Activated carbon from almond shells using an eco-compatible method: screening, optimization, characterization, and adsorption performance testing.

Activated carbon as a low-cost adsorbent prepared from almond shells using H3PO4 as a chemical activator and room vacuum pyrolysis as a physical activator, which is considered to be an eco-compatible preparation process. Experimental design methodology was used to study and optimize the effects of eight preparation parameters on I2 adsorption expressed by the iodine index (mg g-1). It was found that optimum activated carbon was obtained by chemical activation with H3PO4 at first, followed by physical treatment at 420 °C under a vacuum pressure of -0.8 bar. The obtained activated carbon was characterized by a thermogravimetric analyzer, scanning electron microscopy coupled to EDX, X-ray diffraction, and Fourier transform infrared absorption spectroscopy. The zero-charge pH and the characteristics of surface chemistry by Boehm titration were determined to predict the acid-base properties of the prepared material. An adsorption efficiency study of crystal violet dye on the optimally produced activated carbon was carried out. The obtained results of physicochemical characterization showed interesting properties of our activated carbon in comparison with those produced by other methods. Among these properties, an important porous surface, high thermal stability, and a disorganized graphitic crystalline structure were revealed. In addition to the carbon and oxygen elements, EDX analysis revealed the presence of phosphorus element, and the FTIR analysis indicated the existence of phosphonate groups and an acidic character, which resulted from chemical activation by H3PO4. An iodine index of 824.85 mg g-1 was achieved for optimal preparation. Crystal violet adsorption studies show a pseudo-first-order kinetic process and fit well with the Freundlich isotherm model, and thus, the predicted adsorption capacity was 364.27 mg g-1.

[Miliary induced by intravesical BCG immunotherapy for carcinoma of the bladder: CT Findings]. / Miliaire pulmonaire secondaire à une immunothérapie intravésicale par le Bacille de Calmette-Guérin: aspect TDM.

The authors describe the case of a patient presenting miliary involvement of the lung due to mycobacterium bovis after intravesical BCG administration. After initial transurethral resection, the patient was treated with immunotherapy by intravesical instillation of BCG and received 9 treatments without any problem. After the 10th treatment, the patient presented with cough and signs of urinary infection. At admission the chest radiograph showed a miliary pattern, better seen at high resolution CT, and using helical technique with the maximum intensity projection (MIP) reconstructions. MIP demonstrated to better advantage the well defined contours of the nodules, distributed evenly and randomly in the whole lung. After anti-TB treatment, the patient had regained full activity with persistence of the miliary pattern but a decreased number and size of nodules and calcification in some of them. This case illustrates a rare complication of intravesical immunotherapy, and points out the superiority of Sliding Thin Slab MIP (STS-MIP) compared with standard HRCT which allows a better detection of extent and follow-up of a military pattern, notably in moderate forms, by improvement of the anatomical resolution.

[Imaging features of gastric stromal tumors: radiologic-pathologic correlation. Report of 4 cases]. / Imagerie des tumeurs stromales gastriques: corrélations radio-anatomopathologiques. A propos de quatre cas.

GOAL: This study concerns the new anatomo-pathologic semantics of the ancient gastric leiomyoblastoma that become gastric stromal tumors (GST) and identified as stemming of "pace-maker" cells of Cajal related to the immunohistochemical characterization of the phenotype. MATERIAL: and methods. We limited the study to the mesenchymatous tumors to "pacemaker" cells. For this purpose, we report four documented observations of gastric stromal tumors correlated to the histology and to the immunohistochemical study. RESULTS: Although some signs are often described (exogastric development, heterogeneity with cystic and necrotic component, predominating peripheral enhancement...), radiological aspects of these tumors are not specific because, analogues to the other mesenchymal tumors (leiomyoma or schwannoma). The topographic diagnosis is difficult, realized by echoendoscopy, CT scan and MRI. The irregularity of contours evokes the malignancy as hemoperitoneum. GST do not show lymphophilic behavior that differentiates them from the adenocarcinomas and gastric lymphomas. The surgical treatment is the best treatment, allowing the immuno-histological diagnosis of certainty from the complete operative specimen. CONCLUSION: Some tumors are difficult in classifying despite classic histology necessitating immunohistochemical tests for the identification of muscular, nervous, autonomous nervous system flexion of mesenchymatous tumors with epithelioid or spindle cells of the gastrointestinal tract. Then a radio-clinical follow-up is therefore indicated: the evolution is the alone real marker of malignancy.