D

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Distribution within Chemistry

Kinds of D

  • ace d
  • actinomycin d
  • active vitamin d
  • antagonist d
  • category d
  • cathepsin d
  • coefficient d
  • cohen d
  • containing d
  • cyclin d
  • cytochalasin d
  • degree d
  • der d
  • diameter d
  • diffusion coefficient d
  • digraph d
  • dihydroxyvitamin d
  • dimension d
  • distance d
  • duplex d
  • et d
  • fel d
  • g d
  • genotype d
  • germacrene d
  • glycoprotein d
  • gramicidin d
  • group d
  • groups d
  • haplotype d
  • hepatitis d
  • hydroxyvitamin d
  • hypovitaminosis d
  • inhibitor actinomycin d
  • log d
  • mg d
  • parameter d
  • part d
  • partir d
  • phospholipase d
  • protein d
  • random d
  • ring d
  • sequence d
  • serum vitamin d
  • stage d
  • substrate d
  • tajima d
  • type d
  • vitamin d

  • Terms modified by D

  • d activity
  • d allele
  • d alone
  • d analog
  • d analogue
  • d atom
  • d binding protein
  • d concentration
  • d cycle
  • d decreased
  • d deficiency
  • d deficiency rickets
  • d derivative
  • d exchange
  • d exchange experiment
  • d exchange reaction
  • d exposure
  • d gene
  • d gene polymorphism
  • d genotype
  • d groups
  • d insufficiency
  • d intake
  • d level
  • d metabolism
  • d metabolite
  • d old
  • d orbital
  • d period
  • d polymorphism
  • d protein
  • d ratio
  • d receptor
  • d receptor gene polymorphism
  • d receptor polymorphism
  • d serum level
  • d status
  • d supplement
  • d supplementation
  • d synthase
  • d synthesis
  • d system
  • d therapy
  • d treatment
  • d v
  • d value

  • Selected Abstracts


    Mass Production of Juveniles of the Fat Snook Centropomus parallelus in Brazil

    JOURNAL OF THE WORLD AQUACULTURE SOCIETY, Issue 4 2002
    Luis Alvarez-Lajonchegre
    A pilot-scale trial to rear fat snook Centropomus parallelus through larval, weaning and nursery phases was conducted in Florianópolis, Brazil. Eggs (96% fertilization) from captive broodstock, induced to spawn using 50 ,g/kg LHRHa were stocked in two 4,000-L cylindrical fiberglass tanks at a mean density of 19.2 eggs/L. Nannochloropsis oculata was stocked with the eggs and maintained at a mean density of 0.5,1.0 ± 106 cells/mL up to 31 dph (31 dph). Hatching averaged 90%. Larvae were fed rotifers Brachionus rotundiformis enriched with an oil emulsion from 3 dph to 36 dph (30,40 rotifers/mL) and Artermia meta-nauplii enriched with Selco from 22 dph to 60 dph (mean 2.9 meta-nauplii/mL). Weaning began at 45 dph with an artificial dry diet NRG (50% protein), supplied together with concentrated and enriched Artemia meta-nauplii. No critical period of mortality was observed during larval rearing. During the 43 days of weaning and nursery, less than 1% mortality was recorded. Food conversion rate during nursery was 1.17, with a change in the coefficient of variation of mean total length of 1.3%. Specific total growth rate in weight was 13.0 %/d and mean growth in total length and total weight were 0.65 mm/d and 24.0 mg/d over the whole rearing trial respectively. Mean total length and total weight of juveniles were 57.6 ± 0.1 mm and 2.11 ± 0.12 g, respectively, and the length-weight relationship was W = 8.29931 ± 10,5 TL3.049607 (r= 0.9986). on 88 dph when the trial was terminated. The condition factor on 88 dph was 1.104. On 88 dph a total of 35,000 juveniles were harvested, overall survival was 25.5% with mean final density of 4.4 fishn and biomass of 6.9 kg/m3. The present trial demonstrated the feasibility of mass production of fat snook. Possible improvements necessary for commercial cultivation of fat snook C. parallelus are discussed. [source]


    Who among cytomegalovirus-seropositive liver transplant recipients is at risk for cytomegalovirus infection?

    LIVER TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 6 2005
    Nina Singh
    A vast majority of the transplant recipients are cytomegalovirus (CMV)-seropositive (R+). We sought to assess variables predictive of CMV infection, specifically in R+ liver transplant recipients. Study patients comprised 182 consecutive liver transplant recipients who survived at least 14 days after transplantation. Surveillance testing was used to detect CMV infection. Pre-emptive therapy was employed for the prevention of CMV disease, however, no antiviral prophylaxis was used for CMV infection. CMV infection developed in 32.5% (38 of 117) of R+ patients, 84.6% (33 of 39) of R,/D+, and 3.8% (1 of 26) of R,/D, patients. In R+ patients, Hispanic race (21.6% vs. 7.8%, P = 0.06), donor CMV seropositivity (73.7% vs. 45.6%, P = 0.005), and hepatocellular carcinoma (23.7% vs. 6.3%, P = 0.05) correlated with a higher risk of CMV infection. In a multivariate model, Hispanic race (OR: 3.5, 95% CI: 1.03-11.6, P = 0.045), donor CMV serostatus (OR: 4.0, 95% CI: 1.6-10.2, P = 0.003) and hepatocellular carcinoma (OR: 5.8, 95% CI: 1.6-20.5, P = 0.006) were all significant independent predictors of CMV infection. The aforementioned variables did not portend a higher risk of CMV infection in R,/D+ patients; donor CMV seropositivity overwhelmed all other risk factors in R, patients (P < 0.00001). In conclusion, CMV-seropositive liver transplant recipients at risk for CMV infection can be identified based on readily assessable variables. Preventive strategies may be selectively targeted toward these patients. (Liver Transpl 2005;11:700,704.) [source]


    A Simple Index to Restrain Abnormal Protrusions in Films Fabricated Using CVD under Diffusion-Limited Conditions,

    CHEMICAL VAPOR DEPOSITION, Issue 4 2004
    Y. Kajikawa
    Abstract Cauliflower-like protrusions formed in CVD processes under diffusion-limited conditions have been studied both experimentally and theoretically. Both approaches indicate that the difference in diffusion fluxes to the film and to the protrusions controls the growth of such protrusions. However, direct comparisons of these two approaches have never been done, probably due to the complexity of the theoretical models. To simplify model protrusion growth, we developed a one-dimensional (1D) analytical model by hypothesizing the diffusion of growth species in the boundary layer above a growing film. Based on this model, we propose a non-dimensional quantity, ksf/D, as an index of protrusion growth (D is the diffusion coefficient of the growth species, ks is the surface reaction-rate coefficient, and f is film thickness). This index represents more directly the protrusion growth than does the previously proposed index, the Damköhler number, Da,=,ks,/D, where , is boundary layer thickness. To obtain smooth, protrusion-free films, D/ks should be kept larger than the desired film thickness. By controlling the process conditions to satisfy this index, we successfully fabricated protrusion-free films with SiC deposition from dichlorodimethylsilane (DDS). [source]


