Anthropogenic eutrophication of Lake Titicaca (Bolivia) revealed by carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes fingerprinting.

Cultural eutrophication is the leading cause of water quality degradation worldwide. The traditional monitoring of eutrophication is time-consuming and not integrative in space and time. Here, we examined the use of carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) isotopic composition to track the degree of eutrophication in a bay of Lake Titicaca impacted by anthropogenic (urban, industrial and agricultural wastewater) discharges. Our results show increasing δ13C and decreasing δ15N signatures in macrophytes and suspended particulate matter with distance to the wastewater source. In contrast to δ15N and δ13C signatures, in-between aquatic plants distributed along the slope were not only affected by anthropogenic discharges but also by the pathway of carbon uptake, i.e., atmospheric (emerged) vs aquatic (submerged). A binary mixing model elaborated from pristine and anthropogenic isotope end-members allowed the assessment of anthropogenically derived C and N incorporation in macrophytes with distance to the source. Higher anthropogenic contribution was observed during the wet season, attributed to enhanced wastewater discharges and leaching of agricultural areas. For both seasons, eutrophication was however found naturally attenuated within 6 to 8 km from the wastewater source. Here, we confirm that carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes are simple, integrative and time-saving tools to evaluate the degree of eutrophication (seasonally or annually) in anthropogenically impacted aquatic ecosystems.

[A case of hypertriglycideremia-induced pancreatitis in pregnancy: value of heparin]. / Héparinothérapie: une alternative à la plasmaphérèse au décours de la pancréatite aiguë hyperlipidémique gravidique. A propos d'un cas.

We report the case of a 28-year-old secundipari with a history of severe hypertriglycideremia-induced pancreatitis 3 years ago who was admitted in the 37th week of gestation with abdominal pain. A blood sample had a milky aspect and plasma concentrations were as follows: triglycerides 8,5g/l, cholesterol 1000 mg/dl, amylase 574 IU/l, lipase 1310 IU/l. Acute pancreatitis was diagnosed, a caesarean was performed under spinal anaesthesia. The diagnosis was confirmed by CT-scan. Treatment with 15,000 IU heparin per day and intravenous nutrition decreased triglycerides level to less than 1g/l within 48 h. She was discharged 28 days later. Heparin could be a low-cost alternative to plasmapheresis in hypertriglycideremia-induced pancreatitis.