Role of chemical components of cork on sorption of aqueous polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

In order to know the environmental behaviour of toxic pollutants it is fundamental to understand the role of chemical components of a material on sorption of such pollutants. In this study, the sorption of a mix of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons [PAHs] by cork fractions [i.e. raw cork [CF], free extractive cork [FEF] and nonsaponifiable [DESF]] has been investigated to better understand the role of biopolymers and extractable fraction of cork on their sorption behaviour. All samples were analyzed through elemental analysis and were examined using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. After removing the extractable fraction and the suberin from the cork, the sorption capacities [K[oc]] of FEF and DESF exhibited mean reductions of 70% and 30% respectively. In addition, the sorption results of three pairs of cork samples with different chemical content confirm that the extractable fraction serves as the major sorption medium for PAHs. Considering only low molecular weight PAHs positive correlations between K[oc] with K[ow] [R[2]=0.70] and F number [R[2]=0.65] were found, showing that these parameters are involved in this adsorption process

Esterilidad primaria y embarazo cervical. A propósito de un caso / Primary sterility and cervical pregnancy. A case report

Fortunately cervical pregnancy, an ectopic gestation that frequently represents obstetric urgency, is a rare entity. We present here the case of a woman who developed cervical pregnancy despite no risk factor associated with ectopic pregnancy was identified. The patient came to the office because of primary sterility of 4 years of evolution. Among her background she reported previous cervical surgery due to benign pathology. She reached pregnancy after medical and surgical treatment. In the week eleven of gestation, the patient presented to the hospital with clinical symptoms of abortion. An ultrasound revealed abdominal pregnancy. Laparotomy was "white", cervix was found enlarged with the external orifice closed, suggesting cervical pregnancy. Conservative treatment consisted in cervical evacuation, endometrial curettage and vaginal tampon. She evolved satisfactorily. We do not know about any previous report of cervical-pregnancy associated with cervical surgery and sterility. We also recognize the need to increase the number of similar cases to generalize results. Thus, it is important to highlight in this case the absence of known risk factors for cervical pregnancy and the background of cervical surgery and sterility. Therefore, we recommend to search for antecedents of cervical surgery and sterility when cervical pregnancy is suspected.