    The liver stage of Plasmodium berghei inhibits host cell apoptosis

    MOLECULAR MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 3 2005
    Claudia Van De Sand
    Summary Plasmodium berghei is the causative agent of rodent malaria and is widely used as a model system to study the liver stage of Plasmodium parasites. The entry of P. berghei sporozoites into hepatocytes has extensively been studied, but little is known about parasite,host interaction during later developmental stages of the intracellular parasite. Growth of the parasite far beyond the normal size of the host cell is an important stress factor for the infected cell. Cell stress is known to trigger programmed cell death (apoptosis) and we examined several apoptotic markers in P. berghei -infected cells and compared their level of expression and their distribution to that of non-infected cells. As none of the apoptotic markers investigated were found altered in infected cells, we hypothesized that parasite infection might confer resistance to apoptosis of the host cell. Treatment with peroxide or serum deprivation induced apoptosis in non-infected HepG2 cells, whereas P. berghei -infected cells appeared protected, indicating that the parasite interferes indeed with the apoptotic machinery of the host cell. To prove the physiological relevance of these results, mice were infected with high numbers of P. berghei sporozoites and treated with tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-,/d -galactosamine to induce massive liver apoptosis. Liver sections of these mice, stained for degraded DNA, confirmed that infected cells containing viable parasites were protected from programmed cell death. However, in non-treated control mice as well as in TNF-,-treated mice a small proportion of dead intracellular parasites with degraded DNA were detected. Most hepatocytes containing dead parasites provoked an infiltration of immunocompetent cells, indicating that these cells are no longer protected from cell death. [source]


    Comparison between the orthorhombic and tetragonal forms of the heptamer sequence d[GCG(xT)GCG]/d(CGCACGC)

    ACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION F (ELECTRONIC), Issue 9 2010
    Koen Robeyns
    Cyclohexene nucleic acid (CeNA) building blocks can be introduced into natural DNA sequences without a large conformational influence because of the ability of the six-membered sugar ring to mimic both the C2,- endo and C3,- endo conformations of the naturally occurring ribofuranose sugar ring. The non-self-complementary DNA sequence d[GCG(xT)GCG]/d(CGCACGC) with one incorporated CeNA (xT) moiety crystallizes in two forms: orthorhombic and tetragonal. The tetragonal form, which diffracts to 3,Å resolution, is a kinetically stable polymorph of the orthorhombic form [Robeyns et al. (2010), Artificial DNA, 1, 1,7], which diffracts to 1.17,Å resolution and is the thermodynamically stable form of the CeNA-incorporated duplex. Here, the two structures are compared, with special emphasis on the differences in crystal packing and the irreversible conversion of the kinetic form into the high-resolution diffracting thermodynamic form. [source]


    Comparison of high-density and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol subclasses and sizes in asian indian women with caucasian women from the framingham offspring study

    CLINICAL CARDIOLOGY, Issue 5 2005
    Narendra C. Bhalodkar M.D.
    Abstract Background: Asian Indian women have a higher rate of coronary artery disease (CAD) than do other ethnic groups, despite similar conventional risk factors and lipid profiles. Smaller high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) particle size is associated with reduced cardiac protection or even an increased risk of CAD. Exceptional longevity correlates better with larger HDL-C particle sizes. Hypothesis: Higherrates of CAD among Asian Indian women may partly be explained by the differenes in the prevalence of atherogenic HDL-C and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) sizes and their subclass concentrations among Asian Indian women compared with Caucasian women. Methods: We measured HDL-C concentrations and sizes by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy in 119 relatively healthy Asian Indian women and compared them with those of 1,752 Caucasian women from the Framingham Off spring Study (FOS). Results: Asian Indian women were significantly younger (47.9 ± 11.2 vs.51.0 ± 10.1 years, p = 0.0001), leaner (body mass index 24.0 ± 4.7 vs. 26.0 ± 5.6, p = <0.0002), less likely to be postmenopausal (32 vs. 54%, p =< 0.0001), or smoke (< 1 vs. 20%, p = < 0.0001);nevertheless, prevalence of CAD was higher in Asian Indian women (4.2 vs. 1%, p = 0.0006). Asian Indian women had similar HDL-C (53 ±13 vs. 53 ± 13 mg/dl, p = 0.99), smaller HDL-C particle size (8.9 ± 0.35 vs. 9.4 ± 0.44 nm, p = < 0.0001), highertotal cholesterol (209 ± 40 vs. 199 ± 42 mg/dl, p = 0.01), and similar triglyceride (120 ± 77 vs. 108 ± 110 mg /d, p = 0.24) levels. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, particle concentrations and sizes, as well as prevalence of pattern B were similar. Conclusions: Compared with the FOS, Asian Indian women have significantly smaller overall HDL particle size and similar levels of HDL-C, which may reflect impaired, reverse cholesterol transport. Total cholesterol was higher, whereas triglyceride and LDL-C levels were similar. This may partly explain the higher CAD rates in Asian Indian women. Further large scale, prospective, long-term studies are warranted. [source]


    Nitrogen and Phosphorus Release from Decomposing Leaves under Sub-Humid Tropical Conditions,

