Effect of rapeseed and dietary oils on the mean survival time of stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats

Low-fat conventional diets supplemented with 5 or 10% vegetable oils were fed to stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR-SP) from weaning and the mean survival times were determined. A 1% aqueous sodium chloride solution was used as drinking water throughout the experiments. In four separate experiments, the rapeseed oil group showed a significantly shorter mean survival time. The relative mean survival times were 50-59% (rapeseed oil group), 78-100% (soybean oil group) and 86% (microbial oil group) as compared with the group fed perilla oil (100%). The group which received 4-fold diluted rapeseed oil exhibited a significantly shorter survival time as compared with the group receiving soybean oil. Although the feeding experiments were performed under very simple and restricted conditions, these results suggest that the rapeseed oil prepared for human use contains a factor (s) which is toxic to SHR-SP rats.     

Economic Benefits of Remediating the Sheboygan River,Wisconsin Area of Concern

This study estimates the economic benefits of remediation in the Sheboygan River, WI Area of Concern (AOC) using two distinct empirical methods. The methodology parallels that described by Braden et al. (2008). The results are mixed. Using hedonic analysis of property sales, for owner-occupied homes within a 5-mile radius of the Sheboygan River AOC, the overall estimated loss of value is $158 million (8% of market value). Of this total, only $49 million in losses for homes closest to the upper river segment has strong statistical support. The impacts are greatest proportionally for properties closest to the AOC. A survey-based method yields a mean estimate of $218 million (10% of property value) in willingness to pay for full cleanup of the AOC. If remediation were to induce recovery of property values, then the local communities could benefit through increased property tax revenues.     

"Aggrecanase" activity is implicated in tumour necrosis factor alpha mediated cartilage aggrecan breakdown but is not detected by an in vitro assay

An accurate analysis of the morphological changes which take place during pathological processes of the posterior pole is important for a correct diagnosis and therapeutic approach. The purpose of the study was to determine the intraobserver and interobserver reproducibility of the Image-net system 100 (Topcon, Japan) to take measurements on the retina. The program 'Linear/Areal Measurement functions' of Image-net system 100 which is an image digitalization technique, was tested. Twelve patients were consecutively selected from the patients of the Retina Center of the Department of Ophthalmology, University of Genoa. Three images of each eye were taken from each subject and only the best image was used in this study. The intraobserver and interobserver reproducibility of both the distance between two pre-set points (linear measurement), and the perimeter and area of preselected retinal zones were calculated. The repeatability (or intraobserver reproducibility) of the linear sizes was measured by the coefficient of variation and ranged from 0.32% to 7.38%, while the interobserver reproducibility ranged from 0.46% to 5.22%. The repeatability and reproducibility of the perimeters ranged from 0.72% to 9.63% and from 0.6% to 5.7%, respectively, while the repeatability and reproducibility of the areas ranged from 0.72% to 9.63% and from 0.6% to 5.7%, respectively. Although the results were quite good, the quality of the image of the fundus and the number of observers influenced the coefficient of variation; furthermore, the anatomy of the areas to be measured and the computer 'mouse' could increase the value of the coefficient of variation.     

Primary malignant fibrous histiocytoma of spleen

We report a case of primary malignant fibrous histiocytoma of spleen, which also emphasizes the difficulties in diagnosing such a rare condition.     

Application of an Optimization Model for the Sustainable Water Resource Management of River Basins

Water Resources Management - An optimization model for the sustainable water resource management that maximizes sustainable net economic benefit over a long-term planning horizon is applied to the...