Phytoextraction of Cu, Cd, Zn and As in four shrubs and trees growing on soil contaminated with mining waste.

Mining activity has degraded large extensions of soil and its waste is composed of metals, anthropogenic chemicals, and sterile rocks. The use of native species in the recovery of polluted soils improves the conditions for the emergence of other species, tending to a process of ecosystem restoration. The objective of this study was to evaluate the bioaccumulation of metal(loid)s in four species of native plants and the effect of their distribution and bioavailability in soil with waste from an abandoned gold mine. Soil samples were taken from two sites in La Planta, San Juan, Argentina: Site 1 and Site 2 (mining waste and reference soil, respectively). In Site 1, vegetative organ samples were taken from Larrea cuneifolia, Bulnesia retama, Plectrocarpa tetracantha, and Prosopis flexuosa. The concentration of metal(loid)s in soil from Site 1 were Zn > As > Cu > Cd, reaching values of 7123, 6516, 240 and 76 mg kg-1, respectively. The contamination indices were among the highest categories of contamination for all four metal(loid)s. The spatial interpolation analysis showed the effect of the vegetation as the lowest concentration of metal(loid)s were found in rhizospheric soil. The maximum concentrations of As, Cu, Cd and Zn found in vegetative organs were 371, 461, 28, and 1331 mg kg-1, respectively. L. cuneifolia and B. retama presented high concentrations of Cu and Zn. The most concentrated metal(loid)s in P. tetracantha and P. flexuosa were Zn, As and Cu. Cd was the least concentrated metal in all four species. The values of BAF and TF were greater than one for all four species. In conclusion, the different phytoextraction capacities and the adaptations to arid environments of these four species are an advantage for future phytoremediation strategies. Their application contributes to the ecological restoration and risk reduction, allowing the recovery of ecosystem services.

Chronic toxicity, bioavailability and bioaccumulation of Zn, Cu and Pb in Lactuca sativa exposed to waste from an abandoned gold mine.

Abandoned mines with untreated waste cause environmental pollution. The complex mixture of mining waste includes high metal content, anthropogenic chemicals and sterile rocks. Adverse effects of contaminated soils have been widely assessed by the use of plants. The aim of this study was to assess the chronic toxicity of a contaminated soil by waste from an abandoned gold mine on Lactuca sativa and its relationship with the bioavailability and bioaccumulation of Zn, Cu and Pb. Soil samples were taken from the site of mining waste stacking and a reference site in La Planta (Argentina). Contamination indices were calculated and acute and chronic exposures on L. sativa were carried out. Phytotoxicity indices, morphological and biochemical parameters, and concentrations of Zn, Cu and Pb in pseudo total and bioavailable soil fractions and in plant tissue were determined. Concentration- and time-dependent toxicity effects were observed, especially on plant width, fresh aerial biomass, leaf area and percentage of plants with completely necrotic aerial biomass. High levels of Zn (1453.3 ± 220.3 µg g-1) were found in plant tissue compared to Pb (277.2 ± 18.0 µg g-1) and Cu (255.3 ± 25.6 µg g-1). Toxicological endpoints correlated with metal uptake and mining waste concentration. In addition, bioaccumulation factors correlated with mobilisable and water soluble fractions. The concentration of Pb in aerial biomass surpassed the permissible concentrations in leaf vegetables, even at the reference site, indicating that lettuce crop consumption could be risky for the local population's health. This study demonstrated a strong relationship between metal bioavailability, toxicity endpoints and bioaccumulation, contributing with novel information to future ecotoxicological risk assessments and remediation plans.

