We have studied the transport of acetate across the isolated epithelium of sheep omasum; no net transport was observed (J(ms) approximately = J(sm)) under Ussing chamber conditions. Low mucosal pH (pH 6.4) significantly enhanced J(ms) acetate and the transport rates of acetate increased linearly and significantly (r2=0.99) with the luminal acetate concentration. The presence of another short chain fatty acid (propionate) did not affect J(ms) acetate significantly. Neither addition of 1 mmol l(-1) DIDS to the mucosal side nor HCO3 replacement caused changes of J(ms) acetate; this does not support the assumption of acetate transport via anion exchange. Addition of 1 mmol l(-1) amiloride to the mucosal side significantly decreased acetate fluxes at high mucosal acetate concentration (100 mmol l(-1)) and low pH (6.4) indicating interaction between acetate uptake in the undissociated form, intracellular release of protons and activation of Na+/H+ exchange (NHE). However, the mutual interaction between Na transport via NHE and acetate transport is asymmetric. Stimulation or inhibition of Na transport via NHE is much more pronounced than the corresponding changes of acetate fluxes. Thus, the obtained results support the conclusion that acetate is transported via simple diffusion and probably predominantly in the protonated form, thereby explaining the positive and mutual interaction between Na transport and short chain fatty acids.

Purpose: Cervical traumas are frequent in emergency department and X-ray, CT, and MRI are the essential imaging modalities in the diagnosis. However, especially for pregnant and morbid obese patients and children, these techniques can be challenging. We tested the success of point-of-care ultrasound in the evaluation of cervical traumas. Methods: This is a case series of cervical vertebra imaging with ultrasound in emergency department. We used linear probe and placed it anterolaterally to the neck, parallel to cervical spine. Images were obtained by an ultrasound-certified emergency physician. The height of the anterior wall of vertebral body, irregularity in vertebral body, and intervertebral space were assessed. Results: We presented a case series of six patients. Ultrasound images of cervical vertebral bodies and intervertebral spaces were able to obtain for all the patients. Any pathology was not observed in ultrasound imaging. This finding was compatible with cervical X-ray and CT scans and all the patients were discharged. Conclusions: However, this is a case series report of minor cervical trauma, and we were able to obtain ultrasound images of cervical vertebra bodies with point-of-care ultrasound examination by an emergency physician. This technique can be important for the patients contraindicated to CT or MRI. Also, it can give additional information to X-ray and CT scans especially for soft tissues. A2 A new technique in verifying the placement of a nasogastric tube: obtaining the longitudinal view of nasogastric tube in addition to transverse view with ultrasound

Assessing the potential impact of development projects in the Sudan dates back to the study of the Equatorial Nile Project conducted in the last century during the Anglo-Egyptian Condominium. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) studies commenced in the early eighties of the last century with the establishment of the Institute of Environmental Studies in the University of Khartoum. The practice gathered momentum with the recent activities in the oil and roads sectors. Although the practice of (EIA) has only recently been legalized by the passing of the Environment Protection Act of 2001, the performance of EIA is often poor due to flaws in legislative, administrative, institutional and procedural frameworks. Effective implementation of the EIA process in the Sudan requires the institutionalization of the process within the legislative, administrative, political and education system in the country. Special emphasis is needed for the federal system of governance. Other issues include accreditation, sectoral regulations, establishing of a National Centre of EIA for advising the government and for training of human capacities. The paper calls for more involvement of stakeholders via effective popular participation in all steps of EIA. The expected influx of foreign investors following the Comprehensive Peace Accord of 2005 and the concentration of oil reserves in the ecologically rich and sensitive regions, call for an urgent improvement in the legislative, institutional and procedural aspects of the process.

Background Dehydration has deleterious effects in many species, but camels tolerate long periods of water deprivation without serious health compromise. The kidney plays crucial role in water conservation, however, some reports point to elevated kidney function tests in dehydrated camels. In this work, we investigated the effects of dehydration and rehydration on kidney cortex and medulla with respect to pro-inflammatory markers, oxidative stress and apoptosis along with corresponding gene expression. Results The cytokines IL-1β and IL-18 levels were significantly elevated in the kidney cortex of dehydrated camel, possibly expressed by tubular epithelium, podocytes and/or mesangial cells. Elevation of IL-18 persisted after rehydration. Dehydration induced oxidative stress in kidney cortex evident by significant increases in MDA and GSH, but significant decreases in SOD and CAT. In the medulla, CAT decreased significantly, but MDA, GSH and SOD levels were not affected. Rehydration abolished the oxidative stress. In parallel with the increased levels of MDA, we observed increased levels of PTGS1 mRNA, in MDA synthesis pathway. GCLC mRNA expression level, involved in GSH synthesis, was upregulated in kidney cortex by rehydration. However, both SOD1 and SOD3 mRNA levels dropped, in parallel with SOD activity, in the cortex by dehydration. There were significant increases in caspases 3 and 9, p53 and PARP1, indicating apoptosis was triggered by intrinsic pathway. Expression of BCL2l1 mRNA levels, encoding for BCL-xL, was down regulated by dehydration in cortex. CASP3 expression level increased significantly in medulla by dehydration and continued after rehydration whereas TP53 expression increased in cortex by rehydration. Changes in caspase 8 and TNF-α were negligible to instigate extrinsic apoptotic trail. Generally, apoptotic markers were extremely variable after rehydration indicating that animals did not fully recover within three days. Conclusions Dehydration causes oxidative stress in kidney cortex and apoptosis in cortex and medulla. Kidney cortex and medulla were not homogeneous in all parameters investigated indicating different response to dehydration/rehydration. Some changes in tested parameters directly correlate with alteration in steady-state mRNA levels.

With 6 figures in the text)Two lakes lie in a caldera at the top of Jebel Marra. One is shallow and highly saline, with a dense bloom of planktonic blue-green algae and a zooplankton consistingentirely of rotifers.The other is over 100 metres deep, is less saline, with a sparse phytoplankton of diatoms, and the dominant zooplankter is Eucyclops gibsoni. The marginal fauna of the deep lake includes a number of widespread insects, but is unusual in that it includes an aquatic glowworm (Family Lampyridae).In the shallow lake there is a superabundance of oxygen in the upper two metres, but no oxygen below six metres, except when strong winds mix the lake so that there is then about 40% saturation throughout the water column. In the deep lake it was found that after strong winds there was only about 12% saturation in the top 30 metres of water. The restricted fauna of these lakes appears to be a result of the combined effects of isolation, salinity and a variable oxygen regime.