Effects of an extract of oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus) eggs from the Zeehavenkanaal in the Netherlands, and of its major contaminant, hexachlorobenzene, on the chicken embryo

Oystercatchers (Haematopus ostralegus) foraging on the Zeehavenkanaal canal in the Netherlands have been shown to accumulate appreciable amounts of contaminants, especially hexachlorobenzene. The present study was performed to assess the embryotoxic effects of the present contaminants. To this end, a two-step approach was followed. In step one, the toxic effects of hexachlorobenzene were studied in the chicken embryo bioassay, using concentrations realistic for the field situation. In step two, yolksof oystercatcher eggs were extracted and the embryotoxic potency of this extract was studied in the same bioassay, using doses of 1, 10 and 100% of the contaminant load in one average egg. The extract contained hexachlorobenzene and PCBs. However, presence of other compounds could not be excluded, since these were not analysed. Hexachlorobenzene induced a nonsignificant decrease in lymphocyte density in the bursa of Fabricius. The egg extract caused a 3.5 fold induction of EROD activity at the highest dose applied, and decreased lymphocyte density in the bursa of Fabricius

Social predictors of recovery in late middle-aged and older persons after injury to the extremities: a prospective study

Objectives. The impact of educational level and social support on short-term and long-term recovery of activities of daily living and instrument activities of daily living after injuries to the extremities was examined in a prospective study concerning late middle-aged and older persons.Methods. Patients (N = 171) who had sustained fall-related injuries (hip fractures, other fractures, or sprains and dislocations) participated in the study. Disability scores were collected at baseline (before the injury) and 8 weeks, 5 months, and 12 months after the injury. The authors used analysis of variance to assess possible differences between 3 levels of education and social support with respect to changes in disability scores from baseline to the 3 follow-up measurements while adjusting for covariates.Results. Preinjury assessed educational level or social support did not play a role in short-term changes in disability. In the long term (5 and 12 months after the injury), recovery was significantly associated with social support: Those with higher levels of support had a better recovery. Although patients with high levels of education most closely approached their pre-event level of disability as well, differences did not reach statistical significance. Short-term changes in disability appeared to be determined by the severity of the injury. Social support began to influence recovery only when the impact of severity expired.Discussion. Patients recovering from fall related injuries who had reported high levels of social support before their injury had recovered better at 5 and 12 months. Encouragement and special attention given by health professionals to maintain social support may be beneficial for rehabilitation after Fall-related injuries in older persons

Embryotoxic potential of persistent organic pollutants extracted from tissues of guillemots (Uria aalge) from the Baltic Sea and the Atlantic Ocean

The Baltic Sea is a heavily polluted area. To assess the current contaminant pressure on the common guillemot (Uria aalge) living there, whole-body extracts of guillemots from the Baltic Sea were prepared and subdivided over six fractions, which differed in composition due to lipophilicity and polarity of the contaminants. The fractions were tested in the chicken embryo assay and compared to fractions of Atlantic guillemot extracts. Fertilized chicken eggs were injected with 0.03, 0.3, or 3 bird egg equivalents (BEQ) of the contaminants present in the fractions and then incubated for 19 d. Endpoints were selected to cover several mechanisms that may play a role in reproductive failures of fish-eating birds. Fractions I and IV from the Baltic guillemots induced ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity up to 15-fold in embryos exposed to 0.3 BEQ and up to 17-fold in embryos exposed to 3 BEQ. Corresponding Atlantic fractions induced EROD activity only at the higher dose of 3 BEQ. Morphological alterations were observed in the bursa of Fabricius in embryos exposed to the fractions that induced EROD, and for the Baltic fractions, this was apparent at the dose of 0.3 BEQ. The higher toxic potency of fractions I and IV was confirmed by higher mortality and occurrence of malformations among embryos exposed to these fractions. No other effects were observed; morphometry, hepatic porphyrin levels, thiamine-dependent enzymes, and acetylcholinesterase activity were not affected by any fraction. During interpretation of the results, concentrations in the whole-body guillemot extracts were compared to concentrations reported in field studies. In general, concentrations in the guillemot extract were lower than those associated with biomarker responses in other wild-bird species. However, because the relative sensitivity of guillemot toward immunotoxic effects remains to be resolved, effects on the immunocompetence of guillemot could not be excluded

The role of perceived control in the process of older peoples' recovery of physical functions after fall-related injuries: A prospective study

This study examined the predictive role of perceived control in recovery of physical functions after fall-related injuries in a cohort of 165 older people who had completed preinjury baseline assessments including physical functioning and perceived control. Follow-up assessments of functioning were made at 8 weeks, 5 months, and 12 months. Indicators for perceived control were mastery and self-efficacy expectations. Physical functioning referred to self-reported difficulties with activities of daily living. Covariates included age, gender, level of education, preinjury health status, preinjury levels of social support and disability, and, additionally, the severity of the injury. Separate regression equations were estimated with disability as outcome at 8 weeks, 5 months, and 12 months post injury. Although significant at 8 weeks and borderline significant at 5 months post injury, the predictive role of perceived control appeared to be comparatively small. Preinjury levels of disability were highly predictive for disability at 8 weeks, 5 months, and 12 months post injury. The severity of the injury is the predominant contributor to disability in the short term but becomes insignificant over time, whereas the influence of age on recovery becomes important after 5 months

The role of perceived control in the process of older peoples' recovery of physical functions after fall-related injuries: a prospective study

This study examined the predictive role of perceived control in recovery of physical functions after fall-related injuries in a cohort of 165 older people who had completed preinjury baseline assessments including physical functioning and perceived control. Follow-up assessments of functioning were made at 8 weeks, 5 months, and 12 months. Indicators for perceived control were mastery and self-efficacy expectations. Physical functioning referred to self-reported difficulties with activities of daily living. Covariates included age, gender, level of education, preinjury health status, preinjury levels of social support and disability, and, additionally, the severity of the injury. Separate regression equations were estimated with disability as outcome at 8 weeks, 5 months, and 12 months post injury. Although significant at 8 weeks and borderline significant at 5 months post injury, the predictive role of perceived control appeared to be comparatively small. Preinjury levels of disability were highly predictive for disability at 8 weeks, 5 months, and 12 months post injury. The severity of the injury is the predominant contributor to disability in the short term but becomes insignificant over time, whereas the influence of age on recovery becomes important after 5 months. Record 2 of 4 - PreMedline on SilverPlatter March Week 3