Decolorization of dye Reactive Black 5 by newly isolated thermophilic microorganisms from geothermal sites in Galicia (Spain).

In this study, thermophilic microbial strains from thermal spots in northwestern Spain displaying excellent decolorization capability were isolated. The research work tackled: (i) the ability of consortia to degrade a model di-azo dye Reactive Black at different pHs in flask cultures, obtaining that just neutral pHs licensed degradation levels near to 70%, (ii) the isolation of tree of the bacteria, which rendered possible reaching high levels of decolorization (80%) after just 24 h in aerobic conditions, and which were identified through 16S rRNA sequencing to possess high homology (99%) with Anoxybacillus pushchinoensis, Anoxybacillus kamchatkensis and Anoxybacillus flavithermus, and (iii) the cultivation of the isolates in a bench-scale bioreactor, which led to a decolorization rate two-fold higher than that obtained in flask cultures. Therefore, this work makes up the first time that a decolorization process of an azo dye by thermophilic microorganisms in aerobic conditions is investigated.

Use of health services by the climacteric women in primary health care: the need for an integral approach.

During the climacteric, women experience multiple health problems. As their needs are not catered for in an integral fashion due to the lack of any specific programme or mechanism to provide for this, they show an increased use of the health services, and an increased rate of referrals to different specialists. This study, carried out in a Basic Health Zone in San Fernando (Cádiz, Andalusía, Spain) on a sample of climacteric women who attended the Health Centre during 1995, examines these points and shows a significantly higher use of the health services in relation to the rest of the female population (those who are not in the climacteric age group) as well as a high percentage of referrals (74.6%) to specialists. It was found that both the level of knowledge about the climacteric and the use of the health services were influenced by the educational level (p < 0.001) and age (p < 0.05). Women who felt that their families provided an understanding and supportive attitude were found to have less psychological problems and, consequently, less consultations and referrals for this reason (p < 0.00001). The authors hope that their findings will provide a basis for the setting up of a programme of integral health care for climacteric women at the level of primary health care. With careful planning and the drawing up of a strategic plan, it would be possible to provide for the needs of this population group in a more satisfactory way, and it would also permit a rationalization of the resources available.

Cadmium and lead in pork and duck liver pastes produced in Spain.

Cadmium and lead contents were determined in pork and duck liver pastes produced in Spain. The average concentration levels that were measured were 19 ng/g for cadmium and 578 ng/g for lead in pork liver pastes and 14 ng/g for cadmium and 157 ng/g for lead in duck liver pastes. The possible sources of these trace elements were investigated: product formulation, technological process and packaging. It has been observed that the contents of lead in pork liver pastes are higher than would be expected from the liver content alone, and that the main source of lead is the tin container.

Essential elements (Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn) in pork and duck liver paste produced in Spain.

The contents of four essential elements, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, were determined in 152 samples of pork and duck liver paste produced in Spain. The average concentration levels that were measured are 1.2 micrograms/g for Mn, 51.6 micrograms/g for Fe, 6.1 micrograms/g for Cu and 22.2 micrograms/g for Zn in pork liver pastes and 0.8 micrograms/g for Mn, 32.3 micrograms/g for Fe, 2.7 micrograms/g for Cu and 12.9 micrograms/g for Zn in duck liver pastes. The possible sources of these trace elements were investigated: product formulation, technological processing and packaging. Liver, the basic raw material, is the main source of trace elements in the final product; significantly high concentrations have been observed for all of the elements that were analysed in the pork liver pastes compared with the duck liver pastes.