Impact of an intervention for reducing waste through educational strategy: A Mexican case study, what works, and why?

Generation and inadequate management of solid waste constitute a global challenge. Projections for 2050 portend an annual increase of 3.40 billion tons of waste. This study assessed the impact of an environmental education intervention (EEI) aimed at reducing waste generation and fomenting pro-environmental behaviors in an academic public-health institution in Mexico. The EEI was implemented over 20 months using a model of behavior change. Using a mixed-method design (QUAN + qual), baseline and follow-up measurements were performed through electronic questionnaires (n = 754), focus groups (n = 20), and waste quantification. A double-difference model was performed to measure pro-environmental behaviors impact: overall and by sex, age, educational level and function within the institution. Waste quantification was performed using a quartering method and weekly monitoring. The qualitative data were studied through thematic analysis. As a result of the EEI, women reduced their use of multilayer packaging (-15.6 pp, p < 0.05) and frequent use of non-ecological materials (-17.6 pp, p < 0.05). Graduate-level participants reduced their regular and frequent use of these materials (-33.3 pp, p < 0.05, 27.6 pp, p < 0.01), while those with lower educational levels increased their ecological behavior at home (12.1 pp, p < 0.05). Waste generation dropped by 60.1% vis-a-vis the baseline measurement. Our qualitative findings showed a relationship between holding a position of power in the institution and recycling. They also revealed that available infrastructure for separating waste contributed substantially to the observed impact. With actions centered on physical structure, community practice and institutional policy components, the EEI improved the pro-environmental behaviors and perceptions of participants.

Variation in the levels of inflammatory cytokines depending on ischemic time: effects on respiratory variables.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to evaluate the association between ischemic times, cytokines-interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1b, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, sIL-2r, IL-8, and IL-10-and alterations in gaseous exchange. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective study of 42 orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) recipients examined ischemic times and respiratory variables measured as alterations in intrapulmonary shunt and in the Po(2)/Fio(2) ratio. Centrifuged blood samples were frozen at -80 degrees C for storage. The Inmulite-One system (Euro/Dpc, Gwynedd, UK) was used to determine the concentration of cytokines. For statistical analysis, we used the Pearson correlation coefficient. RESULTS: The average cold ischemic time was 478 minutes (range, 35-929) and warm ischemic time was 69.58 minutes (range, 20-180). The warm ischemic time affected the degree of shunt at the end of the operation (P < .027) and the levels of IL-10 (P < .018) and IL-6 (P < .000). The final degree of shunting and IL-10 (P < .044) showed a correlation. The cold ischemic time affected IL-1 (P < .046) and IL-8 levels (P < .023). The reperfusion syndrome was correlated with the final levels of IL-10 (P < .064) and of IL-8 (P < .066). CONCLUSION: Warm and cold ischemic times affect the final cytokine levels and the degree of intrapulmonary shunt.

Best blood sample draw site during liver transplantation.

BACKGROUND: The present study sought to identify whether there were higher inflammatory cytokine levels in blood samples drawn from the pulmonary artery, radial artery, portal vein, or reperfused graft during each transplantation phase to determine the best site. METHODS: We examined 39 consecutive patients undergoing liver transplantation for their blood cytokine levels at various sites. Comparison of levels permitted us to select the best blood sample draw site, considering the best site to be the one showing the highest cytokine levels. RESULTS: During hepatectomy and neohepatic phases, the best site was the radial artery; during the anhepatic phase, the portal vein; and during reperfusion, the reperfused graft. CONCLUSIONS: The radial artery constituted, an optimal sample draw site, considering the best one to show the highest cytokine levels.

Polymorphisms of interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor gene promoters and cardiorespiratory function following liver transplantation: a preliminary study.

