Public health benefits of using algae for simultaneous multiple metal extraction from waters.

Algae have been described as inexpensive organisms for the efficient extraction and recovery of heavy-metals from polluted waters. This method is most effective when the solution conditions are adjusted for the selective adsorption of individual metals. Experiments that are designed for extracting single metals, however, do not accurately assess either environmental or water systems. In this article, we distinguish between using algae to remove individual versus multiple metals. Simultaneous multiple metal extraction has a major disadvantage, however, because all the metals in a solution may not be removed with great efficiency. Single-metal extraction is more readily optimized for almost 100% recovery.

Silent period in spinal cord pathology.

The silent period evoked by the electrical stimulus of the abductor pollicis brevis and the triceps surae muscles was studied in both normal subjects and in patients affected by spinal compression, by multiple sclerosis and by familial degenerative myelopathy. In normal subjects, the duration of the silent period is shorter in the upper limbs than in the lower limbs. In patients with spinal compression and multiple sclerosis, the duration of the silent period in the lower limb is significantly greater. On the contrary, the duration in familial degenerative myelopathy is significantly longer, recording from the abductor pollicis brevis. The authors conclude that this technique is useful in the diagnosis of spinal lesions from compression and demyelination.

Early somatosensory evoked potentials in supratentorial brain tumors.

Early somatosensory evoked potentials were recorded in 33 patients with supratentorial brain tumors (9 benign tumors, 17 glioblastomas and 7 metastases). All the cases were studied with CT scan and all but 2 were surgically explored and histologically classified. Evoked potentials were statistically analyzed regarding the nature and site of the tumors. The temporal malignant tumors showed the most significant alterations in latencies, particularly for waves P25, N34 and P44.

Diabetic neuropathy of the lateral cutaneous nerve of the calf. A case report.

We report a case of neuropathy of the lateral cutaneous nerve of the calf in a patient with inadequately controlled diabetes mellitus. The painful syndrome was controlled with carbamazepine.