Polycyclic musk fragrance (PMF) removal, adsorption and biodegradation in a conventional activated sludge wastewater treatment plant in Northern Italy.

The first Italian annual monitoring study was carried out in Northern Italy to analyse the fate and removal of polycyclic musk fragrances (PMFs) in a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) with conventional activated sludge (CAS) system. Water was sampled in four different stations along wastewater treatments to better understand the behaviour of PMFs along different steps of the plant. Galaxolide (HHCB) and galaxolidone (HHCB-lactone) were found in concentrations at µg L-1 level, 1 order of magnitude greater than tonalide (AHTN), whilst phantolide (AHDI) was never detected and celestolide (ADBI) was measured only at trace levels. Considering water concentrations, HHCB and AHTN evidenced a slight reduction, 20% and 50%, respectively, during wastewater treatments, thus resulting in a modest removal efficiency, mainly due to adsorption processes during the biological treatment. This was also confirmed by the high PMF concentrations measured in activated sludges which remained stable throughout the year. On the contrary, HHCB-lactone registered an increase up to 70% during wastewater treatments caused by the biotransformation of the parental compound HHCB during the biological treatment, as shown by the different HHCB-lactone/HHCB ratio measured before and after this step. No significant differences were recorded between seasons in terms of PMF input onto WWTP, in accordance with the common use of these chemicals in civil houses. Overall, this study suggests that current technologies employed in conventional WWTP are not enough efficient in removing these organic micropollutants from wastewaters and, therefore, WWTP effluents represent possible point sources of pollution for aquatic ecosystems. Additional treatments are necessary to enhance the removal of PMFs in order to increase the quality of the WWTP effluents.

Evaluation of movements of lower limbs in non-professional ballet dancers: hip abduction and flexion.

BACKGROUND: The literature indicated that the majority of professional ballet dancers present static and active dynamic range of motion difference between left and right lower limbs, however, no previous study focused this difference in non-professional ballet dancers. In this study we aimed to evaluate active movements of the hip in non-professional classical dancers. METHODS: We evaluated 10 non professional ballet dancers (16-23 years old). We measured the active range of motion and flexibility through Well Banks. We compared active range of motion between left and right sides (hip flexion and abduction) and performed correlation between active movements and flexibility. RESULTS: There was a small difference between the right and left sides of the hip in relation to the movements of flexion and abduction, which suggest the dominant side of the subjects, however, there was no statistical significance. Bank of Wells test revealed statistical difference only between the 1st and the 3rd measurement. There was no correlation between the movements of the hip (abduction and flexion, right and left sides) with the three test measurements of the bank of Wells. CONCLUSION: There is no imbalance between the sides of the hip with respect to active abduction and flexion movements in non-professional ballet dancers.

Sudden cardiac death athletes: a systematic review.

Previous events evidence that sudden cardiac death (SCD) in athletes is still a reality and it keeps challenging cardiologists. Considering the importance of SCD in athletes and the requisite for an update of this matter, we endeavored to describe SCD in athletes. The Medline (via PubMed) and SciELO databases were searched using the subject keywords "sudden death, athletes and mortality". The incidence of SCD is expected at one case for each 200,000 young athletes per year. Overall it is resulted of complex dealings of factors such as arrhythmogenic substrate, regulator and triggers factors. In great part of deaths caused by heart disease in athletes younger than 35 years old investigations evidence cardiac congenital abnormalities. Athletes above 35 years old possibly die due to impairments of coronary heart disease, frequently caused by atherosclerosis. Myocardial ischemia and myocardial infarction are responsible for the most cases of SCD above this age (80%). Pre-participatory athletes' evaluation helps to recognize situations that may put the athlete's life in risk including cardiovascular diseases. In summary, cardiologic examinations of athletes' pre-competition routine is an important way to minimize the risk of SCD.

Análise do desempenho em grupo de mulheres adultas no teste de caminhada de seis minutos / Performance analysis of a group of healthy women during six minutes walk test

Introdução: O teste de caminhada de 6 minutos (TC6) é usadopara avaliar a capacidade funcional de exercício em indivíduos comcomprometimentos cardiopulmonares. Estudos já estabeleceram aequação de regressão para prever a distância em sujeitos caucasianossaudáveis, no entanto, ainda não foi estabelecida na população brasileira,além de ser questionável sua validação para avaliar a capacidadeaeróbia nessa população. Objetivos: Avaliar os valores iniciais e finaisdas variáveis cardiovasculares e analisar a correlação da distânciapercorrida com fatores antropométricos no TC6 em indivíduos dacidade de Marília saudáveis do gênero feminino. Método: Dezessetemulheres moradoras de Marília entre 45 e 58 anos participaram doestudo. O TC6 foi baseado em protocolo padronizado, aplicado umavez em cada participante no período matutino. Foram mensurados:pressão arterial sistólica (PAS) e freqüência cardíaca (FC) e duploproduto calculado (DP = FC x PAS). Diferenças significativas parap < 0,05. Resultados: Valores iniciais de FC, PAS e DP, respectivamente:69,1 ± 13 bpm, 110 ± 13 mmHg e 7571,3 ± 1981 bpm x mmHg;valores finais de FC, PAS e DP, respectivamente: 88,3 ± 19 bpm, 121,3± 23 mmHg e 10661 + 3236 bpm x mmHg. Diferenças significativaspara FC e DP (p = 0,0019; p = 0,0022, respectivamente). Não foiverificada correlação significativa da distância percorrida com idade,peso, altura e índice de massa corpórea (IMC). Conclusão: Houvediferença significativa entre os valores iniciais e finais de FC e DP. Nãoencontramos correlação da distância percorrida com idade, altura,peso e IMC. Sugerimos que a PAS não é bem avaliada durante o TC6,e que esse teste não seja significativamente influenciado pelas variáveispertencentes à equação de regressão.

Introduction: The six minute walk test (SMWT) is used to evaluate thefunctional capacity of exercise in individuals with cardiorespiratoryimpairments. Studies already had established the regressionequation to predict the walked distance in healthy Caucasian people,however, it was not yet established in the Brazilian population,besides, it is questionable its validation to evaluate the aerobic capacity in this population. Objectives: To evaluate the initial andfinal values related to cardiovascular parameters and to nalysis thecorrelation of walked distance with anthropometric variables in theSMWT in health Marília citizen women. Method: Seventeen womenliving in Marília aged between 45 and 58 years old participated inthis study. The SMWT was applied according to a standardizedprotocol, applied once on each participant during the morning. It wasmeasured: systolic blood pressure (SBP) and heart rate (HR), doubleproduct was calculated (DP = HR x SBP) before and after the test.Significative difference set at p < 0.05. Results: Initial values relatedto HR, SBP and DP, respectively: 69.1 ± 13 ppm, 110 ± 13 mmHgand 7571.3 ± 1981 ppm x mmHg; final values concerning to HR,SBP and DP, respectively: 88.3 ± 19ppm, 121.3 ± 23 mmHg and10661 ± 3236 ppm x mmHg. It was not observed correlation ofwalked distance with age, weight, height and body mass index(BMI). Conclusion: There was significant difference between finaland initial values related to HR and DP. There was no correlationof walked distance with age, weight, height and BMI. We suggestthat SBP is not well evaluated in the SMWT, and that this test doesnot suffer significative influence by anthropometric parameters thatbelong to the regression equation.