of tumors were EBV-negative MMR-deficient. EBV and MMR protein status showed full concordance with that of the primary tumors. MMR-deficient tumors were of lower pT-category (p<0.001), had fewer lymph node metastases (24/49 (49%) versus 273/361 (75.6%) cases; p<0.001) and a lower rate of distant metastases (6/49 (12.2%) versus 105/366 (28.7%) cases; p=0.015). (4) Conclusion: We demonstrate a strong correlation of EBV and MMR status between primary tumors, lymph node and distant metastases in a large series of primary resected GC. The cases showed the expected frequency of EBV-positive MMR-deficient and EBV-negative MMR-proficient tumors. We conclude that tissue testing for molecular subtyping for therapeutic decision-making can be reliably performed on primary tumors and metastases in GC

Parapharyngeal abscess by Aspergillus flavus in a neutropenic patient with myelogenous leukaemia

This is the first description of an Aspergillus infection of the parapharyngeal space. A high degree of clinical suspicion may be needed due to the non-specific signs and symptoms and repeated tissue biopsies for microbiological and histopathological work up may be warranted

Fabry's disease: otoneurologic findings in twelve members of one family

Fabry's disease corresponds to an inherited disorder transmitted by an X-linked recessive gene. It generates a dysfunction of glycosphingolipid metabolism due to an enzymatic deficiency of alpha-galactosidase activity, resulting in glycosphingolipid deposits in all areas of the body. The clinical (heart, kidney, and central nervous system) manifestations are more severe in hemizygous boys than in heterozygous girls. They appear during childhood or adolescence: acroparesthesia, joint pain, angiokeratoma, corneal dystrophy, hypohydrosis or anhydrosis, and renal failure. The otoneurologic symptoms consist of hearing fluctuation, progressive unilateral or bilateral hearing loss, and episodes of vertigo or dizziness. Otoneurologic findings in 12 of 26 members of the same family are presented: the mother and 9 of her 12 children, as well as 2 of her 14 grandchildren: 4 healthy persons, 4 heterozygous female carriers, and 4 hemizygous male patients. Three of the male patients had fluctuation of hearing, sudden hearing loss, and episodes of vertigo and dizziness. The otoneurologic examinations showed a bilateral cochleovestibular deficit (n = 1), a right cochleovestibular deficit (n = 1), and a bilateral hearing loss combined with a right vestibular deficit (n = 1). Histopathologic evidence of glycosphingolipid accumulation in vascular endothelial and ganglion cells, as well as atrophy of the stria and spiral ligament, might explain the otoneurologic symptoms and findings

Bacterial community structure and activity in different Cd-treated forest soils

ISSN:0168-6496ISSN:1574-694

Dynamic modelling of the long term behaviour of cadmium, lead and mercury in Swiss forest soils using CHUM-AM

The applicability of the dynamic soil model CHUM-AM was tested to simulate concentrations of Cd, Pb and Hg in five Swiss forest soils. Soil cores of up to 50 cm depth were sampled and separated into two defined soil layers. Soil leachateswere collected below the litter by zero-tension lysimeters and at 15 and 50 cm soil depths by tension lysimeters over two years. The concentrations of Cd, Pb and Hg in the solid phase and soil solution weremeasured by ICP-MS (Cd, Pb) or CV-AFS (Hg). Measured metal concentrations were compared with modelled concentrations using CHUM-AM. Additionally we ran the model with three different deposition scenarios (current deposition;maximumacceptable deposition according to the Swiss ordinance on Air Pollution Control; critical loads according to CLRTAP) to predict metal concentrations in the soils for the next 1000 years. Assuming current loads concentrations of Cd and Pb showed varying trends (increasing/decreasing) between the soils. Soils rich in organic carbon orwith a high pH value showed increasing trends in Cd and Pb concentrationswhereas the concentrations in the other soils decreased. In contrast Hg concentrations are predicted to further increase in all soils. Critical limits for Pb andHgwill partly be exceeded by current loads or by the critical loads proposed by the CLRTAP but the critical limits for Cd will rarely be reached within the next 1000 years. In contrast, maximal acceptable deposition will partly lead to concentrations above the critical limits for Pb in soils within the next 400 years, whereas the acceptable deposition of Cd will not lead to concentrations above the proposed critical limits. In conclusion the CHUM-AMmodel is able to accurately simulate heavymetal (Cd, Pb and Hg) concentrations in Swiss forest soils of various soil properties

Vielfalt bedingt Vielfalt - wildlebende Arten im Botanischen Garten der Universität Bern

Die Rolle von Botanischen Gärten geht weit über die gezeigten Pflanzensammlungen hinaus. Sie sind Orte der Bildung, Forschung, Kultur, Erholung und wichtige Akteure bei der Erhaltung gefährdeter Pflanzenarten. Der Botanische Garten der Universität Bern (BOGA) ist eine grüne Oase mitten in der Stadt. Er beherbergt nicht nur eine grosse Vielfalt an Pflanzen, sondern bietet auch Lebensraum, Nahrungsquelle, Unterschlupf- und Nistmöglichkeiten für eine Vielzahl von wildlebenden Organismen. Doch wie hoch genau ist die Biodiversität auf dem 2.5 ha grossen Gelände? Wie viele Pflanzenarten auf dem BOGA-Gebiet kultiviert werden, war bereits bekannt: rund 5500 Arten aus aller Welt. Auch zu einigen wild lebenden Tiergruppen, wie Vögeln oder Wildbienen, wurden über die Jahre bereits Artenlisten zusammengetragen. Um das Potenzial des Botanischen Gartens als Lebensraum für weitere wild lebende Bewohner zu erforschen, führte der BOGA zusammen mit rund 30 Expert*innen im Frühjahr 2019 eine Bestandsaufnahme durch. Insgesamt wurden 14 Taxa von Tieren, Pflanzen und Pilzen untersucht (Weichtiere, Spinnen, Käfer, Libellen, Tagfalter, Reptilien, Amphibien, Vögel, Fledermäuse, Kleinsäuger, Pilze, Flechten, Moose, Gefässpflanzen). Bisher wurden auf dem BOGA-Gelände 1139 Arten identifiziert, von denen etwa je ein Drittel Pilze, wild wachsende Pflanzen und wirbellose Tiere sind. Da zahlreiche Organismengruppen noch nicht untersucht wurden oder eine andere Jahreszeit bevorzugen, ist zu erwarten, dass die Artengemeinschaft im BOGA sogar noch deutlich grösser ist und es auch weiterhin viel zu entdecken gibt. Zu den Highlights der Bestandsaufnahme zählen z.B. der Erstnachweis der Spinnenart Triaeris stenaspis in der Schweiz oder der Pilz Scirrhia osmundicola, welcher zum ersten Mal seit seiner Erstbeschreibung 1959 gesichtet wurde. Zudem sind einige Gruppen erstaunlich gut vertreten, so wurden 34 der Schweizer Vogelarten im BOGA gesichtet und dies auf gerade mal 0.00005 der Landesfläche. Diese Bestandsaufnahme zeigt eindrücklich, wie wertvoll die hohe Pflanzenartenvielfalt und der vielfältige Lebensraum des BOGA für die gesamte Biodiversität mitten in der Stadt ist