    BIOTROPICA, Issue 2 2001
    A. B. Kwabiah
    ABSTRACT For many soils of the tropics, inputs of organic materials are essential to sustain soil fertility and crop production. Research in the quality of organic inputs, a key factor controlling rates of decomposition and nutrient release, continues to guide selection and use of organic materials as nutrient sources. The relationship between decomposition patterns and the quality parameters of the fresh leaves of six agroforestry species: Sesbania sesban, Croton megalocarpus, Calliandra calothyrsus, Tithonia diversifolia, Lantana camara, and Senna spectabilis, was investigated in a litterbag study over a period of 77 days in the highlands of western Kenya. The litterbags were buried 1 cm below the soil surface and covered with soil of ca 1 cm thickness. Percent leaf mass and total N and P that remained with time strongly correlated with total P and C/P ratio (R2= 0.60-0.90) during the first 35 days of study; but afterwards, correlation was stronger with the initial soluble polyphenolics (Pp)/P ratio (R2= 0.69-0.92) than with total P and C/P ratio. Loss of leaf mass and release of N and P followed the exponential function, yt= y0* e- kt, from which the specific decay rate constants (k) were calculated for loss of leaf mass (kB) and release of N (kN) and P (Kp). Among the plant species, the k values were lowest in Calliandra with kB= 0.012/d, kN= 0.017/d and kp= 0.044/d. Lantana had the highest K values with kg= 0.067/d and kp= 0.119/d, but the highest kN value of 0.109/d occurred in Tithonia. The kB values for all organic materials were lower than their corresponding kN and kp values, suggesting that leaching of N and P from litters may have augmented the microbial mineralization of N and P. There was a strong correlation between the kB, kN, and kp values and total P (r = 0.82-0.96; P 0.01), but not total N, lignin (LIG), or Pp. Rates of N and P release followed the general trend: Tithonia > Senna > Lantana > Sesbania > Croton > Calliandra. The results indicated that, among the quality parameters studied, total P is the most important factor controlling rate of decomposition and N and P release from organic inputs in the area of study. [source]


    Comparison of Three Culture Methods for the Intensive Culture of Northern Quahog Seed, Mercenaria mercenaria

    JOURNAL OF THE WORLD AQUACULTURE SOCIETY, Issue 1 2001
    Timothy J. Pfeiffer
    A number of approaches have been utilized for growing bivalve hatchery seed (1 mm) to a size suitable for field planting (< 8 mm) but few have been directly compared. This study evaluated the growth and survival of northern quahog seed in three different culture systems and two different stocking densities. The three systems were: 1) a stacked-tray unit with downward water flow; 2) traditional upweller culture units with water flowing upward without seed bed expansion; and 3) upweller culture units with water flowing upward at fluidization velocities to provide seed bed expansion. The two stocking densities were 1.0 and 3.0 g whole wet weight clam/cm2 respectively. During each trial period the seed clams were fed a 1% daily ration (% dry weight algae per wet weight clam per day) of the cultured diatom Chaetoceros muelleri. After 14 d of culture at the 1.0 g whole wet weight/cm2 stocking density, seed clams (4.4 ± 0.6 mm initial shell length) under fluidized-flow condition exhibited better growth (0.54/d), and a greater final shell length (5.9 ± 1.0 mm). At the high density stocking conditions, after 28 d of culture, seed clams (4.2 ± 0.6 mm initial shell length) in the fluidized-flow culture conditions again exhibited better growth rate (0.031/d) and a greater final shell length (6.0 ± 1.0 mm). The preliminary evaluation of fluidized-flow for seed clam culture in land-based nurseries indicates its potential as a suitable alternative to raceway, downwelling, or traditional forced-flow culture methods. [source]


    Nitrogen and Phosphorus Release from Decomposing Leaves under Sub-Humid Tropical Conditions,

    BIOTROPICA, Issue 2 2001
    A. B. Kwabiah
    ABSTRACT For many soils of the tropics, inputs of organic materials are essential to sustain soil fertility and crop production. Research in the quality of organic inputs, a key factor controlling rates of decomposition and nutrient release, continues to guide selection and use of organic materials as nutrient sources. The relationship between decomposition patterns and the quality parameters of the fresh leaves of six agroforestry species: Sesbania sesban, Croton megalocarpus, Calliandra calothyrsus, Tithonia diversifolia, Lantana camara, and Senna spectabilis, was investigated in a litterbag study over a period of 77 days in the highlands of western Kenya. The litterbags were buried 1 cm below the soil surface and covered with soil of ca 1 cm thickness. Percent leaf mass and total N and P that remained with time strongly correlated with total P and C/P ratio (R2= 0.60-0.90) during the first 35 days of study; but afterwards, correlation was stronger with the initial soluble polyphenolics (Pp)/P ratio (R2= 0.69-0.92) than with total P and C/P ratio. Loss of leaf mass and release of N and P followed the exponential function, yt= y0* e- kt, from which the specific decay rate constants (k) were calculated for loss of leaf mass (kB) and release of N (kN) and P (Kp). Among the plant species, the k values were lowest in Calliandra with kB= 0.012/d, kN= 0.017/d and kp= 0.044/d. Lantana had the highest K values with kg= 0.067/d and kp= 0.119/d, but the highest kN value of 0.109/d occurred in Tithonia. The kB values for all organic materials were lower than their corresponding kN and kp values, suggesting that leaching of N and P from litters may have augmented the microbial mineralization of N and P. There was a strong correlation between the kB, kN, and kp values and total P (r = 0.82-0.96; P 0.01), but not total N, lignin (LIG), or Pp. Rates of N and P release followed the general trend: Tithonia > Senna > Lantana > Sesbania > Croton > Calliandra. The results indicated that, among the quality parameters studied, total P is the most important factor controlling rate of decomposition and N and P release from organic inputs in the area of study. [source]


    Trichlorofluoroethene: A reactive tracer for evaluating reductive dechlorination in large-diameter permeable columns

    GROUND WATER MONITORING & REMEDIATION, Issue 2 2005
    Jennifer A. Field
    Trichlorofluoroethene (TCFE) was used as a reactive tracer to determine the in situ rate of reductive dechlorination in treatment zones impacted by three large-diameter permeable columns (LDPCs) that were installed at a trichloroethene (TCE),contaminated site. The LDPCs were part of a pilot study to evaluate the effectiveness of hydrogen, lactate, and zero-valent iron for remediating TCE-contaminated ground water. The rate of TCFE reductive dechlorination was determined for each LDPC by means of push-pull tests conducted in each treatment layer. In addition, the distribution of TCFE's lesser chlorinated transformation products was determined. The rates of TCFE reductive dechlorination ranged from 0.05/d to 0.20/d and corresponded to half-lives ranging from 3.5 to 13.9 d. cis -Dichlorofluoroethene was the dominant transformation product detected in all the tests, which is consistent with the findings from pilot tests conducted in the LDPCs prior to the TCFE push-pull tests. cis -Chlorofluoroethene (CFE) and 1,1-CFE also were detected and indicate the potential for vinyl chloride to form under all treatment regimes. Significant production of fluoroethene (FE), the analog of ethene, was observed for only one of the hydrogen treatments. Unambiguous and sensitive detection of the lesser chlorinated products, such as CFE and FE, is possible because TCFE and its transformation products are not found in the background ground water at contaminated sites. Good agreement between the rates and transformation product profiles for TCFE and TCE in both field and laboratory experiments indicates the suitability of TCFE as a surrogate for predicting the rates of TCE reductive dechlorination. [source]


