Geomorphic and geologic controls of geohazards induced by Nepal's 2015 Gorkha earthquake

The Gorkha earthquake (magnitude 7.8) on 25 April 2015 and later aftershocks struck South Asia, killing ~9000 people and damaging a large region. Supported by a large campaign of responsive satellite data acquisitions over the earthquake disaster zone, our team undertook a satellite image survey of the earthquakes' induced geohazards in Nepal and China and an assessment of the geomorphic, tectonic, and lithologic controls on quake-induced landslides. Timely analysis and communication aided response and recovery and informed decision-makers. We mapped 4312 coseismic and postseismic landslides. We also surveyed 491 glacier lakes for earthquake damage but found only nine landslide-impacted lakes and no visible satellite evidence of outbursts. Landslide densities correlate with slope, peak ground acceleration, surface downdrop, and specific metamorphic lithologies and large plutonic intrusions.

A kinetic microassay for glutathione in cells plated on 96-well microtiter plates

We describe a modified enzymatic, kinetic, glutathione microassay based on the original macroassay described by Tietze and modified by Anderson. It is coupled with the Triton X-100 lysis and an acid extraction that can be performed in 96-well microtiter plates. The microassay can be read in a microplate reader equipped with a standard 405 nm filter. Intracellular glutathione levels are not significantly different when comparing the proposed Triton X-100 lysis and acid extraction method from those found with the cellular homogenization and acid extraction method typically employed. By combining a rapid sample extraction method, which can be done on the microtiter plate, with an assay based on the technology of a microplate reader, we have devised a rapid, reproducible, inexpensive and easy to use GSH microassay that can process several hundred samples daily and will be useful in studies where many replicate samples are required. We have successfully used this method to monitor glutathione status in a human cell line exposed to organochlorine pesticides and cells exposed to naturally occurring mixtures of metals extracted from aquatic sediments.

Survival of patients undergoing Nd:YAG laser therapy compared with Nd:YAG laser therapy and brachytherapy for malignant airway disease

Brachytherapy in combination with Nd:YAG laser therapy may add to the duration of survival of the palliative period when compared with laser alone. A retrospective study of patients with inoperable squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) was undertaken to determine if there was a difference in survival between those patients treated with Nd:YAG laser alone and those treated with Nd:YAG laser and brachytherapy. Twenty-two patients were treated with brachytherapy for malignant airway disease at our institution of which 13 had SCC. All patients had previously received treatment with Nd:YAG laser for exophytic disease. Survival was compared with those patients treated with Nd:YAG laser alone for SCC involving the airway. There was no statistical difference between the two groups with regard to age. The duration of survival of patients with SCC of the airway from the first Nd:YAG laser treatment was determined. A significant difference between those patients treated with Nd:YAG laser alone and those patients treated with combined therapy was found (p < 0.001). Brachytherapy may potentiate the duration of survival in patients with SCC involving the airway compared to palliation with Nd:YAG laser alone.

Acute postdisaster psychiatric disorders: identification of persons at risk

This study examined the prevalence of four psychiatric disorders--posttraumatic stress disorder, major depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and alcohol abuse/dependence--in survivors of a jet plane crash into a hotel. Forty-six subjects were interviewed with the Diagnostic Interview Schedule/Disaster Supplement within 4-6 weeks of the event. More than half of the subjects met criteria for a psychiatric disorder after the disaster. More than two-thirds of the cases of acute postdisaster psychiatric disorders were predicted by identifying the subjects who had predisaster psychiatric histories. Predisaster psychiatric disorder predicted postdisaster psychopathology with a sensitivity of 72% and a specificity of 90%.

Acute Quadriplegia Following the Use of Progressive Resistance Exercise Machinery

In brief: This case report describes a 26-year-old female fitness instructor in excellent health who suffered the acute onset of permanent quadriplegia only a few minutes after using progressive resistance exercise devices. She began her workday as she usually did-with a light workout of low-resistance exercise that lasted about 20 minutes. The onset of quadriplegia may have been a tragic coincidence or may have been related to her workout in a way that remains unexplained. Several possible causes of her condition, which was diagnosed as spinal apoplexy of an unknown cause, are discussed.