Measurements of optical properties of atmospheric aerosols in Northern Finland

International audienceThree years of continuous measurements of aerosol optical properties and simultaneous aerosol number size distribution measurements at Pallas GAW station, a remote subarctic site in the northern border of the boreal forest zone, have been analysed. The scattering coefficient at 550 nm varied from 0.2 to 94.4 Mm?1 with an average of 7.1±8.6 Mm?1. Both the scattering and backscattering coefficients had a clear seasonal cycle with an autumn minimum and a 4?5 times higher summer maximum. The scattering was dominated by submicron aerosols and especially so during late summer and autumn. The Ångström exponent had a clear seasonal pattern with maximum values in late summer and minimum values during wintertime. The highest hemispheric backscattering fraction values were observed in autumn, indicating clean air with few scattering particles and a particle size distribution strongly dominated by ultrafine particles. To analyse the influence of air mass origin on the aerosol optical properties a trajectory climatology was applied to the Pallas aerosol data. The most polluted trajectory patterns represented air masses from the Kola Peninsula, Scandinavia and Russia as well as long-range transport from Britain and Eastern Europe. These air masses had the largest average scattering and backscattering coefficients for all seasons. Higher than average values of the Ångström exponent were also observed in connection with transport from these areas

Diseases of the salivary glands in infants and adolescents

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Diseases of the salivary glands are rare in infants and children (with the exception of diseases such as parotitis epidemica and cytomegaly) and the therapeutic regimen differs from that in adults. It is therefore all the more important to gain exact and extensive insight into general and special aspects of pathological changes of the salivary glands in these age groups. Etiology and pathogenesis of these entities is still not yet fully known for the age group in question so that general rules for treatment, based on clinical experience, cannot be given, particularly in view of the small number of cases of the different diseases. Swellings of the salivary glands may be caused by acute and chronic inflammatory processes, by autoimmune diseases, by duct translocation due to sialolithiasis, and by tumors of varying dignity. Clinical examination and diagnosis has also to differentiate between salivary gland cysts and inflammation or tumors.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Salivary gland diseases are rare in childhood and adolescence. Their pattern of incidence differs very much from that of adults. Acute and chronic sialadenitis not responding to conservative treatment requires an appropriate surgical approach. The rareness of salivary gland tumors is particularly true for the malignant parotid tumors which are more frequent in juvenile patients, a fact that has to be considered in diagnosis and therapy.</p

Characterization of Contaminants from a Sanitized Milk Processing Plant

Milk processing lines offer a wide variety of microenvironments where a diversity of microorganisms can proliferate. We sampled crevices and junctions where, due to deficient reach by typical sanitizing procedures, bacteria can survive and establish biofilms. The sampling sites were the holding cell, cold storage tank, pasteurizer and storage tank - transfer pump junction. The culturable bacteria that were isolated after the sanitation procedure were predominantly Pseudomonas spp., Serratia spp, Staphylococcus sciuri and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. We assayed several phenotypic characteristics such as the ability to secrete enzymes and siderophores, as well as the capacity of the strains to form biofilms that might contribute to their survival in a mixed species environment. The Pseudomonas spp. isolates were found to either produce proteases or lecithinases at high levels. Interestingly, protease production showed an inverse correlation with siderophore production. Furthermore, all of the Serratia spp. isolates were strong biofilm formers and spoilage enzymes producers. The organisms identified were not mere contaminants, but also producers of proteins with the potential to lower the quality and shelf-life of milk. In addition, we found that a considerable number of the Serratia and Pseudomonas spp. isolated from the pasteurizer were capable of secreting compounds with antimicrobial properties

Are all prognostic factors in parotid gland carcinoma well recognized?