    Nitrogen and Phosphorus Release from Decomposing Leaves under Sub-Humid Tropical Conditions,

    BIOTROPICA, Issue 2 2001
    A. B. Kwabiah
    ABSTRACT For many soils of the tropics, inputs of organic materials are essential to sustain soil fertility and crop production. Research in the quality of organic inputs, a key factor controlling rates of decomposition and nutrient release, continues to guide selection and use of organic materials as nutrient sources. The relationship between decomposition patterns and the quality parameters of the fresh leaves of six agroforestry species: Sesbania sesban, Croton megalocarpus, Calliandra calothyrsus, Tithonia diversifolia, Lantana camara, and Senna spectabilis, was investigated in a litterbag study over a period of 77 days in the highlands of western Kenya. The litterbags were buried 1 cm below the soil surface and covered with soil of ca 1 cm thickness. Percent leaf mass and total N and P that remained with time strongly correlated with total P and C/P ratio (R2= 0.60-0.90) during the first 35 days of study; but afterwards, correlation was stronger with the initial soluble polyphenolics (Pp)/P ratio (R2= 0.69-0.92) than with total P and C/P ratio. Loss of leaf mass and release of N and P followed the exponential function, yt= y0* e- kt, from which the specific decay rate constants (k) were calculated for loss of leaf mass (kB) and release of N (kN) and P (Kp). Among the plant species, the k values were lowest in Calliandra with kB= 0.012/d, kN= 0.017/d and kp= 0.044/d. Lantana had the highest K values with kg= 0.067/d and kp= 0.119/d, but the highest kN value of 0.109/d occurred in Tithonia. The kB values for all organic materials were lower than their corresponding kN and kp values, suggesting that leaching of N and P from litters may have augmented the microbial mineralization of N and P. There was a strong correlation between the kB, kN, and kp values and total P (r = 0.82-0.96; P 0.01), but not total N, lignin (LIG), or Pp. Rates of N and P release followed the general trend: Tithonia > Senna > Lantana > Sesbania > Croton > Calliandra. The results indicated that, among the quality parameters studied, total P is the most important factor controlling rate of decomposition and N and P release from organic inputs in the area of study. [source]


    Use of Cyclopoid Copepod Apocyclops dengizicus as Live Feed for Penaeus monodon Postlarvae

    JOURNAL OF THE WORLD AQUACULTURE SOCIETY, Issue 1 2009
    Omidvar Farhadian
    In this study, the suitability of cyclopoid copepod Apocyclops dengizicus as a live food for black tiger shrimp, Penaeus monodon, postlarvae was investigated. After 14 d, P. monodon postlarvae (PL1) had survival rates of 41.7 ± 2.9% (mean ± SE), 28.7 ± 1.2%, 56.3 ± 3.7%, 4.4 ± 1.9%, and 2.8 ± 1.0% when fed A. dengizicus (CC), Artemia nauplii (AN), mixture of A. dengizicus and Artemia nauplii (CC + AN), artificial shrimp feed (SF), and microalga Tetraselmis tetrathele (TT), respectively. Specific growth rates (SGRs) of P. monodon were maximum (14.2 ± 0.6%/d) in CC + AN, followed by CC (11.0 ± 0.4%/d), AN (9.3 ± 0.7%/d), SF (6.1 ± 0.2%/d), and TT (6.0 ± 0.5%/d). The total n-3 fatty acids of postlarvae increased from 20.6 to 25.8% when fed with CC, 28.8% with AN, and 29.0% with CC + AN. Better survival and SGRs of P. monodon postlarvae could be attributed to docosahexaenoic acid : eicosapentaenoic acid : arachidonic acid ratio of CC (10.2:3.2:1) diet. The results of this study showed that A. dengizicus has a potential to be used as a substitute live feed for P. monodon postlarvae because of better survival, growth, and high polyunsaturated fatty acids. [source]


    Trichlorofluoroethene: A reactive tracer for evaluating reductive dechlorination in large-diameter permeable columns

    GROUND WATER MONITORING & REMEDIATION, Issue 2 2005
    Jennifer A. Field
    Trichlorofluoroethene (TCFE) was used as a reactive tracer to determine the in situ rate of reductive dechlorination in treatment zones impacted by three large-diameter permeable columns (LDPCs) that were installed at a trichloroethene (TCE),contaminated site. The LDPCs were part of a pilot study to evaluate the effectiveness of hydrogen, lactate, and zero-valent iron for remediating TCE-contaminated ground water. The rate of TCFE reductive dechlorination was determined for each LDPC by means of push-pull tests conducted in each treatment layer. In addition, the distribution of TCFE's lesser chlorinated transformation products was determined. The rates of TCFE reductive dechlorination ranged from 0.05/d to 0.20/d and corresponded to half-lives ranging from 3.5 to 13.9 d. cis -Dichlorofluoroethene was the dominant transformation product detected in all the tests, which is consistent with the findings from pilot tests conducted in the LDPCs prior to the TCFE push-pull tests. cis -Chlorofluoroethene (CFE) and 1,1-CFE also were detected and indicate the potential for vinyl chloride to form under all treatment regimes. Significant production of fluoroethene (FE), the analog of ethene, was observed for only one of the hydrogen treatments. Unambiguous and sensitive detection of the lesser chlorinated products, such as CFE and FE, is possible because TCFE and its transformation products are not found in the background ground water at contaminated sites. Good agreement between the rates and transformation product profiles for TCFE and TCE in both field and laboratory experiments indicates the suitability of TCFE as a surrogate for predicting the rates of TCE reductive dechlorination. [source]


    Dietary accumulation of perfluorinated acids in juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

    ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 1 2003
    Jonathan W. Martin
    Abstract Perfluorinated acids (PFAs) recently have emerged as persistent global contaminants after their detection in wildlife and humans from various geographic locations. The highest concentrations of perfluorooctane sulfonate are characteristically observed in high trophic level organisms, indicating that PFAs may have a significant bioaccumulation potential. To examine this phenomenon quantitatively, we exposed juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) simultaneously to a homologous series of perfluoroalkyl carboxylates and sulfonates for 34 d in the diet, followed by a 41-d depuration period. Carcass and liver concentrations were determined by using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, and kinetic rates were calculated to determine compound-specific bioaccumulation parameters. Depuration rate constants ranged from 0.02 to 0.23/d, and decreased as the length of the fluorinated chain increased. Assimilation efficiency was greater than 50% for all test compounds, indicating efficient absorption from food. Bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) ranged from 0.038 to 1.0 and increased with length of the perfluorinated chain; however, BAFs were not statistically greater than 1 for any PFA. Sulfonates bioaccumulated to a greater extent than carboxylates of equivalent perfluoroalkyl chain length, indicating that hydrophobicity is not the sole determinant of PFA accumulation potential and that the acid function must be considered. Dietary exposure will not result in biomagnification of PFAs in juvenile trout, but extrapolation of these bioaccumulation parameters to larger fish and homeothermic organisms should not be performed. [source]


