Are native microalgae consortia able to remove microplastics from wastewater effluents?

Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs) are potential sources of microplastics (MPs) in the aquatic environment. This study aimed to investigate the potential of wastewater-native microalgae consortia to remove MPs from the effluent of two different types of WWTPs as a dual-purpose solution for MPs mitigation and biomass production. For that purpose, the occurrence of MPs from two types of WWTP effluents was analysed over one year. MPs were characterized in terms of morphology (microbead, foam, granule, irregular, filament and film), colour and size. The wastewater characterisation was followed by the removal of MP loads, using native microalgae consortia, pre-adapted to the wastewater effluent. Microalgae consortia evolved naturally through four mitigation assays, adapted to seasonal conditions, such as temperature, photoperiod, and wastewater composition. MPs were present in all the effluent samples, ranging from 52 to 233 MP L-1. The characterisation of MPs indicated a predominance of white and transparent particles, with irregular and filament shapes, mainly under 500 µm in size. The µFTIR analysis revealed that 43% of the selected particles were plastic, with a prevalence of polypropylene (PP) (34%) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) (30 %). In the mitigation experiments, substantial biomass production was achieved (maximum of 2.6 g L-1 (d.w.)), with successful removal of MPs, ranging from 31 ± 25% to 82 ± 13%. These results show that microalgae growth in wastewater effluents efficiently promotes the removal of MPs, reducing this source of contamination in the aquatic environment, while generating valuable biomass. Additionally, the strategy employed, requires minimal control of culture conditions, simplifying the integration of these systems in real-world WWTP facilities for improved wastewater management.

Scale-up and large-scale production of Tetraselmis sp. CTP4 (Chlorophyta) for CO2 mitigation: from an agar plate to 100-m3 industrial photobioreactors.

Industrial production of novel microalgal isolates is key to improving the current portfolio of available strains that are able to grow in large-scale production systems for different biotechnological applications, including carbon mitigation. In this context, Tetraselmis sp. CTP4 was successfully scaled up from an agar plate to 35- and 100-m3 industrial scale tubular photobioreactors (PBR). Growth was performed semi-continuously for 60 days in the autumn-winter season (17th October - 14th December). Optimisation of tubular PBR operations showed that improved productivities were obtained at a culture velocity of 0.65-1.35 m s-1 and a pH set-point for CO2 injection of 8.0. Highest volumetric (0.08 ± 0.01 g L-1 d-1) and areal (20.3 ± 3.2 g m-2 d-1) biomass productivities were attained in the 100-m3 PBR compared to those of the 35-m3 PBR (0.05 ± 0.02 g L-1 d-1 and 13.5 ± 4.3 g m-2 d-1, respectively). Lipid contents were similar in both PBRs (9-10% of ash free dry weight). CO2 sequestration was followed in the 100-m3 PBR, revealing a mean CO2 mitigation efficiency of 65% and a biomass to carbon ratio of 1.80. Tetraselmis sp. CTP4 is thus a robust candidate for industrial-scale production with promising biomass productivities and photosynthetic efficiencies up to 3.5% of total solar irradiance.

Neurotoxoplasmose em paciente imunocompetente: relato de caso / Neurotoxoplasmosis in an Immunocompetent Patient: Case Report

A toxoplasmose é uma doença causada pelo protozoário Toxoplasma gondii e é a principal causa de lesão com efeito de massa no sistema nervoso central (SNC) em pacientes imunodeprimidos, causando sintomas neurológicos significativos. Em pacientes imunocompetentes, a evolução clínica da toxoplasmose é habitualmente benigna e a infecção é, na maioria das vezes, assintomática. O diagnóstico da neurotoxoplasmose é presuntivo, baseado nos achados de tomografia computadorizada (TC) ou de ressonância magnética (RM), e emcasos inconclusivos, pode-se utilizar a biópsia cerebral estereotáxica. O paciente relatado apresentava lesões sugestivas de neurotoxoplasmose na RM de encéfalo, porém era imunocompetente, e a sorologia para neurotoxoplasmose era negativa para o IgM. Foi submetido então a biópsia estereotáxica como extensão de propedêutica. O presente trabalho visa, a partir do relato de um caso raro, discutir sobre as formas de diagnóstico e tratamento de uma infecção em paciente previamente sadio, cuja evolução foi benigna devido ao diagnóstico e tratamento precoces.