The aim of his study was to assess the treatment results and prognostic factors in patients with parotid gland carcinoma. The material consisted of 109 patients treated surgically, with or without complementary radiotherapy, between 1978 and 2008 (follow-up at least 5-years). 5-year overall and disease-specific survival were observed in 57.0% of the patients and 5-year disease-free survival was achieved in 50.0%. Univariate analysis including ten clinical and pathological features to assess their prognostic value was done. Parapharyngeal space invasion, facial nerve palsy, and high grade of tumor malignancy were the factors with the highest influence on the treatment results, because their presence decreased the chance for recovery 9.8, 9.7, and 8.2 times, respectively. Histologically positive cervical lymph nodes and extraparenchymal extension were the other factors connected with poor prognosis (prognosis worse 6.7 and 5.4 times, respectively). Clinically positive cervical lymph nodes, positive/uncertain microscopic margin, involvement of the deep lobe, or the whole gland increased the risk of treatment failure 3.4, 3.1, and 2.8, respectively. The age ≥60 years and male gender were statistically significant factors, correlated with poor prognosis and decreased chance for recovery 2.4 and 2.6 times. T-status and clinical stage had important influence on 5-year disease-free survival rate because there were significant differences in the treatment results between individual stages. Multivariate analysis proved that the independent prognostic value, among anatomic structures involved by the neoplasm, had mandible, facial nerve, and skin infiltration. Among tumor-related factors, T-stage and grade had the statistically significant influence on treatment results, and stage and lymph nodes metastases among clinical and pathological features. These results confirm the value of actually used TNM classification (2002). Although the parapharyngeal space invasion is a factor, which seems to have a significant, poor prognostic value, it was not included in this classification

Balance in single-limb stance after surgically treated ankle fractures: a 14-month follow-up

BACKGROUND: The maintenance of postural control is fundamental for different types of physical activity. This can be measured by having subjects stand on one leg on a force plate. Many studies assessing standing balance have previously been carried out in patients with ankle ligament injuries but not in patients with ankle fractures. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether patients operated on because of an ankle fracture had impaired postural control compared to an uninjured age- and gender-matched control group. METHODS: Fifty-four individuals (patients) operated on because of an ankle fracture were examined 14 months postoperatively. Muscle strength, ankle mobility, and single-limb stance on a force-platform were measured. Average speed of centre of pressure movements and number of movements exceeding 10 mm from the mean value of centre of pressure were registered in the frontal and sagittal planes on a force-platform. Fifty-four age- and gender-matched uninjured individuals (controls) were examined in the single-limb stance test only. The paired Student t-test was used for comparisons between patients' injured and uninjured legs and between side-matched legs within the controls. The independent Student t-test was used for comparisons between patients and controls. The Chi-square test, and when applicable, Fisher's exact test were used for comparisons between groups. Multiple logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with belonging to the group unable to complete the single-limb stance test on the force-platform. RESULTS: Fourteen of the 54 patients (26%) did not manage to complete the single-limb stance test on the force-platform, whereas all controls managed this (p < 0.001). Age over 45 years was the only factor significantly associated with not managing the test. When not adjusted for age, decreased strength in the ankle plantar flexors and dorsiflexors was significantly associated with not managing the test. In the 40 patients who managed to complete the single-limb stance test no differences were found between the results of patients' injured leg and the side-matched leg of the controls regarding average speed and the number of centre of pressure movements. CONCLUSION: One in four patients operated on because of an ankle fracture had impaired postural control compared to an age- and gender-matched control group. Age over 45 years and decreased strength in the ankle plantar flexors and dorsiflexors were found to be associated with decreased balance performance. Further, longitudinal studies are required to evaluate whether muscle and balance training in the rehabilitation phase may improve postural control

Improving nutritional care quality in the orthopedic ward of a Septic Surgery Center by implementing a preventive nutritional policy using the Nutritional Risk Score: a pilot study.

Septic Surgery Center (SSC) patients are at a particularly high risk of protein-energy malnutrition (PEM), with a prevalence of 35-85% found in various studies. Previous collaboration between our hospital's SSC and its Clinical Nutrition Team (CNT) only focussed on patients with severe PEM. This study aimed to determine whether it was possible to improve the quality of nutritional care in septic surgery patients with help of a nutritional policy using the Nutritional Risk Score (NRS). Nutritional practices in the SSC were observed over three separate periods: in the 3 months leading up to the implementation baseline, 6 months after implementation of preventive nutritional practices, and at 3 years. The nutritional care quality indicator was the percentage of patients whose nutritional care, as prescribed by the SSC, was adapted to their specific requirements. We determined the septic surgery team's NRS completion rate and calculated the nutritional policy's impact on SSC length of stay. Data before (T &lt;sub&gt;0&lt;/sub&gt; ) and after (T &lt;sub&gt;1&lt;/sub&gt; + T &lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; ) implementation of the nutritional policy were compared. Ninety-eight patients were included. The nutritional care-quality indicator improved from 26 to 81% between T &lt;sub&gt;0&lt;/sub&gt; and T &lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; . During the T &lt;sub&gt;1&lt;/sub&gt; and T &lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; audits, septic surgery nurses calculated NRS for 100% and 97% of patients, respectively. Excluding patients with severe PEM, SSC length of stay was significantly reduced by 23 days (p = 0.005). These findings showed that implementing a nutritional policy in an SSC is possible with the help of an algorithm including an easy-to-use tool like the NRS