    Use of Cyclopoid Copepod Apocyclops dengizicus as Live Feed for Penaeus monodon Postlarvae

    JOURNAL OF THE WORLD AQUACULTURE SOCIETY, Issue 1 2009
    Omidvar Farhadian
    In this study, the suitability of cyclopoid copepod Apocyclops dengizicus as a live food for black tiger shrimp, Penaeus monodon, postlarvae was investigated. After 14 d, P. monodon postlarvae (PL1) had survival rates of 41.7 ± 2.9% (mean ± SE), 28.7 ± 1.2%, 56.3 ± 3.7%, 4.4 ± 1.9%, and 2.8 ± 1.0% when fed A. dengizicus (CC), Artemia nauplii (AN), mixture of A. dengizicus and Artemia nauplii (CC + AN), artificial shrimp feed (SF), and microalga Tetraselmis tetrathele (TT), respectively. Specific growth rates (SGRs) of P. monodon were maximum (14.2 ± 0.6%/d) in CC + AN, followed by CC (11.0 ± 0.4%/d), AN (9.3 ± 0.7%/d), SF (6.1 ± 0.2%/d), and TT (6.0 ± 0.5%/d). The total n-3 fatty acids of postlarvae increased from 20.6 to 25.8% when fed with CC, 28.8% with AN, and 29.0% with CC + AN. Better survival and SGRs of P. monodon postlarvae could be attributed to docosahexaenoic acid : eicosapentaenoic acid : arachidonic acid ratio of CC (10.2:3.2:1) diet. The results of this study showed that A. dengizicus has a potential to be used as a substitute live feed for P. monodon postlarvae because of better survival, growth, and high polyunsaturated fatty acids. [source]


    Comparison of Three Culture Methods for the Intensive Culture of Northern Quahog Seed, Mercenaria mercenaria

    JOURNAL OF THE WORLD AQUACULTURE SOCIETY, Issue 1 2001
    Timothy J. Pfeiffer
    A number of approaches have been utilized for growing bivalve hatchery seed (1 mm) to a size suitable for field planting (< 8 mm) but few have been directly compared. This study evaluated the growth and survival of northern quahog seed in three different culture systems and two different stocking densities. The three systems were: 1) a stacked-tray unit with downward water flow; 2) traditional upweller culture units with water flowing upward without seed bed expansion; and 3) upweller culture units with water flowing upward at fluidization velocities to provide seed bed expansion. The two stocking densities were 1.0 and 3.0 g whole wet weight clam/cm2 respectively. During each trial period the seed clams were fed a 1% daily ration (% dry weight algae per wet weight clam per day) of the cultured diatom Chaetoceros muelleri. After 14 d of culture at the 1.0 g whole wet weight/cm2 stocking density, seed clams (4.4 ± 0.6 mm initial shell length) under fluidized-flow condition exhibited better growth (0.54/d), and a greater final shell length (5.9 ± 1.0 mm). At the high density stocking conditions, after 28 d of culture, seed clams (4.2 ± 0.6 mm initial shell length) in the fluidized-flow culture conditions again exhibited better growth rate (0.031/d) and a greater final shell length (6.0 ± 1.0 mm). The preliminary evaluation of fluidized-flow for seed clam culture in land-based nurseries indicates its potential as a suitable alternative to raceway, downwelling, or traditional forced-flow culture methods. [source]


    Use of Cyclopoid Copepod Apocyclops dengizicus as Live Feed for Penaeus monodon Postlarvae

    JOURNAL OF THE WORLD AQUACULTURE SOCIETY, Issue 1 2009
    Omidvar Farhadian
    In this study, the suitability of cyclopoid copepod Apocyclops dengizicus as a live food for black tiger shrimp, Penaeus monodon, postlarvae was investigated. After 14 d, P. monodon postlarvae (PL1) had survival rates of 41.7 ± 2.9% (mean ± SE), 28.7 ± 1.2%, 56.3 ± 3.7%, 4.4 ± 1.9%, and 2.8 ± 1.0% when fed A. dengizicus (CC), Artemia nauplii (AN), mixture of A. dengizicus and Artemia nauplii (CC + AN), artificial shrimp feed (SF), and microalga Tetraselmis tetrathele (TT), respectively. Specific growth rates (SGRs) of P. monodon were maximum (14.2 ± 0.6%/d) in CC + AN, followed by CC (11.0 ± 0.4%/d), AN (9.3 ± 0.7%/d), SF (6.1 ± 0.2%/d), and TT (6.0 ± 0.5%/d). The total n-3 fatty acids of postlarvae increased from 20.6 to 25.8% when fed with CC, 28.8% with AN, and 29.0% with CC + AN. Better survival and SGRs of P. monodon postlarvae could be attributed to docosahexaenoic acid : eicosapentaenoic acid : arachidonic acid ratio of CC (10.2:3.2:1) diet. The results of this study showed that A. dengizicus has a potential to be used as a substitute live feed for P. monodon postlarvae because of better survival, growth, and high polyunsaturated fatty acids. [source]


    Quantification of in vivo biotransformation of the anionic surfactant C12 -2-linear alkylbenzene sulfonate in fathead minnows

    ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 10 2000
    Johannes Tolls
    Abstract Linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) is a major surfactant in household detergents and enters the environment via the wastewater. Aquatic organisms are thus exposed to LAS and can bioaccumulate this compound. Even though the extent of bio-accumulation is determined by the organisms' capability of metabolizing LAS, little is known about metabolism of LAS in small aquatic organisms. In the present investigation, we present a novel approach to quantify in vivo biotransformation. Fish (fathead minnows [Pimephales promelas]) were exposed to the LAS constituent 2- n -(p -sulfophenyl)-dodecane (C12 -2-LAS). The parent surfactant and its biotransformation product 3- n -(p -sulfophenyl)-butyric acid (C4 -3-SPC) were determined in fish tissue. On the average, the concentration of C4 -3-SPC in fish was 70 to 80% of that of C12 -2-LAS. The first-order one-compartment model of bioconcentration was extended to include biotransformation as an explicit process. Analysis of the C4 -3-SPC/C12 -2-LASconcentration ratio in fish allowed estimating a rate constant for in vivo biotransformation of C12 -2-LAS in fathead minnows. With the estimates of the biotransformation rate constant (kBT,LAS) ranging between 0.31 and 0.72/d, biotransformation contributes to more than 40% of the elimination of C12 -2-LAS in fathead minnows. This indicates that biotransformation is a significant process in reducing the bioaccumulation potential of LAS. Moreover, the present investigation demonstrates that the combination of measurements of parent compound and metabolite with an extended bioaccumulation model is a viable approach for quantification of biotransformation in small aquatic test animals. [source]


