Appendiceal hernia: an extremely rare condition.

Appendix-associated hernias are extremely rare. They have been described sporadically in the literature, mostly as inguinal hernias. Appendix-associated incisional hernias are even more unusual. High clinical awareness is needed as complications can arise if misdiagnosis or delay occurs. We present an 80-year-old man with acute appendicitis in an incisional hernia. After successful surgery, the patient made a full recovery.

Cellulolytic and Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens bacteria population density, after supplementing fodder diets (Pennisetum clandestinum) / Densidad poblacional de bacterias celulolíticas y de Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens al suplementar dietas forrajeras (Pennisetum clandestinum)

Objective. Determine the population density of cellulolytic bacteria, Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens and the concentration of vaccenic acid, by supplementing diets consisting of kikuyu grass (Pennisetum clandestinum Hoechst. Ex Chiov. ) as base ingredient, together with cassava flour and biomass (effluent from ethanol production) in rumen simulator-Rusitec. Materials and methods. Four treatments (T) were evaluated, these were composed as: T1/Control 1: 100% kikuyu grass with a total protein intake of 23.9%, T2: a mixture of 70% kikuyu grass, 20% biomass and 10% cassava flour with a total protein intake of 19.4%; T3/Control 2: 100% kikuyu grass, with a 17.8% protein intake and T4: 70% kikuyu grass, 20% biomass and 10% cassava flour with a 15.3% protein intake. One and two-way variance analysis was made and the Pearson correlation coefficient was determined. Results. An increase was observed in the population density of viable cellulolytic bacteria (CFU/ml) and B. fibrisolvens statistically significant (p<0.005) with treatment T2, in contrast to T1, T3 and T4 treatments. In addition, there was a significant increase in the concentration of vaccenic acid (mg/L) in the ruminal content in Rusitec with the same treatment (T2). Conclusions. Results obtained in this ruminal simulation study are evidence to the benefits of kikuyu grass together with cassava flour and biomass diet implementation on the growth of ruminal cellulolytic and B. fibrisolvens bacteria, as well as on the production of vaccenic acid. The study also suggests the nutritional potential that such supplements could provide to grazing bovine feeding.

Objetivo. Determinar la densidad poblacional de bacterias celulolíticas, Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens y la concentración de ácido vaccénico, al suplementar dietas forrajeras de pasto kikuyo con harina de yuca y biomasa (resultante de la producción de etanol), en el simulador de rumen- Rusitec. Materiales y métodos. Se evaluaron cuatro tratamientos (T): T1/Control 1: 100% pasto kikuyo con un aporte total de 23.9% de proteína, T2: 70% pasto kikuyo, 20% biomasa y 10% harina de yuca con un aporte total de 19.4% proteína, T3/Control 2: 100% pasto kikuyo con un aporte total de 17.8% de proteína y T4: 70% pasto kikuyo, 20% biomasa y 10% harina de yuca con un aporte total de 15,3% de proteína. Se realizó un análisis de varianza (ANOVA) de una y dos vías y se determinó el coeficiente de correlación de Pearson. Resultados. Se observó un incremento en la densidad poblacional de bacterias celulolíticas viables (UFC/ml) y de B. fibrisolvens estadísticamente significativas (p<0.005) con el tratamiento T2, en comparación con los tratamientos T1, T3 y T4. Adicionalmente, se detectó un aumento significativo en la concentración de ácido vaccénico (mg/L) en el contenido ruminal del Rusitec con el mismo tratamiento (T2). Conclusiones. Los resultados obtenidos en este estudio de simulación ruminal indican que la suplementación del pasto kikuyo con harina de yuca y biomasa favorecen el crecimiento de las bacterias celulolíticas ruminales y de B. fibrisolvens, así como la producción de ácido vaccénico, y sugieren el potencial nutricional que podría tener este tipo de suplementación en la alimentación de bovinos en pastoreo.

Contribution of volcanic ashes to the regional geochemical balance: the 2008 eruption of Chaitén volcano, Southern Chile.

The environmental geochemical behaviour of the rhyolitic ashes from the 2008 eruption of Chaitén volcano, Southern Chile, has been studied. After the bulk characterisation, the potential contribution to the regional geochemical fluxes was examined using: i) single batch leaching tests to provide a rapid screening of the implied major and trace elements; and ii) column experiments to evaluate the temporal mobility of leached elements. The environmental concerns of these ashes are related to the fine grained component present in each sample (independent of distance from the source), in particular the presence of cristobalite, and the geochemical hazards posed by ash-water interaction. Leaching experiments show the fast dissolution of surface salts and aerosols, which dominate over glass dissolution during the first steps of the ash-water interaction. Chaitén ashes could transfer to the environment more than 1×10(10)g or 10,000 metric tonnes (mt) of Cl, S, Ca, Na, Si, and K; between 1000 and 10,000 mt of F, Mg, and Al; between 100 and 1000 mt of As, Pb, P, Fe, Sr, Zn, Mn, and Br; between 10 and 100 mt of Ba, Li, Ti, Ni, Nb, Cu, Rb, Zr, V, Mo, Co, and Sc; and less than 10 mt of Cr, Sb, Ce, Ga, Cs, and Y. These results show the fertilising potential of the ashes (e.g., providing Ca and Fe) but also the input of potentially toxic trace elements (e.g., F and As) in the regional geochemical mass balance. The Chaitén results evidence lower potentials for poisoning and fertilising than low silica ashes due to the lower contents released of practically all elements.

Ureteropelvic junction obstruction: the effect of pyeloplasty on renal function.

We studied preoperatively and postoperatively 41 children who underwent pyeloplasty for correction of unilateral ureteropelvic junction obstruction. Conventional radiological studies and quantitative radioiodine hippurate renal scans were obtained to assess the effect of pyeloplasty on the appearance of the kidney and its function. Analysis of the data suggests that the degree of improvement in renal function is related primarily to the age at which the surgical correction is accomplished and whether infection has occurred preoperatively.

Molar lactate in the management of uric acid renal obstruction.

A method for rapid alkalization of urine using parenteral 1/6 molar sodium lactate is presented in a series of patients with uric acid nephropathy and/or obstruction due to uric acid calculi. An operation was not necessary in any of these patients because of rapid relief of obstruction.

Primary surgical repair of the fractured penis.

Two cases of fracture of the penis occurring during intercourse were treated with immediate surgical exploration and primary repair. Functional recovery was excellent. The pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment are reviewed. Although not common, penile fracture is an entity which may be seen and must be recognized in the emergency department.

Rupture of the bladder following blunt trauma: a plea for routine peritoneotomy in patients with extraperitoneal rupture.

Thirty-four cases of rupture of the bladder due to blunt trauma of the abdomen are reviewed. Intraperitoneal rupture occurred in 41% of the patients: extraperitoneal rupture occurred in 59% of them. Thirty-five per cent of the patients with extraperitoneal bladder rupture sustained concomitant intraperitoneal visceral injuries. While repairing the extraperitoneal bladder rupture a routine laparotomy through a small incision over the linea semicircularis was helpful in discovering intraperitoneal injuries in patients previously assessed by the general surgery service and considered to be free of intraperitoneal pathology.