Suspect Screening of Chemicals in Hospital Wastewaters Using Effect-Directed Analysis Approach as Prioritization Strategy.

The increasing number of contaminants in the environment has pushed water monitoring programs to find out the most hazardous known and unknown chemicals in the environment. Sample treatment-simplification methods and non-target screening approaches can help researchers to not overlook potential chemicals present in complex aqueous samples. In this work, an effect-directed analysis (EDA) protocol using the sea urchin embryo test (SET) as a toxicological in vivo bioassay was used as simplified strategy to identify potential unknown chemicals present in a very complex aqueous matrix such as hospital effluent. The SET bioassay was used for the first time here to evaluate potential toxic fractions in hospital effluent, which were obtained after a two-step fractionation using C18 and aminopropyl chromatographic semi-preparative columns. The unknown compounds present in the toxic fractions were identified by means of liquid chromatography coupled to a Q Exactive Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometer (LC-HRMS) and using a suspect analysis approach. The results were complemented by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis (GC-MS) in order to identify the widest range of chemical compounds present in the sample and the toxic fractions. Using EDA as sample treatment simplification method, the number of unknown chemicals (>446 features) detected in the raw sample was narrowed down to 94 potential toxic candidates identified in the significantly toxic fractions. Among them, the presence of 25 compounds was confirmed with available chemical standards including 14 pharmaceuticals, a personal care product, six pesticides and four industrial products. The observations found in this work emphasize the difficulties in identifying potential toxicity drivers in complex water samples, as in the case of hospital wastewater.

Acute toxicity of bioplastic leachates to Paracentrotus lividus sea urchin larvae.

In an attempt to ensure that bioplastics, progressively replacing petrochemical-derived plastics, do not release any harmful compound to the environment, the study assessed the toxic effects of three innovative bioplastic products: polyhydroxybutyrate resin (PHB), polylactic acid cups (PLA) and a polylactic acid/polyhydroxyalkanoate 3D printing filament (PLA/PHA), together with a synthetic polyvinyl chloride (PVC) toy in Paracentrotus lividus sea urchin larvae. PVC toy was the most toxic material, likely due to the added plasticizers; remarkably, even if PHB is conceived as a nontoxic polymer, it showed a slight toxicity and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectometry analysis (GC-MS) revealed the presence of a wide range of additives. Conversely, PLA cups and PLA/PHA filament were innocuous for the larvae, a positive outcome for these renewable solutions. Proven that additives are also used in some bioplastic formulations, they should be carefully addressed to ensure that they are as safe as regarded.

Síndrome de Lady Windermere en Castilla y León / Lady Windermere syndrome in Castile and León

INTRODUCCIÓN: El síndrome de Lady Windermere (SLW) es una patología pulmonar causada por Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC). El objetivo es conocer su frecuencia y sus características en el área norte de la comunidad de Castilla y León. MÉTODOS: Estudio retrospectivo de pacientes con aislamientos de MAC en muestras respiratorias de cinco hospitales públicos de la comunidad a lo largo de seis años, siguiendo criterios de la ATS/IDSA. Las cepas de MAC se identificaron por sondas de hibridación inversa Genotype Mycobacterium o PCR-RFLP del gen hsp65. RESULTADOS: De 183 casos de MAC identificados, únicamente 5 (2,7%) mujeres de 68,8 ± 10,7 años cumplían criterios de SLW. En tres casos se aisló MAC conjunta e intermitentemente con otros patógenos. Solo un paciente se trató siguiendo criterios de la ATS/IDSA. DISCUSIÓN: El SLW permanece infraestimado, y al ser los afectados muy demandantes de recursos sanitarios durante largos periodos, es necesario un mayor conocimiento microbiológico y terapéutico

INTRODUCTION: Lady Windermere syndrome (LWS) is a pulmonary disease caused by Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC). The objective of this study is to ascertain its frequency and characteristics in the northern area of the autonomous community of Castile and León. METHODS: A retrospective study of patients with MAC isolates in respiratory samples from five public hospitals in the autonomous community over a six-year period, following the ATS/IDSA criteria. The MAC strains were identified by GenoType Mycobacterium reverse hybridisation probes or PCR-RFLP analysis of the hsp65 gene. RESULTS: Of 183 cases of MAC identified, only five women (2.7 %) aged 68.8± 10.7 years met LWS criteria. In three cases, MAC was isolated jointly and intermittently with other pathogens. Only one patient was treated according to ATS/IDSA criteria. DISCUSSION: LWS remains underestimated, with affected patients representing a significant burden on healthcare resources over long periods of time. As a result, greater microbiological and therapeutic knowledge of the syndrome is needed

[Intimate partner violence is not identified as a health problem by health care workers]. / El personal sanitario no percibe la violencia doméstica como un problema de salud.

OBJECTIVE: To determine attitudes, opinions and knowledge of domestic violence among medical and nursing staff. METHODS: We performed a descriptive study of prevalence using an ad hoc questionnaire. A random sample of 321 health professionals were asked about their opinions and knowledge of domestic violence and its relationship with health. RESULTS: A total of 287 health professions completed the questionnaire. Most (87.1%) considered that intimate partner violence was an important problem, but not a health issue. Sixty percent of the health professionals believed that they could play an important role in detecting patients in this situation. Knowledge about the management of this problem was low. Nursing professionals were more sensitive to this issue and better prepared than medical staff. CONCLUSIONS: Healthcare personnel are sensitive to the problem of intimate partner violence but do not consider this issue to be a health problem. Education about this phenomenon and its management is required.

El personal sanitario no percibe la violencia doméstica como un problema de salud / Intimate partner violence is not identified as a health problem by health care workers

Objetivo: Evaluar la opinión del personal sanitario de nuestro hospital frente al fenómeno de la violencia doméstica. Métodos: Estudio descriptivo de prevalencia, utilizando un cuestionario diseñado ad hoc. Se preguntó a 321 profesionales, seleccionados aleatoriamente, acerca de la violencia doméstica y su relación con la salud. Resultados: Respondieron 287 profesionales. La mayoría de encuestados (87,1%) consideró que era un problema importante, pero no lo consideraban un problema de salud. El 60% consideró que podía tener un papel relevante en la detección de esta situación. En general, valoraron como muy baja su preparación para atender a este tipo de pacientes. El personal de enfermería era más sensible al problema y se consideraba más preparado que el personal médico. Conclusiones: Los profesionales de la salud están sensibilizados frente al problema de la violencia de género, pero no lo consideran un problema de salud y aducen falta de preparación para abordar este tema

Objective: To determine attitudes, opinions and knowledge of domestic violence among medical and nursing staff. Methods: We performed a descriptive study of prevalence using an ad hoc questionnaire. A random sample of 321 health professionals were asked about their opinions and knowledge of domestic violence and its relationship with health. Results: A total of 287 health professions completed the questionnaire. Most (87.1%) considered that intimate partner violence was an important problem, but not a health issue. Sixty percent of the health professionals believed that they could play an important role in detecting patients in this situation. Knowledge about the management of this problem was low. Nursing professionals were more sensitive to this issue and better prepared than medical staff. Conclusions: Healthcare personnel are sensitive to the problem of intimate partner violence but do not consider this issue to be a health problem. Education about this phenomenon and its management is required

Violencia intrafamiliar y de género vista por los profesionales de la salud / Family and gender violence from the point of view of health professionals

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