Electrochemical oxidation of landfill leachates at pilot scale: evaluation of energy needs.

Two of the main drawbacks to be overcome before full scale implementation of boron-doped diamond electro-oxidation were addressed in this work; its energy consumption and hazard of formation of chlorinated organics. This was framed within a study in which the technical and economic feasibility of BDD electro-oxidation of landfill leachate was evaluated at pilot scale. On one hand, its technical feasibility was assessed based on COD and NH(4)(+) removal, allowing the selection of the operation conditions that provide optimal energy efficiency, and special attention was paid to the risk of formation of undesired by-products such as nitrite, nitrate ions and trihalomethanes. On the other hand, treatment costs were estimated based on energy consumption required to reach the disposal limits to natural watercourses established by legislation. The results were compared with those of other commonly used AOPs. Under the operating conditions studied, the concentration of COD decreased below the disposal limit (160 mg L(-1)) and ammonia concentration reached values as low as 30 mg L(-1). The energy consumption needed was estimated at 54 kWh/m(3) and the formation of chlorination by-products appeared to be low as the maximum total trihalomethane concentration detected was 432 microg/L.

Effect of plant extract supplementation on Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella carcass isolation in young Holstein bulls fed a high-concentrate diet.

Ninety Holstein bulls were used in a complete randomized design to study the effect of a blend of plant extract (PE) supplementation on jejunum, cecum, and rectum microbiota (Escherichia coli and lactic acid bacteria [LAB]) and hide and carcass contamination (identification of E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella). Three treatments--control (CTR), monensin (MON), and PE--were tested. Bulls were offered straw and concentrate ad libitum during 108 d. In the cecum, the percentage of LAB counts below 5 log CFU/ml was greater (P < 0.01) in MON (68.1%) than in CTR (34.6%) and PE (28.0%) treatments. On hide, Salmonella was detected (P < 0.05) in CTR (13.3%) and MON (10.0%) treatments, in contrast to PE (0%) treatment. In bulls fed high-concentrate diets supplemented with PE, no increase of carcass E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella identification was observed.

[Hospital mortality in an Internal Medicine service]. / Mortalidad hospitalaria en un Servicio de Medicina Interna.

UNLABELLED: The Internal Medicine service of the Hospital General de Vic (Barcelona) takes part in the mortality committee by revising and discussing in-hospital mortality. BACKGROUND: to establish the characteristics of the deceased, death causes and to revise possible changes in the last six-years time or problems related to the exitus, to evaluate and improve hospitalized patients assistance. METHODOLOGY: Every case was revised following a specific register: demographical data, diagnosis and death cause, hospital death, documentation data, terminal or agonic situation when hospitalized, autopsies and death quality data. Exitus due to hospital problems were analyzed and classified in different groups. The statistical analysis was performed with measures of central tendency and of standard deviation. RESULTS: During the revised six years, there were 819 exitus (5.1%). Global average death age was 79 +/- 1.8 years: 52.5% were men and 47.4% were women; 22.8% died in less than forty-eight hours after hospitalization. The most frequent death causes were cerebrovascular accident (24%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (14.4%) and pneumonia (9.6%). There were a small number of autopsies (4.8%). Ratio of exitus due to hospital problems was stable during the six years (0.5%), in which nosocomial infection was the severest problem. CONCLUSIONS: The total percentage of exitus was 5.1%, higher than the common standards. Mortality causes coincide with other series. Ratio of exitus due to hospital problems was according to recommended objectives. The number of autopsies was very small. A correct completing and revision of the clinical recording is indispensable to spot a shortage in the hospitalized patients assistance.

Mortalidad hospitalaria en un Servicio de Medicina Interna / Hospital mortality in an Internal Medicine Service

