Occurrence of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in Liverpool Bay, Irish Sea.

Surface seawater samples were collected in the Irish Sea and Liverpool Bay area from the R.V. Prince Madog during the period of 25-31 of March 2006. VOCs were purged with nitrogen, pre-concentrated on a SPME fibre and analysed immediately on a GC-MS. Target compounds quantified were halogenated (0.2-1400 ng L(-1)), BTEXs and mono-aromatics (1.5-2900 ng L(-1)), aliphatic hydrocarbons and others (0.6-15,800 ng L(-1)). Day and night sampling was performed at a single station and suggested that factors such as sunlight and tide affect the presence of many of these compounds. Sample variability was high due to the variable weather conditions at the station. Poor correlations were found between marine phytopigments and selected VOCs. Principal component analysis (PCA) analysis showed that chlorinated compounds such as 1,2-dichloroethane, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, trichloroethene, tetrachloroethene and carbon tetrachloride, predominantly from anthropogenic sources, originated from the River Mersey. Other brominated and iodinated compounds quantified were more likely to be from biogenic sources including novel marine compounds such as 2-chloropropane, 1-bromoethane and 1-chlorobutane.

Pitiriasis versicolor en niños. Estudio epidemiológico y micológico de 797 casos estudiados en la república dominicana / Pityriasis versicolor in children. Epidemiological and mycological data of 797 cases in the dominican republic

Antecedentes: La pitiriasis versicolor es una micosis cosmopolita causada por Malassezia spp. y sensu lato por M. furfur. Se afectan desde lactantes hasta ancianos, pero hay pocos reportes de su frecuencia en niños. Objetivos: Estudiar los datos clínicos y epidemiológicos de la pitiriasis versicolor en la población pediátrica. Metodología: Estudio retrospectivo y transversal de los pacientes infantiles con pitiriasis versicolor confirmada por estudio micológico de enero a diciembre de 1999. Resultados: Entre 5.160 casos de pitiriasis versicolor se encontraron 797 en menores de 15 años (13,5 per cent) (promedio 8 años) y, de éstos, 92 en lactantes. La localización más frecuente fue la cara, en el 50,2 per cent, el tronco en el 25,68 per cent y las extremidades en el 19,4 per cent, pero también en el cuello en el 4,8 per cent. Conclusiones: La pitiriasis versicolor en niños es frecuente en climas cálidos y húmedos, y predomina en la cara y el tronco. El diagnóstico con hidróxido de potasio es sencillo y barato, y pone en evidencia a Malassezia spp. (AU)

[Pityriasis versicolor in infants under one year of age. A report of 92 cases]. / Pitiriasis versicolor en lactantes. Estudio de 92 casos.

BACKGROUND: Pityriasis versicolor is a common world wide mycosis caused by Malassezia spp. and by Malassezia furfur sensu lato. It is uncommon in children and almost always with atypical clinical manifestations. It has been reported as exceptional in children under one year of age. OBJECTIVES: To determine the clinical and epidemiological data of pityriasis versicolor in infants under one year of age. METHODOLOGY: This is a restrospective and transversal study of pityriasis versicolor in the pediatric population studied during one year at the Instituto Dermatologico y Cirugia de Piel in Dominican Republic. Everyone with a Malassezia spp. positive scotch tape test with methylene blue were included. RESULTS: Among 5160 cases of pityriasis versicolor where 797 were children, we found 92 (11%) cases under one year of age. The clinical manifestations were atypical and the most commonly affected zone was the face (81%) and thorax (16%). Less frequently the neck (8.6%) and upper and lower limbs (5%) were affected. CONCLUSIONS: Pityriasis versicolor in children under one year of age is not exceptional in humid and hot climates. The hypochromic lesions are the main clinical manifestation and the most affected site is the face. Diagnosis is easy and cheap with a positive Malassezia spp. scotch tape test with methylene blue.