    Archaeal diversity in acid mine drainage from Dabaoshan Mine, China

    JOURNAL OF BASIC MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 5 2008
    Guan-zhou Qiu
    Abstract Three acid mine drainage (AMD) samples collected from Dabaoshan Mine (Guangdong Province, China) were studied. In addition to physicochemical analyses, the diversity and community structures of the archaeal communities in these samples were described at the genetic level by amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis (ARDRA). Nine different ARDRA patterns were obtained from 146 clones and were studied as operational taxonomic units (OTUs), which were re-amplified and sequenced. Sequence data and phylogenetic analysis showed that most of the clones belonged to the Thermoplasmatales, and that archaea belonging to the Sulfolobales were absent. Only 1 OTU attributed to Ferroplasma was found and was observed to be abundant in all 3 samples. Eight OTUs were related to 2 new undefined groups in the Thermoplasmatales. Of the 8 OTUs, the clones in 2 similar units were isolated from samples collected from an abandoned sulfide mine (Huelva, Spain) and those in 5 similar units were isolated from samples collected from a closed copper mine (Tonglushan, China). These diversities were characterized by the reciprocal of Simpson's index (1/D) and correlated with the concentrations of ferrous ions and toxic ions in the AMD samples. The high temperature of the sampling sites was one of the factors that could explain why archaea belonging to the Thermoplasmatales were abundant in the analyzed AMD samples while those belonging to the Sulfolobales were absent. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source]


    Mixed stream channel morphologies: implications for fish community diversity

    AQUATIC CONSERVATION: MARINE AND FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS, Issue 2 2009
    Christina M. Cianfrani
    Abstract 1.Stream classification systems are widely used in stream management and restoration. Whereas the principal morphological types of these classification systems are increasingly recognized for their ecological connections, the roles of intermediate and mixed morphologies are still poorly understood, yet may be biologically significant. 2.Twenty-five stream reaches in north-western Vermont were classified by channel morphology to determine whether fish community diversity differed among pool-riffle, mixed (i.e. pool-riffle/cascade, pool-riffle/other) and forced pool-riffle stream morphological groups. Stream reach surveys included cross-sectional surveys, longitudinal profiles, bed substrate characterization, and fish surveys. 3.Three fish community diversity measures were calculated: (1) species richness (S); (2) Shannon,Weaver Index (H,); and (3) Simpson's Index (1/D). Multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) followed by analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to explore potential differences in fish diversity among stream morphological groups. Fish diversity was significantly different for all three community diversity measures (P,0.05), with pool-riffle/cascade morphology consistently exhibiting the greatest fish diversity and forced pool-riffle the lowest. 4.These results suggest that fish community diversity is significantly associated with distinct channel morphologies. Generally, pool-riffle/cascade and pool-riffle/other stream morphological groups supported habitats that fostered greater species diversity than more homogeneous and uniform pool-riffle reaches. The observed patterns of diversity are likely to be the result of habitat patches created by variations in flow and other physical characteristics in reaches of mixed morphologies. 5.These results support fish sampling schemes that incorporate morphological heterogeneity, such as proportional-distance designation. Sampling strategies that focus on homogeneous reaches may underestimate diversity, and misrepresent stream condition when fish community data are used in indices of biological integrity (IBIs). Reaches of mixed stream morphologies should be recognized as areas of biological importance in stream and catchment management and in conservation efforts. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


    Diversity of Interactions: A Metric for Studies of Biodiversity

    BIOTROPICA, Issue 3 2010
    Lee A. Dyer
    ABSTRACT Multitrophic interactions play key roles in the origin and maintenance of species diversity, and the study of these interactions has contributed to important theoretical advances in ecology and evolutionary biology. Nevertheless, most biodiversity inventories focus on static species lists, and prominent theories of diversity still ignore trophic interactions. The lack of a simple interaction metric that is analogous to species richness is one reason why diversity of interactions is not examined as a response or predictor variable in diversity studies. Using plant,herbivore,enemy trophic chains as an example, we develop a simple metric of diversity in which richness, diversity indices (e.g., Simpson's 1/D), and rarefaction diversity are calculated with links as the basic unit rather than species. Interactions include all two-link (herbivore,plant and enemy,herbivore) and three-link (enemy,herbivore,plant) chains found in a study unit. This metric is different from other indices, such as traditional diversity measures, connectivity and interaction diversity in food-web studies, and the diversity of interaction index in behavioral studies, and it is easier to compute. Using this approach to studying diversity provides novel insight into debates about neutrality and correlations between diversity, stability, productivity, and ecosystem services. Abstract in Spanish is available at http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/loi/btp [source]


    Abstinence From Moderate Alcohol Self-Administration Alters Progenitor Cell Proliferation and Differentiation in Multiple Brain Regions of Male and Female P Rats

