Azo dyes decolorization under high alkalinity and salinity conditions by Halomonas sp. in batch and packed bed reactor.

Biodecolorization and biodegradation of azo dyes are a challenge due to their recalcitrance and the characteristics of textile effluents. This study presents the use of Halomonas sp. in the decolorization of azo dyes Reactive Black 5 (RB5), Remazol Brilliant Violet 5R (RV5), and Reactive Orange 16 (RO16) under high alkalinity and salinity conditions. Firstly, the effect of air supply, pH, salinity and dye concentration was evaluated. Halomonas sp. was able to remove above 84% of all dyes in a wide range of pH (6-11) and salt concentrations (2-10%). The decolorization efficiency of RB5, RV5, and RO16 was found to be ≥ 90% after 24, 13 and 3 h, respectively, at 50 mg L-1 of dyes. The process was monitored by HPLC-DAD, finding a reduction of dyes along the time. Further, Halomonas sp. was immobilized in volcanic rocks and used in a packed bed reactor for 72 days, achieving a removal rate of 3.48, 5.73, and 8.52 mg L-1 h-1, for RB5, RV5 and RO16, respectively, at 11.8 h. The study has confirmed the potential of Halomonas sp. to decolorize azo dyes under high salinity and alkalinity conditions and opened a scope for future research in the treatment of textile effluents.

First Report of Anthracnose Stalk Rot of Maize Caused by Colletotrichum graminicola in Switzerland.

Maize stem samples exhibiting symptoms of anthracnose were collected from a field near Zurich, Switzerland, in September of 2012 and were sent to the fungal genetics laboratory, Centro Hispano-Luso de Investigaciones Agrarias (CIALE) at the University of Salamanca, Spain, for further analysis. The stem samples exhibited glossy, black, and irregularly shaped lesions. Tissue samples, approximately 5 mm2, were dissected from below the epidermis. The tissue samples were surface disinfested for 1 min in 20% sodium hypochlorite and cultured on one half strength acidified PDA supplemented with ampicillin (2). Monoconidial isolates from three different stems were grown on potato dextrose agar (PDA) and had dark gray aerial mycelium with orange spore masses. Conidia were falcate, slightly curved, tapered toward the tips with an average length of 31.77 µm and an average width of 4.76 µm and produced in acervuli with setae, consistent with descriptions of C. graminicola Ces. Wils. Conidial suspensions were prepared for each isolate, and were inoculated onto the leaves of 2-week-old maize plants by laying the plants horizontally in a tray (in pots with their root systems intact) and placing 7.5-µl droplets of a 106 conidial suspension on the leaf surface. The trays were covered and plants were incubated overnight at 23°C. The plants were then returned to their upright position and grown in a growth chamber at 25°C with a 12-h light cycle (3). After 6 days, the inoculated plant leaves exhibited lesions that were elongated and irregularly shaped with necrotic centers and chlorotic margins. The water-inoculated controls did not show symptoms. Microscopic examination revealed the production of conidia on the surface of the leaves, identical to the original isolates. Genomic DNA was extracted using the protocol of Baek and Kenerley (1). A region of the ribosomal DNA repeat was amplified and sequenced using the universal primers ITS4 and ITS5. The resulting sequences were 100% identical to each other and 100% identical to C. graminicola sequences in GenBank. One representative sequence was deposited in GenBank under accession no. KF597538. The 100 most similar sequences in GenBank were used to construct a phylogenetic tree using the neighbor-joining method. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that the isolates clustered within the C. graminicola clade, consistent with their identification as C. graminicola. To our knowledge, this is the first report of anthracnose on maize caused by C. graminicola in Switzerland. Previous reports have demonstrated that the pathogen exists in neighboring countries Germany and France. References: (1) J.-M. Baek and C. M. Kenerley. Fungal Genet. Biol. 23:34, 1998. (2) S. A. Sukno et al. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 74:823, 2008. (3) W. A. Vargas et al. Plant Physiol. 158:1342, 2012.

Mapa de riesgo de las actuaciones de cirugía ortopédica y traumatología sobre la cadera. Estudio médico-jurídico de 96 sentencias judiciales / Orthopaedic malpractice risk in hip care. Study of 96 medical malpractice court decisions

Objetivo: Conocer los factores de riesgo médico-jurídico asociados a las actuaciones sobre la cadera en cirugía ortopédica y traumatología. Material y método: Se han estudiado 96 sentencias judiciales, analizando 17 variables médico-jurídicas. Resultados: Los actos que originaron el mayor número de procedimientos judiciales fueron las artroplastias de cadera (64 casos), seguidas de los retrasos diagnósticos de diversas patologías (13 casos). La complicación que se había producido en mayor número de casos era la lesión del nervio ciático (22 casos), seguida de las infecciones (12 casos). Las lesiones neurológicas fueron las más reclamadas (27 casos), seguidas de los fallecimientos (17 casos). La cuantía media reclamada fue de 181.386 € y la cuantía media de las sentencias condenatorias de 72.867,72 €. Conclusiones: Las actuaciones con más riesgo de las que realizan los COT sobre la cadera son las quirúrgicas debido fundamentalmente a las lesiones neurológicas que se producen sobre el nervio ciático (la gran mayoría lesiones indirectas). Les siguen con muchos menos casos los procedimientos diagnósticos, destacando los de retraso diagnóstico de cáncer a través del hallazgo de metástasis en la cadera. El porcentaje de condenas es elevado (45%), no así la cuantía que se concede en esos casos, que se sitúa en niveles medios-altos (72 000 €), propios de una especialidad que rara vez causa daños gravísimos, pero que tiene repercusiones importantes en la calidad de vida de los pacientes (AU)

