Soil moisture variation patterns observed in Hand County, South Dakota

Soil moisture data were taken during 1976 (April, June, October), 1977 (April, May, June), and 1978 (May, June, July) Hand County, South Dakota as part of the ground truth used in NASA's aircraft experiments to study the use of microwave radiometers for the remote sensing of soil moisture. The spatial variability observed on the ground during each of the sampling events was studied. The data reported are the mean gravimetric soil moisture contained in three surface horizon depths: 0 to 2.5, 0 to 5 and 0 to 10 cm. The overall moisture levels ranged from extremely dry conditions in June 1976 to very wet in May 1978, with a relatively even distribution of values within that range. It is indicated that well drained sites have to be partitioned from imperfectly drained areas when attempting to characterize the general moisture profile throughout an area of varying soil and cover type conditions. It is also found that the variability in moisture content is greatest in the 0 to 2.5 cm measurements and decreases as the measurements are integrated over a greater depth. It is also determined that the sampling intensity of 10 measurements per km is adequate to estimate the mean moisture with an uncertainty of + or - 3 percent under average moisture conditions in areas of moderate to good drainage

Analysis of surface moisture variations within large field sites

A statistical analysis was made on ground soils to define the general relationship and ranges of values of the field moisture relative to both the variance and coefficient of variation for a given test site and depth increment. The results of the variability study show that: (1) moisture variations within any given large field area are inherent and can either be controlled nor reduced; (2) neither a single value of the standard deviation nor coefficient of variation uniquely define the variability over the complete range of mean field moisture contents examined; and (3) using an upper bound standard deviation parameter clearly defines the maximum range of anticipated moisture variability. 87 percent of all large field moisture content standard deviations were less than 3 percent while about 96 percent of all the computed values had an upper bound of sigma=4 percent for these intensively sampled fields. The limit of accuracy curves of mean soil moisture measurements for large field sites relative to the required number of samples were determined

Shwachman-Diamond syndrome (SDS)

Review on Shwachman-Diamond syndrome (SDS), with data on clinics, and the genes involved

Long-term follow-up and residual sequelae after treatment for intracerebral germ-cell tumour in children and adolescents

Background: Information on long-term follow-up of children and adolescents treated for intracerebral germ-cell tumour is scant. We report on the results of a small series of patients treated at a single institution. Patients and methods: Hospital records from 15 patients treated between 1980 and 1998 were reviewed. An attempt was made to correlate sequelae to tumour location and treatment modalities. Results: This cohort constitutes 5.5% of all brain tumours diagnosed at our institution. Histology: 10 germinomas, 2 benign teratomas, 2 malignant teratomas, and one mixed germ-cell tumour. Overall survival was 87%, with a mean follow-up time of 7 years and 8 months. The majority of patients have long-term sequelae involving one or several organ systems. In 66% endocrine, in 47% ophthalmologic, in 60% neuropsycho-logical defects were observed. Endocrine and ophthalmologic sequelae show a correlation to tumour location. Neuropsycho-logical long-term abnormalities are frequent and are associated with cranial irradiation in particular at young age, but less with tumour location, irradiation dose or surgery. Conclusions: Our preliminary data suggest that today intracerebral germinomas and mature teratomas have a good prognosis even when a relapse occurs. The outcome for mixed germ-cell tumours and malignant teratomas is less favourable. Although long-term sequelae are present in the majority of patients, there is some evidence that patients treated after 1990 suffer fewer severe long-term defects, thereby indicating that recent treatment protocols may result in a reduction of sequela

Comparison of thromboelastometry (ROTEM®) with standard plasmatic coagulation testing in paediatric surgery

Background Thromboelastometry (ROTEM®) might be useful to detect intraoperative coagulation disorders early in major paediatric surgery. This observational trial compares this technique to standard coagulation tests. Methods Intraoperative blood sampling was obtained in children undergoing elective major surgery. At each time point, standard coagulation tests [activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), prothrombin time (PT), and fibrinogen level] and ROTEM® analyses (InTEM, ExTEM, and FibTEM) were performed simultaneously by trained hospital laboratory staff. Results A total of 288 blood samples from 50 subjects were analysed. While there was a poor correlation between PT and aPTT to ExTEM clotting time (CT) and InTEM CT, respectively, a good correlation was detected between PT and aPTT to clot formation time, and a very good correlation between fibrinogen level and FibTEM assay (r=0.882, P<0.001). Notably, 64% of PT and 94% of aPTT measurements were outside the reference range, while impaired CT was observed in 13% and 6.3%, respectively. Standard coagulation test results were available after a median of 53 min [inter-quartile range (IQR): 45-63 min], whereas 10 min values of ROTEM® results were available online after 23 min (IQR: 21-24 min). Conclusions PT and aPTT cannot be interchangeably used with ROTEM® CT. Based on the results of ROTEM®, recommended thresholds for PT and aPTT might overestimate the need for coagulation therapy. A good correlation was found between the fibrinogen level and the FibTEM assay. In addition, ROTEM® offered faster turnaround time

