The use of image fusion in prenatal medicine

Fusion imaging (FI), the simultaneous display of the same anatomical region using two imaging modalities, has been used in other areas of medicine for both diagnosis and guiding interventions. Examples include positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) imaging in oncology and ultrasound-magnetic resonance imaging (US-MRI) fusion in biopsies of the prostate gland. The underlying principle is to take advantage of the complementary information in each modality to improve accuracy, be it diagnostic accuracy or targeting accuracy in biopsies. For example, PET-CT overlays the metabolic activity of lesions on the superb spatial and anatomical detail of CT. While the historical mainstay of fetal imaging has been ultrasound, advances in ultrafast MR imaging together with advances in fetal MRI over the past two decades, have resulted in the opportunity to explore fusion imaging in fetal medicine. We present an overview of the principles of US-MRI fusion imaging in prenatal medicine, report our local experience, and review the literature in this emerging area. We share our perspective on how FI can improve diagnostic confidence, be used as an educational tool, and potentially enhance guidance in certain fetal procedures.     

Allowing for MSD prevention during facilities planning for a public service: an a posteriori analysis of 10 library design projects.

Research was conducted to identify an ergonomics-based intervention model designed to factor in musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) prevention when library projects are being designed. The first stage of the research involved an a posteriori analysis of 10 recent redesign projects. The purpose of the analysis was to document perceptions about the attention given to MSD prevention measures over the course of a project on the part of 2 categories of employees: librarians responsible for such projects and personnel working in the libraries before and after changes. Subjects were interviewed in focus groups. Outcomes of the analysis can guide our ergonomic assessment of current situations and contribute to a better understanding of the way inclusion or improvement of prevention measures can support the workplace design process.     

Evaluation of fire as a management tool for controllingSchinus terebinthifolius as secondary successional growth on abandoned agricultural land

Schinus terebinthifolius, native to South America, has become an aggressive woody weed in southern Florida, displacing native vegetation as well as rapidly invading disturbed sites. Studies to evaluate the effectiveness of fire as a management option for controllingSchinus on abandoned farmland in Everglades National Park, known as the “Hole-in-the-Donut,” began in 1979. Study plots were established to monitor any change(s) in herbaceous cover and in numbers and size ofSchinus stems. Except in the control plot (which was not burned), each site was burned as often as fuel conditions permitted (usually once every one or two years), through 1985. Results indicated that both the number and density ofSchinus stems increased over the course of the study. While plots that burned showed a reduction in the rate ofSchinus invasion, invasion still progressed rapidly with or without the occurrence of fire. The increase inSchinus stem density from 1980 to 1985 was highly significant in all transects except one. Herbaceous cover showed no clear trends relative to burning.     

Contrasted tolerance of Agrostis capillaris metallicolous and non-metallicolous ecotypes in the context of a mining technosol amended by biochar,compost and iron sulfate

Environmental Geochemistry and Health - Metal(loid) contamination of soil, resulting from the mining activities, is a major issue worldwide, due to its negative effects on the environment and...     

The relationship between lunar periodicity and activity of fish-parasitic gnathiid isopods in the Caribbean

Gnathiid isopod larvae are members of the marine demersal zooplankton community and are common ectoparasites of coral reef fishes, emerging from the substratum, mostly at night and crepuscular periods to feed on fish blood. Given that the activity of many marine organisms is often linked to changes in the phase of the moon, we examined the relationship between lunar phase and activity in gnathiid isopods on Caribbean reefs. We employed two sampling methods to quantify gnathiid activity: (1) Emergence traps set on reefs over a 24 h period; and (2) live fish placed in cages on reefs and retrieved during night and dawn peaks in gnathiid activity. These were compared during discrete phases as well as a continuous metric, the lunar “angle”, and an estimate of ambient light availability (luminance). Lunar phase and angle varied in their statistical effect on gnathiid activity patterns by sampling method and/or year. Luminance had a significant but inconsistent effect on measures of gnathiid activity. Our results suggest that changes in the lunar cycle are not a strong predictor of gnathiid activity at our shallow reef study sites.     

Plant extract reduces tobacco smoke harmful effects on alveolar macrophage immune responses

Tobacco smoke is a major factor responsible for lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Although the best solution to reduce the incidence of these diseases is to quit smoking, there are still a large number of smokers. Thus, given the immunoregulatory properties of plant extracts, their capacity to reduce tobacco smoke harmful effects on alveolar macrophage (AM) functions was investigated. AM were treated with tobacco smoke extract and parenchymata tissue extract (PTE), or mesophyll cell extract (MCE) of Spinacia oleacea. The effects of tobacco smoke extract from PTE and MCE-treated cigarette filters were also investigated. AM production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin-10 (IL-10) and macrophage chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and AM cytotoxicity were measured. Tobacco smoke extract significantly inhibited TNF, IL-10, and MCP-1 release, and AM cytotoxicity. The addition of PTE and MCE to tobacco smoke extract abrogated the inhibition of AM mediator release. However, only MCE restored AM cytotoxicity. Interestingly, tobacco smoke extract of PTE and MCE-treated cigarette filters showed reduced effects on AM functions. Tobacco smoke extract from MCE-treated (0.25%) cigarette filters did not inhibit TNF, IL-10, and MCP-1 release in contrast to tobacco smoke extract from buffer-treated cigarette filters. AM cytotoxic activity was not inhibited by the treatment with tobacco smoke extract from MCE-treated cigarette filters. Our data suggest that the presence of plant extract in cigarette filters reduces the inhibitory effects of cigarette smoke on AM functions. Thus, MCE-treated cigarette filters may help reducing lung diseases associated with smoking.