One of the major problems in the lower Jordan Valley is the increasing salinization (i.e., chloride content) of local ground water. The high levels of salinity limit the utilization of ground water for both domestic and agriculture applications. This joint collaborative study evaluates the sources and mechanisms for salinization in the Jericho area. We employ diagnostic geochemical fingerprinting methods to trace the potential sources of the salinity in (1) the deep confined subaquifer system (K2) of Lower Cenomanian age; (2) the upper subaquifer system (K1) of Upper Cenomanian and Turonian ages; and (3) the shallow aquifer system (Q) of Plio-Pleistocene ages. The chemical composition of the saline ground water from the two Cenomanian subaquifers (K1 and K2) point to a single saline source with Na/Cl approximately 0.5 and Br/Cl approximately 7 x 10(-3). This composition is similar to that of thermal hypersaline spring that are found along the western shore of the Dead Sea (e.g., En Gedi thermal spring). We suggest that the increasing salinity in both K1 and K2 subaquifers is derived from mixing with deep-seated brines that flow through the Rift fault system. The salinization rate depends on the discharge volume of the fresh meteoric water in the Cenomanian Aquifer. In contrast, the chemical composition of ground water from the Plio-Pleistocene Aquifer shows a wide range of Cl- (100-2000 mg/L), Na/Cl (0.4-1.0), Br/Cl (2-6 x 10(-3)), and SO4/Cl (0.01-0.4) ratios. These variations, together with the high SO4(2-), K+, and NO3- concentrations, suggest that the salinity in the shallow aquifer is derived from the combination of (1) upconing of deep brines as reflected by low Na/Cl and high Br/Cl ratios; (2) leaching of salts from the Lisan Formation within the Plio-Pleistocene Aquifer, as suggested by the high SO4(2-) concentrations; and (3) anthropogenic contamination of agriculture return flow and sewage effluents with distinctive high K+ (80 mg/L) and NO3- (80 mg/l) contents and low Br/Cl ratios (2 x 10(-3)). Our data demonstrates that the chemical composition of salinized ground water can be used to delineate the sources of salinity and hence to establish the conceptual model for explaining salinization processes.

Bicarbonates↗

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Current trends in the integration and reimbursement of complementary and alternative medicine by managed care, insurance carriers, and hospital providers.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the status of managed care and insurance coverage of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and the integration of such services offered by hospitals. METHODS: A literature review and information search was conducted to determine which insurers had special policies for CAM and which hospitals were offering CAM. Telephone interviews were conducted with a definitive sample of 18 insurers and a representative subsample of seven hospitals. RESULTS: A majority of the insurers interviewed offered some coverage for the following: nutrition counseling, biofeedback, psychotherapy, acupuncture, preventive medicine, chiropractic, osteopathy, and physical therapy. Twelve insurers said that market demand was their primary motivation for covering CAM. Factors determining whether insurers would offer coverage for additional therapies included potential cost-effectiveness based on consumer interest, demonstrable clinical efficacy, and state mandates. Some hospitals are also responding to consumer interest in CAM, although hospitals can only offer CAM therapies for which local, licensed practitioners are available. Among the most common obstacles listed to incorporating CAM into mainstream health care were lack of research on efficacy, economics, ignorance about CAM, provider competition and division, and lack of standards of practice. CONCLUSIONS: Consumer demand for CAM is motivating more insurers and hospitals to assess the benefits of incorporating CAM. Outcomes studies for both allopathic and CAM therapies are needed to help create a health care system based upon treatments that work, whether they are mainstream, complementary, or alternative.

Complementary Therapies↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Destructive spondylarthropathy with amyloid deposits in 3 patients on chronic hemodialysis].

Destructive spondyloarthropathy is a recently described complication of chronic hemodialysis. Three patients presenting spondyloarthropathy with destructive discovertebral lesions of the cervical or lumbar sections of the spine underwent surgery due to neurologic complications: persistent radiculalgia (two cases), regressive tetraparesis (one case). Discal lesions were associated with dislocation of the posterior intervertebral articulations and slipping of vertebrae. These patients had been receiving chronic hemodialysis for more than ten years; two presented hyperparathyroidism and blood aluminum was markedly increased in all cases. Two patients had undergone surgery for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome. Anatomopathological examination of surgical specimens demonstrated the presence of amyloid deposits in the intervertebral disc. This suggests that amyloidosis, which is frequently seen with carpal tunnel syndrome in patients receiving prolonged hemodialysis, also plays a role in the development of spondyloarthropathy.

Amyloidosis↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Research on various sulfonacyl-hydrazine and sulfonhydrazine derivatives].

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Long-term effects of a combination of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol and 1-alpha-hydroxycholecalciferol on osteodystrophy in chronic hemodialysis patients].

vitamin compounds to the basic dialytic treatment of renal osteodystrophy is of contestable interest. Because 1) optimum conditions of dialysis without D vitamin addition prevent efficiently the progress of severe gyperparathyroidism and osteomalacia 2) the D vitamin compunds could render the phosphatemia control more difficult thus contributing to aggravate the histologic lesions of hyperparathyroidism.

Adult↗