Correlation between tumor necrosis factor-alpha and D-dimer levels in non-small cell lung cancer patients

The present study was designed to investigate whether a correlation exists between IL-6, TNF-alpha and coagulation (Thrombin-antithrombin, TATc) or fibrinolysis (D-dimer) activation in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. One hundred thirty patients with NSCLC (n=65, 53 males, mean age 65 +/- 8, adenocarcinoma n=32, squamous cancer n=33) or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (n=65, 51 males, mean age 67 +/- 9) were studied. As control group 65 healthy donors (51 males, mean age 61 +/- 14) were also evaluated. The results obtained showed that median D-dimer levels were higher in NSCLC patients (3.0 microg/ml) compared either to COPD patients (1.1 microg/ml, P<0.05) or controls (0.3 microg/ml, P<0.0001). Positive TNF-alpha levels (>10 pg/ml) were found in 26% of NSCLC compared to 3% of COPD (P<0.002) and 5% of controls (P<0.0005). On the other hand, positive (>8.5 pg/ml) IL-6 levels were found in 53% of NSCLC and 21% of COPD patients, compared to 5% of control subjects (P<0.001). Median TATc levels were elevated in either NSCLC (6.9 microg/l) or COPD (5.7 microg/l) patients compared to controls (1.8 microg/l, P<0.0001). Elevated D-dimer levels were significantly associated to positive TNF-alpha levels in patients without distant metastasis (F=4.3, P<0.05). Moreover, TNF-alpha levels (P<0.01) were independently related to the presence of positive D-dimer levels in patients with non-metastatic NSCLC. These results suggest that increased levels of TNF-alpha might be responsible for an activation of fibrinolysis in patients with NSCLC

A Review of American Shad Studies in the Connecticut River

Historical information concerning the American Shad in the Connecticut River is discussed in relation to fisheries management. Historical accounts of shad abundance in the river during the 18th and 19th centuries are perfunctory and unreliable. No commercial catch records are available prior to 1890. From 1867 through 1938, the principle effort toward shad management involved artificial propagation. Fredin estimated the size of the shad population in the Connecticut River for the years 1938 through 1951. From 1965 through 1973, Leggett not only estimated the size of the annual shad run, but also provided information by which to assess the effect of current management programs. From 1974 to the present, the responsibilities for the shad study were assumed by the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection. During 1976, results of the Petersen estimate revealed that some 740,000 ± 52,000 adult shad migrated up the Connecticut River. This was 24% greater than the estimate for 1975 (598,000 ± 70,000), and considerably greater than those during all previous years since 1965. The Schaefer method was used in addition to the Petersen to provide a confirmatory population estimate. For 1976, the sex ratio for buck and roe shad approached the 50:50 ratio. Age groups IV and V comprised 93% of the roe and 87% of the buck. Scale analysis indicated that some 22% of the 1976 shad population were repeat spawners. This was substantially less than the mean (41%) for the previous ten years

Magnetic resonance angiography in liver transplant patients. Follow-up of vascular anastomoses].

Twenty liver transplant patients were examined with MRA and color-Doppler US 18 to 40 days after surgery to investigate the onset of vascular complications after surgical liver revascularization. Vascular anastomoses are the most frequent location for such complications as stenoses, occlusions, pseudoaneurysms and vessel ruptures. In liver transplant there are 4 vascular anastomoses, i.e. hepatic artery, portal vein and superior and inferior anastomoses of the inferior vena cava. MRA images were acquired with a superconductive unit operating at 1.5 T, using fast low angle shot (FLASH) 2D sequences on the coronal plane; all images were postprocessed with the MIP algorithm. The presence of a paramagnetic artifact, the "double black spot sign", caused by the suture wire used to make the vascular anastomoses, allowed us to precisely detect the site and the flow pattern alterations at this level. MRA images were studied by two independent observers and vascular anastomosis depiction was rated as "good", "fair" and "poor". The demonstration of portal vein anastomoses was good in the whole series (20/20 patients). The superior anastomosis of the inferior vena cava was clearly depicted in 19 cases and fairly depicted in only 1 patient. The inferior anastomosis of the inferior vena cava was clearly depicted in 19 patients and fairly depicted in 1 case. Hepatic artery anastomoses were far more difficult to demonstrate than the others, considering their caliber and flow pattern, but its depiction was nevertheless good in 12 cases, fair in 6 and poor in only 2 patients. In our series, only one portal vein stenosis was observed, which was clearly depicted on both MRA and US images. In conclusion, MRA is a useful and reliable noninvasive diagnostic tool to study vascular anastomoses in liver transplant patients

Effects of fluctuating flows and a controlled flood on incubation success and early survival rates and growth of age-0 rainbow trout in a large regulated river

Hourly fluctuations in flow from Glen Canyon Dam were increased in an attempt to limitthe population of nonnative rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in the Colorado River, Arizona,due to concerns about negative effects of nonnative trout on endangered native fishes. Controlledfloods have also been conducted to enhance native fish habitat. We estimated that rainbow troutincubation mortality rates resulting from greater fluctuations in flow were 23–49% (2003 and2004) compared with 5–11% under normal flow fluctuations (2006–2010). Effects of this mortalitywere apparent in redd excavations but were not seen in hatch date distributions or in theabundance of the age-0 population. Multiple lines of evidence indicated that a controlled flood inMarch 2008, which was intended to enhance native fish habitat, resulted in a large increase inearly survival rates of age-0 rainbow trout. Age-0 abundance in July 2008 was over fourfoldhigher than expected given the number of viable eggs that produced these fish. A hatch dateanalysis indicated that early survival rates were much higher for cohorts that hatched about 1month after the controlled flood ( April 15) relative to those that hatched before this date. Thecohorts that were fertilized after the flood were not exposed to high flows and emerged intobetter-quality habitat with elevated food availability. Interannual differences in age-0 rainbow troutgrowth based on otolith microstructure supported this hypothesis. It is likely that strongcompensation in survival rates shortly after emergence mitigated the impact of incubation lossescaused by increases in flow fluctuations. Control of nonnative fish populations will be mosteffective when additional mortality is applied to older life stages after the majority of densitydependentmortality has occurred. Our study highlights the need to rigorously assess instreamflow decisions through the evaluation of population-level responses

Temporal Shifts in Demography and Life History of an Anadromous Alewife Population in Connecticut

Populations of anadromous alewives (Alosa pseudoharengus) are declining throughout much of their range, particularly in southern New England where fishery moratoriums have recently been instituted in three states. The alewife run at Bride Brook, a coastal stream in East Lyme, Connecticut, was studied from 2003-06 to assess shifts in demography and life history. Annual censuses of abundance, along with sampling for size, age, and spawning history structure were conducted. These data were compared to similar data in 1966-67 at this site. Recent alewife runs at Bride Brook featured lower abundance and younger, smaller fish that were less likely to be repeat-spawners. The 1966 spawning run was dominated by age 5–7 repeat-spawners, while runs in 2003-06 were dominated by age 3 and 4 first-spawn fish. Mean length declined by 10% between 1966 and 2006. Alewives are also recruiting to the spawning run at younger ages and smaller sizes, indicating a shift in life history. The first-spawn portion of the 1966 spawning run was dominated by age 5 fish, while recent first-time spawners were primarily age 3. The shifts in demography and life history observed at Bride Brook are consistent with exploitation or predation concentrated on older, larger individuals in the population. The results of this study suggest recent increases in predatory pressure or bycatch mortality as promising hypotheses that merit further investigation