Management gaps analysis: a case study of groundwater resource management in New Zealand

The primary objective of this project is to identify gaps, whether real or perceived, that hinder effective groundwater management in New Zealand. These gaps show as gaps in information, gaps in implementation, gaps in technological and management tools, and gaps in understanding of fundamental processes. The secondary objective is to propose a management strategy to close the identified gaps. Several methods are used to meet these objectives: surveys distributed to selected staff in each regional council; the review of various written reports; the analysis of land-use databases; and private consultation within each regional council. Results show that groundwater management in New Zealand is generally reactionary with the main gaps being in strategic planning and national guidelines. Most gaps appear to be predominantly information and implementation issues. In some cases there are gaps in the understanding of fundamental processes within an aquifer system, including the long-term effects of land-use on groundwater quality. An adaptive management approach is suggested as a means of closing these gaps.     

Repair of extensive ionizing-radiation DNA damage at 95 degrees C in the hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus

We investigated the capacity of the hyperthermophile Pyrococcus furiosus for DNA repair by measuring survival at high levels of 60Co gamma-irradiation. The P. furiosus 2-Mb chromosome was fragmented into pieces ranging from 500 kb to shorter than 30 kb at a dose of 2,500 Gy and was fully restored upon incubation at 95 degrees C. We suggest that recombination repair could be an extremely active repair mechanism in P. furiosus and that it might be an important determinant of survival of hyperthermophiles at high temperatures.     

ERCP and CT findings of ectopic drainage of the common bile duct into the duodenal bulb

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate ERCP and CT findings of ectopic drainage of the common bile duct into the duodenal bulb. CONCLUSION: Although rare, the diagnosis of ectopic drainage of the common bile duct into the duodenal bulb is important to prevent inadvertent damage during biliary tract or gastric surgery and to clarify the cause of chronic peptic ulcers.     

Use of the polymerase chain reaction in the diagnosis of leprosy

A case is described in which a pericardial branch of a nongrafted left internal mammary artery communicated directly with the distal left anterior descending artery, following saphenous vein bypass grafting. This type of collateralization following coronary artery bypass surgery seems to be very rare, and perhaps could protect the myocardium from severe ischemia.     

Acromioclavicular joint cyst and rotator cuff tear

The role of a depressor factor, atrial natriuretic peptide, in the development of arterial hypertension in adolescents with pubertal hypothalamic syndrome was studied in 52 patients and 13 healthy males aged 13-24 years. The duration of disease was 2-11 years. Radioimmunological methods were used to measure plasma atrial natriuretic peptide, plasma renin activity, and serum aldosterone. Patients with borderline arterial hypertension were found to have a significant reduction in their atrial natriuretic peptide levels, and this correlated directly with the renin-aldosterone system, demonstrating insufficiency of the depressor system in patients with pubertal hypothalamic syndrome and the involvement of atrial natriuretic peptide in the development of arterial hypertension, along with disturbances in the functional relationship between atrial natriuretic peptide and the renin-aldosterone system.     

Serum amyloid P component scintigraphy and turnover studies for diagnosis and quantitative monitoring of AA amyloidosis in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate aspects of the natural history of AA amyloidosis complicating juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA), and its response to therapy with chlorambucil. METHODS: Scintigraphy and 7-day turnover studies were performed in JRA patients with histologically proven (n = 35) or clinically suspected (n = 30) AA amyloidosis, following intravenous injection of 123I and 125I-labeled serum amyloid P component (SAP). Prospective monitoring studies were performed over 2-3 years in 20 patients with amyloidosis. All but 2 amyloidosis patients were treated with chlorambucil. RESULTS: Positive scanning results were obtained in all patients in whom imaging was performed within 12 years of positive biopsy findings of amyloid and in 5 patients with clinically suspected amyloidosis. Negative scanning results with normal SAP metabolism, indicating regression of amyloid, were obtained in 4 patients whose amyloidosis had been in full clinical remission for more than 12 years. Prospective monitoring studies in patients whose JRA-associated inflammatory activity was in remission demonstrated regression of amyloid in 8 patients and no substantial changes in 8 others; however, in 4 further patients with active inflammation, there was accumulation of amyloid. There was a very poor correlation between the amount of amyloid present at a particular site and the resultant organ dysfunction. CONCLUSION: Radiolabeled SAP scintigraphy and turnover studies are useful complementary tools in the diagnosis, screening, and quantitative monitoring of type AA amyloidosis in JRA. The amyloid deposits may progress and/or regress at different rates in different anatomic sites over short periods.     

Routine microbiological testing in sudden and unexpected infant death

We reviewed 187 depth recorded seizures in 33 patients with non-lesional temporal lobe complex partial seizures. All patients had a minimum of 1 year follow-up following temporal lobectomy. We classified seizure onset pattern as rhythmic activity, attenuation, or repetitive spikes or spike wave complexes. The most common pattern of seizure onset was rhythmic activity and the next most common pattern was repetitive spikes. Seventy-five seizures (49%) had only one seizure onset pattern, and 79 seizures (51%) had a combination of seizure onset patterns. The degree of hippocampal gliosis strongly predicted the type of seizure onset pattern (Chi square = 24.07, 2 d.f., P < 0.01). The rhythmic activity pattern was associated with mild gliosis, and the repetitive spike pattern was associated with severe gliosis. We classified seizure onset as focal or regional based on the number of electrode contacts that were involved by the ictal EEG. A focal seizure onset was associated with an excellent outcome following temporal lobectomy.     

Methotrexate therapy in rheumatoid arthritis: a life table review of 587 patients treated in community practice

To determine whether methotrexate (MTX) maintains its effectiveness in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in the setting of community based private rheumatology practice we used life table analysis to review the combined experience of a group of these practices. Of 587 patients with RA who started to take MTX, total termination rate at 70 months was 24.4% with most terminations prompted by drug toxicity. Older age (greater than 65 years) was associated with higher rates of toxicity. Treatment termination rates varied substantially between rheumatologists. We conclude that MTX therapy for RA is well tolerated and maintains effectiveness for at least 70 months.