Analysis of e-waste recycling behavior based on survey at a Midwestern US University.

The United States lacks a set of unified electronic waste recycling laws, contributing in part to the observed low rate of e-waste recycling behaviors among consumers. Individual factors of consumers contributing to the low recycling rates are not well understood. The objective of this study was to evaluate consumer behaviors, including barriers, surrounding e-waste recycling at a large Midwestern university in the United States. A survey was administered to faculty, graduate students, undergraduate students, and staff to determine their personal recycling habits, knowledge, and beliefs. The results indicate that free access to disposal, lack of consumer knowledge about products and disposal sites, and access to a recycling facility within a reasonable distance are all important factors in consumer decisions. Policy-makers and waste management professionals should focus on promotion of e-waste recycling behaviors through increased access to free or low-cost recycling as well as through the creation of recycling incentives.

The infrequent association of synchronous renal and colonic malignancies.

The coexistence of both kidney and colon primary malignancies is a rare condition. We report the case of a 75-year-old woman who presented with bilateral pulmonary nodules at chest X-ray and stratigraphy. Total-body CT scan showed multiple, apparently metastatic, bilateral pulmonary lesions, a diffusely dysomogeneous neoformation in the lower pole of the right kidney and a gross neoformation in the ascending colon. A right nephrectomy and a right hemicolectomy were performed and histology showed two primary neoplasms: clear cell renal carcinoma and undifferentiated adenocarcinoma of the colon.

Kidney vasculogenesis and angiogenesis: role of vascular endothelial growth factor.

Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) plays a crucial role in the establishment of the vascular tree pattern. New vessels can be formed by two different ways; in the development of kidney both vasculogenesis and angiogenesis participate to microvessel assembly. VEGF and its receptor (VEGF-R) are co-expressed during kidney organogenesis and stimulate renal blood vessels development, induce and maintain the fenestrated phenotype in endothelium and regulate vascular permeability. VEGF and many other growth factors participate to the development of embryonic glomerular microvasculature. We believe that therapeutical use of VEGF or anti-VEGF antibodies may be performed in the treatment of many disorders.

Pathophysiology, clinical features and management of hepatorenal syndrome.

Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) is a form of functional renal failure occurring in patients with advanced liver disease. Hypoperfusion of the kidney, due to renal vasoconstriction, is the main feature of HRS. Conversely, the extrarenal circulation is characterized by low systemic resistance, especially occurring in splanchnic vessels, and arterial hypotension. It has been postulated that renal vasoconstriction is induced either by a hepatorenal reflex related to the diseased liver or by arterial vasodilation and the subsequent baroreceptor-mediator activation of systemic vasoconstrictor factors. The diagnosis of HRS requires the exclusion of other causes of renal failure in patients with liver disease. On the basis of clinical and prognostic differences, two types of HRS have been defined. The prognosis of HRS is poor and, to date, the only effective treatment is the liver transplantation.

The use of indomethacin to treat acute rises of intracranial pressure and improve global cerebral perfusion in a child with head trauma.

BACKGROUND: The use of vasoconstrictors (e.g. dihydroergotamine, indomethacin) for the treatment of increased intracranial pressure (ICP) secondary to brain trauma is controversial. In particular, it has been suggested that vasoconstrictors be employed only for intracranial hypertension secondary to hyperemia, when venous jugular bulb saturation (SjO2) is > 75%. METHOD: We administered indomethacin as a bolus i.v. (5-10 mg) on 18 occasions to a multiple-injured 3-year-old child with acute rises of ICP secondary to severe brain trauma (GCS score 7) determining a large hypodensity area in and swelling of the right hemisphere. RESULTS: Before indomethacin administration the average of mean ICP was 68.1 +/- 10.8 (SD) mm Hg (range 47-84) and the cerebral perfusion pressure (CCP) was 38.4 +/- 10.4 mm Hg (range 30-65). In response to indomethacin, ICP dropped in a few seconds to 22.7 +/- 5.6 and CCP increased to 82.4 +/- 6.1 mm Hg (P < 0.001), while the mean arterial pressure remained unchanged. On 6 occasions SjO2 was also evaluated immediately before and 5 and 10 min after indomethacin administration. Before indomethacin administration, SjO2 values were within the normal range on 2 occasions and abnormally low on four. SjO2 increased from the mean value of 45.6 +/- 15.7 to 59.8 +/- 8.9 (after 5 min) and 60.6 +/- 12.4% (after 10 min) (P < 0.01 versus pre-indomethacin). At the same time the cerebral venous pH increased from 7.43 +/- 0.01 to 7.45 +/- 0.01 (P = 0.01). These findinge suggest that the global cerebral perfusion was improved. Eighteen days after injury the child was awake and was discharged from the ICU. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, increase of SjO2 in response to indomethacin has not been previously reported. Although great caution is necessary in the use of indomethacin for the treatment of ICP, these findings suggest that indomethacin can be useful for the treatment of acute rises of ICP compromising severely the CCP, even if SjO2 is normal or abnormally low. Under these circumstances, indomethacin can improve the global cerebral perfusion.