Mining minerals and critical raw materials from bittern: Understanding metal ions fate in saltwork ponds.

Seawater represents a potential resource for raw materials extraction. Although NaCl is the most representative mineral extracted other valuable compounds such as Mg, Li, Sr, Rb and B and elements at trace level (Cs, Co, In, Sc, Ga and Ge) are also contained in this "liquid mine". Most of them are considered as Critical Raw Materials by the European Union. Solar saltworks, providing concentration factors of up-to 20 to 40, offer a perfect platform for the development of minerals and metal recovery schemes taking benefit of the concentration and purification achieved along the evaporation saltwork ponds. However, the geochemistry of these elements in this environment has not been yet thoroughly evaluated. Their knowledge could enable the deployment of technologies capable to achieve the recovery of valuable minerals. The high ionic strengths expected (0.5-7 mol/kg) and the chemical complexity of the solutions imply that only numerical geochemical codes, as PHREEQC, and the use of Pitzer model to estimate the activity coefficients of the different species in solution can be adopted to provide valuable description of the systems. In the present work, for the first time, PHREEQC Pitzer code database was extended to include the target minor and trace elements using Trapani saltworks (Sicily, Italy) as a case study system. The model was able to predict: i) the purity in halite and the major impurities contained, mainly Ca, Mg and sulphate species; ii) the fate of minor components as B, Sr, Cs, Co, Ge and Ga along the evaporation ponds. The results obtained pose a fundamental step in critical raw materials mining from seawater brine, for process intensification and combination with desalination.

[Oral contraception and hormone replacement therapy: management of their thromboembolic risk in the perioperative period]. / Contraception orale, traitement hormonal de la ménopause: risque thromboembolique et implications périopératoires.

OBJECTIVES: Many women scheduled for surgery are using either oral contraception (OC) or hormone replacement therapy (HRT). These two treatments are associated with a significant albeit moderately increased risk of venous thromboembolic events which might increase the risk associated with surgery. DATA SOURCE: Record of French and English references from Medline((R)) database. DATA EXTRACTION: Data were selected including prospective and retrospective studies, reviews, and case reports. DATA SYNTHESIS: Thromboembolism induced by these two pharmacologic classes is similar and close to that produced by pregnancy. The increased risk is usually small, especially after the first year of administration of either class of drug, for progestogen-only contraception drugs and for transdermal HRT. The increased risk should be compared with the occurrence of undesired pregnancy after discontinuation of OC or the occurrence of climateric symptoms after discontinuation of HRT. Maintaining OC during the perioperative period is legitimate and strengthening prophylaxis is justified during the first year of combined OC administration. Stressful climateric symptoms can lead to maintain HRT and strengthening prophylaxis is justified during the first year of oral HRT. Transdermal HRT may not need to be stopped and probably does not require any additional antithrombotic measure. CONCLUSION: The increased thromboembolic risk is to be compared with the risks of stopping either treatment. In most cases, these two treatments can be maintained and antithrombotic prophylaxis is moderately strengthened in particular cases.

[Neurological complication after the "tailor posture" during labour with epidural analgesia]. / Complication neurologique après posture obstétricale "en tailleur" lors d'un travail sous analgésie péridurale.

Obstetrical positioning is used more and more often because of the supposed or proven benefits although side effects are not well known. We therefore report the case of a patient who presented with a postpartum neurological deficit after a seven hour hip-flexed posture during labour under epidural analgesia. The parturient did not complain of pain or discomfort during labour. The neurological injury was suspected because of delayed recovery of epidural analgesia-induced motor block. Neurological examination disclosed sensory and motor abnormalities in the left femoral and sciatic nerve distribution areas. The early performed lumbar CT-scan did not show any complication and electromyographic evaluation performed on the ninth postpartum day was normal. Three months after delivery, some degree of neuropathic pain in the sciatic nerve distribution remained. The risk of neurological injury directly related to obstetrical positioning is discussed. Prolonged positioning using a posture which can induce nerve stretching should be avoided. This is especially true when the patient is receiving epidural analgesia which can mask pain or discomfort.

[Neurological complication after hip-flexed posture during labour with epidural analgesia]. / Complication neurologique après posture obstétricale "en tailleur" lors d'un travail sous analgésie péridurale.

Obstetrical positioning is used more and more often because of the supposed or proven benefits although side effects are not well known. We therefore report the case of a patient who presented with a postpartum neurological deficit after a seven hour hip-flexed posture during labour under epidural analgesia. The parturient did not complain of pain or discomfort during labour. The neurological injury was suspected because of delayed recovery of epidural analgesia induced-motor block. Neurological examination disclosed sensory and motor abnormalities in the left femoral and sciatic nerve distribution areas. The early performed lumbar CT scan did not show any complication and electromyographic evaluation performed on the ninth postpartum day was normal. Three months after delivery, some degree of neuropathic pain in the sciatic nerve distribution remained. The risk of neurological injury directly related to obstetrical positioning is discussed. Prolonged positioning using a posture which can induce nerve stretching should be avoided. This is especially true when the patient is receiving epidural analgesia which can mask pain or discomfort.