    ALCOHOLISM, Issue 1 2009
    Jun He
    Background:, Acute and chronic ethanol exposure has been found to decrease hippocampal neurogenesis, reduce dendritic differentiation of new neurons, and increase cell death. Interestingly, abstinence from such treatment increases hippocampal neurogenesis and microglial genesis across several brain regions. The goal of the current investigation was to study cellular alterations on neuro- and cell-genesis during abstinence following alcohol self-administration using alcohol-preferring rats (P rats). Methods:, Male and female P rats were given the choice of drinking 10% alcohol in water or pure water for 7 weeks. Social interaction behavioral assessments were conducted at 5 hours upon removal of alcohol, followed by bromo-deoxyuridine (BrdU, 150 mg/kg × 1/d × 14 d) injections to label proliferating cells. Animals were then killed 4 weeks later to conduct immunohistochemical and confocal analyses using antibodies against BrdU and other phenotypic markers (NeuN for mature neurons; Iba-1 for microglia; GFAP for astrocytes; and NG2 for oligodendrocyte progenitors). Results:, Mild alcohol withdrawal anxiety was detected by reduction in social interactions. The number of hippocampal BrdU+ cells was increased approximately 50% during alcohol abstinence (26 ± 2.8 in controls vs. 39 ± 4 in alcohol group). BrdU+ cells were also increased in the substantia nigra (SN) approximately 65% in the alcohol abstinent group (12 ± 1 in controls vs. 19 ± 1.5 in alcohol group). No gender differences were found. Confocal analyses indicated that approximately 75% of co-localization of BrdU+ cells with NeuN in the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) resulting a net increase in neurogenesis in the alcohol abstinent group compared to controls. In cingulum, greater proportion of BrdU+ cells were co-localized with NG2 in the alcohol abstinent group indicating increased differentiation toward oligodendrocyte progenitors in both genders. However, the phenotype of the BrdU+ cells in SN and other brain regions were not identified by NeuN, Iba-1, GFAP, or NG2 suggesting that these BrdU+ cells probably remain in a nondifferentiated stage. Conclusions:, These data indicate that abstinence from moderate alcohol drinking increases hippocampal neurogenesis, cingulate NG2 differentiation, and SN undifferentiated cell proliferation in both males and females. Such cellular alteration during abstinence could contribute to the spontaneous partial restoration of cognitive deficits upon sobriety. [source]


    The fractional congestion bound for efficient edge disjoint routing

    NETWORKS: AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL, Issue 3 2008
    Alok Baveja
    Abstract This article investigates the following problem: Given the fractional relaxation of the edge disjoint routing problem, how small a fractional congestion is sufficient to guarantee efficient edge disjoint routing? That is, what is the largest possible value v such that a fractional flow with congestion at most v, can be efficiently converted into an edge disjoint routing? Leighton, Lu, Rao, and Srinivasan (SIAM J Comput 2001) have established that fractional congestion of at most the order of O(1/(d log k)) is sufficient, where d is the maximum path length in the fractional relaxation, and k is the number of pairs to be routed. It is also known that ,(1/d) is the correct bound, if we are only interested in an existence result (Leighton, Rao, and Srinivasan, Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences, 1998). Motivated by the fact that d is small for many types of routing problems, specifically, polylogarithmic for expander graphs, this article improves upon the former result by showing O(1/(d log d)) fractional congestion to suffice. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. NETWORKS, 2008 [source]


    ,1A -Adrenoceptors predominate in the control of blood pressure in mouse mesenteric vascular bed

    AUTONOMIC & AUTACOID PHARMACOLOGY, Issue 3 2007
    S. G. Martínez-Salas
    Summary 1,The pressor action of the ,1A -adrenoceptor agonist, A61603 (N -[5-(4,5-dihydro-1H -imidazol-2-yl)-2-hydroxy-5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphthalen-1-yl] methanesulfonamide) or the ,1 -adrenoceptor agonist phenylephrine, and their blockade by selective ,1 -adrenoceptor antagonists in the mouse isolated mesenteric vascular bed were evaluated. 2,A61603 showed a , 235-fold higher potency in elevating perfusion pressure in mesenteric bed compared to phenylephrine. 3,The ,1A -adrenoceptor selective antagonist RS 100329 (5-methyl-3-[3-[4-[2-(2,2,2,-trifluoroethoxy) phenyl]-1-piperazinyl] propyl]-2,4-(1H)-pyrimidinedione), displaced with high affinity agonist concentration,response curves to the right in a concentration-dependent manner. 4,The ,1D -adrenoceptor selective antagonist BMY 7378 (8-[2-[4-(2-methoxyphenyl)-1-piperazinyl]ethyl]-8-azaspiro[4.5] decane-7,9-dione), did not displace A61603 nor did it block the phenylephrine-induced pressor response. 5,The ,1B/D -adrenoceptor alkylating antagonist chloroethylclonidine (CEC), caused a rightward shift of the phenylephrine concentration,response curve and reduced its maximum response; however, CEC only slightly modified A61603 evoked contraction. 6,The results indicate that the isolated mouse mesenteric vascular bed expresses ,1A -adrenoceptors and suggest a very discrete role for 1B -adrenoceptors. [source]


    Postjunctional ,1 -adrenoceptors in the vasculature of the pithed mouse are of the ,1A -subtype

    AUTONOMIC & AUTACOID PHARMACOLOGY, Issue 3 2005
    J. J. López-Guerrero
    Summary 1 The pressor action of noradrenaline and its blockade by selective ,1 -adrenoceptor antagonists in the pithed mouse were evaluated. 2 Chloroethylclonidine (,1B/D -adrenoceptor alkylating agent) or BMY 7378 (,1D -adrenoceptor antagonist), both at 1 mg kg,1, did not block the increase in blood pressure induced by noradrenaline. 3 5-Methylurapidil (,1A -adrenoceptor antagonist), at 0.1 mg kg,1, displaced the dose,response curve approximately six-fold to the right. 4 The results support the idea that the pithed mouse vasculature express ,1A -adrenoceptors and suggest that it is a good model to study the roles of ,1 -adrenoceptors in gene knockout or overexpression. [source]


    The Effect of Temperature on First Feeding, Growth, and Survival of Larval Witch Flounder Glyptocephalus cynoglossus

    JOURNAL OF THE WORLD AQUACULTURE SOCIETY, Issue 4 2001
    Deborah A. Bidwell
    Witch flounder Glyptocephalus cynoglossus has recently been identified as a candidate species for aquaculture in the northeastern United States and the Canadian Atlantic Provinces. This study investigated the optimal temperatures for witch flounder larval first feeding and for long term larval culture from hatching through metamorphosis. Maximum first feeding occurred between 15.0 and 16.2 C. Larvae did not survive beyond first feeding when reared at mean temperatures of 5.1, 10.4, or 19.5 C and were unable to initiate feeding at mean rearing temperatures below 6.0 C. At a rearing temperature of 15.0 C in 16-L tanks, mean larval survival to 60 days post hatch (dph) was 14.1%. Mean overall length-specific growth rate for larvae reared to 60 dph at 15.0 C was 3.5%/d and mean absolute growth was 0.62 mm/d. Subsequent larval growth at 15.6 C began to taper off towards 70 dph at the onset of weaning which overlapped with larval metamorphosis. Growth plateaued at 85 dph, followed by a rebound between 90 and 95 dph. Survival was 100% when weaning onto a dry, pelleted diet was initiated at 70 dph with a 10-d live diet co-feeding period. These results are favorable and encourage the further pursuit of commercial witch flounder culture. [source]


    Mortality of Northern Bluefin Tuna Thunnus thynnus Due to Trauma Caused by Collision During Growout Culture