Objective: To identify medical and legal risk factors associated with interventions on the hip in orthopedic surgery. Material and method: We studied 96 court decisions analyzing 17 medical-legal variables. Results: The interventions that brought about the greatest number of legal proceedings were hip replacements (arthroplasty) (64 cases), followed by diagnostic delays of various diseases (13 cases). The complication that occurred in the greatest number of cases was sciatic nerve injury (22 cases), followed by infections (12 cases). Neurological injuries were claimed for most (27 cases), followed by death (17 cases). The average amount claimed was € 181,386 and the average amount awarded was € 72,867.72. Conclusion: The interventions with the highest level of risk by orthoprosthetic surgery are mainly due to neurological injuries that occur on the sciatic nerve (most indirect injuries). They are followed by a far lower number of cases of diagnostic cases; late diagnosis of cancer through discovery of metastasis in the hip standing out in this selection. The conviction rate is high (45%), although the amount awarded in such cases is not, medium-high levels (€ 72,000), being as it is a specialty that on rare occasion may cause serious damage, but has significant impact on the quality of life of patients (AU)

Cirugía en sitio erróneo en cirugía ortopédica y traumatología. Estudio de sentencias judiciales y reclamaciones / Wrong site surgery in orthopedic sugery and traumatology. Study of judicial rulings and complaints

Objetivo: Conocer los factores asociados a la cirugía en sitio erróneo en Cirugía Ortopédica y Traumatología en nuestro medio y sus consecuencias legales. Material y método: Se han recogido 25 casos de cirugía en sitio erróneo derivados del estudio de sentencias judiciales y reclamaciones desde el año 1998. Las variables estudiadas fueron de filiación, tipo de error, procedimiento, actitud del cirujano tras el error y secuelas. Resultados: El 60% fueron errores de lado, el 52% ocurrieron en la rodilla, un 40% fueron artroscopias. En el 58% el equipo había preparado al paciente antes de que el cirujano entrase en el quirófano y en el 78% el cirujano no había consultado la historia clínica. En ningún caso se había utilizado un método de prevención. El 90% se podría haber evitado con un protocolo de prevención. Las secuelas fueron escasas. Conclusiones: Recomendamos la utilización de un protocolo de prevención de la cirugía en sitio erróneo y que el cirujano se involucre en la preparación y colocación del paciente (AU)

Aims: To know the factors associated to wrong-site surgery in Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology in our environment and its legal consequences. Material and method: We have found 25 cases of wrong site surgery from the study of judicial rulings and health related complaints from the year 1998 onwards. Data regarding affiliation, type of error, procedure, surgeon’s attitude and sequels were obtained. Results: 60% were wrong-side errors, 52% involved the knee, 40% were arthroscopies. The surgical team had prepared the patient before the surgeon entered the operation room in 58% of the cases and in 78% the surgeon had not checked the patient`s medical files. There were few sequels. A site verification protocol had not been used in any of the cases. The use of a protocol could have avoided the complication in 90% of the cases. Conclusions: We recommend the use of a site verification protocol and the surgeon to be actively involved in the preparation and positioning of the patient (AU)

Cirugía en sitio erróneo / Wrong site surgery

El término "cirugía en sitio erróneo" engloba aquella cirugía que es realizada en el lado erróneo, en una zona anatómica errónea, en el paciente erróneo o en la que se realiza un procedimiento diferente al planeado. Pese a estar claramente poco comunicada, es una complicación frecuente en la vida profesional de un cirujano, siendo la cirugía ortopédica la especialidad con mayor riesgo. La repercusión mediática aumenta la desconfianza en el sistema sanitario y las consecuencias legales para el cirujano son la norma. En la actualidad hay varios protocolos, entre ellos los propuestos para evitar esta complicación por la American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) y la Joint Comission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), de fácil aplicación. Consisten básicamente en comprobar los datos del paciente, marcar la zona que se va a operar y realizar un “tiempo muerto”, una comprobación final, justo antes de iniciar la cirugía. Es fundamental su implantación en los centros de España, con la colaboración de los diferentes estamentos, para una prevención efectiva de este problema(AU)

The term "wrong site surgery" refers to surgery carried out on the wrong side, in the wrong anatomical area or in the wrong patient. It can also indicate that the surgical procedure employed was not the one intended. In spite of being a rather neglected topic, wrong site surgery is a fairly usual complication in a surgeon's professional life – orthopaedic surgery being the speciality most at risk. Media reports on this subject undermine the general public's distrust of the health care system, surgeons more often than not having to face serious legal consequences. There are at present several easy-to-apply protocols, among them those proposed by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) and the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), which can help preventing these unfortunate occurrences. They basically consist in checking the patient's details, marking the area to be operated and performing a final run-through just before starting the surgical procedure. It is of essence to introduce such a protocol in our own hospitals, with the support of all parties involved, in order to effectively address this problem(AU)