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Each of 4 male alcoholic subjects received 0.7 mg/kg calcium carbimide (CC) orally 12 hr before ingestion of 0.25 gm/kg ethanol on 3 separate occasions. The CC-ethanol interaction consisted of increased blood acetaldehyde level and elevated heart rate. For each individual there was small variability in the area under the curve (AUC) values of the blood ethanol level--time course profiles for the 3 experiments, indicating a consistent extent of ethanol absorption. For subjects 1, 2, and 3 there was appreciable intraindividual variability in the AUC and the peak blood acetaldehyde levels of the blood acetaldehyde level--time course curves; the variation in these parameters was small for subjects 4. The intraindividual variability in the peak heart rate response was small for subjects 1 and 2 and appreciable for subjects 3 and 4. Regression analysis of the blood acetaldehyde level--heart rate data for each of the 3 experiments conducted on the 4 subjects revealed that there were positive, linear correlations. There was appreciable intraindividual variability in the slope values for the 3 experiments. The results of this study, conducted on 4 male alcoholics, suggest that for other alcoholic subjects there could be appreciable intraindividual variability in the intensity of the CC-ethanol interaction.

Abstract. Regional land carbon budgets provide insights on the spatial distribution of the land uptake of atmospheric carbon dioxide, and can be used to evaluate carbon cycle models and to define baselines for land-based additional mitigation efforts. The scientific community has been involved in providing observation-based estimates of regional carbon budgets either by downscaling atmospheric CO2 observations into surface fluxes with atmospheric inversions, by using inventories of carbon stock changes in terrestrial ecosystems, by upscaling local field observations such as flux towers with gridded climate and remote sensing fields or by integrating data-driven or process-oriented terrestrial carbon cycle models. The first coordinated attempt to collect regional carbon budgets for nine regions covering the entire globe in the RECCAP-1 project has delivered estimates for the decade 2000–2009, but these budgets were not comparable between regions, due to different definitions and component fluxes reported or omitted. The recent recognition of lateral fluxes of carbon by human activities and rivers, that connect CO2 uptake in one area with its release in another also requires better definition and protocols to reach harmonized regional budgets that can be summed up to the globe and compared with the atmospheric CO2 growth rate and inversion results. In this study, for the international initiative RECCAP-2 coordinated by the Global Carbon Project, which aims as an update of regional carbon budgets over the last two decades based on observations, for 10 regions covering the globe, with a better harmonization that the precursor project, we provide recommendations for using atmospheric inversions results to match bottom-up carbon accounting and models, and we define the different component fluxes of the net land atmosphere carbon exchange that should be reported by each research group in charge of each region. Special attention is given to lateral fluxes, inland water fluxes and land use fluxes.

As atmospheric levels of CO(2) increase, reef-building corals are under greater stress from both increased sea surface temperatures and declining sea water pH. To date, most studies have focused on either coral bleaching due to warming oceans or declining calcification due to decreasing oceanic carbonate ion concentrations. Here, through the use of physiology measurements and cDNA microarrays, we show that changes in pH and ocean chemistry consistent with two scenarios put forward by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) drive major changes in gene expression, respiration, photosynthesis and symbiosis of the coral, Acropora millepora, before affects on biomineralisation are apparent at the phenotype level. Under high CO(2) conditions corals at the phenotype level lost over half their Symbiodinium populations, and had a decrease in both photosynthesis and respiration. Changes in gene expression were consistent with metabolic suppression, an increase in oxidative stress, apoptosis and symbiont loss. Other expression patterns demonstrate upregulation of membrane transporters, as well as the regulation of genes involved in membrane cytoskeletal interactions and cytoskeletal remodeling. These widespread changes in gene expression emphasize the need to expand future studies of ocean acidification to include a wider spectrum of cellular processes, many of which may occur before impacts on calcification.

