Three- versus two-dimensional ultrasound for nuchal translucency thickness measurements: comparison of feasibility and levels of agreement

We have determined feasibility and levels of agreement for visualizing the nuchal translucency within a time limit with three-dimensional (3D) and two-dimensional (2D) transvaginal ultrasound. A total of 213 women of median gestational age 13 weeks (range 11–14 weeks) undergoing first-trimester nuchal translucency (NT) thickness measurements with 2D transabdominal ultrasound were included in the study. Additionally all women underwent 2D and 3D transvaginal NT examination within a time limit of 90 s. These two methods were compared with each other and with our standard method (2D transabdominal ultrasound) with respect to visualization of fetal nuchal fold and to the levels of agreement. The nuchal fold was visualized by 3D and 2D transvaginal ultrasound in 85.9% (95% CI: 80.5%, 90.3%) and 25.8% (95% CI: 20.1%, 32.2%), respectively (p<0.001). There was a statistically significant underestimation of the NT by 2D transabdominal as compared with 3D transvaginal ultrasound of 0.1 mm (p<0.001), and by 3D transvaginal as compared with 2D transvaginal ultrasound of even 0.1 mm (p<0.001). 3D transvaginal ultrasound of the nuchal fold has increased feasibility to 2D transvaginal ultrasound within a short examination time and with minimal, but significant, measurement differences. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Quantification of Human Adenoviruses in European Recreational Waters

The presence of human adenoviruses (HAdV) in recreational water might cause disease in the population upon exposure. HAdV detected by PCR could also serve as indicators of the virological water quality. In order to assess the applicability of HAdV to the evaluation of the faecal contamination in European bathing waters, a real-time quantitative PCR assay was used for the quantification of HAdV in 132 samples collected from 24 different recreational marine and freshwater sites in nine European countries. Selected samples presenting positive nested PCR results for HAdV were analyzed using quantitative PCR and 80 samples from a total of 132 produced quantitative results with mean values of 3.2 × 10² per 100 ml of water, being human adenovirus 41 the most prevalent serotype between the samples where adenovirus was typified. HAdV were quantified in samples from all 15 surveillance laboratories. Statistical analysis showed no homogeneous linear relation between HAdV and E. coli, intestinal enterococci or somatic coliphages concentrations in the tested samples when considering all the data together. Significant correlations between HAdV and at least one of the other indicators were observed only when data from individual laboratories were considered. The quantification of HAdV may provide complementary information in relation to the use of bacterial standards in the control of water quality in bathing water.     

Comparison of VOC and ammonia emissions from individual PVC materials, adhesives and from complete structures

Emission rates of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and ammonia measured from six PVC materials and four adhesives in the laboratory were compared to the emission rates measured on site from complete structures. Significantly higher specific emission rates (SERs) were generally measured from the complete structures than from individual materials. There were large differences between different PVC materials in their permeability for VOCs originating from the underlying structure. Glycol ethers and esters from adhesives used in the installation contributed to the emissions from the PVC covered structure. Emissions of 2-ethylhexanol and TXIB (2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol diisobutyrate) were common. High ammonia SERs were measured from single adhesives but their contribution to the emissions from the complete structure did not appear as obvious as for VOCs. The results indicate that three factors affected the VOC emissions from the PVC flooring on a structure: 1) the permeability of the PVC product for VOCs, 2) the VOC emission from the adhesive used, and 3) the VOC emission from the backside of the PVC product.     

Determining the Chernobyl impact on sediments of a pre-Alpine lake with a very comprehensive set of data

Man-made and natural radionuclides in Lake Wallersee were determined in the pre-Alpine environment at the northern slope of the Alps, which was heavily affected by the Chernobyl fallout in May 1986. The objective of this study was to get knowledge of location and quantity of man-made radionuclide input (especially (137)Cs) generated in the Chernobyl accident to lake sediments. Eleven sediment cores were sampled and activity depth profiles of (137)Cs and (210)Pb were determined with 5mm depth-resolution. The Chernobyl fallout produced an extreme (137)Cs peak in the sediment cores providing an excellent time marker. The chronological interpretation of deeper sediment layers was done by radiochemical analysis of (90)Sr and (239+240)Pu, which were released during atmospheric weapons' tests in the 1950s and 1960s. This allowed a complete chronological analysis of the sediment cores with a very compact set of data.     

Enteric Viruses in a Large Waterborne Outbreak of Acute Gastroenteritis in Finland

In Nokia city about 450,000 l of treated sewage water was for 2 days allowed to run into the drinking water supplies of the city due to a personal error of one employee. Within the next 5 weeks about 1,000 people sought care at the municipal health centre or regional hospital because of gastroenteritis. Here we report the results of viral analyses performed by gene amplification assays from the earliest water and sewage samples as well as from close to 300 patient samples. The contaminating treated sewage was shown to harbour several enteric viruses known to cause acute gastroenteritis. Likewise, the drinking water sample was positive for noro-, astro-, rota-, entero- and adenoviruses. Noroviruses were also found in 29.8% of stool samples from affected patients, while astro-, adeno-, rota- and enteroviruses were detected in 19.7, 18.2, 7.5 and 3.7% of the specimens, respectively. An erratum to this article can be found at     

Injuries in special transportation services for elderly and disabled--a multi-methodology approach to estimate incidence and societal costs

OBJECTIVE: Previous research has shown that elderly and disabled travelers using Special Transportation Services (STS) are injured without being involved in a vehicle crash. In order to estimate the true costs for these vehicle-related injuries, the focus needs to be adjusted towards an incident/traveler-oriented perspective. The aim of the project was thus to utilize such a perspective, in order to make a best estimation of the true costs for injury incidents, related to STS in Sweden. METHODS: In order to address the chosen perspective, a mixed-method approach was used, involving quantitative as well as qualitative research methods applied on four different sets of data, the hospital-based material (n=32), two sets of STS material (n=127), and interview-based material (n=1,000). RESULTS: The results showed that the injury incidence rate in STS is considerable, i.e., 3.2 per 100,000 trips (ranging from 1.5-1.9 in STS taxis and 3.6-5.6 in STS special vehicles). However, this high incidence rate is not due to road traffic crashes, but to non-collision injury incidents involving elderly and frail passengers, easily sustaining injuries from minor to moderate external violence. Typically, this violence is affecting an older female STS user, while entering and exiting the vehicle. The true costs were estimated to be $35 million per annum or $2.6 per trip. CONCLUSION: Future injury prevention measures should thus focus on safety in entering and exiting procedures.