    JOURNAL OF THE WORLD AQUACULTURE SOCIETY, Issue 4 2000
    Shigeru Miyashita
    Collisions with the walls of tanks or nets caused mass mortality that occurs during growout. The period when collisions frequently occur and the types of injury caused by collision were examined in this study. Juveniles were reared in indoor tanks from 30 to 120 d after hatching, and in an open sea net cage from 42 to 150 d after hatching. Dead fish were collected and counted daily in both of the experiments. In the indoor experiment, the sampled fish were preserved in 10% formalin solution, and each of 10 specimens of about 30, 50, 70, 85, 100, 130, 160 and 225 mm in body length (BL) were examined using x-rays to detect injury of the bones. Juvenile and young adult bluefin tuna showed a reduction in numbers caused by collision with the tank or the net wall during the experiments. In the indoor tank, there were 1,200 fish on day 30 but only eight on day 120. The daily mortality increased from day 30 after hatching, when juveniles reached 50-mm BL and remained over 4%/d until day 60 when juveniles grew to 300-mm BL. The proportion of dead fish with injuries of bone, especially of the vertebral column and the parasphenoid, increased after fish reached 50-mm BL, and exceeded 60% in fish with BL 85 mm or greater. In the open sea net cage, there were 3,841 fish at the start of the experiment on day 42 and only 65 on day 150. In this experiment, the reduction was greatest from the start of the experiment until day 80, when fish grew to approximately 25 cm in total length. Significant bacterial, viral or parasitic diseases were not observed in these fish; the only findings were dislocations of the vertebral column and injuries to the upper and lower jaws. These results show that the loss of juvenile and young adult bluefin tuna was caused by collision with the tank or net wall that fatally damaged the bones of the vertebral columns and the parasphenoid. [source]


    Slow desorption behavior of one highly resistant aromatic amine in Lake Macatawa, Michigan, USA, sediment

    ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 12 2005
    Shihua Chen
    Abstract The desorption behavior of benzidine from Lake Macatawa (Holland, MI, USA) sediment was investigated in this study using batch solvent extraction method. Seven solvents were tested as the extracting reagents: Deionized water (DI), calcium chloride in DI (CaCl2), sodium hydroxide in DI (NaOH), acetonitrile (ACN), a mixture of acetonitrile and ammonium acetate in DI (ACNNH4OAc), methanol (MeOH), and hydrochloric acid in DI (HCl). These solvents are proposed to react with sediment-associated benzidine by different mechanisms (e.g., cation exchange, hydrophobic partitioning, and covalent binding). Three sets of sorption isotherm experiments were conducted separately in these seven solvents with a 7-d, three-week, and two-month contact time. The results demonstrated nonlinear isotherms with Freundlich 1/n values varying from 0.25 to 0.52. The desorption behavior of benzidine in the solvents was evaluated after the sorption of benzidine onto the sediment with same contact times of 7 d, three weeks, and two months. A two-stage model subsequently was applied to simulate the experimental data. The rapidly desorbing rate constants were on the order of one to two per day for ACN, ACN-NH4OAc, and NaOH solvents, and the slowly desorbing rate constants were on the order of 10,5 to 10,4/d. Sequential desorption experiment demonstrated low total extraction efficiency of less than 40%. Both the observed sorption and desorption phenomena suggested that hysteresis and/or mass-transfer limited diffusion may result in the slow desorption behavior observed in this study. [source]


    Study of the Efficacy of Fluoxetine and Clomipramine in the Treatment of Premature Ejaculation after Opioid Detoxification

    THE AMERICAN JOURNAL ON ADDICTIONS, Issue 1 2006
    Ebrahim Abdollahian MD
    Premature ejaculation is a common symptom that can provoke relapse in formerly opioid-dependent men after detoxification. The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of clomipramine and fluoxetine for the treatment of premature ejaculation in formerly opioid-dependent men after detoxification. Sixty opium-detoxified men with A & B DSM,IV diagnostic criteria for premature ejaculation participated in a prospective two-week descriptive inferential clinical trial after a two-week washout period. The subjects did not consume any other medications but naltrexone for maintenance of an opium-free state. The subjects were randomly divided into two groups of thirty subjects, one group received fluoxetine (10 mg/d for the first and 20 mg/d for the second week), and the other received clomipramine (25 mg/d for the first and 50mg/d for the second week). Twenty five subjects did not continue the treatment and were lost to follow-up. The severity of the premature ejaculation was graded regarding the subjects' report in weeks 0, 1, and 2. Mann Whitney-U and Wilcoxon non-parametric tests were used for statistical analysis. Fluoxetine (10 mg/d then 20 mg/d) and clomipramine (25 mg/d then 50mg/d) were both effective in the treatment of premature ejaculation and did not show any difference in efficacy. The severity of premature ejaculation did not show any relation to the subjects' age, education level, opioid type, or route of abuse. Fluoxetine and clomipramine both can be equally used in the treatment of premature ejaculation following opioid detoxification, depending on their side effects and other symptoms in the subjects. [source]


    Treatment of Cocaine-Alcohol Dependence with Naltrexone and Relapse Prevention Therapy

    THE AMERICAN JOURNAL ON ADDICTIONS, Issue 4 2004
    Joy M. Schmitz Ph.D.
    This study evaluates whether patients with cocaine-alcohol dependence might benefit from naltrexone (NTX) pharmacotherapy when delivered in conjunction with psychotherapy. Eighty outpatients meeting DSM-IV criteria for alcohol and cocaine dependence were randomly assigned to receive NTX (placebo or 50mg/d) combined with psychotherapy (Relapse Prevention [RP] or Drug Counseling [DC]) for twelve weeks. It was hypothesized that the skills training focus of RP therapy, in combination with NTX 50 mg/d, would produce greater reductions in cocaine and alcohol use. Outcome measures included self- and objective reports of substance use, treatment retention, medication compliance, and adverse effects. During the first four weeks of treatment, the percentage of cocaine-positive urine screens was significantly lower for those receiving RP therapy (22%) than those receiving DC (47%); however, this difference subsequently diminished. No medication effects were found. All groups reported less alcohol use at the end of treatment. Treatment retention was the same among the groups, with about 33% of the subjects completing all twelve weeks of treatment. The active medication group showed better medication compliance, while the number of adverse events was low overall and not significantly different by group. In conclusion, NTX at 50 mg/d did not reduce cocaine or alcohol use. These findings stand in contrast to previously reported positive findings for NTX and RP in patients with a single diagnosis of cocaine dependence. [source]