El Servicio de Medicina Interna del Hospital General de Vic (Barcelona) forma parte del comité de mortalidad revisando y discutiendo los fallecimientos hospitalarios. Fundamento y objetivo: Establecer las características de los fallecidos, causas de muerte y revisar si existen cambios en los últimos 6 años o problemas en relación con el éxitus, para evaluar y mejorar la asistencia de los pacientes ingresados. Sujetos y métodos: Se realizó revisión de cada caso a través de un registro específico con: datos demográficos, diagnóstico y causa de muerte, problemas hospitalarios, datos de documentación, situación terminal/agónica al ingreso, si se realizó autopsia y datos de calidad de muerte. Se analizan los éxitus secundarios a problemas hospitalarios (ESPHS). Para el análisis estadístico se utilizaron las medidas de centralización y dispersión estándar. Resultados: En los 6 años revisados hubieron 819 éxitus (5,1 por ciento), la edad media global fue de 79 ± 1,8 años. el 52,5 por ciento eran varones y el 47,4 por ciento mujeres, el 22,8 por ciento fallecieron en menos de 48 horas de ingreso. las causas más frecuentes de muerte fueron: el accidente vascular cerebral (24 por ciento), la enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica (14,4 por ciento), la pneumonia (9,6 por ciento).el número de autopsias fue muy reducido (4,8 por ciento) los esphs se mantuvieron estables durante los 6 años, con una tasa del 0,5 por ciento siendo la infección nosocomial el problema más importante. Conclusiones: El porcentaje total de éxitus fue del 5,1 por ciento, superior a los estandards aconsejados. Las causas de mortalidad coinciden con otras series. La tasa de ESPHs se ajustó a los objetivos recomendados. El número de autopsias fue muy reducido. La correcta cumplimentación y revisión de la historia clínica es imprescindible para detectar déficits en la asistencia de los pacientes ingresados (AU)

Mesenchymal chondrosarcoma of the foot, an unusual location: case report and review of the literature.

We present a case of primary mesenchymal chondrosarcoma of the proximal phalanx of the first toe. The bones of the foot represent an infrequent primary site for this neoplasm. The tumour consisted of layers of undifferentiated round cells with scanty cytoplasm and hyperchromatic nuclei. The presence of brain, lung, and left auricle metastasis was demonstrated, and the patient died due to brain edema 18 days after admission. Mesenchymal chondrosarcoma is a rare tumor that more frequently involves the pelvic bones, the femur, and the humerus. To our knowledge, only nine cases of primary mesenchymal chondrosarcoma arising from the bones of the foot have been previously reported, with none involving the phalanx of the toe.

Mesenteric panniculitis presenting as fever of unknown origin.

A 40-yr-old man was admitted for fever of unknown origin. Mesenteric panniculitis was suspected as a result of ultrasonography, computed tomography, and nuclear magnetic resonance findings, and that diagnosis was confirmed by laparoscopy with retroperitoneal mass biopsy. Mesenteric panniculitis is a rare disease characterized by an inflammatory process of the mesenteric adipose tissue. Abdominal pain, weight loss, and abdominal mass are the most frequent symptoms. High fever and leukocytosis are uncommon. To the best of our knowledge, only two reports of mesenteric panniculitis presenting as fever of unknown origin have been described previously, with no cases published in the English literature. In the case reported, steroid therapy was started with initial improvement. Despite the temporary addition of azathioprine and the maintenance of the prednisone treatment, no further improvement has been achieved. Two years and 5 months after admission, the patient presents intermittent episodes of fever and muscle pain.

[Arthritis caused by Streptobacillus moniliformis: a case of fever induced by a rat bite]. / Artritis por Streptobacillus moniliformis: un caso de fiebre por mordedura de rata.

A 54-year-old female had fever with chills, polyarthritis and diffuse rash. Anamnesis led to the suspicion of rat-bite fever. The etiology was confirmed when and organism which was identified as Streptobacillus moniliformis was isolated from articular fluid by means of gas chromatography of tissue fatty acids. In our opinion, this is the first case of that condition reported in this country. We review the literature, and we insist on the need to inform the microbiologist of the clinical suspicion to achieve the etiological diagnosis.

[Hereditary articular chondrocalcinosis in the Osona region (Barcelona): presentation of 3 families]. / Condrocalcinosis articular hereditaria en la comarca de Osona (Barcelona): presentación de tres familias.

The familial study of three patients from the Osona region (Barcelona) with early onset (fourth decade) of articular chondrocalcinosis (CCA) disclosed the occurrence of CCA in other members of the three families. The clinical and radiological features were heterogeneous, with polyarticular forms with marked clinical expression in one family, oligoarticular forms with few symptoms in another, and both types in the third family. These first reports of familial CCA in Catalonia can be added to those found in other parts of Spain, and they support the idea that familial cases of CCA are not exceptional if adequately investigated.