Global-scale analysis of satellite-derived time series of naturally inundated areas as a basis for floodplain modeling

Floodplains play an important role in the terrestrial water cycle and are very important for biodiversity. Therefore, an improved representation of the dynamics of floodplain water flows and storage in global hydrological and land surface models is required. To support model validation, we combined monthly time series of satellite-derived inundation areas (Papa et al., 2010) with data on irrigated rice areas (Portmann et al., 2010). In this way, we obtained global-scale time series of naturally inundated areas (NIA), with monthly values of inundation extent during 1993–2004 and a spatial resolution of 0.5°. For most grid cells (0.5°×0.5°), the mean annual maximum of NIA agrees well with the static open water extent of the Global Lakes and Wetlands database (GLWD) (Lehner and Döll, 2004), but in 16% of the cells NIA is larger than GLWD. In some regions, like Northwestern Europe, NIA clearly overestimates inundated areas, probably because of confounding very wet soils with inundated areas. In other areas, such as South Asia, it is likely that NIA can help to enhance GLWD. NIA data will be very useful for developing and validating a floodplain modeling algorithm for the global hydrological model WGHM. For example, we found that monthly NIAs correlate with observed river discharges

The Utility of Patient-Controlled Analgesia for Managing Acute Pain in the Emergency Department

There is a growing expectation of physicians to treat acute pain more aggressively in the emergency department (ED). This has contributed to an increase in opiate prescribing practices that has resulted in a crisis of medication abuse and misuse. The resultant backlash against physicians has created a void within the realm of acute pain management, as physicians search for a means to treat their patients in a way that is both empathetic and responsible. In an effort to combat this growing epidemic, alternative means of pain control are being explored. Patient-controlled analgesia devices (PCADs) have been used extensively in multiple fields of medicine and have demonstrated significant clinical utility for treating pain postoperatively; however there is a dearth of evidence to support their use within the acute care setting. Due to this lack of evidence, PCADs have not been widely implemented in the ED. Recent studies have shown that the use of PCADs may improve objective pain scores and increase both patient and nurse satisfaction while reducing the likelihood of developing chronic pain. The economic feasibility of this undertaking remains unclear; however there is strong evidence for the clinical utility of this modality to treat acute pain in this population

Acute Pain Management in the Emergency Department

The most common presenting complaint to the emergency department (emergency room) is pain. Unfortunately, pain is still undertreated in this setting. Literature has shown that treatment of pain not only improves patient satisfaction but also improves mood, decreases length of hospital stay, and decreases mortality. Various pharmacological options are available for treating acute pain, ranging from oral, intravenous, and intramuscular medications; topical agents; and peripheral nerve blocks. Objectively assessing and documenting a patient’s pain is the key to determining treatment. The approach to a patient with acute pain requires an experienced clinician who is aware of the pharmacology of analgesics and anesthetics, contraindications, precautions, side effects, administration methods, and monitoring requirements

Biomarkers of Acute Brain Injury in the Emergency Department

The diagnosis of acute brain injury in the acute care setting is based on neurological examination and neuroimaging tools such as computed tomography (CT) scanning and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). However, there are limitations to both CT and MRI scanning. The lack of objective, noninvasive and readily accessible clinical tools to detect injury has left clinicians with uncertainty about how to best identify and treat these conditions. It is also very difficult for patients and their families who struggle to better understand the deficits they deal with on a daily basis. There have been many studies exploring many promising biomarkers during the last decade. Despite the large number of published studies there is still a lack of any Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved biomarkers for brain injury in adults and children. Given all of these researches, there is now an important need to validate and introduce them into the clinical setting. This chapter reviews commonly studied biomarkers for acute brain injury in humans, with an emphasis on traumatic brain injury and stroke

QSAR models for the prediction of dietary biomagnification factor in fish

Xenobiotics released in the environment can be taken up by aquatic and terrestrial organisms and can accumulate at higher concentrations through the trophic chain. Bioaccumulation is therefore one of the PBT properties that authorities require to assess for the evaluation of the risks that chemicals may pose to humans and the environment. The use of an integrated testing strategy (ITS) and the use of multiple sources of information are strongly encouraged by authorities in order to maximize the information available and reduce testing costs. Moreover, considering the increasing demand for development and the application of new approaches and alternatives to animal testing, the development of in silico cost-effective tools such as QSAR models becomes increasingly important. In this study, a large and curated literature database of fish laboratory-based values of dietary biomagnification factor (BMF) was used to create externally validated QSARs. The quality categories (high, medium, low) available in the database were used to extract reliable data to train and validate the models, and to further address the uncertainty in low-quality data. This procedure was useful for highlighting problematic compounds for which additional experimental effort would be required, such as siloxanes, highly brominated and chlorinated compounds. Two models were suggested as final outputs in this study, one based on good-quality data and the other developed on a larger dataset of consistent Log BMFL values, which included lower-quality data. The models had similar predictive ability; however, the second model had a larger applicability domain. These QSARs were based on simple MLR equations that could easily be applied for the predictions of dietary BMFL in fish, and support bioaccumulation assessment procedures at the regulatory level. To ease the application and dissemination of these QSARs, they were included with technical documentation (as QMRF Reports) in the QSAR-ME Profiler software for QSAR predictions available online