Does application of hydrogen peroxide to the dermis reduce incidence of Cutibacterium acnes during shoulder arthroplasty: a randomized controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Prosthetic joint infections (PJIs) following shoulder arthroplasty are a major source of morbidity and are most commonly caused by Cutibacterium acnes, a bacteria found concentrated in the dermis. Skin preparation using hydrogen peroxide has been shown to reduce positive cultures; however, direct application to the dermis has not been investigated. The purpose of this study is to determine whether the application of hydrogen peroxide to the dermis affects the incidence of positive C acnes cultures. METHODS: A prospective, randomized controlled trial of patients undergoing primary shoulder arthroplasty by a single fellowship-trained surgeon was performed between February and November 2020. Enrolled patients were randomized to either receive standard skin preparation and antibiotic prophylaxis with or without an additional application of hydrogen peroxide to the dermis following incision. Culture samples were taken from the skin, dermis, glenohumeral joint, and air. Laboratory personnel and patients were blinded to randomization, and all cultures were held for 14 days. Culture positivity rate along with culture site, day of culture positivity, and bacterial abundance of positive cultures were analyzed. Stratified analysis by gender and age of ≤69 years was also performed. RESULTS: Sixty patients undergoing primary arthroplasty were randomized. The group receiving hydrogen peroxide (n =30) and the control group (n = 30) were similar in age (71.1 ± 7.1 vs. 73.4 ± 9.8; P = .30), body mass index (29.4 ± 5.7 vs. 28.5 ± 6.0; P = .57), gender (P = .64), hand dominance (P = .65), and surgery type (P = .90). The overall rate of at least 1 positive culture was 18%. All positive cultures were C acnes. The positive culture rate in the hydrogen peroxide (20%) and control group were similar (16%; P > .99). There were no positive glenohumeral joint cultures and no wound complications. There was no significance difference in the culture site, day of culture positivity, and bacterial abundance. Stratification analysis by gender and age also demonstrated similar rates of C acnes between study groups. CONCLUSION: Standard skin preparation and antibiotic prophylaxis results in an overall low rate of skin and dermis culture positivity. The use of hydrogen peroxide after initial incision did not significantly alter the rate of positive C acnes cultures during shoulder arthroplasty and did not increase wound complications.

Influence of implant length, diameter, and geometry on stress distribution: a finite element analysis.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of the length, diameter, and geometry of Biotechnology Institute dental implants on stress distribution in bone. Three-dimensional finite element models of osseointegrated titanium dental implants were created for this study. A force of 150 N was applied at an angle of 30 degrees. The four implant systems used were: Tiny, Interna Universal, Interna Plus, and Interna Wide, and presented the following platforms: 3.5, 4.1, 4.1 (with a 4.8-mm neck), and 5.5 mm, respectively. Implant lengths of 8.5, 10.0, 11.5, 13.0, and 15.0 mm and diameters of 2.5, 3.3, 3.75, 4.0, 4.5, and 5.0 mm were evaluated. Results showed that the effect of implant diameter on stress distribution in bone was more significant than the effect of the implant's length or its geometry. The maximum stress was located around the neck of the implant and the majority of the stress, independent of the parameter being studied, was distributed in the bone adjacent to the first six threads of the implant. Based on these finite element studies, the use of wider implants may be better to dissipate the acting forces and thus reduce the stress in the bone surrounding the implant. Additionally, the use of shorter and wider implants might be a reasonable alternative in sites limited by the height of the residual ridge.

Tratamiento de infección urinaria baja con monodosis de fosfomicina: revisión preliminar / Low urinary tract infection treatment with single dose of fosfomicin: preliminary review

La revisión preliminar de 35 mujeres que consultan por infección del Tracto Urinario Bajo tratadas con dosis única de FOSFOMICINA, Antibiótico eficaz sobre gérmenes habituales en Tracto Urinario, de rápida absorción, uso por vía oral, que mantiene niveles útiles por más de 48 horas con excelente tolerancia gástrica. La E. Coli como gérmen causal se encontró en 91 por ciento de los casos. Hubo rápida desaparición de sintomatología con negativización del urocultivo en 32 de los 35 casos. Concluimos que uso de Fosfomicina es buena alternativa en tratamiento de ITU baja no complicada en la mujer, patología de tan alta prevalencia. Los altos niveles sanguíneos alcanzados y su persistencia por un período prolongado aseguran la erradicación y no la aparición de resistencia bacteriana

Patología mamaria en un hospital general / Breast patology in a general hospital

Considerando que la patología mamaria requiere de una unidad dedicada a su atención, se organiza un policlínico especializado en el Hospital de Linares. Se estudian 230 pacientes que constituyen su población consultante durante los 34 primeros meses. Se revisan los diagnósticos, procedimientos diagnósticos y terapéuticos efectuados. De 204 diagnósticos tabulados, 22 correspondieron a cáncer (10%); 102 a alguna forma de enfermedad fibroquística con un 105 de biopsia quirúrgica en estas últimas. El estudio combinado permitió el manejo conservador de algunas patologías, diagnosticó oportunamente un Ca.in situ y un tumor Phyllodes, los cuales recibieron tratamiento adecuado. Es útil centralizar el manejo de la patología mamaria recurriendo a la clínica y a métodos diagnósticos combinados teniendo conciencia de las virtudes y limitaciones de éstos, recurriendo a la cirugía en casos de duda