Randomized clinical trial of transabdominal versus transcervical chorionic villus sampling methods

The relative advantages and disadvantages of transabdominal (TA) and transcervical (TC) chorionic villus sampling (CVS) in terms of fetal risks and efficacy were evaluated in a clinical trial conducted on 1194 women randomized at 7–12 weeks' gestation. The results of the study indicate that, if any, the relative risk of fetal loss following either procedure is less than double that of the alternative technique when performed by a skilled operator. Overall, the fetal loss rate (spontaneous abortions following randomization, terminations of pregnancy, and perinatal deaths) is 16.5 and 15.5 per cent, respectively, among women allocated to TA- and TC-CVS. The two procedures are equally effective, although TA-CVS is associated with a significantly lower rate of repeat device insertions; on the other hand, a higher weight of chorionic tissue is obtained, on average, with TC-CVS. Bleeding is more common following TC-CVS, while peritoneal reaction developed only after TA-CVS. No diagnostic problems specifically related to one sampling technique were identified.     

Chorionic villus sampling: An analysis of the obstetric experience of 1000 cases

Chorionic villus sampling was performed between 7 and 12 weeks gestation in 1000 patients, 935 of whom intended to continue after fetal diagnosis. Transcervical and Transabdominal aspiration techniques were used providing a sampling success rate of 99 per cent. Anatomical and clinical contraindications to transcervical aspiration were pointed out, and the complementary role of the transabdominal approach evaluated. In the 615 concluded pregnancies an overall abortion rate of 4.1 per cent was observed. A significant association between fetal loss and number of catheter insertions was demonstrated. Bacterial inoculation by catheter insertion and colonization of uterine cavity was suspected as the cause of chorionamnionitis diagnosed in two cases (0.2 per cent) after CVS. Bleeding was the most frequent early complication (12.0 per cent) following chorionic aspiration, but was not significantly related to pregnancy wastage. Late complications, i.e. premature rupture of membranes (0.8 per cent), preterm delivery (6.3 per cent), perinatal losses (1.2 per cent), placental disorders (1.6 per cent), and congenital defects (2.6 per cent) did not exceed the expected values. Normal intrauterine growth patterns were ultrasonically estimated by cross-sectional and longitudinal studies, while the weight at birth was normally distributed in the range of the general population.     

Will Simplified Modalities and Procedures Make More Small-Scale Forestry Projects Viable Under the Clean Development Mechanism?

Simplified modalities and procedures (M&P) are expected to increase the viability of small-scale project activities under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). A small-scale afforestation or reforestation (AR) project is defined as a project removing less than 8 kilotons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e) per year. Depending on the project type and the method for measuring scale, 8 kilotons of CO₂e per year correspond to highly diverse areas, possibly ranging from 200 to 6000 ha. Using a model to calculate the minimum project scale above which the CDM is a positive financial incentive for eligible AR project activities, the paper analyzes whether a reduction of transaction costs under simplified M&P will be a sufficient incentive to motivate small-scale participation in the CDM. Model results show that, even under optimistic assumptions on carbon market conditions and transaction costs, small-scale project activities will not benefit from simplified M&P. Results also show that project activities removing more than 8 kilotons of CO₂e per year and registered as small-scale would be the ones that could benefit the most from simplified M&P. It is concluded that the participation of small-scale project activities to the CDM requires more than simplified M&P, the price of expiring Certified Emission Reductions being one of the most critical parameters.     

Sorption of pentachlorophenol on pine bark

The minimization of pentachlorophenol (PCP) transport in the environment driven by industrial wastewater discharges can be accomplished by sorption in natural, available and low cost by-products like pine bark. Taking into account that PCP is a chemical which behaviour is highly dominated by the surrounding features, this work intended to evaluate the sorption kinetics and equilibrium parameters according to the pH and temperature as well as the pine bark particle size. The PCP uptake by pine bark showed to be faster in the initial phase followed by a slower process, being 24 h the suitably time to reach the sorption equilibrium in the range of pH studied. The neutral PCP species showed to have higher binding capacity to pine bark than the anionic PCP, which was reflected in a decrease in the distribution coefficient (Kd) of the linear sorption isotherm with the increase of solution pH from 2 to 7. On the other hand, between 10 degrees C and 35 degrees C, the temperature does not seem to play a significant role in the PCP sorption by pine bark, while the sorbent size is a key parameter to enhance the overall process.     

Tissue distribution and bioconcentration factors of PCDD/Fs in the liver and adipose tissue following chronic ingestion of contaminated milk in rats

The aim of this study was to determine the tissue distribution of 17 PCDD/Fs following the chronic ingestion of contaminated milk in rats and to assess the "target tissue/milk" BioConcentration Factors (BCFs) of these molecules. Contaminated milk, collected in a polluted area, has been incorporated into the diet of male rats at a low dose (31 pg I-TEQ/day/rat). For this exposure, the accumulation of PCDD/Fs in target tissues (liver and adipose tissue) was limited, the tissue concentrations stabilising between 90 and 120 days of daily intake to levels close to 3 pg/g of tissue (all tissues and molecules combined). The tissue distribution seemed to be governed by the congeners properties and by the tissue characteristics. An increase in the chlorination degree of dioxins caused a decrease in their incorporation in the adipose tissue, and consequently of the BCF values. Moreover, the distribution of dioxins between hepatocytes and adipocytes differed: unlike the liver, the quantities of dioxins in the adipose tissue were significantly (P<0.05) correlated to the quantity of tissue fat. Only in the liver, the incorporation of PCDDs seemed to be facilitated when the chlorination degree of these congeners increased, the reverse phenomenon having been observed for PCDFs. However, for the same level of chlorination, the BCFs of PCDFs were 2.4 times higher than those of PCDDs in this tissue. The absence of correlation between the quantity of dioxins and that of fat and the BCFs differences of theses congeners suggested that dioxins fixation process in the liver was selective.     

Influence of air pollution on the incidence of respiratory tract neoplasm

To evaluate the possible influence of air pollutants on the incidence of respiratory tract neoplasm we studied 12 S?o Paulo City districts where air pollution is observed. We collected data on pollutants from 1981-1990 and correlated it with the incidence of larynx and lung neoplasms in 1997. Ozone was the pollutant that best correlated with the incidence of neoplasm. The correlation coefficients were 0.7234 (p=0.277) and 0.9929 (p=0.007) for lung and larynx cancer, respectively. There may be a relationship between air pollution and the incidence of respiratory tract neoplasm. This study, however, does not allow us to conclude that there is a causal relationship.