Arterial Pressure Management in a Reconstructive Microsurgery Patients by Dopamine Infusion in a Nonintensive Care Ward

Free flap perfusion and arterial pressure management have always had a crucial role in free flap reconstruction. Blood pressure values requested can be reached either by using vasoactive agents or fluid replacement or the combination of both.1,2 In contrast to the most frequently tested phenylephrine, norepinephrine, and dobutamine,3,4 this work evaluates dopamine efficacy in perioperative blood pressure management. In our institution, dopamine infusion is the only vasoactive agent authorized in a non-intensive care unit department. This drug stimulates \u3b1- and \u3b2-adrenergic receptors with positive chronotropic and inotropic effects and reduces peripheral vascular resistance helping in this way to achieve an increase of blood pressure and free flap perfusion.

Diversity and dynamics of rhizobial populations in acidic soils with aluminum and manganese toxicities in forest zones

Soil acidity in the humid forest zones of Cameroon is one of the major constraints to agricultural productivity. This study was carried out to assess the rhizobial communities of two acidic soils; with aluminum toxicity (Nkoemvone) and manganese toxicity (Nkolbisson) for their potential to improve soil fertility in Cameroon. These two soils were used to inoculate to the host plants cowpea and siratro. At harvest, 120 rhizobacterial isolates were extracted from the nodules of these two hosts and subjected to morphological characterization. Twenty isolates per site were selected and analyzed for their 16S rDNA genetic profile following restrictions with endonucleases of PCR products and electrophoresis. The restriction patterns of the 16S rDNA of the 40 isolates showed 12 different profiles. Eight occurred in both types of soils, where as 4 were specific to the manganese-toxic-acidic soil. While the Al toxicity reduced the nodulation and growth of both plants, the Mn toxicity mostly affect the cowpea. This study ascertained the distribution of rhizobia based on soil characteristics. Further molecular analyses would allow the identification of the isolates recovered as well as their phylogenetical relationships.Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. & Tech. 6 (2): 12-23, December, 201

Ascite fébrile chez la femme, ne pas méconnaitre une tumeur de Krukenberg

Les tumeurs de Krukenberg (TK) se définissent comme des métastases ovariennes d'un cancer, le plus souvent digestif. Elles représentent 5 à 15% des tumeurs malignes ovariennes. Notre objectif était de décrire les caractéristiques épidémiologiques, diagnostiques, thérapeutiques et évolutives.Nous  rapportons deux observations de tumeur de Krukenberg découvertes à l'occasion de l'exploration d'une ascite fébrile.Il s'agit de deux patientes multipares âgées respectivement de 32 ans et 50 ans. Les signes d'appel étaient essentiellement digestifs. La découverte de ces métastases ovariennes était survenue à distance des foyers primitifs. L'atteinte des ovaires était bilatérale dans le premier cas et unilatérale  droite dans le second cas. Le diagnostic est apporté par la tomodensitométrie abdominopelvienne dans les deux cas. La fibroscopie oesogastroduodénale avait permis de retrouver le foyer primitif  respectivement sous forme d'un processus bourgeonnant et d'un ulcère en position antrale avec des stigmates d'hémorragies. L'examen anatomopathologique des biopsies réalisées mettait en évidence un adénocarcinome tubuleux moyennement différencié de l'estomac avec composante mucineuse dans la première observation et un adénocarcinome de type intestinal moyennement différencié dans la seconde. Le traitement chirurgical confirme le diagnostic histologique. Dans notre série, le traitement n'a pu être que symptomatique en raison de l'existence constante d'une carcinose péritonéale et de l'altération profonde de l'état général. Les deux patientes ont été confiées à l'institut de cancérologie pour une chimiothérapie palliative. La première est décédée 1 mois après. La tumeur de Krukenberg est une  maladie rare. Le diagnostic est facilité par la radiologie et confirmé par l'histologie. Son pronostic  demeure encore très sombre. Le seul espoir réside dans les mesures préventives.Key words: Métastases ovariennes, tumeur de Krukenberg, pronostic sombre