Pregnancy-related pharmacokinetics and antimicrobial prophylaxis during fetal surgery,cefazolin and clindamycin as examples

Antimicrobial prophylaxis during surgery aims to prevent post-operative site infections. For fetal surgery, this includes the fetal and amniotic compartments. Both are deep compartments as drug equilibrium with maternal blood is achieved relatively late. Despite prophylaxis, chorio-amnionitis or endometritis following ex utero intrapartum treatment or fetoscopy occur in 4.13% and 1.45% respectively of the interventions. This review summarizes the observations on two commonly administered antimicrobials (cefazolin, clindamycin) for surgical prophylaxis during pregnancy, with emphasis on the deep compartments. For both compounds, antimicrobial exposure is on target when we consider the maternal and fetal plasma compartment. In contrast, amniotic fluid concentrations-time profiles display a delayed and much more blunted pattern, behaving as deep compartment. For cefazolin, there are data that document further dilution in the setting of polyhydramnios. Along this deep compartment concept, there is some accumulation during repeated administration, modeled for cefazolin and observed for clindamycin. The relative underexposure to antimicrobials in amniotic fluid may be reflected in the pattern of maternal-fetal complications after fetal surgery, and suggest that antimicrobial prophylaxis practices for fetal surgery should be reconsidered. Further studies should be designed by a multidisciplinary team (fetal surgeons, clinical pharmacologists and microbiologists) to facilitate efficient evaluation of antimicrobial prophylaxis.     

The Effectiveness of a “Break Experiment” from a Long-Term Perspective

The study reports the results of a follow-up evaluation, conducted in 1994, of the impact of a training program for female unskilled metal workers that was implemented at the end of the 1970s. The program was designed to promote occupational skills development, and was first evaluated in 1979. On both occasions of evaluation the investment in training was examined from two perspectives, those of the training participants and management. Data were collected through semistructured personal interviews with key members of personnel management and through a group conversation session with a majority of the original course attendees. Supplementary background information was obtained from documents and records maintained by the organization. At some points, there was a convergence of views on the significance of the training program for occupational skills development, at others a divergence. These convergences and divergences are finally discussed and the findings of the study are related to other research on this particular kind of intervention.     

Picocyanobacteria – Sensitive Bioindicators of Contaminant Stress in an Alpine Lake (Traunsee Austria)

The abundance and photosynthetic activity ofpicocyanobacteria in the oligotrophic alpine lake Traunseewere measured at a station located close to the outlet ofindustrial soda waste and at a mid-lake reference stationduring spring, 1999 through to autumn, 2000.Picocyanobacterial numbers measured by flow cytometry inTraunsee (0.7–13.2 × 10⁴ ml^-1) were comparable tothose of other oligotrophic lakes, and there was nosignificant difference between the contaminated and thereference sampling location. Picoplankton (<2 m)photosynthetic rates measured in vitro by the ¹⁴C-technique were significantly reduced at the contaminated siterelative to the reference station at low photosyntheticallyavailable radiation (10 E m^-2 s^-1), while nodifference between these two stations was found at moderatelyhigh light intensity (100 E m^-2 s^-1). Theinvestigation was complemented by laboratory experiments withcultured picocyanobacteria. Three Synechococcus spp.strains were exposed to water taken from either of the twoTraunsee stations and from a control station located inneighbouring Attersee. Cell-specific photosynthetic activitymeasured by 4-h in vitro incubations revealed no significantdifference among the three stations investigated. Growthrates of the same three Synechococcus spp. strains weremeasured by flow cytometry over several days in thelaboratory. One strain, in particular, was sensitive to watertaken from the contaminated site; growth rate of this strainwas significantly reduced, relative to when exposed to watertaken from the reference station. Taken together, our resultsdemonstrate that picocyanobacteria are highly sensitivebioindicators of contaminant stress. The overall impact ofthe emissions from the industrial outlet on thepicocyanobacteria was, however, relatively minor.     

Biodegradable organic matter in municipal solid waste incineration bottom ash

For investigation of the behavior of municipal solid waste incineration bottom ash in landfill, we have analysed bottom ash samples taken after the quench tank as well as after five months of storage in the laboratory for elements and organic constituents. Water extractable organic carbon, particulate organic carbon, amino acids, hexosamines and carbohydrates considerably decreased during the five months of storage and their spectra revealed microbial reworking. This shows that the organic matter present in the bottom ash after incineration can provide a substrate for microbial activity. The resulting changes of the physico-chemical environment may effect the short-term behavior of the bottom ash in landfill.     

Dioxinbilanz für Hamburg

The sources and reservoirs of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/PCDF) in the city of Hamburg, Germany, in the year 1992 were identified and quantified combining analytical data of PCDD/PCDF with statistical data on annual fluxes of materials and products. Fluxes and amounts of PCDD/PCDF were estimated for the environmental compartments water, air, and soil. Dioxin emissions originating from industrial, commercial or private activities were also calculated. Together with the analysis of the specific regional nutrition data, the human exposurevia the various pathways could be determined. It could be shown that the total PCDD/PCDF intake of individuals in Hamburg was about the same as the national average. High annual fluxes of PCDD/PCDF connected with the trade of industrial products and the waste management and disposal: system in Hamburg obviously had no influence on the human intake of PCDD/PCDF.     

Light and social effects on the free-running circadian activity rhythm in common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus; Primates): social masking,pseudo-splitting,and relative coordination

Summary The variability of period of the free-running circadian activity rhythm (CAR) and the degree to which it is affected by social factors was studied in diurnal marmosets (Callithrix jacchus: Primates, Cebidae), kept either singly or in pairs. Under continuous light intensities between 10^-1 and 10² lx, the spontaneous period was always shorter than 24h. It varied in relation to the amount of time spent under constant conditions (after-effects). There was some evidence of an effect of light intensity on free-running period, but no clear correlation between the two. Mutual acoustic social contact caused some males to exhibit pseudo-splitting, ascribable to positive social masking, and in many cases also resulted in relative coordination of the free-running CAR. True social entrainment, however, was not produced. The possibility that the latter could occur under some conditions is discussed, as well as the neural pathways that might mediate the observed acoustically induced social effects on the central nervous system pacemaker(s) of the circadian timing system.     

Concentrations and speciation of arsenic in groundwater polluted by warfare agents

Groundwater polluted with phenylarsenicals from former warfare agent deposits and their metabolites was investigated with respect to the behavior of relevant arsenic species. Depth profiles at the estimated source and at about 1 km downgradient from the source zone were sampled. The source zone is characterized by high total arsenic concentrations up to 16 mg L⁻¹ and is dominated by organic arsenic compounds. The concentrations in the downgradient region are much lower (up to 400 μg L⁻¹) and show a high proportion of inorganic arsenic species. Iron precipitation seems to be an effective mechanism to prevent dispersion of inorganic arsenic as well as phenylarsonic acid. Reductive conditions were observed in the deeper zone with predominant occurrence of trivalent arsenic species. The inorganic species are in redox equilibrium, whereas the phenylarsenic compounds have variable proportions. Methylphenylarsinic acid was identified in groundwater in traces which indicates microbial degradation activity.