Aims The aim of this study was to determine whether the sequential application of povidone iodine-alcohol (PVI) followed by chlorhexidine gluconate-alcohol (CHG) would reduce surgical wound contamination to a greater extent than PVI applied twice in patients undergoing spinal surgery. Patients and Methods A single-centre, interventional, two arm, parallel group randomised controlled trial was undertaken, involving 407 patients who underwent elective spinal surgery. For 203 patients, the skin was disinfected before surgery using PVI (10% [w/w (1% w/w available iodine)] in 95% industrial denatured alcohol, povidone iodine; Videne Alcoholic Tincture) twice, and for 204 patients using PVI once followed by CHG (2% [w/v] chlorhexidine gluconate in 70% [v/v] isopropyl alcohol; Chloraprep with tint). The primary outcome measure was contamination of the wound determined by aerobic and anaerobic bacterial growth from samples taken after disinfection. Results The detection of viable bacteria in any one of the samples taken after disinfection (culture-positive) was significantly lower in the group treated with both PVI and CHG than in the group treated with PVI alone (59 (29.1%) versus 85 (41.7%), p = 0.009; odds ratio 0.574; 95% confidence interval, 0.380 to 0.866). Conclusions Antisepsis of the skin with the sequential application of PVI and CHG more effectively reduces the contamination of a surgical wound than PVI alone. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2017;99-B:1354–65.

Background and purpose:The contribution of endothelin‐1 (ET‐1) to vascular hyper‐reactivity associated with chronic ethanol intake, a major risk factor in several cardiovascular diseases, remains to be investigated.Experimental approach:The biphasic haemodynamic responses to ET‐1 (0.01–0.1 nmol kg−1, i.v.) or to the selective ETB agonist, IRL1620 (0.001–1.0 nmol kg−1, i.v.), with or without ETA or ETB antagonists (BQ123 (c(DTrp‐Dasp‐Pro‐Dval‐Leu)) at 1 and 2.5 mg kg−1 and BQ788 (N‐cis‐2,6‐dimethyl‐piperidinocarbonyl‐L‐γ‐methylleucyl1‐D‐1methoxycarbonyltryptophanyl‐D‐norleucine) at 0.25 mg kg−1, respectively) were tested in anaesthetized rats, after 2 weeks' chronic ethanol treatment. Hepatic parameters and ET receptor protein levels were also determined.Key results:The initial hypotensive responses to ET‐1 or IRL1620 were unaffected by chronic ethanol intake, whereas the subsequent pressor effects induced by ET‐1, but not by IRL1620, were potentiated. BQ123 at 2.5 but not 1 mg kg−1 reduced the pressor responses to ET‐1 in ethanol‐treated rats. Conversely, BQ788 (0.25 mg kg−1) potentiated ET‐1‐induced increases in mean arterial blood pressure in control as well as in ethanol‐treated rats. Interestingly, in the latter group, increases in heart rate, induced by ET‐1 at a dose of 0.025 mg kg−1 were enhanced following ETB receptor blockade. Finally, we observed higher levels of ETA receptor in the heart and mesenteric artery and a reduction of ETB receptor protein levels in the aorta and kidney from rats chronically treated with ethanol.Conclusions and implications:Increased vascular reactivity to ET‐1 and altered protein levels of ETA and ETB receptors could play a role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular complications associated with chronic ethanol consumption.British Journal of Pharmacology (2008) 154, 971–981; doi:10.1038/bjp.2008.157; published online 12 May 2008

The fast decay in PEM fuel cells of a highly active, high performance, but unstable Fe/N/C catalyst like our NC_Ar + NH3 follows a chemical, not an electrochemical, demetallation mechanism for its ORR active FeN4 sites in the catalyst micropores.

Anaphylactic reactions to ethanol are rare with only seven cases reported in the literature. All previous cases have occurred following ingestion of alcoholic beverages or food to which an alcoholic beverage has been added. To date there are no cases in the literature of ethanol-induced anaphylaxis caused by the accumulation of endogenous ethanol in overripe fruit.We report a patient with ethanol-induced anaphylaxis who developed anaphylaxis following ingestion of overripe, but not fresh rock melon (Cucumis melo). The patient is a 24-year-old, previously well woman who experienced five episodes of acute anaphylaxis following ingestion of various alcoholic beverages and, on one occasion, following ingestion of overripe rock melon to which no ethanol was added. Ethanol-induced anaphylaxis was confirmed on blinded challenge; however, challenge with freshly prepared rock melon was negative. The patient declined further challenges.Ingestion of overripe fruits may cause anaphylaxis in patients with ethanol-induced anaphylaxis. These patients should therefore, be advised to avoid ingestion of overripe fruits.