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J Scullion

Publications and source records attributed to J Scullion.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

Plant accumulation of potentially toxic elements in sewage sludge as affected by soil organic matter level and mycorrhizal fungi.

Leek (Allium ameloprasum) was grown in pot trials in two clay loams of contrasting organic contents, with and without indigenous mycorrhizal propagules. Sewage sludges containing varying levels of Cd, Cu and Zn were added. Extractable soil metals, plant growth, major nutrient content and accumulation of metals, and soil microbial indices were investigated. The aim was to establish whether soil organic content and mycorrhizal status affected plant and microbial exposure to these metals. Extractable metals were higher and responses to inputs more pronounced in the arable, lower organic matter soil, although only Cd showed a soil difference in the CaCl2 fraction. There were no metal toxic effects on plants and some evidence to suggest that they promoted growth. Uptake of each metal was higher in the larger plants of the grassland, higher organic matter soil. Inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi increased root Cd and Zn concentrations. With the exception of Cd (roots) and Zn (shoots), higher inputs of sludge metals did not increase plant metals. Zn and Cu, but not Cd, concentrations were higher in roots than in shoots.

Allium↗
PubMed2000

Effect of soil on microbial responses to metal contamination.

An experiment was conducted to investigate microbial responses to metal inputs in five soils with varying clay and organic contents; one soil had also a higher pH. These soils were treated with a low metal, sewage sludge control or with this sludge contaminated to achieve Cu=112, Ni=58 and Zn=220 mg kg(-1) in medium and Cu=182, Ni=98 and Zn=325 mg kg(-1) in high metal soils. CO(2) evolution rates were measured at 1 week and at 4-5-day intervals thereafter until the end of the incubation (7 weeks). Extractable metals (CaCl(2) and water), biomass C, metabolic quotient, ergosterol, bacterial-fungal phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA-3 weeks only) ratio and mineral N were measured at 3 and 7 weeks. Metal inputs caused a marked increase in metal availability in the slightly acidic sandy loams, a smaller increase in slightly acidic clays and had little effect in the alkaline loam. After an initial increase in CO(2) evolution with metal inputs in all soils, the high metal treatment alone caused a significant decrease at later stages, mainly in sandy loams. Although biomass C and metabolic quotient decreased in all soils with higher metal inputs, the effect was more pronounced in the sandy loams. Metal inputs increased ergosterol and decreased bacterial-fungal PLFA ratios in most soils. Larger mineral N contents were found in all high metal soils at 3 weeks but, after 7 weeks, metals caused a significant decrease in sandy loams. CaCl(2) and water-extractable Cu, Ni and Zn contents were closely correlated with microbial indices in sandy loam but not in clay soils. Overall, the effect of treatments on microbial and extractable metal indices was greater in loams. Within a single series, higher organic soils showed less pronounced responses to metal inputs, although this trend was not always consistent.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1999

As-required versus regular nebulized salbutamol for the treatment of acute severe asthma.

Current British guidelines for the administration of beta2-agonists in acute severe asthma recommend regular nebulized therapy in hospitalized patients, followed by as-required (p.r.n.) use via hand-held devices after discharge. Since beta2-agonists do not possess anti-inflammatory activity in vivo, and are thus unlikely to influence the rate of recovery from an asthma exacerbation, it was hypothesized that patients given the short-acting beta2-agonist salbutamol on an as-required basis after admission to hospital would recover as quickly as those on regular treatment, but with potential reductions in the total dose delivered. Forty-six patients with acute severe asthma were randomly assigned to either regular prescriptions of nebulized salbutamol or to usage on a p.r.n. basis, from 24 h after hospital admission. The primary outcome measures were length of hospital stay, time to recovery, and frequency of salbutamol nebulization from 24 h after admission to discharge. Secondary outcome measures were treatment side-effects (tremor, palpitations), and patient satisfaction. Length of hospital stay was reduced in those patients allocated to p.r.n. salbutamol (geometric mean (GM) 3.7 days) versus regular salbutamol (GM 4.7 days). Time taken for peak expiratory flow to reach 75% of recent best was the same in both groups. There was a highly significant reduction in the number of times nebulized therapy was delivered to the p.r.n. group (GM 7.0, range 1-30) compared with the regular treatment group (GM 14.0, range 4-57; p=0.003; 95% confidence interval for ratio of GMs 1.29-3.09). In addition, patients reported less tremor (p=0.062) and fewer palpitations (p=0.049) in the p.r.n. group. Of the patients in the p.r.n. group who had received regular nebulized therapy on previous admissions (n=12), all preferred the p.r.n. regimen. Prescribing beta2-agonists on a p.r.n. basis from 24 h after hospital admission is associated with reduced amount of drug delivered, incidence of side-effects, and possibly length of hospital stay. This has implications for the efficient use of healthcare resources.

Acute Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A surgical approach for patients with endstage emphysema.

For patients with emphysema who experience deteriorating lung function and concomitant comorbidity, there has been little to offer apart from best supportive care and more recently pulmonary rehabilitation. The early promise of lung transplantation for these patients has failed to materialize--a shortage of donors has meant that younger patients are more likely to receive donor lungs. A renewed interest in lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) appears to offer hope for selected patients. This article looks at the history of LVRS and illustrates its benefits with a case study. However, if LVRS is a clinically significant approach to the treatment of emphysemic patients, then it requires careful clinical trials so that its benefits and costs can be fully evaluated.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

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Attitude of Health Personnel↗