INTRODUCTION: The interindividual variability in cardiorespiratory function during liver transplantation (OLT) has been attributed to various factors, including polymorphisms in immunity genes known to affect the circulation levels of cytokines. AIM: To evaluate polymorphisms of genes encoding for interleukin-6 (IL6) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in association with cardiorespiratory function in OLT. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We studied 62 consecutive patients who had OLT performed in our hospital between 2004 and 2005. Polymorphisms at positions -308 and -409 of TNF gene, as well as those at -174 and -574 of IL6 gene were determined in all patients by means of PCR-RFLPs. Associations were carried out using chi-square tests and analysis of variance. A bilateral P < .05 was accepted as significant. RESULTS: No statistically significant associations were observed. CONCLUSIONS: A relationship between the polymorphisms studied and respiratory function in OLT was lacking. These results must be interpreted with caution due to the limited sample size.

Phenol removal in upgraded facultative waste stabilisation ponds.

Treatment of wastewater containing phenol using laboratory scale waste stabilisation ponds enriched with activated sludge was studied. After enrichment, the efficiency of these ponds under high phenol loading rates (i.e. up to 408 kg phenol ha(-1) day(-1)) was studied. At phenol loading rates of 6, 52, 312, 636 and 972 COD ha(-1) day(-1), the phenol removal efficiencies were 77, 69, 76, 59 and 52%, respectively. The results suggest that enrichment is an effective potential method to increase the removal capability of facultative ponds, not only or easily biodegradable compounds but also for xenobiotics.

CCM1 gene mutations in families segregating cerebral cavernous malformations.

Cerebral cavernous malformations (CCM) are vascular anomalies, sometimes inherited as an autosomal dominant trait, which can cause strokes and seizures. Recently, mutations of the CCM1 gene (chromosome 7q) have been found in a subset of families. The authors found 10 new mutations by screening 29 families and five seemingly sporadic cases of CCM. The mutations predicted truncation of the Krit1 mRNA encoded by CCM1, supporting the contention that CCM result from loss of Krit1 protein function and the possibility that this protein acts as a tumor suppressor.

Study of the pharmacokinetic interaction between ethinylestradiol and amoxicillin in rabbits.

Several antibiotics have been implicated in oral contraception failure when they are administered at the same time as the oral contraceptive (OC) pill. In the present paper, a study about amoxicillin-ethinylestradiol (EE2) pharmacokinetic potential interaction was studied. Two rabbit groups were utilized, the first group received amoxicillin (10 mg/kg) and EE2 (30, 50 and 100 micrograms/kg, respectively), both by intravenous (i.v.) route. The second group received amoxicillin (oral route, 10 mg/kg/day) and EE2 (i.v. route, 100 mu/kg) on day 1, 4 and 8 of antibiotic treatment, respectively. After compartmental (two-compartment open model) and non-compartmental analysis of plasma concentrations, the statistical study (ANOVA p < or = 0.05) revealed that the presence of amoxicillin did not modify the EE2 distribution and elimination pharmacokinetic parameters (by comparison with those obtained in a previous study where EE2 was administered alone). There also were no significant differences with the time of amoxicillin oral treatment.

[Transitory amaurosis after transurethral resection of the prostate. Apropos of a case]. / Amaurosis transitoria post-R.T.U. de próstata. A propósito de un caso.

A case of transitory amaurosis after T.U.R is presented. This complication differs from the so-called Post-TUR Syndrome. Likewise, the possible physiopathological role of glycine as an inducer of blindness is discussed.

Cloning and mapping of the genetic determinants for microcin B17 production and immunity.

Plasmid pMccB17 (70 kilobases [kb]) codes for the production of microcin B17, a peptide that inhibits DNA synthesis, and for microcin B17 immunity. A BamHI-EcoRI fragment of 5.1 kb from pMccB17 was cloned into pBR322 in two steps. The resulting plasmid (pMM102) overproduced microcin B17 and expressed immunity against microcin. Mcc- and Mcc- Imm- mutants were isolated on plasmids pMccB17 and pMM102 by deleting various DNA fragments and by inserting different translocatable elements. Physical and phenotypic characterization of these mutants showed that a DNA region of 3.0 to 3.5 kb is required to produce microcin B17, whereas an adjacent region of about 1.0 kb is required to express microcin B17 immunity.