Impact of anthropogenic activities on an urban river through a comprehensive analysis of water and sediments.

The aim of this study was to assess the impact of urban and industrial areas on an urban river through a comprehensive analysis of water and sediments. Six different sites along the San Luis River, Argentina, were characterized by measuring 12 physical-chemical parameters and nine heavy metals according to standard protocols. Metal pollution in sediment samples was evaluated with several indices. Cluster analysis was applied to standardized experimental data in order to study spatial variability. As, Cu, Cr, Mn, Pb, and Zn were the main contributors to sediment pollution, and the industrial zone studied showed moderate enrichment of Co, Cu, and Zn, probably due to anthropogenic activities. Cluster analysis allowed the grouping of the sites: sediment samples were classified into two clusters according to the metal content; water samples were arranged into three groups according to organic matter content. The results were compared with sediment and water quality guidelines. They indicated progressive deterioration of water and sediment quality compared with the background area, mainly in the sites following the industrial park and domestic discharge areas. Moreover, the results showed that the analysis of both water and sediment should be considered to achieve a watershed contamination profile.

Actividad diurética de extractos metanólicos de partes aéreas de Jodina rhombifolia en ratas Wistar / Diuretic activity of methanolic extracts from Jodina rhombifolia aerial parts on Wistar rats

Contexto: Jodina rhombifolia (Hook. & Arn.) Reissek (Santalaceae) es utilizada en la medicina tradicional para una gran diversidad de problemas de salud. Objetivos: Evaluar la actividad diurética de extractos metanólicos de diferentes partes aéreas (hojas, corteza, floema y ramas de aproximadamente tres años) en ratas Wistar. Métodos: La experimentación se organizó con un grupo control negativo (solución salina), un control positivo (furosemida; 10 mg/kg) y para cada extracto vegetal se establecieron tres grupos de animales que recibieron las dosis de 125, 250 y 500 mg/kg. Resultados: La máxima actividad diurética se observó en el grupo de animales experimentado con el extracto metanólico de las hojas, seguido por el ensayado con el extracto de floema. La dosis de 250 mg/kg del extracto metanólico de las hojas fue el más potente, e igualmente importante resultó la dosis de 500 mg/kg, lo cual supone un interesante efecto excretor de agua para un fitodiurético. Estos registros de diuresis no mostraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas con el grupo control positivo. Además, el comienzo de la actividad diurética del extracto metanólico de las hojas fue extremadamente rápido, dentro de la primera hora de administración (para todas las dosis). Conclusiones: Este estudio contribuye a la validación científica del uso etnomedicinal de esta especie botánica en la medicina tradicional de Sudamérica como agente diurético; además, futuros estudios son necesarios para evaluar los mecanismos responsables de la actividad biológica y la seguridad de sus uso repetido.

Context: Jodina rhombifolia (Hook. & Arn.) Reissek (Santalaceae) it´s used in folk medicine for treat a great diversity of health problems. Aims: To evaluate the diuretic activity of aerial parts methanolic extract (leaves, bark, phloem, and branches of approximately three years) in Wistar rats. Methods: The experimentation was organized with a negative control group (saline solution), a positive control (furosemide; 10 mg/kg) and for each methanolic extract were established three groups of animals that received doses of 125, 250 and 500 mg/kg of weight in normal saline solution. Results: The maximum diuretic activity observed in-group administered with leaves methanolic extract followed of phloem extract. The dose 250 mg/kg of leaves methanolic extract was the more potent and equally important, result the dose 500 mg/kg, which supposes an interesting excretor effect of water for a phytodiuretic. These registers of diuresis in Wistar rats did not show significant statistically results with the positive control group. Furthermore, the onset of diuretic activity of leaves methanolic extract was extremely rapid, within the first hour of administration (for all doses). Conclusions: This study contributes to scientific validation of the ethnomedical use of this botanic species in folk medicine of South America as a diuretic agent, although further studies are necessary to evaluate the mechanisms involved in biological activity and safety following repeated use.