Toxoplasmosis is a disease caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma Gondii and is the leading cause of injury with mass effect on the central nervous system (CNS) in immunocompromised patients, that causes significant neurological symptoms. In immunocompetent patients, the clinical course of toxoplasmosis is usually benign and the infection is most often asymptomatic. The presumptive diagnosis of toxoplasmosis is based on findings of computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and inconclusive cases, can use stereotactic brain biopsy . The reported patient had lesions suggestive of cerebral toxoplasmosis in brain MRI, but was immunocompetent and toxoplasmosis serology was negative for IgM. The, he underwent a stereotactic biopsy as an extension of workup. The present work aims, from a rare case description, discuss ways of diagnosing and treating an infection in a previously healthy patient whose evolution was benign diagnosis because early treatment.

Hematoma subdural agudo infratentorial: relato de caso / Posterior fossa acute subdural hematoma: case report

Os autores relatam o caso de um paciente adulto vítima de traumatismo cranioencefálico e que apresentou uma lesão considerada rara na literatura, o hematoma subdural agudo da fossa posterior. O paciente foi submetido à craniectomia suboccipital com drenagem do hematoma e recebeu alta com escore de 3 pontos na Glasgow Outcome Scale; um bom resultado, pois essa lesão atinge 71% de mortalidade em algumas séries.

The authors report a case of acute subdural hematoma of posterior fossa in an adult male patient secondary to a head trauma. This is considered a rare pathology in literature. The patient was operated and discharged with a score 3 in GOS. This can be considered a good result since some series show a mortality of 71% for this pathology.

Biological sulphate reduction using food industry wastes as carbon sources.

Biological treatment with dissimilatory sulphate-reducing bacteria has been considered the most promising alternative for decontamination of sulphate rich effluents. These wastewaters are usually deficient in electron donors and require their external addition to achieve complete sulphate reduction. The aim of the present study was to investigate the possibility of using food industry wastes (a waste from the wine industry and cheese whey) as carbon sources for dissimilatory sulphate-reducing bacteria. The results show that these wastes can be efficiently used by these bacteria provided that calcite tailing is present as a neutralizing and buffer material. A 95 and 50 % sulphate reduction was achieved within 20 days of experiment by a consortium of dissimilatory sulphate-reducing bacteria grown on media containing waste from the wine industry or cheese whey respectively. Identification of the dissimilatory sulphate-reducing bacteria community using the dsr gene revealed the presence of the species Desulfovibrio fructosovorans, Desulfovibrio aminophilus and Desulfovibrio desulfuricans. The findings of the present study emphasise the potential of using wastes from the wine industry as carbon source for dissimilatory sulphate-reducing bacteria, combined with calcite tailing, in the development of cost effective and environmentally friendly bioremediation processes.

Characterization and activity studies of highly heavy metal resistant sulphate-reducing bacteria to be used in acid mine drainage decontamination.

Biological treatment with sulphate-reducing bacteria (SRB) has been considered as the most promising alternative for acid mine drainage (AMD) decontamination. Normally, these wastewaters contain high concentrations of sulphate and heavy metals, so the search for SRB highly resistant to metals is extremely important for the development of a bioremediation technology. A SRB consortium resistant to high concentrations of heavy metals (Fe, Cu and Zn), similar to those typically present in AMD, was obtained among several environmental samples, from a wastewater treatment plant. The phylogenetic analysis of the dsr gene sequence revealed that this consortium contains species of SRB affiliated to Desulfovibrio desulfuricans and Desulfobulbus rhabdoformis. The results show that the presence of usually lethal concentrations of Fe (400mg/L), Zn (150 mg/L) and Cu (80 mg/L) is not toxic for the sulphate-reducing bacteria present in this sample. As a consequence, a very good efficiency in terms of sulphate reduction and metals removal was obtained. Both ethanol and lactate can be used by this inoculum as carbon source. With the other samples tested sulphate reduction was inhibited by the presence of copper and zinc. This highly metal resistant consortium will be used to inoculate a bioreactor to carry out AMD decontamination.

