...Aldosterone: Role in Edematous Disorders, Hypertension, Chronic Renal Failure, and Metabolic Syndrome. Schrier RW, Masoumi A, Elhassan E. University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, Colorado. Abstract The role of aldosterone has expanded from the hormone's genomic effects that involve renal sodium transport to nongenomic effects that are independent of the effect of aldosterone on sodium transport. The nongenomic effects of aldosterone to increase fibrosis, collagen deposition, inflammation, and remodeling of the heart and blood vessels, however, are markedly increased in the presence of high sodium intake. The genomic effect of aldosterone increases renal sodium transport, but the administration of large doses of aldosterone to normal individuals does not cause edema, relating to the phenomenon of "aldosterone escape"; however, in edematous disorders including cardiac failure, cirrhosis, and nephrotic syndrome, impaired aldosterone escape leads to renal sodium retention and edema formation. There is now considerable evidence for the nongenomic effects of aldosterone in several important diseases. Thus, low dosages of mineralocorticoid antagonists, with little or no effect on urinary sodium excretion, have been shown to afford a beneficial effect on morbidity and mortality in patients with advanced cardiac failure and after acute myocardial infarction. Three-drug-resistant hypertension has also been found to respond to spironolactone in modest dosages. The combination of an...
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...Bad Bug Book Handbook of Foodborne Pathogenic Microorganisms and Natural Toxins Introduction Food safety is a complex issue that has an impact on all segments of society, from the general public to government, industry, and academia. The second edition of the Bad Bug Book, published by the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, provides current information about the major known agents that cause foodborne illness. The information provided in this handbook is abbreviated and general in nature, and is intended for practical use. It is not intended to be a comprehensive scientific or clinical reference. Under the laws administered by FDA, a food is adulterated if it contains (1) a poisonous or otherwise harmful substance that is not an inherent natural constituent of the food itself, in an amount that poses a reasonable possibility of injury to health, or (2) a substance that is an inherent natural constituent of the food itself; is not the result of environmental, agricultural, industrial, or other contamination; and is present in an amount that ordinarily renders the food injurious to health. The first includes, for example, a toxin produced by a fungus that has contaminated a food, or a pathogenic bacterium or virus, if the amount present in the food may be injurious to health. An example of the second...
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...A Review of Literature Related to Oil Spill Dispersants 1997-2008 for Prince William Sound Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council (PWSRCAC) Anchorage, Alaska by Merv Fingas Spill Science Edmonton, Alberta PWSRCAC Contract Number - 955.08.03 Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this PWSRCAC-commissioned report are not necessarily those of PWSRCAC September, 2008 ii Abstract This report is a review of the literature on oil spill dispersants published from 1997 to August, 2008. The report identifies and focusses on recent advances in dispersant effectiveness, toxicity, and biodegradation. Other topics such as application, use, behaviour and fate are also covered. The prime motivation for using dispersants is to reduce the impact of oil on shorelines, thus the application must be successful and effectiveness high. As some oil would come ashore, discussion remains on what effectiveness is required to significantly reduce the shoreline impact. A major issue is the actual effectiveness during spills so that these values can be used in estimates for the future. The second motivation for using dispersants is to reduce the impact on birds and mammals on the water surface. The benefits of using dispersants to reduce impacts on wildlife still remain unknown. The third motivation for using dispersants is to promote the biodegradation of oil in the water column. The effect of dispersants on biodegradation is still a matter of dispute. Some papers state that dispersants inhibit...
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