Incidence of re-amputation following partial first ray amputation associated with diabetes mellitus and peripheral sensory neuropathy: a systematic review.

Diabetes mellitus with peripheral sensory neuropathy frequently results in forefoot ulceration. Ulceration at the first ray level tends to be recalcitrant to local wound care modalities and off-loading techniques. If healing does occur, ulcer recurrence is common. When infection develops, partial first ray amputation in an effort to preserve maximum foot length is often performed. However, the survivorship of partial first ray amputations in this patient population and associated re-amputation rate remain unknown. Therefore, in an effort to determine the actual re-amputation rate following any form of partial first ray amputation in patients with diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy, the authors conducted a systematic review. Only studies involving any form of partial first ray amputation associated with diabetes mellitus and peripheral sensory neuropathy but without critical limb ischemia were included. Our search yielded a total of 24 references with 5 (20.8%) meeting our inclusion criteria involving 435 partial first ray amputations. The weighted mean age of patients was 59 years and the weighted mean follow-up was 26 months. The initial amputation level included the proximal phalanx base 167 (38.4%) times; first metatarsal head resection 96 (22.1%) times; first metatarsal-phalangeal joint disarticulation 53 (12.2%) times; first metatarsal mid-shaft 39 (9%) times; hallux fillet flap 32 (7.4%) times; first metatarsal base 29 (6.7%) times; and partial hallux 19 (4.4%) times. The incidence of re-amputation was 19.8% (86/435). The end stage, most proximal level, following re-amputation was an additional digit 32 (37.2%) times; transmetatarsal 28 (32.6%) times; below-knee 25 (29.1%) times; and LisFranc 1 (1.2%) time. The results of our systematic review reveal that one out of every five patients undergoing any version of a partial first ray amputation will eventually require more proximal re-amputation. These results reveal that partial first ray amputation for patients with diabetes and peripheral sensory neuropathy may not represent a durable, functional, or predictable foot-sparing amputation and that a more proximal amputation, such as a balanced transmetatarsal amputation, as the index amputation may be more beneficial to the patient. However, this remains a matter for conjecture due to the limited data available and, therefore, additional prospective investigations are warranted

Mortality and cause of death in hip fracture patients aged 65 or older - a population-based study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The high mortality of hip fracture patients is well documented, but sex- and cause-specific mortality after hip fracture has not been extensively studied. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate mortality and cause of death in patients after hip fracture surgery and to compare their mortality and cause of death to those in the general population.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Records of 428 consecutive hip fracture patients were collected on a population-basis and data on the general population comprising all Finns 65 years of age or older were collected on a cohort-basis. Cause of death was classified as follows: malignant neoplasms, dementia, circulatory disease, respiratory disease, digestive system disease, and other.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Mean follow-up was 3.7 years (range 0-9 years). Overall 1-year postoperative mortality was 27.3% and mortality after hip fracture at the end of the follow-up was 79.0%. During the follow-up, age-adjusted mortality after hip fracture surgery was higher in men than in women with hazard ratio (HR) 1.55 and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.21-2.00. Among hip surgery patients, the most common causes of death were circulatory diseases, followed by dementia and Alzheimer's disease. After hip fracture, men were more likely than women to die from respiratory disease, malignant neoplasm, and circulatory disease. During the follow-up, all-cause age- and sex-standardized mortality after hip fracture was 3-fold higher than that of the general population and included every cause-of-death category.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>During the study period, the risk of mortality in hip fracture patients was 3-fold higher than that in the general population and included every major cause of death.</p