Meningocele sacral oculta: relato de caso / Occult sacral meningocele: case report

Os autores apresentam o caso de um paciente adulto, com sinais e sintomas de compressão de cauda equina, ocasionados por meningocele sacral oculta. Não havia alterações cutâneas no dorso, mas sim deformidade congênita dos pés. Foi feita a remoção cirúrgica do cisto que proporcionou alívio dos sintomas.

Astrocitoma difuso das vias ópticas. Relato de caso / Diffuse bilateral optic pathway pilocytic astrocytoma and neurofibromatosis type I. Case report

Os autores relatam o caso de uma paciente de 31 anos, portadora de neurofibromatose tipo I e astrocitoma pilocítico (confirmado por biópsia) que se estendia dos nervos ópticos à radiação geniculocalcarina bilateralmente.

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Actas de la Jornada conjunta Casa del joven - Movimiento haci T y A Córdoba, el 7 de septiembr de 2001

Meningite consequente a macroadenoma hipofisário: relato de caso / Meningitis as a complication of pituitary macroadenoma

Os autores relatam um caso de macroprolactinoma que evoluiu com meningite e pneumoencéfalo espontâneo. Discutem-se os possíveis mecanismos dessa evolução.

Tratamento de aneurisma da carótica cervical e fístula carotidojugular com cateter de Fogarty: relato de caso / Treatment of cervical carotid aneurysm and carotid-jugular fistula employing Fogarty cateter: case report

Aneurismas e fístulas carotidojugulares cervicais altos säo, frequentemente, de dificil abordagem cirúrgica. Nestes casos, a oclusäo da carótida, ao nível da lesäo, com cateter provido de baläo acarreta menos riscos de isquemia que a simples ligadura proximal da artéria. Os autores apresentam 1 caso de aneurisma da carótida cervical alta com fístula carotidojugular, pós-traumática, tratado com cateter de Fogarty

Antibioticoterapia profilática em neurocirurgia / Antibiotic prophylaxis in neurosurgery

Os autores apresentam resultados do emprego de antibioticoterapia profilática intra-operatória em 234 cirurgias neurológicas limpas consecutivas. O esquema seguido foi baseado naquele proposto por Malis 15 e consiste na administraçäo intra-operatória de gentamicina, penicilina cristalina e oxacilina

Hemorragia subaracnóidea após acidente ofídico botrópico / Subarachnoid hemorrhage after Bothrops snake bite

Os autores apresentam 1 caso de hemorragia subaracnóidea causada por distúrbios da coagulaçäo após mordedura de serpente do gênero Bothrops. Embora hajam inúmeros relatos de hemorragias sistêmicas, säo raras as citaçöes de complicaçöes neurológicas. É discutida a etiopatogenia provável

Evoluçäo atípica de glioma do tronco encefálico: relato de caso / Atypical course of brain stemglioma: a case report

Os autores relatam caso de glioma do tronco encefálico com poucos sinais de lesäo de pares cranianos e trato córtico-espinal, acompanhado de hidrocefalia e com evoluçäo em surtos de melhora e piora. O diagnóstico foi confirmado por biópsia a céu aberto

Extrusäo de prótese de acrílico em artrodese cervical anterior / Extrusion of acrylic prosthesis in anterior cervical arthrodesis

Relato de caso de extrusäo pela boca de acrílico usado em artrodese cervical anterior no tratamento cirúrgico de fratura-esmagamento de vértebra cervical secundária a plasmocitoma