Thromboelastometry (ROTEM®) in children: age-related reference ranges and correlations with standard coagulation tests

Background The small sample volume needed and the prompt availability of results make viscoelastic methods like rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM®) attractive for monitoring coagulation in small children. However, data on reference ranges for ROTEM® parameters in children are scarce. Methods Four hundred and seven children (ASA I and II) undergoing elective surgery were recruited for this prospective, two-centre, observational study. Subjects were grouped as follows: 0-3, 4-12, 13-24 months, 2-5, 6-10, and 11-16 yr. Study objectives were to establish age-dependent reference ranges for ROTEM® assays, analyse age dependence of parameters, and compare ROTEM® data with standard coagulation tests. Results Data from 359 subjects remained for final analysis. Except for extrinsically activated clot strength and lysis, parameters for ROTEM® assays were significantly different among all age groups. The most striking finding was that subjects aged 0-3 months exhibited accelerated initiation (ExTEM coagulation time: median 48 s, Q1-Q3 38-65 s; P=0.001) and propagation of coagulation (α angle: median 78o, Q1-Q3 69-84o; P<0.001) and maximum clot firmness (median 62 mm, Q1-Q3 54-74 mm), although standard plasma coagulation test results were prolonged (prothrombin time: median 13.2 s, Q1-Q3 12.6-13.6 s; activated partial thromboplastin time: median 42 s, Q1-Q3 40-46 s). Lysis indices of <85% were observed in nearly one-third of all children without increased bleeding tendency. Platelet count and fibrinogen levels correlated significantly with clot strength, and fibrinogen levels correlated with fibrin polymerization. Conclusions Reference ranges for ROTEM® assays were determined for all paediatric age groups. These values will be helpful when monitoring paediatric patients and in studies of perioperative coagulation in childre

Higher fibrinogen concentrations for reduction of transfusion requirements during major paediatric surgery: A prospective randomised controlled trial†

Background Hypofibrinogenaemia is one of the main reasons for development of perioperative coagulopathy during major paediatric surgery. The aim of this study was to assess whether prophylactic maintenance of higher fibrinogen concentrations through administration of fibrinogen concentrate would decrease the volume of transfused red blood cell (RBCs). Methods In this prospective, randomised, clinical trial, patients aged 6 months to 17 yr undergoing craniosynostosis and scoliosis surgery received fibrinogen concentrate (30 mg kg−1) at two predefined intraoperative fibrinogen concentrations [ROTEM® FIBTEM maximum clot firmness (MCF) of <8 mm (conventional) or <13 mm (early substitution)]. Total volume of transfused RBCs was recorded over 24 h after start of surgery. Results Thirty children who underwent craniosynostosis surgery and 19 children who underwent scoliosis surgery were treated per protocol. During craniosynostosis surgery, children in the early substitution group received significantly less RBCs (median, 28 ml kg−1; IQR, 21 to 50 ml kg−1) compared with the conventional fibrinogen trigger of <8 mm (median, 56 ml kg−1; IQR, 28 to 62 ml kg−1) (P=0.03). Calculated blood loss as per cent of estimated total blood volume decreased from a median of 160% (IQR, 110-190%) to a median of 90% (IQR, 78-110%) (P=0.017). No significant changes were observed in the scoliosis surgery population. No bleeding events requiring surgical intervention, postoperative transfusions of RBCs, or treatment-related adverse events were observed. Conclusions Intraoperative administration of fibrinogen concentrate using a FIBTEM MCF trigger level of <13 mm can be successfully used to significantly decrease bleeding, and transfusion requirements in the setting of craniosynostosis surgery, but not scoliosis. Clinical trial registry number ClinicalTrials.gov NCT0148783