Subdural empyema caused by Peptostreptococcus sp.: a complication of acute pharyngitis.

Subdural Empyema (ESD) is the collection of purulent fluid that develops between the exterior "dura mater" layer and the middle "arachnoid mater" layer that covers the brain. ESD can be caused by a primary infection located in the paranasal sinuses. In many aerobic and/or anaerobic bacterial cases, hearing or traumatic processes serve as the causative agent. This report presents pharyngitis in a young girl which later developed into a subdural empyema caused by the bacteria Peptostreptococcus sp. The report emphasizes the correct clinical valuation of pharyngitis as a risk factor for developing subdural empyema in children.

Determining heterocyclic aromatic amines in aqueous samples: A novel dispersive liquid-liquid micro-extraction method based on solidification of floating organic drop and ultrasound assisted back extraction followed by UPLC-MS/MS.

A novel dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction based on solidification of floating organic droplet combined with ultrasound assisted back extraction for the determination of four heterocyclic aromatic amines in natural water samples prior ultra high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was developed. The analytes were extracted from the water samples by a dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction procedure based on solidification of floating organic drop, which was performed by a mixture composed by a less dense than water extraction solvent, 1-undecanol, and a dispersive solvent, methanol. After that, a novel ultrasound assisted back extraction step was performed in order to make the clean-up/enrichment procedure compatible with the detection requirements. Under optimum conditions, linearity ranged from 2.2 to 50ngmL-1, with enrichment factors from 130 to 136-folds. Thus limits of detection between 0.7 and 2.9ngmL-1 were obtained. Precision of the method was evaluated in terms of repeatability, relative standard deviations varied from 4.3% to 6.7%. Relative recoveries ranged from 92% to 106% for all analytes. The satisfactory performance demonstrated that the proposed methodology has a strong potential for application in the multi-residue analysis of heterocyclic aromatic amines present in complex environmental matrices.

Características diagnósticas de tuberculosis intracraneal en hospitalizados del Servicio de Neurología del Hospital Nacional Guillermo Almenara Irigoyen 2008 - 2012 / Diagnostic features of the intracranial tuberculosis in hospitalized in the Neurology Service at the National Hospital Guillermo Almenara Irigoyen 2008 - 2012

Objetivos: Describir las características diagnosticas epidemiológicas, clínicas, de LCR, imagenológicas de tuberculosis intracraneal (TBC Meníngea, Tuberculoma) en hospitalizados del Servicio de Neurología del Hospital Nacional Guillermo Almenara Irigoyen 2008-2012. Materiales y Métodos: Se seleccionó la historia de todos los pacientes hospitalizados en el Servicio de Neurología del Hospital Nacional Guillermo Almenara Irigoyen entre los años 2008 y 2012 con diagnóstico de tuberculosis intracraneal confirmada o sospechosa con un número total de 26 casos. Se obtuvo datos de filiación, antecedentes epidemiológicos, historia de enfermedad, examen neurológico de los 26 pacientes; estudios en LCR: bioquímicos y citoquímicos en 25 pacientes, bk en 20 pacientes, ADA en 20 pacientes, PCR en 8 pacientes y cultivo en 7 pacientes; a los 26 casos se realizó TAC de encéfalo, y a 17 RMN de encéfalo. Resultados: En el Servicio de Neurología del Hospital Nacional Guillermo Almenara referente de la red Almenara se hospitalizaron 26 casos de Tuberculosis Intracraneal (1.47 por ciento de hospitalizados en el Servicio de Neurología) del año 2008 al 2012, de los cuales 19 casos (73.07 por ciento) fueron Tuberculoma cerebral y 07 casos (26.93 por ciento) Meningoencefalitis Tuberculosa (MEC TBC); 17 casos (65.381 por ciento) fueron de sexo masculino y 9 (35.62 por ciento) de sexo femenino, la mayoría estuvieron comprendidos entre el segmento 26 a 40 años con 14 (54.85 por ciento) casos siendo predominante tanto para tuberculoma cerebral 11 (57.89 por ciento), como para MEC TBC 03 (42.86 por ciento); la mayoría provinieron de la Red Almenara 20 (76.91 por ciento) a diferencia de otros 6 casos (23.08 por ciento) que provinieron de otras redes; el tipo de seguro en su mayoría fue obligatorio (principal aportante activo del seguro social) con 15 (57.68 por ciento) pacientes. De los antecedentes epidemiológicos 08 pacientes (30.77 por ciento) tuvieron contacto familiar de tuberculosis...

