Map of the late Quaternary active Kern Canyon and Breckenridge faults, southern Sierra Nevada, California

Surface traces of the Quaternary active Kern Canyon and Breckenridge faults were mapped via aerial reconnaissance, analysis of light detection and ranging (LiDAR) elevation data, review and interpretation of aerial photography, field reconnaissance, and detailed field mapping. This effort specifically targeted evidence of late Quaternary surface deformation and, combined with separate paleoseismic investigations, identified and characterized the North Kern Canyon, South Kern Canyon, and Lake Isabella sections of the Kern Canyon fault and the Breckenridge fault. The mapping presented here provides definitive evidence for previously unrecognized Holocene and late Pleistocene east-down displacement along the Kern Canyon and Breckenridge faults. Our results indicate that much of the Kern Canyon fault has undergone Quaternary reactivation to accommodate internal deformation of the otherwise rigid Sierra Nevada block. This deformation reflects ongoing, seismogenic crustal thinning in the southern Sierra Nevada, and highlights the effects of localized tectonic forces operating in this part of the Sierra Nevada

Type II and VI collagen in nasal and articular cartilage and the effect of IL-1α on the distribution of these collagens

The distribution of type II and VI collagen was immunocytochemically investigated in bovine articular and nasal cartilage. Cartilage explants were used either fresh or cultured for up to 4 weeks with or without interleukin 1α (IL-1α). Sections of the explants were incubated with antibodies for both types of collagen. Microscopic analyses revealed that type II collagen was preferentially localized in the interchondron matrix whereas type VI collagen was primarily found in the direct vicinity of the chondrocytes. Treatment of the sections with hyaluronidase greatly enhanced the signal for both types of collagen. Also in sections of explants cultured with IL-1α a higher level of labeling of the collagens was found. This was apparent without any pre-treatment with hyaluronidase. Under the influence of IL-1α the area positive for type VI collagen that surrounded the chondrocytes broadened. Although the two collagens in both types of cartilage were distributed similarly, a remarkable difference was the higher degree of staining of type VI collagen in articular cartilage. Concomitantly we noted that digestion of this type of cartilage hardly occurred in the presence of IL-1α whereas nasal cartilage was almost completely degraded within 18 days of culture. Since type VI collagen is known to be relatively resistant to proteolysis we speculate that the higher level of type VI collagen in articular cartilage is important in protecting cartilage from digestion

Ingestion of caustic substances by adults.

PubMedID: 15266217Caustic products are responsible for the most serious cases of poisoning, which are always emergency cases. In this paper, we review demographic features and endoscopic results of the patients admitted to a university emergency department with a history of caustic substance ingestion between January 2000 and June 2003. Thirty-seven patients were included in this study. Twenty-one of the patients were female and 16 were male. The mean age of the patients was 30.9 +/- 14.7 years. The agents included sodium hypochlorite in 24 patients and hydrochloric acid in 13 patients. All the patients ingested these agents orally. The mean interval time of admission to emergency department after ingestion of caustic agent was 5.4 +/- 5.6 hours. Endoscopy was attempted in 37 patients. Endoscopic results were as follows: grade 0 in 8 (21.6%) patients, grade 1 in 17 (45.9%) patients, grade 2a in 5 (13.5%) patients, and grade 2b in 7 (18.9%) patients. We believe that early signs and symptoms after caustic substance ingestion are not consistent with the extent of damage, and endoscopy is the only reliable method to assess injury. It is important that efforts should be made to educate the public about the dangers of caustic substances so that their threat may be diminished

Comparison of single-dose pralidoxime and pralidoxime infusions for the treatment of organophosphate poisoning [Organofosfat zehirlenmesinin tedavisinde tek doz parlidoksim infüzyonunun karşılaştırılması]

Objective: Organic phosphates (OP) bind covalently to acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and acetylcholine (Ach) accumulates in the synaptic cleft. Administering oximes before aging process causes breakage of the covalent bond between OP-AChE, and allows reactivation of AChE. Pralidoxime (PAM) is the most commonly used oxime. The purpose of this study is to determine the best PAM regimen for the length of hospitalization, the need for mechanical ventilation and reduction of the duration of mechanical ventilation in patients presenting with OP poisoning. Material and Methods: Thirty four patients included in this study were organized according to the order of enrollment, randomized and divided into two groups. Seventeen patients in the group I were given a single dose of 2 g/20 min PAM infusion (bolus dose), while 17 patients in group II were administered a dose of 2 g/20 min followed by 6 g/24 hours PAM infusion (bolus and infusion). Clinical signs and symptoms as well as the serum butyrylcholinesterase (BCHE) levels were used to verify the patients' diagnoses. Results: There were no significant differences between the groups. Conclusion: We suggest that PAM bolus plus infusion therapy does not have any advantage over a single dose of bolus PAM therapy the in treatment of OP poisoning. © 2012 by Türkiye Klinikleri

Organophosphate poisoning associated with fetal death: A case study

PubMedID: 16184302The increasing use of organophosphorus insecticides in agriculture and inside homes and schools, as well as its widespread existence in the environment, poses a potential health hazard. As the use of these agents increases, acute and chronic exposure has become more common. As with other organophosphates, chlorpyrifos kills insects and other animals, including human beings, because of its toxicity to the nervous system. Exposure of pregnant women to organophosphates is an important clinical entity because of its effects on two organisms - mother and fetus. There are few reports about fetal toxicity of organophosphates in the literature because of the relatively few cases reported. In this paper we report a case of intoxication from chlorpyrifos, an organophosphorus compound, during pregnancy, causing fetal death. © The Mount Sinai Journal of Medicine