Irreversible diffuse hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, secondary to type I Kounis syndrome.

We herein describe the unusual case of irreversible diffuse hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy secondary to type I Kounis syndrome. The patient survived and remained in a vegetative state after being mechanically ventilated in the intensive care unit for long. A brief review of the literature on mechanisms for KS-associated brain injury is also presented.

Trends in the Bioremediation of Pharmaceuticals and Other Organic Contaminants Using Native or Genetically Modified Microbial Strains: A Review.

Nowadays, numerous synthetic and semisynthetic chemicals are extensively produced and consequently used worldwide for many different purposes, such as pharmaceuticals, pesticides, hydrocarbons with aromatic rings (known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, PAHs), multi-substituted biphenyls with halogens (such as polychlorinated biphenyls, PCBs), and many other toxic and persistent chemical species. The presence of the aforementioned xenobiotic substances not only in various environmental matrices (water, air, and soil), but also in biological tissues (organisms) as well as in several compartments of raw or processed food (of fruit, vegetal, and animal origin), has raised global scientific concerns regarding their potential toxicity towards non target organisms including humans. Additionally, the ability of those persistent organic pollutants to be magnified via food consumption (food chain) has become a crucial threat to human health. Microbial degradation is considered an important route influencing the fate of those toxicants in each matrix. The technique of bioremediation, either with microorganisms (native or genetically modified) which are applied directly (in a reactor or in situ), or with cell extracts or purified enzymes preparations, is reported as a low cost and potential detoxification technology for the removal of toxic chemicals. The sources and toxic impacts of target groups of chemicals are briefly presented in the present study, whereas the bioremediation applications for the removal of pharmaceuticals and other organic contaminants using microbial strains are critically reviewed. All the recently published data concerning the genes encoding the relevant enzymes that catalyze the degradation reactions, the mechanisms of reactions and parameters that influence the bioremediation process are discussed. Finally, research needs and future trends in the direction of decontamination are high-lightened.

Determination of the priority substances regulated by 2000/60/EC and 2008/105/EC Directives in the surface waters supplying water treatment plants of Athens, Greece.

An investigation into the occurrence of priority substances regulated by 2000/60/EC Water Framework Directive and 2008/105/EC Directive was conducted for a period of one year in the surface water sources supplying the water treatment plants (WTPs) of Athens and in the raw water of WTPs. Samples from four reservoirs and four water treatment plants of Athens were taken seasonally. The substances are divided into seven specific groups, including eight volatile organic compounds (VOCs), diethylhexylphthalate, four organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), three organophosphorus/organonitrogen pesticides (OPPs/ONPs), four triazines and phenylurea herbicides, pentachlorophenol, and four metals. The aforementioned substances belong to different chemical categories, and different analytical methods were performed for their determination. The results showed that the surface waters that feed the WTPs of Athens are not burdened with significant levels of toxic substances identified as European Union (EU) priority substances. Atrazine, hexachlorocyclohexane, endosulfan, trifluralin, anthracene and 4-nonylphenol were occasionally observed at very low concentrations. Their presence in a limited number of cases could be attributed to waste disposal, agricultural activities, and to a limited industrial activity in the area nearby the water bodies.

Infundibular ventricular septal defect, aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva, and bicuspid aortic valve in a caucasian male.

We report the case of a Caucasian man with the unusual combination of an infundibular ventricular septal defect (VSD), an aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva communicating with the right ventricle, and a bicuspid aortic valve. When aortic valve regurgitation associated with mild right aortic cusp prolapse appeared during follow-up examination, the patient, although totally asymptomatic, underwent surgical repair of the aortic sinus and closure of the VSD.

Evaluation of the pollution of the surface waters of Greece from the priority compounds of list II, 76/464/EEC directive, and other toxic compounds.

The pollution of the surface waters of Greece from the priority compounds of 76/464/EEC Directive was evaluated. The occurrence of 92 toxic compounds, 64 of which belong to priority compounds of List II, candidates for List I, of 76/464/EEC Directive, was studied in surface waters and wastewater through the developed network of 62 sampling stations, which covers the whole Greek territory. The analytical determination was performed by Purge and Trap-Gas chromatography-Mass spectrometry for volatile and semivolatile organic compounds (VOCs), Gas Chromatography-Electron Capture Detection for organochlorine insecticides, Gas Chromatography-Nitrogen Phosphorous Detection for organophosphorous insecticides, High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Photodiode Array Detection for herbicides, and Electrothermal Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry and Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES) for metals and the toluene extractable organotin compounds. The concentrations of VOCs and insecticides detected in the surface waters of Greece were very low, whereas the concentrations of herbicides and metals ranged generally at moderate levels. VOCs were detected almost exclusively in the rivers and very rarely in the lakes, while the frequency of occurrence of insecticides, herbicides and metals was similar for rivers and lakes. Water quality objectives (WQO) and emission limit values (ELV) have been laid down in national legal framework for a number of compounds detected in the samples, in order to safeguard the quality of surface waters from any future deterioration.

Monitoring priority substances of directives 76/464/EEC and 2000/60/EC in Greek water bodies.

The priority substances of List I, 76/464/EEC Directive, some of which belong to the new Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC, have been monitored in the surface waters of Greece through the developed network of 53 sampling stations. The analytical methods used for the determination of these substances included Purge and Trap-Gas chromatography-Mass spectrometry for volatile and semivolatile organic compounds, Gas Chromatography-Electron Capture Detection for organochlorine insecticides, High Performance Liquid Chromatography for pentachlorophenol and Atomic Absorption Spectrometry for metals. The results have shown the presence of several priority substances in Greek surface waters, in most cases at concentrations well below the regulatory limits. However, non-compliance was observed for a limited number of compounds. The monitoring network and the analytical determinations have to be expanded to more water bodies and more priority substances, in order to safeguard the quality of Greek surface waters.