Objectives: Describe diagnostic epidemiological, clinical, CSF, imaging of intracranial tuberculosis (TBC Meningeal, Tuberculoma) in hospitalized Neurology Service of the National Hospital Guillermo Almenara Irigoyen 2008-2012. Materials and methods: The history of all patients hospitalized in the Neurology Service of Guillermo Almenara Irigoyen National Hospital between 2008 and 2012 confirmed or suspected diagnosis of a total number of 26 cases intracranial tuberculosis was selected. Personal data, epidemiological history, history of disease, neurological examination of 26 patients was obtained; CSF studies: Biochemical and cytochemical in 25 patients, 20 patients bk, ADA in 20 patients, 8 patients PCR and culture in 7 patients; the 26 cases of brain CT scan was performed, and 17 NMR brain. Results: In the Neurology Service of the Guillermo Almenara National Hospital, Almenara benchmark of 26 cases of Tuberculosis Intracranial (1.47 per cent of hospitalized in the Neurology Service) they were hospitalized 2008 to 2012, of which 19 cases (73.07 per cent) were Tuberculoma cerebral and 07 cases (26.93 per cent) meningoencephalitis Tuberculous (TBC MEC); 17 cases (65.381 per cent) were males and 9 (35.62 per cent) were female, most were between the segment 26 to 40 years with 14 (54.85 per cent) cases being predominant both cerebral tuberculoma 11 (57.89 per cent) and for MEC TBC 03 (42.86 per cent); most carne from Beacon Red 20 (76.91 per cent) unlike another 6 cases (23.08 per cent) that carne from other networks; the type of insurance was mostly compulsory (primary active contributor of social insurance) 15 (57.68 per cent) patients. The epidemiological history of 08 patients (30.77 per cent) had household contact with tuberculosis; 03 (11.54 per cent) patients had associated immune suppression, with only 3 cases of TBC MEC (MEC 42.86 per cent). The most common general symptoms were headache in 20 cases (76.92 per cent), followed by nausea and vomiting in...

Determination of scandium in acid mine drainage by ICP-OES with flow injection on-line preconcentration using oxidized multiwalled carbon nanotubes.

An on-line scandium preconcentration and determination system implemented with inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry associated with flow injection was studied. Trace amounts of scandium were preconcentrated by sorption on a minicolumn packed with oxidized multiwalled carbon nanotubes, at pH 1.5. The retained analyte was removed from the minicolumn with 30% (v/v) nitric acid. A total enrichment factor of 225-fold was obtained within a preconcentration time of 300 s (for a 25 mL sample volume). The overall time required for preconcentration and elution of 25 mL of sample was about 6 min; the throughput was about 10 samples per hour. The value of the detection limit was 4 ng L(-1) and the precision for 10 replicate determinations at 100 ng L(-1) Sc level was 5% relative standard deviation, calculated from the peak heights obtained. The calibration graph using the preconcentration system was linear with a correlation coefficient of 0.9996 at levels near the detection limits up to at least 10 mg L(-1). After optimization, the method was successfully applied to the determination of Sc in an acid drainage from an abandoned mine located in the province of San Luis, Argentina.